Travel information

Fast facts about hiring a car from Venice Airport (VCE)

Car hire is easy to arrange from Venice Marco Polo Airport (VCE); well-known providers include Europcar, Avis, Hertz and Sixt. It’s a 20-minute drive to Venice's Piazzale Roma, around 30 minutes to Treviso, and around 40 to Padua. You can be in the Dolomite foothills in well under an hour.

Venice Airport's car rental desks are on the third floor of the P1 car park. The car hire office is signposted from the arrivals hall, and is a short walk away via a covered walkway. You'll pick up your car in the P1 car park area too.

Car hire companies that have desks at Venice Airport include:

• Avis (Tel: +39 041 541 50 30)
• Sixt (Tel: +39 199 291 929)
• Autovia (Tel: +39 041 269 84 05)
• Hertz (Tel: +39 041 541 60 75)
• Europcar (Tel: +39 041 541 56 54)
• Winrent (Tel: +39 041 541 50 32)

Hiring a car in Venice city centre

If you rent a cheap car in Venice itself instead of at the airport, you'll find most companies and pick-up points at Piazzale Roma, close to the Santa Lucia station and ferry hub. Hertz, Avis and Europcar are among the rental firms here, and there's quick access to Ponte della Libertà, the road and rail bridge to the mainland.

Driving in Venice city centre

In Venice itself, the main tourist areas in and around San Marco are simply impossible to explore by car. The city is made up of small islands connected by canals that are best traversed by foot or boat. Renting a car is only a good idea if you’re planning on spending a few days exploring what the wider Veneto region has to offer.

If you’re staying in central Venice, an airport pick-up might not be your best option as you’ll need to leave your car in an outlying car park to get to your central hotel. Parking in Venice – usually at the Tronchetto parking island, at the end of Ponte della Libertà – costs an arm and a leg, so save cash by only collecting the car when you need it. 

Once you’re back on the mainland, you’ll find the roads around Marghera, Mestre and near Venice Marco Polo Airport are easy to navigate and generally well signposted. From these areas, you can easily travel beyond along the main motorways towards Padua, Verona and the Italian Lakes.

Recommended day trips from Venice

Caorle

Driving time: One hour

Brits don't tend to think of the Venice area as a beach destination, but there are some great stretches of sand here (including Venice's own Lido district). Caorle is one of a string of resorts running east along the coast, and its colourful buildings, Roman history and peaceful lagoon – great for a lazy afternoon of kayaking – make it the pick of the bunch. There are two beaches to choose from, and the easternmost (Levante) overlooks a pretty church on a small headland.

Soave

Driving time: One hour 15 minutes

Head inland along the A4 autostrada and you’ll eventually reach the pretty walled town of Soave, famous for its enchanting moated castle and scenic vineyards. You recognise the name, of course – the town is also famous for its distinctive dry white wine, and the historic centre is a good place to sample it over some local food. Afterwards, climb to the hilltop castle for panoramic views, or set out to visit some of the nearby vineyards.

Verona

Driving time: One hour 30 minutes

Forget the link to Shakespeare's star-crossed lovers. It just distracts from what Verona is really about: long, slow walks through medieval streets and pretty squares; ancient monuments, including a 1^st century AD Roman amphitheatre; and high culture, including some surprisingly cutting-edge contemporary galleries and a renowned summer opera festival. The southern shores of Lake Garda are just 30 minutes away.