Enzo Stella Maris: Camping near Venice, Italy
If you want to experience the very best camping that Italy has to offer, you should consider making your next trip a camping trip. In fact, Enzo Stella Maris Camping in Cavallino-Treporti, Italy is one of the best campsites near Venice, Italy. This location is perfect for those travelers wanting the best area to stay for a Venice, Italy family vacation.
Enzo Stella Maris is more like an upscale resort than just a campground with all it has to offer. Once you get used to 5-star camping in Italy, you won’t want to leave.
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Making Reservations for Enzo Stella Maris
One summer, my family and I were very excited to camp in Italy for a week and a half of relaxation, sunshine, beaches and pizza! The only drawback about this trip was that we didn’t make a reservation to a campground beforehand, because many places didn’t accept reservations.
Insert slowly rising paranoia!
Now, I am not a gambling woman by any means, so the thought of driving over a thousand miles (1700 plus km) from Denmark to Italy gave my nerves a bit of a strain. However, with some positive thinking and perhaps a bit of divine intervention, we were lucky enough not only to find a spot at the campground of our choice (Enzo Stella Maris), but also one of the best spots possible within the campground!
Prior to our arrival in Italy, we stayed at a great campground in southern Germany. Read all about Strandcamping Waging am See HERE!
Finding Our Own Spot at Enzo Stella Maris
When we arrived at the Enzo Stella Maris Campground on a very warm, Friday in early July, it was during a daily, mandatory quiet time, so the gates were closed. The quiet time was from 1pm to 3pm, and we arrived around 2:30pm. Luckily, the reception was still open, and we were able to inquire about a possible spot at the campground.
I quite enjoyed this unexpected situation. Walking around a calm and quiet campground to look for a spot was surprisingly a stress relief. There weren’t other campers at the gate waiting to get in, and we had a little less than a half an hour to make a stress-free decision of where to spend the next week and a half of our trip.
Yes, you heard me correctly. We were able to find our place before committing to staying. One quick glance at this place told me that we were about to experience the best camping in Italy! We were determined to find a spot!
Cabins at Enzo Stella Maris Campground
As we walked around, we noticed that Enzo Stella Maris also had a section of bungalows and a section of apartments. There didn’t seem to be a specific section for tents, since we found many of them in various parts of the campground, mixed with the campers and caravans. Some campers were also decorated with lawn ornaments and such, which gave us the feeling that they were planning on staying a while!
To our sheer happiness, we were able to find a campsite that was directly next to the swimming pool! The only issue with this spot was just how we were going to back our camper caravan into the spot. It had a few trees, and there were other campers and bushes and things to consider.
We went up to the reception to tell them where we would like to stay, and coincidentally, it was time for the gates to open.
If you camping trips take you up north, check out the Roskilde Camping in Denmark!
The reception building at the Enzo Stella Maris Campground is also a great place to get information about activities at the campground and in the surrounding areas, tours outside of the campground, the WIFI code, and brochures to places of interest. You will also receive a bracelet on your arrival that identifies you as a guest of the campground.
Why is Enzo Stella Maris one of the Best Campsites near Venice?
Within minutes, one of the owners and four other workers from Enzo Stella Maris came to our camper. They motioned for my husband to unhook the camper from the car, and like real professionals, they worked together to push the camper down the small path to the spot!
I was amazed!!! I had never seen anything like this before. With a bit of tugging and pulling, the camper was perfectly placed on the spot and ready for us to get out our floor mat, set up the tent, and move in!!
The Swimming Pool at Enzo Stella Maris
It was very hot at this point in time, and since the swimming pool opened back up at the end of the quiet time, we thought that this was the perfect time to go swimming! Let me tell you; the pool there was awesome!
Why stay at a hotel with a pool when you can stay at a place with multiple pools and a beach? Not even the very best hotels in Venice could give us the pool options like what they had at Enzo Stella Maris!!
