Our first van life vacation – Traveling to Marina di Venezia in a campervan

It was finally time for our first trip with our newly purchased campervan during the Easter vacations. Our destination was Marina di Venezia, one of the largest and best-known campsites in Europe, right on the Adriatic coast near Venice. An ideal place for a relaxed start to our vanlife travel adventure with a child.

Cavallino-Treporti

Marina di Venezia is located together with many other campsites on the Cavallino-Treporti peninsula, a headland with a twelve to fifteen kilometer long sandy beach in the Venetian lagoon. The surrounding area is flat and sandy, characterized by dunes, pine trees and the proximity to the sea.

The extensive wetlands on the peninsula are particularly impressive. Numerous water birds can be observed there, including herons, cormorants and even flamingos. We had actually planned a short hike through the nature reserve, but unfortunately the path was closed due to the breeding season. A small drop of bitterness, but it shows how consistently the protection of these sensitive habitats is implemented. Nevertheless, we were able to spot many different bird species on the way there and even a few flamingos. The hike is linked below on Komoot.

The campsite

The campsite is not only very large, but also very well maintained. In principle, everything you need for a successful vacation is available, so in theory you wouldn’t have to leave the site - which we did anyway, of course. In addition to a wide beach, there is a spacious pool area, several playgrounds, mini golf and a kind of promenade with a supermarket, restaurants and evening entertainment.

Fortunately, the evening program only took place between 8 and 10 p.m. during our stay, so the associated background noise was easily bearable. And our son liked it. You can even use a nearby gym for a few euros. There are also numerous other activities and excursions on offer. For example, we took part in a free dune hike and learned a lot about the regional flora and fauna.

It is also worth mentioning that the campsite became famous through the TV format Bella Italia - Camping in German. Fittingly, you will almost exclusively meet German families. This is ideal for children, as play partners can be found everywhere.

From Marina di Venezia you can also take day trips to Venice or to the less well-known but still very worthwhile neighboring islands. Passenger ferries depart regularly from the nearby landing stage in Punta Sabbioni (easily accessible by bike or even on foot), allowing you to cross the lagoon in comfort. To avoid long queues, it is advisable to buy your ferry tickets at the landing stage the day before.

Preparation & stay

The two weeks before departure were all about preparation. I completed some work on the van, including installing a heavy-duty pull-out in the rear and fitting a trailer coupling. I also had to order all the equipment: Camping table, chairs, crockery, power cable, awning, etc. The list ended up being quite long. I will report on all these purchases and work on the campervan in separate blog entries.

Unfortunately, the power supply for the towbar didn’t work in time, so we had to leave the bikes at home, rendering the bike rack useless for the time being. That was a shame, but in hindsight it wasn’t too bad.

All in all, the three of us had a very nice and relaxing time. At the beginning, the temperatures were still quite fresh at 15 to 20 degrees and a bit windy, which is why we spent a lot of time in the camper. This worked surprisingly well despite the limited space.

We had a very relaxed stay. Our activities ranged from long walks on the beach collecting shells, watching turtles in one of the canals and stopping off at a beach bar almost every day, to long board game sessions and a day trip to Venice. We also celebrated Easter at the campsite - hiding and searching for presents in different surroundings was great fun for young and old.

Conclusion

The campsite really impressed us - we can well imagine coming here again. The stay during the Easter vacations was also exactly to our taste: moderate prices, not overcrowded, but already pleasantly lively. The temperatures could have been a little higher, but you never know what will happen in April. And as far as the camper is concerned, buying it was the right decision. We felt very comfortable and enjoyed our time together to the full.

Gallery

Komoot