Car Hire Venice

Venice may be known for its car-free streets but car rental means you can easily drive to the city, park up and then travel to the centre by waterbus or water taxi. There are plenty of parking spaces, just be sure to check the costs as they can vary.

Hiring a car in Venice means you can easily explore the rest of Italy at your own pace. Roads within the country are generally well maintained and you’ll find a mixture of big autostrade highways, with a speed limit of 130 km/h, and smaller roads with varying limits. Signs are clear so navigating the major routes is relatively straightforward.

The city of Treviso is around a 45-minute drive away along the SS13. You can visit here for a day trip or use it as a stopping off point before heading further north. Vicenza is another city worth visiting. Around an hour’s drive from Venice, it’s home to a stunning 16^th-century palace and art museum alongside a host of other iconic buildings.

When driving around Venice and further afield in Italy, it’s important to note a few key things. Trams and trains have right of way, and dipped headlights need to be used on double lane highways. You can find more information about driving in Italy, here.

You don’t really need a guide book in Venice, you can simply walk the streets and be awestruck by the sheer beauty on show, from the labyrinthine network of canals to charming cobbled streets and dazzling Venetian Gothic architecture.

Fall in love with Venice

Venice is unlike any other city in Italy – or the world for that matter. For a start it’s built on more than 100 small islands, lending it an other-worldly atmosphere.

Embrace the romance of the city by taking a gondola ride along one of the canals. The City of Venice sets official rates, so prices shouldn’t vary too much between operators, although they do go up at night.

The Grand Canal is the most famous of them all, lined with sumptuous examples of Venetian architecture, but it may be better to explore by a less expensive vaporetto, or water bus.

The city is split into six main sestieri – or neighbourhoods – whose back streets offer a treasure trove of curios. Antique bookshops sit alongside magnificent churches and one-off artisanal stores, making it perfect for wandering and exploring.  

Dine in one of the city’s many outstanding restaurants offering fresh seafood sourced direct from the Venetian Lagoon that spreads out over 550 square kilometres.

Riviera is one of the finest. You’ll find it on Fondamenta Zattere Al Ponte Lungo, where the quality of the menu can only be matched by the beautiful surroundings. Opt for the stunning sea bass or branch out by plumping for a delectable octopus burger.

A work of art

Get ready to be blown away as you step inside the Piazza San Marco. As one of the most famous squares in the world, St Mark’s Square buzzes with life and is home to the spectacular Palazzo Ducale and opulent Basilica di San Marco. The latter, a striking building with a rich history, is open to visitors keen to admire the artistry on show.

Alongside the breathtaking buildings, you’ll find that Venice is also home to amazing works of art by some of the country’s most famous artists. Visit the Peggy Guggenheim Collection, a quirky gallery that includes works from Picasso, Pollock, and Dali, or the Museo Correr.

Plan an Italian adventure

Positioned off the coast, Venice is the perfect spot to kick off a tour around the Veneto region, and Italy as a whole.

Verona, just to the west, is the setting for Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, and the ideal spot for a day trip. Visit Juliet’s famous balcony or appreciate the incredible structural feat of Arena di Verona which stands proud in the heart of the city. This amphitheatre plays host to numerous events throughout the year.

Just south from Venice is thriving Bologna – its status as Italy’s culinary capital further enhanced by the recent opening of a food-based theme park.

FICO Eataly World – a 30-minute drive outside the city – combines interactive education with a celebration of Italian food in all its guises, not to mention a vast selection of cafes and restaurants in which to enjoy the region’s specialities.

Bologna is the place that gave the world tortellini, tagliatelle and ragu – or, as the rest of the world refers to it, Bolognese sauce. It goes without saying that the Bolognese here is worth sampling before you leave. They’ve been making it since the 18^th century and you’ll find it traditionally served with ribbons of fresh tagliatelle.

Car hire in Venice means you can make this blissful city your first port of call – but not your last. Enjoy the freedom to venture far and wide, exploring more of what Italy has to offer and creating treasured memories as you go.