At the entrance to the swimming pool, there is a puddle of water that you walk through before entering the swimming pool area. This is to wash your feet before getting in the water. This makes sense, since most of the campsites are covered by sand. Just inside the swimming pool area are outdoor showers you could use in case you have sand in other places from your time at the beach or for other reasons!
Slides
The pool area at Enzo Stella Maris Camping had two slides: one small slide for little children and a larger one for both children and adults. Though my boys loved both slides, they really liked the smaller one. I think it was because the wait time and amount of stairs was much less compared to the larger slide.
Different Pool Areas at the Campground
They don’t call Enzo Stella Maris a 5-star campground for nothing. You could take one look at the pool to see just why it is considered one of the best spots for camping in Italy! The layout and function of the different swimming pools in the pool area really shows how well Enzo Stella Maris knows its clientele.
Pool Area 1
Around the area where we found the slides, the narrow strips of pool weren’t very deep making them perfect for family play and little swimmers. There were also many lounge chairs in this area for parents to be able to sit and watch their children or for families just to take a break out of the water.
Pool Area 2
The very edge of this section of the pool also had some fun water fountains and waterfalls that added not only to the look of the pool but also to the entertainment. We really enjoyed throwing the ball around in this section! It was also a great place for the boys to make some friends with other kids (mostly German) who wanted to get in on the game! 🙂
Do you like to swim when you camp? Check out the great pool at Gustavsvik Camping in Sweden!
Pool Area 3
On the other side of the waterfall, another pool was very shallow in certain parts so that you could lounge on an underwater platform that had lots of bubble jets. This place was in a way like a Jacuzzi, but the water wasn’t overly warm.
Pool Area 4
An area that was very popular with the adults was the lane pool. Though I didn’t see many people swimming laps, I did see more adults here hanging out in this section without children.
Don’t get me wrong! There were some children swimming in this pool. I can imagine they were the ones who were much better swimmers. We didn’t come to this area as much since my boys felt more comfortable in the shallow parts.
We did try it once or twice, and I also came here in the mornings before the pool opened to participate in the aqua gym.
Pool Area 5
The last section of the pool was the indoor pool. This area had its own locker room and showers. The pool inside also had cooler water, which I think was because it wasn’t in the sun. It was very clean and very nice, but we came for sunshine, which meant that we didn’t spend much time in there!
I can imagine that the indoor pool at Enzo Stella Maris would be popular for those wanting to get out of the sun or perhaps if there was a rainy day. (We didn’t have any rainy, pool days!)
Animation Team and Kid’s Program at Enzo Stella Maris
Sometimes the sun would get to be too much for my boys, so they would take a break from the swimming pool at the Animation Team gazebo. Here, friendly Enzo Stella Maris employees would run a “mini club”. This was every day on the weekdays, where children could come with or without a parent to make various paper crafts or color a picture.
Camping in Veneto was such a fantastic choice for us, since the people of this region were so friendly and kind to our children! It was like being in camp while on vacation. My boys liked to spend time here while my husband I made lunch at the camper.
The gazebo was located next to the swimming pool, so it was also easy for me to sit at a chair on the side of the pool and see one boy in the gazebo and one boy in the pool from the same chair. It was very convenient. On certain times and days, they would also offer face painting, games and tournaments.
Lunch, Quiet Time, and Camper Fun
We enjoyed our lunches in the tent of our camper as a family everyday, and we were sure to plan our meals just before the mandatory quiet time at Enzo Stella Maris Camping.
Most campers have tents attached to the front of their caravans, but since the weather was so warm, we decided not to put up all the walls to get more fresh air. This also allowed us a place to relax and have some family time during this quiet period from 1pm to 3pm.
We colored, read books, or played quiet games to pass the time. I loved that these times existed, since it forced us to take things slowly and really enjoy each other and our stay at one of the best family campsites in northern Italy. Since the idea was to be quiet during this time, the pool was also closed.
Tips for Quiet Time and Visitors at Enzo Stella Maris Campground
These quiet times also made it difficult for you to come or go from the campground unless you did some planning ahead of time. There was a parking lot at the entrance to the campground where you could move your car if you wanted to leave the campground during the quiet times.
