car hire venice
Pick up your hire car at Venice airport and fall in love with this most romantic and unique city.Book car hire venice now
the 60-second guide to Venice
in its own head
"Come on, everyone knows this is the most beautiful, romantic city on the planet. How many others are built on water and can boast some of the most decorative architecture in the world?"
but more realistically
Yes, Venice is certainly unique, beautiful and romantic. It's also sinking, so go soon!
the vibe
Once you've bobbed about the Venetian waterways on a gondola, pull up a chair in St Mark's Square, grab an espresso and watch the world go by.
the natives
According to the 2007 census, your average Venetian is a 46-year old Italian. The chances are they're fond of strutting about in Prada footwear and Gucci sunglasses.
the weather
Spring is probably the best time to visit Venice as the weather is usually fine. The heat in summer tends to make the canals pong, while in winter, rain increases the chances of flooding.
the local speciality
Unsurprisingly, Venetian cuisine is based largely on fish. Try the local cuttlefish dishes, but beware of inflated prices in some restaurants.
the celebrity
Marco Polo, the 13th century explorer got the exploration bug from navigating around the Venetian canal system.
did you know?
Amazingly, there are fewer than 20 plumbers throughout the whole city of Venice.
they say
"Venice is like eating an entire box of chocolate liqueurs in one go." - author Truman Capote
5 to see in town...
San Marco Piazza is the most impressive square in Venice and the focal point of the city - not least for thousands of pigeons
where to park?
Venice is built on water, so your hire car is going to be useful for getting out into the surrounding area, but not in the city itself. One place to leave your car before jumping on a water taxi or gondola is the six-storey, 2,300-space ASM garage at Piazzale Roma near the train station. It charges a flat fee of €24 for every 24 hours.
5 to see in town...
The Frari is the grandest of the three gothic churches in Venice. Inside are some fine works of art, including Donatello's figure of St John the Baptist.
where to park?
You'll need a water taxi to get here, though another place to leave your car in the city is the 3,500-space car park on the artificial island of Tronchetto, located on the right at the end of the Ponte della Liberta causeway. Fees start from €3 per hour or €20 a day.
5 to see in town...
The Grand Canal is pretty hard to avoid as it's the major route through the city. Take a boat up the waterway and check out the beautiful buildings that line its banks.
where to park?
If you're coming in to Venice from mainland Italy, there's a car park opposite the rail station at Mestre which charges €6 a day on weekdays or €10 at weekends. From there you can catch a train to Venezia Santa Lucia, which faces the Grand Canal.
5 to see in town...
The clock tower in St Mark's Square is Venice's answer to a Rolex - it was built in the late 1400s to show off the city's wealth.
where to park?
Another place to leave your hire car before hitting the water is the car park managed by the Italian Automobile Club at Punta Sabbioni on the Jesolo Lido. From here, ferries to Venice run every half an hour.
5 to see in town...
The Rialto is a spectacular way to cross the Grand Canal. The ornate stone structure is lined with shops so it's easy to get distracted while you're walking from one side to the other.
where to park?
Yet another car park is that of the Marco Polo 2002, near the Marco Polo airport. Rates range from €2.50 for six hours to €27 for a week. From here the Alilaguna Orange line sails to Rialto in 54 minutes.
and 4 to drive to...
The north-eastern section of the Alps are a mecca for anyone who enjoys winter sports, while there are plenty of activities in the summer months to keep you occupied as well.
how to get there?
Take the A27 north once you are out of Venice. It takes about two and a half hours to get to the Dolomites.
and 4 to drive to...
The nearby city of Padova was the setting for Shakespeare's Taming of the Shrew. Check out Giotto's famous frescoes at the Scrovegni Chapel, which is airlocked to preserve the ancient works.
how to get there?
Head out of Venice on the SR11, then onto the A4. It's a 50-minute journey to Padova.
and 4 to drive to...
Verona's ancient arena is the city's answer to the Roman Colosseum and is well worth a visit, along with Juliet's balcony.
how to get there?
It's an hour and 30 minutes to Verona. Take the A4/E70 west once you've left Venice.
and 4 to drive to...
Italy's biggest lake is surrounded by pretty towns. The picturesque Gardone Riviera has an attractive waterfront promenade with some lovely beaches, which are perfect for paddling.
how to get there?
It should take around two hours to get to Lake Garda. Head west on the A4/E70 and head north on the SS45bis.
ask a Venice cabbie!
Local water taxi driver Marco Trevisan extols the virtues of the city's unique form of public transport: "Our stylishly upholstered wooden launches are specially designed to fit under the low bridges. They can accommodate up to 10 passengers with luggage, so you may want to team up with other visitors and share the cost. Still - except on foot - getting around Venice doesn't come cheap, whatever your chosen means of transportation. Also, be aware that house numbers here go by the city district and not by the street: that's why Venetian address numbers are often in the thousands!"