Sosta Motorhome Parking in Italy
After various tours in the campervan to different regions, we soon knew all about Sosta motorhome parking in Italy and just how beneficial it is to motorhome tourists.
Just like Aires in France, Italy has a similar motorhome parking known as the Aree di Sosta. Having this flexible overnight parking brings many benefits to touring Italy and we think they’re great!
What’s an Aire?
We’ve been fans of Aires in France since our motorhome travels began 20 years ago. An Aire is an easy and convenient way of parking overnight, bringing flexibility and practicality for motorhome users.
Aires (short for Aire de Camping Car) are dedicated areas for motorhomes to legally and usually safely stay overnight. There is often a time limit for parking, usually 48 or 72 hours, but this can differ.
There is often, but not always a dump and fresh water service area within the Aire or close by.
An Aire can be free or fee-paying, it can be scenic or functional, each is different.
Italy Sosta parking and French Aires
Our tours of Italy have taken us across various regions, from cities to beach and mountains to lakes.
One thing in common with all areas we’ve seen, is the Sosta motorhome parking which is equally as good as Aires in France.
What is Sosta Motorhome parking in Italy?
The official name for motorhome parking in Italy is an Aree di Sosta Camper.
Simply put, this is a dedicated area for overnight motorhome parking, found in numerous locations across Italy.
The important thing to remember is this isn’t camping. So, there’s no guarantee of getting out the camping chairs or BBQ.
Known as a Sosta for short, these locations are generally nothing more than a parking space. Having said that, they can vary enormously.
Some Sosta’s are simply amazing, whilst others may be just functional. So whilst there may be locations with incredible views, other’s can resemble nothing more than a functional place to park.
Sosta motorhome parking in Italy – Are they Free?
A motorhome Sosta parking is usually fee paying, but generally low cost.
Many Sosta’s have a parking machine to pay the overnight fee. In this respect, Sosta motorhome parking in Italy is very similar to the Stellplatz system in Germany.
The parking fee varies, but averages around 10 Euro per night. However, there are some free Sosta’s too. These are often in less popular locations. Expect to pay more per night on the coast or in high tourist areas.
Emptying the waste and filling the fresh
Just like Aires in France, Sosta motohome parking areas in Italy often come with a dump and fresh water service area.
There’s usually a drain in the ground to drive over and release the waste water and a water tap for filling up.
Toilet emptying – be warned
The one big difference in Italy, is the waste water drain in the ground is sometimes the toilet emptying point too. You’ve been warned – it’s not always a pretty sight!
It’s always a good idea to check what’s where, before starting and ask if unsure.
Where are Sosta motorhome parking areas located?
As with everything, location is key and no more so than a Sosta motorhome parking in Italy. Whether it be a big city such as Florence or a scenic mountain village in The Dolomites. The chances are, there will be a Sosta somewhere close by to park the night.
The chances are, some may be noisy, others may be dirty or just unappealing. However these parking areas can be superb, each is different and there are some amazing locations.
If you rely on electric, this can be tricky, the same goes for non-self contained campervans without a shower and toilet for example. This is because Sosta parking areas don’t have campsite facilities unless they are a private Sosta, which may then provide toilets and showers.
The advantage of Sosta parking is a flexibility to come and go frequently without planning, and more than likely they’ll be within walking distance of a town.
Is Sosta parking Safe?
There’s certainly some Sosta motorhome parking in Italy we’ve not wanted to stay on. Quite simply, if it doesn’t feel right we’ll move on regardless.
Most importantly, with any motorhome parking no matter which country it’s in, the key is to never let your guard down.
We look around first, check out the area, keep an eye out for undesirables and take precautions against robbery. Keeping alert to anything suspicious and acting on instinct. If in doubt, finding somewhere else to stop is priority.
Reading the comments on Apps is helpful, to see if anyone’s had a break in or any trouble.
Usually, cities and big tourist towns are the most vulnerable, so if it means finding somewhere safer outside and getting transport in, then that’s what we’ll do.
Are there any Private Sosta motorhome parking in Italy?
Not all Sosta parking is provided by the local authority. Some are private and these can be an excellent option. Generally they’ll offer facilities such as showers, toilets and electric, which most public Sosta’s don’t have.
Private Sosta’s usually provide better security too, often with the owner or manager being on site or visiting regularly. They’ll sometimes have a small reception area to check in and pay the fees.
They often have more space for parking the campervan too, giving a little more room between vans and the bonus of being able to sit outside.
Popular Locations
In peak season, most areas in popular locations will be really busy. So, arriving early is essential to find a free space, especially if it’s a beach or top tourist area.
Keeping within the parking bays provided and staying up to the maximum time limit shown is important. Each location will have a sign stating the rules, including the length of stay permitted.
How do you find a Sosta?
Phone App’s are available online which have details of motorhome parkings areas in various parts of Europe.
We like to use Camper Contact which is built into our Garmin Sat Nav or Park 4 Night but others are available. Remember these will use data, so checking allowances with individual mobile providers for use abroad is important.
There are other Apps available, such as Search for Sites, you can find out more about this and other Apps here: Top Apps For Motorhome Stopovers
There will be motorhome signs near the location too. These are usually blue with an outline of a motorhome. If you’ve seen them in France, the Italy Sosta signs are similar.
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