Venice car hire

Top tips for hiring a car in Venice

• Who hasn’t dreamed of the winding little alleys in Venice, the magic the city emanates and the old buildings towering over the river lanes? But Venice is more than the Rialto Bridge and the St. Mark’s Square, so, although driving on the island itself is not allowed, it still makes sense to rent a car as there is more to explore than the island. Places worth driving to include the Parco Nationale delle Dolomiti Bellunesi, which is 1 hour and 40 minutes away by car and definitely worth seeing, and San Donà di Piave, another scenic city in the district of Venice, about 40 minutes away by car.
• Rent a car upon your arrival at Venice Airport Marco Polo to conveniently and flexibly reach the parking lots on the outskirts of the city or many other destinations. The car hire desks are located on the 3rd level of the multi-level parking lot P1. Signs will indicate the way and cars will also need to be returned there when leaving Venice again.
• Driving inside the city of Venice is not allowed, but on the mainland a car will bring you to all your dream destinations. The Italian driving style is rather aggressive, so driving defensively is important. Police officers also tend to concentrate on tourists, so adhering to speed limits (even if locals don’t) is crucial. Most roads in Italy are well-maintained but, when venturing deeper into the countryside, dirt tracks can have potholes and bumps -- so make sure the insurance covers all kinds of damages and adapt speed.
• Rush hour can clog up the streets around Venice so it is better to avoid it. Usually the peak traffic times are between 8-10 am and 4-7 pm. During these times the water buses, known as vaporettos, are also filled up with people and getting a seat is unlikely. Therefore, if possible, try to explore all the destinations outside this timeframe and leave early in the morning or later, after a lengthy breakfast at the hotel.
• 25% of our users found a car hire in Venice for £16 or less
• Book your car hire in Venice at least 1 day before your trip in order to get a below-average price
• Off-airport car hire locations in Venice are around 55% more expensive than airport locations on average
• Mini car hires in Venice are around 65% cheaper than other car types, on average