We will be taking a cruise round trip from Trieste Italy on MSC cruise line on May 30-June 8. On June 8, we will fly from Venice to Dublin.
We have been to Venice before on guided tours. As this trip is on our own, I have several questions.
1. What is Mestre like? Is it worth staying there and then taking day trips into Venice? I think it would be easy access from the Venice airport. (We can use Hilton Honors points for a hotel)
2. Would it be better to go directly to Venice island from the airport and then could we easily make our way to Trieste? (We will be staying there 2 nights before the cruise starts.)
3. Since we enjoy beach time, would we best in going from the Venice airport to Lido di Venezia and staying there and then making our way daily into Venice.
Bottom line is we are hoping to do this as economically as possible. Three star hotels are fine with us. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you.
Posted by
Washington DC
28247 posts
I haven't made it out to the Lido yet, so I have no idea how good the beaches are. But on a short visit to Venice I'd really want to be staying in Venice proper, not on the Lido and not in Mestre.
I'd recommend holding on to those hotel points for use in another city where location isn't so critical.
Posted by
Missouri
22 posts
We will be on that same cruise! Would love to hear your plans for each port. I made a roll call on CruiseCritic.com if you use that site. We will be arriving from Ljublijana the night before so spending the 30th in Trieste.
Posted by
11606 posts
Don’t stay in Mestre! If you are going to Venice, stay in Venice! Do you prefer bring on a beach to being in Venice? That is your choice but I wouldn’t do it. Beaches in the US are far superior to those in Europe. I wouldn’t waste my time in Europe on the Lifo.
Posted by
Seattle, WA
17562 posts
Mestre is an industrial area with lots of traffic, low-cost housing , inexpensive hotels, and, according to what I have read, some sketchy areas. You do NOT want to stay there.
Lido de Venezia, on the other hand, is a fine choice if you want to stay away from the tourist crowds in Venice, and have some beach time. It is the site of the famed Venice Film Festival (in August, not when you will be visiting) and has a resort atmosphere, with nice hotels and restaurants. Unlike Venice, it has cars, lots of trees, and bicycle paths. And a broad sandy European-style beach, covered with lounge chairs and umbrellas that you rent by the day. Or choose to walk to one of the free beaches. See the link below for more information on that.
We spent a day there in April, before tourist season, some years ago. We rented bikes and rode around, then walked the beach looking for shells an and enjoying the sea. We liked it there, and might consider staying a couple of nights there sometime for a change from the Venice crowds, which can feel oppressive. But we have been to Venice many times. Some will tell you a first-time visitor to Venice should not stay on Lido, but Indo not agree.
If you want to stay on Lido, just remember you will be spending time on the vaporetto to get into Venice itself for your sightseeing. But for some, like us, time on the water is “good time”so we wouldn’t mind that.
Take a look at this site, especially the photos of the town and the beaches, to see if it appeals to you:
Posted by
Ontario, Canada
5492 posts
I agree with the others about not staying in Mestre. As for staying on the Lido, if you prefer beach time over exploring Venice proper, then that is what you should do. Just be prepared for longer vaporetto trips.
How are you planning on getting to Trieste and the cruise terminal? The regular Flix Bus leaves from the Tronchetto bus terminal in Venice proper. Or are you taking the cruise line transfer from...?
Posted by
Seattle, WA
17562 posts
There are hourly trains from Venice Santa Lucia to Trieste Centrale that take 2 hours 5 minutes. Cost for the Regionale train is €15,55.
The Felix Bus is cheaper (online price $6.99 right now) but takes longer, like 2h40 minutes.