Italien lakes and Venice

TG

Looking back on our trips I was a bit surprised that we had never taken the motorhome to Italy. Been there several times with the caravan which meant we always had the car to explore although we tended to use sites where we could go off site without the car. 

We did once arrive at Camping Bella Italia in Peschiera del Garda and were told to park on the football pitch until someone left the following day as they were full and that was during the German school holidays. It worked out fine in the end. Around Peschiera del Garda is a good choice as there is quite a bit to do without the need for your own transport, like lake steamers and a railway station and probably a good bus network.

There seems to be two schools of thought with Venice, either stay on the industrial side, perhaps Fusina  or drive around the Lagoon to say Punta Sabbioni. Both have easy access to Venice. We used Camping Miramare for three of our four visits to Venice which is only a short walk to the ferry over to St Marks. There are quite a few campsites nearby as well. Obviously going around the Lagoon adds quite a few miles to your journey but we always enjoyed it there.

David 

A third school of thought for Venice !  Leave your motorhome on a secure campsite somewhere, anywhere, inland. Go in by train and spend a couple of nights in a small hotel or B&B in the heart of the city itself.  See Venice early morning and later evening, before and after the crowds.

Hi TG

There are so may lakes to explore, our favourite being Maggiore. Garda in July and August is a nightmare but in May it will be relatively quiet ahead of Pfingsten. We’ve used Camping Lazise (in Lazise) in the past, it’s handy for ferries etc. Camping Gottardo is a good Swiss site for an overnight  just south of the St Gottard Tunnel if it suites your agenda. If you’re heading for Slovenia from Venice then Al Bateo, a small campsite in Punta Sabbione, is the best in the area in my opinion. We use it nearly every year for a few nights. It’s quiet and handy for the water bus to Venice. There’s a regular service until about midnight. Venice in the evening is certainly a different city to that of the daytime. There are so many places to visit in Venice but the Doges Palace  is a must and if you get a chance to visit La Fenice opera house then do so (ideally an opera). If you like traditional Italian food in a traditional Italian restaurant then take the SS14 road east from Punta Sabbione towards Trieste. In Lugugnana turn right to Brussa. Mazaracks is very traditional, inexpensive restaurant with an amazing atmosphere. They also have a free Sosta for motorhomes next to the lagoon. From Brussa it’s a short 40 minute drive to Bibione Pineda and Camping Capalonga that I think you’ve used many years ago?

DK, thanks for that. I think for Garda we will be possibly be looking at somewhere around Peschiera, Bella Italia looks as if it could fit the bill. I know it's a big site but the reviews look good and as it's before the busy period shoulbe fine for a few days.

For Venice your other site Miramare was also on my list. Hadn't though about going to the other side of Venice do will have a look at that as well, would make sense I suppose coming from Garda. Can't remember ever coming from that direction before but maybe we did it was a long time ago.

Dave, fancy you remembering we stayed at Bibione, gosh that was a life time ago. 

Thank you for all your suggestions I'll look at them tomorrow and see what OH thinks. I'd like to spend some time along the coast from Venice (after we've been there) is there anywhere we could cycle along there. Happy to move further along towards Trieste. 

Slovenia will be completely new for us so looking forward to that I've read some very good reports about it. 

In Slovenia TG don't miss Lake Bled and the Postojna Caves. Lake Bled has a couple of campsites, Camping Bled on the lake side with an excellent restaurant  is an ACSI discount site and is my favourite. The Postojna Caves have an overnight parking area for motorhomes with electrics. The price for the parking was 25 euros a night. My notes of visits to Slovenia are >here<

peedee

Not far off the route between Venice and Trieste is Aquileia - once a large roman city whose well preserved remains make an interesting visit.

We stayed at Camping Aquileia (as recomended by Chasncath) within walking distance of the archaeological park.

When we visited Venice, like DavidKlyne, we stayed at Camping Miramare which is a short walk or a bus ride to the  Punta Sabbioni ferry terminal.

Tammygirl.  Italy is our favourite country for a holiday and we have been there many times.  My comments will echo much of what has been said.  You are probably aware that the pitches on Italian sites can be quite tight so a little research needed.  In the first two weeks in May you should be fine re sites and the weather should be settled.  Many years ago we stayed by Lake Maggiore and the weather was awful!  A little research showed that the Garda area was enjoying lovely weather so up wound up our steadies and moved there; the joys of staying near mountains! Re Venice we also stay on sites on the Lido and get the ferry across to Venice, by far the best way to approach Venice!  There are a number and ACSI is your friend.  Slovenia is a gem of a country small and perfectly formed.  Also recommend Camping Bled which is just across the road from the lake.  Can't help on sites east of Venice.  I see you plan to go via Switzerland which is of course one of the obvious routes to Italy.  We go there via Belgium, Germany and Austria having a few days in Austria en route.  With a caravan and not pushing it (6 hrs driving a day) it takes us three days of easy towing, with a motorhome you should save a few hours.  If you are feeling more adventurous our favourite part of Italy is Tuscany/Umbria with its beautiful hill top villages and lovely rolling countryside, but is is a couple of days more driving to get there.

Thank you, I've read your blog on Slovenia and it sound just what we will need after busy Italy 😊 lake bled and the caves were on my wish list but after reading your blog, they are now firmly on the must do list 😅

Thank you for the suggestion of Aquileia never heard of it will have a look at that. 😊