The gates are closed between 1pm and 3pm. If you come back to the campground before the quiet time is over, you could always park in this lot until the gates open.
We had some friends visit us at our campsite, and they used this lot as well. They also needed to register in the reception office before being allowed on the grounds.
Shower/Bathrooms at Enzo Stella Maris Campground
To save a lot of typing, I’m going to call the Shower/Bathrooms building the “sanitary building”. We were so glad that we weren’t very far from the sanitary building at Enzo Stella Maris. No one wants a long walk when you need to use the restroom or when you have a lot of dishes to carry.
This building had a men’s side and a women’s side. There was a long line of toilet stalls and sinks, which were very well-maintained. Many mornings, I would see the cleaning staff block off the area to clean. If this happens, you should know that there are other sanitary buildings in the campground to use. All sanitary buildings are wheelchair accessible and have areas for baby changing.
Shower Area and Times
There was a separate section for showers within the building, and I never found an issue with showering in the mornings. However, if you wanted to take a shower anytime between 5pm and 7pm, you might have had to wait in line.
Though there were many shower stalls, this seemed to be the popular time to shower to get the beach or pool washed off of you, so you were ready for a nice supper out in the restaurant or attend a show at Enzo Stella Maris Camping.
Kitchen Area at Enzo Stella Maris Campground
Kitchen facilities in Italy are much different than that of our home country of Denmark. Instead of finding places to cook your meals in an oven or on a stove top, there aren’t any places for cooking at all. This means that you would have to cook in your camper, on you grill, or eat out.
This was fine for us, since we came prepared with our Weber grill and wanted to try as much Italian food as our budget would allow. One thing we were happy for was the large room of sinks. Many sinks meant that there were often no lines for doing dishes, and because we had the change of scenery, my boys didn’t mind helping with the dishes!
Laundry
At the end of this “sink room” was a washer and dryer that were coin operated. Since our stay at Enzo Stella Maris was over a week and since we had spent five days before that in Germany, we really needed to do laundry after a few days. These machines were easy to use, and since I got to them early in the morning, I didn’t have to wait to use them!
Playgrounds
At Enzo Stella Maris, there were two playgrounds next to the pool and Animation Team gazebo, which were separated from each other by a small koi pond and bridge. We really hit the jackpot as far as our location was concerned, since these playgrounds were so close to our camper! Our boys didn’t have far to go to have any fun, and we didn’t have far to go to find them! 🙂
Smaller Playground
One of the playgrounds was more for the smaller children, since the playground items were smaller and easier for toddlers and smaller children to use. This campground was perfect for perfect for families who wanted to stay in the area of Venice with toddlers. My boys tried this out on the first night that we were there, but quickly moved on to the bigger playground and ping pong tables.
Larger Playground
The other playground was a bit bigger and more entertaining for older children. It had two separate, wooden playgrounds with slides, a zipline, various rope areas to climb and a ping pong area with two tables.
My boys developed a love for playing ping pong so much that we had to buy a set of ping pong paddles while on this trip. You know that you are experiencing the best camping in Italy when you have happy children, and we had two very happy boys! The ping pong area was probably the most popular section of the playground.
Fitness Program and Exercise Opportunities
One reason why I felt that I was on a resort while staying at Enzo Stella Maris Camping was because of the daily (weekdays, except for Wednesday) fitness program. At 9am, there would be some type of exercise class offered in the pool area. The classes lasted an hour and were instructed by trained staff members.
This truly was luxury camping in Italy at its best. I went as much as I could and got to do yoga, aqua gym and Pilates. There was no reason why my exercise routine should have to stop while I was on vacation, so I was so happy to have had the opportunity of staying in shape while on vacation.
Gym for Working Out
At the far end of the larger playground was a sand pit for beach volleyball and a small hut that was connected to the pool area where an a small gym of weights was located. The gym had specific opening hours and tended to be filled with people during the morning hours when the temperatures weren’t so hot.
