Venice Laundromats

Finding a laundromat in Venice isn't easy, but several Venetian self-service laundries do exist. In this article, we'll tell you about three modern and easy-to-use launderettes in Venice's historic center--one in the Cannaregio district near the Rialto Bridge, another on the Via Garibaldi east of Piazza San Marco , and a third just across the Scalzi Bridge from the Venice Santa Lucia Railroad Station. (You'll also find a laundromat on the Lido di Venezia, outside the historic center.)

• Tip for using our directions: Venice street signs are often in Veneziano dialect, while maps generally use Italian spellings. Usually the differences are minor, but they can be confusing if you aren't aware of the discrepancies.

Canareggio: Washop

ABOVE: Washop is on the Calle del Spezier where it feeds into the Campo Santa Maria Nova.

Washop is a fairly new self-service laundry on the Campo Santa Maria Nova, a pleasant neighborhoood square just north of the Miracoli Church in Venice's Cannaregio district. Business hours are 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.

The laundromat is small, but its equipment is modern, with 10- and 14-Kg washing machines. Washop even has a dedicated dryer for "animals, shoes, and carpets." (We recommend drying your animals by hand and saving the dryer for their bedding.)

Reaching Washop is easy: Look for the Chiesa di Santa Maria dei Miracoli on your map, slightly north of the Rialto Bridge. The Campo Santa Maria Nova is practically next door, with Washop located in one corner of the square under a sign that reads "Calle del Spezier."

Castello: Effe Erre

ABOVE: The Effe Erre Laundry is on Rugagiuffa, just south of the Campo Santa Maria Formosa.

The Effe Erre Laundry is in the sestiere or district of Castello, within a few blocks of the Riva degli Schiavoni and the Piazza San Marco.

The laundromat was open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily the last time we checked, and it has instructions in Italian and English that show how to use the machines.

Here's how to reach the Effe Erre Laundry:

From the Riva degli Schiavoni:

Look for the Calle del Vin, a narrow street leading off the waterfront promenade behind the S. Zaccaria vaporetto stop.

Go inland and bear right until you reach a cross street where the Salizzada S. Provolo widens into the Campo S. Provolo.

Cross the street and follow the Calle S. Provolo for a very short distance to the Corte Rotta, which will be on your left. Follow this street a few meters until it feeds into Rugagiuffa (also spelled "Ruga Giuffa"), where you'll soon see the laundromat on your left.

From the Campo Santa Maria Formosa:

Leave the campo at the southeast corner of the square, behind the back or curved end of the church.

When you cross the footbridge, you'll be on Rugagiuffa. Look for the laundromat on your right as you walk down the street.

Santa Croce: Orange Self-Service Lavanderia

ABOVE: The Orange laundromat in Santa Croce is across the Scalzi bridge from Venice Santa Lucia Railroad Station.

The Orange Self-Service Lavanderia in Santa Croce is a short walk from Venice's railroad station. It's open from 7:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. every day of the year.

The laundromat has 8-kg and 18-kg washers and large dryers. Instructions are in five languages, and a wash takes 30 minutes.

The Miti café and cocktail bar is two doors down. In nice weather, you can sit at an outdoor table across from the café and keep an eye on the laundromat while your clothes get washed. A snack bar that sells pizza by the slice is also nearby.

Here's how to reach the laundromat from the Venezia Santa Lucia railroad station:

• As you exit the station, turn left and walk the short distance to the Ponte dei Scalzi, the big stone bridge that crosses the Grand Canal. Go over the bridge.

• Turn right after crossing the bridge and walk a few meters to the blue refreshment stand at the next corner, just before a domed church.

• Turn left at the refreshment stand, walk a short block, and turn right at the Ramo de le Chioverete. You'll see the laundromat straight ahead on your left at the next corner.

Giudecca: Lavanderia Self-Service

The island of La Giudecca is directly across the Giudecca Canal from Venice's Zattere, a south-facing waterfront promenade in the sestiere or district of Dorsoduro. Although Giudecca is home to the ultra-luxe Hotel Cipriani, laundromat customers are likely to be staying at the Generator Hostel, which overlooks the water near the Zittelle vaporetto stop.

To reach the Lavanderia Self-Service from the Generator Hostel, turn left as you leave the hostel and walk along the waterfront. Continue past the Redentore waterbus stop (and over a couple of bridges) until you reach building number 425, which is just beyond the Trattoria Ai Cacciatori.

The laundry is open from 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday to Saturday and from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sundays and holidays.

About the author:

Durant Imboden has written about Venice, Italy since 1996. He covered Venice and European travel at About.com for 4-1/2 years before launching Europe for Visitors (including Venice for Visitors) with Cheryl Imboden in 2001.

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