Staying in Padua /Padova and taking train to Venice

Padova is only about a half hour away from Venice by train, I've stayed in Padova numerous times and daytripped into Venice. Last trip, I stayed at M14 Hotel in Padova - free gated parking, two blocks from major tram/bus stops that will get you to the train station quickly. They will loan you bikes if you want to tool around Padova. The only thing you will miss, if this is your first trip to Venice, is the magical quality of Venice at night and in the very early morning, without the daytrippers like us. You may want to spend one night in Venice, but if you take one of the later trains back to Padova at night, you'll still have some of that wonderful experience (without paying a gondola-load of money for a hotel room). Also, check into the Venice passes if you plan to do multiple daytrips (one is good for vaporetto and several museums).

Thanks for the great tips! In your experience, is it still cheaper to stay in Padua and pay the daily train and vaporetta fees, versus staying in Venice and parking the car at the public ASM garage in Pizzale Roma?

Cheaper to stay in Padua? Probably. Smarter? I would say no. The magic of Venice is at its peak before and after the daily invasion by hordes of daytrippers. Plus, we've grown to really love taking a nap back at our room in the mid-afternoon. It helps get you ready for those very late Italian dinners. Happy travels.

I've stayed in Padova on one of our Venice jaunts and didn't enjoy the experience. We were far enough out from the centre that we tried parking near the station. I was very uncomfortable with the people hanging around the station, and especially the station front and around the car park that we gave up and drove the short distance to Mestre where we parked in our usual high rise, easy, and cheap car park across the road from the station. We were much happier there. We've parked in Mestre about 6 or 8 trips now and never had any issues. I wouldn't bother, personally, driving into P Roma or Tronchetto as they are way more expensive and I wouldn't want the traffic on the road into Venice. It is true that the best time in Venice is after the cruise ships and buses have left until they return the next morning. Venice at dawn is magical.