Grocery Store
We loved the opportunity to get fresh vegetables, meats, breads and wine at the campground grocery store. It was by far the best grocery store we have seen at a campground, which could be another reason why we think that Enzo Stella Maris Camping is the best camping in Italy.
Imagine the array of olives, cheeses, oils and cookies, in which Italy is famous, for being readily available within a walk from your camper! We stocked up on our fair share of lunch meats, and because the local wine was on tap at the grocery store, we were able to fill up a bottle and try all the different types of wines while visiting the campground!
When in Rome, right? How about “when in the best campsite in northern Italy”!? Some days, we would even return for one of the fresh pastries or cookies to offer the boys a nice midday snack! The food experience of the trip was reason enough to make Enzo Stella Maris a place to visit again and again! Just remember that they close during the quiet time.
Restaurants at Enzo Stella Maris Campground in Italy
Though we chose to eat breakfast and lunch in our camper, we took advantage of the different restaurants that were at Enzo Stella Maris Camping and nearby for many suppers.
There were two restaurants on the grounds and one neighborhood restaurant that was across the street from the campground. We, of course, came to Italy to camp, but getting some good, Italian food was also very high on our priority list.
Ristorante Gelateria
Ristorante Gelateria was one of the restaurants at Enzo Stella Maris Camping and was located on the beach. They served everything from breakfast foods to full meals to snacks to crepes. The prices were VERY reasonable and the selection was wide.
Enzo Ristorante Pizzeria
Enzo Ristorante Pizzeria was another restaurant located near the entrance to the campground that served some of the best pizza and pasta dishes you could find in any campground claiming to be the best campsite in northern Italy. The selection was so large that they had two pages of the menu just dedicated to children’s meals.
My husband was very happy to see many choices of seafood dishes, and the boys couldn’t wait to try the pasta. I was very happy that they didn’t choose to order pizza whenever we went out. Instead, they tried something new each time. Our favorite meals were Tagliolini al salmone, Spaghetti Carbonara, Lasagne Della Casa, and of course, the pizza!
Across the street was another restaurant called Bar Marino, which wasn’t associated with the campground. They had some of the most delicious pizzas and friendly service. We really enjoyed our visit and left feeling very full! 🙂
Next to Bar Marino was a small arcade, which was a great way for our boys to burn off some of their food while their dad and I enjoyed local wine and brews!
All restaurants had a great selection of gelato (ice cream), and if you are from Denmark, you won’t believe the prices! Let’s just say, that Enzo Stella Maris could be considered the best camping spot in Italy just for the ice cream.
If you are planning on eating at one of the restaurants, I would advise that you make a reservation. These places tend to fill up at suppertime.
Nearby Camping and Beach Store
Across the street from the campground and next to Bar Marino is a very nice camping and beach store. We were a bit unprepared for the sun of Italy and found a very reasonably-priced, beach umbrella here. This is also where we bought the ping pong paddles and some diving rings for the boys.
They have so much of a selection and will definitely help make your stay at Enzo Stella Maris, the best camping in Italy, much easier with a few necessary items you didn’t know you needed! 🙂
Beach
On many days, we would spend half of our time at the pool and the other half at the beach, which in my opinion, was one of the reasons we chose to spend our summer camping in Veneto. The beaches of northern Italy are fantastic!!
Though our campsite was located in the middle of the campground, we didn’t have far to walk to reach the beach, which was just at the edge of Enzo Stella Maris Camping.
With our new beach umbrella planted in the sane, we set up our blankets and mini beach tent to get comfortable in the sun. We loved the beaches in our home country of Denmark, but they were rarely this warm!
We were very happy for the warm water, too. Playing ball in the water or digging in the sand, we had some of the best days at the beach when camping in Italy.
If you wanted a cool drink or snack, there was also a cart ready to take your order! You would need to play for these items, though.
One thing that I should mention about the beaches are that there tend to be people walking around trying to sell things from beach towels to jewelry. Don’t take valuables with you to the beach, and be sure to be mindful of your things! This could be said of any beach, though!
