What Is It Really Like Staying in Mestre for a Venice Trip?
Venice is built on million of wooden logs, making it a floating island just off the mainland. That mainland area is called Venice Mestre and connects to the island by bus and train via the Liberty Bridge. Mestre is known as a much more budget-friendly and accessible area, but what it’s really like staying there for your Venice trip? Here is my experience!
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Planning your Venice Trip
How to get to Venice Mestre?
The closest airport is Venice Marco Polo Airport (VCE). There is also Treviso Canova Airport (TSF), which is a little further away and mostly used by budget airlines. Both are well connected to Venice via ACTV and ATVO buses.
Alternatively, if you’re coming from within Italy or a nearby country, there are trains and buses (like Flixbus and Itabus). Mestre is the stop before Venice Santa Lucia, the station on the island.
Where to stay in Venice Mestre?
The important part when staying in Venice Mestre is checking the connection to the main island (when I say island, I’m referring to the 118 islands that actually make up the historic old town away from the mainland). Any accommodation that is close to the station or along a bus line is a good choice.
I would recommend staying around that station area, near to the Corso del Popolo and Via Piave streets, as these are still busy later into the night making them safer.
🛏️MEININGER Venezia Mestre – amazing hostel, right by the bus and train station to Venice
🏬Hotel Delle Rose – great value, right by a bus station
🏩Chiara-Lodge – beautiful design, well-connected
Activities to check out in Venice:
Why Stay in Venice Mestre?
One of the main reasons to stay in Venice Mestre is the price. It’s said to be up to half the price of comparable accommodation in the historic centre across the bridge.
Best of all, it doesn’t take more than 20 minutes by bus or train and costs only 1.50€ to get to the island. That means this extra 20 minutes could save you 100s of €/$ if you are planning to stay a few days. Plus the buses go from like 5am to midnight, so you’re really not limited on time.
Many also prefer Mestre over Venice Old Town, because it’s not as overcrowded, there’s normal supermarkets and you get a more local experience. Plus, you don’t have the issue of getting your luggage across countless bridges and cobblestone roads, especially if on a budget.
There are some incredible restaurants in Mestre too, often at a better price that in the Old Town. They target a little more of a local market, meaning there’s more variety and less touristy menus overall.
I personally like Mestre mainly for the cost-saving aspect, though the ease of navigating the main street with luggage is a massive bonus too. I’ve had no issues with the bus to/from the island as there’s several that go every 10ish minutes.
By the way, the Venice Access Fee is also waived if you’re staying in Mestre, so that won’t affect your budget (though it has ended for 2026 now anyway).
The Downsides of Staying in Venice Mestre
We have talked about the positives, it’s only fair we touch on the downsides too.
One of my main downsides is that it increases the walking time every day, as you need to start/end your day in Venice at Piazzale Roma. That’s about a 30-minute walk from the main sights and does add up throughout the day. An accommodation a little closer to the main canal near Rialto Bridge and St. Mark’s Square will save you a bunch of walking.
You could mitigate the walking by getting a daily transport pass that includes the vaporettos, which is also a lovely way to experience Venice from the water on a budget.
Another downside is that you are not truly part of the island life. You don’t wake up to a view of canals from your window (though beware, you are often paying more for that view). If you only have a day in Venice, you may want to have that experience.
Lastly, quickly popping back to your hotel is difficult. That means you may not want to head back into the city for a post-dinner stroll, something you might do if you were staying on the island.
Who Should (and Shouldn’t) Stay in Mestre
Venice Mestre is the right place for you if you want to save some money on accommodation, prefer slightly more spacious (and modern) hotel rooms and want easier luggage/car access. It’s not a picturesque Italian tourist town, but a local transport hub that’s the perfect budget-friendly gateway to Venice.
Mestre is not for you if you only have a very short time in Venice, are looking for the magic of the city in the early mornings or late evenings and know you want to rest in between sightseeing sessions. It’s also not for you if you hate commuting via buses and are worried about the amount of walking.
I’d say if you visit in the shoulder season and can find accommodation in the Old Town within your budget, it’s worth just going for that.
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