We also enjoyed going to the beach after supper before the sun set. It was much quieter then with fewer people!
Summer Events
If you haven’t been persuaded enough to feel that Enzo Stella Maris campground is your obvious choice for the best camping in Veneto, best campsite in northern Italy and/or best camping in Italy overall, let me try one last time to convince you!
Every summer, Enzo Stella Maris Camping offers different options for entertainment at the campground. These vary from fireworks on the beach, concerts or DJs.
Beach Disco
One night, we were there for a DJ disco on the beach where they gave out free watermelon slices.
Live Music
Another night, they had a local drama group come to perform songs from all the top musicals. It was nice to get some live entertainment!
When the concert went a bit too long, we were glad still to be able to enjoy it from the tent at our camper, since our campsite was so close to the swimming pool area and the concert!
Brochures for the Summer Events in Cavallino-Treporti and Venice Beach are available in the reception building. This brochure will tell you about all the entertainment for the entire summer at Enzo Stella Maris and the other campgrounds and towns nearby!
Kids’ Disco
They even have a children’s disco a few times a week in the pool area in between supper and bedtime. Friendly staff members perform dance-a-longs with the children and do other fun activities. They even had a Star character greet the children. This seemed perfect for smaller children, but my boys were still able to feel entertained!
Overall Impressions
If we were to do it all over again, we would definitely stay at Enzo Stella Maris Camping again! Not only did we find it to be one of the best places for camping in Italy, we felt that the kind people and culture of the area were well worth the trip.
As we left the campground, we had a feeling that nothing could ever top the experience we had at Enzo Stella Maris Camping! The friendly staff and excellent events, programs and amenities really won our hearts!
However, I would suggest to Enzo Stella Maris Camping to add more ping pong tables. There were so many kids who wanted to play that I just know extra tables would get used with pleasure!
Tip for When You Visit Nearby Towns
If we were to take any negative feelings from the trip, it would have to be the mosquitoes! Luckily for Enzo Stella Maris Camping, this wasn’t anything that they did! 🙂
When we left the campground and went to one of the other towns for dinner one night, my two sons were eaten up by mosquitoes as they watched a children’s show that was being performed in the streets. We will need to invest in a better way of dealing with these pests during our next trip to Italy.
Tip for Cars at the Campground
One last thing to mention would be to bring a cover for your car. Since the campers are situated under trees, a fact that we appreciated since the sun was super hot, we however had lots of bird poop on our car. It would have been nice to know that a car cover was needed before we left Denmark.
If you want to have the best camping experience in Italy and hope to find the best campsite in northern Italy / Veneto, Enzo Stella Maris is the place for you!
Day Trips from Enzo Stella Maris Campground
There were a few days during our trip when we explored the areas around the campground. Below, you will find a list of places to visit and things to do outside of the campground, which we enjoyed or would have liked to have had more time to do.
- Bike Rental and Mini Golf (200m outside of entrance)
- Burano, Italy (4.2km away)
- Ristorante Pizzeria al Campiello (5.1km away)
- Murano, Italy (6.8km away)
- Market at San Doná Di Piave (32.5km away)
- Shopping at Noventa Di Piave Outlet Mall (37.6km away)
- Padova, Italy (86.8km away)
- Venice, Italy (catch a ferry from Punta Sabbioni, 5km away)
Getting in Touch with Enzo Stella Maris
As mentioned before, Enzo Stella Maris isn’t likely to take reservation for the campground, but if you would like to get in touch with them to rent a bungalow or vacation apartment, here is their information.
Website: http://www.enzostellamaris.com/eng/
Address: Via delle Batterie, 100 / I- 30013 Cavallino-Treporti (Venezia) Italy
Telephone: +39 041 966030
Email: info@enzostellamaris.com
Click here to see a Live Cam video of the Campground!
Map of / Directions to Enzo Stella Maris Camping
Click here for a site map of the campground!
Click here to get directions to Enzo Stella Maris! (scroll down)
Where are you going on your next camping trip? Do you have a favorite campground? Tell me about it in the comments!
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