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Find competitive car rental prices in Venice with Road Genius. Find rates for SUVs, compact cars and people movers, and make bookings with no booking fees. Pick up at Venice Marco Polo Airport for the widest choice, or choose Piazzale Roma or Mestre to avoid the airport surcharge. If you’re staying in Venice, plan to park at Piazzale Roma or Tronchetto and use your rental car for easy day trips to the Prosecco wine road, Padua and Verona.
| Location | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| Venice Marco Polo Airport (VCE) | • Largest selection of vehicles • Major rental companies • Extended hours • Easy motorway access |
• 16% airport surcharge • Located 13 km (8 miles) from Venice • Need water transport to reach central Venice |
| Piazzale Roma (Venice's entrance) | • No airport surcharge • Walking distance to water transport • Convenient for departing Venice |
• Limited vehicle selection • Smaller rental facilities • Advance booking essential • Traffic congestion possible |
| Mestre (mainland) | • No airport surcharge • Near train station • Lower parking costs |
• Limited selection compared to airport • Need public transport to reach Venice • Some agencies close on weekends |
| Treviso Airport | • Sometimes lower rates • Less congested than Marco Polo |
• Located 40 km (25 miles) from Venice • Fewer rental companies • Limited operating hours |
If flying into Venice, the airport offers the best selection despite the surcharge. For those already staying in Venice and planning day trips, Piazzale Roma is most convenient. Mestre works well for travelers arriving by train who need a car for regional exploration.
On average, car rentals in Venice cost around €91 per day, with the lowest-priced rentals available from €8 per day.
Compare pickup spots: VCE has the biggest selection but adds about a 16% airport surcharge. Check Piazzale Roma and Mestre too, then weigh price vs selection and shorter city office hours.
Book by season, not always early: For summer, Carnival and the Film Festival, book well ahead. In winter, waiting until 1-2 weeks out can be cheaper.
Only rent for driving days: Venice is car-free and parking by the edge runs €21-30/day. Pick up when leaving and return before coming back to Venice to avoid garage costs.
Park smarter if you keep the car: Use San Giuliano Park (Mestre) for about €12/day plus a short bus, or choose a Mestre hotel with low-cost parking.
Choose smaller/manual: Economy cars cost less to rent and fuel and are easier in Padua, Treviso and Verona. Manuals are more available and cheaper than automatics.
Mind add-ons and options: Extra driver fees are typically €10-15/day. One-way within Italy can be reasonably priced, so compare both round trip and one-way. Fuel up in town rather than on the motorway.
| Area | Parking Options | Local Tips |
|---|---|---|
| Venice Entry Points | • Piazzale Roma garage • Tronchetto island parking lot • San Giuliano Park in Mestre (bus connection) |
Piazzale Roma and Tronchetto are the only options directly connected to Venice proper. Both fill up in peak season. Book online when possible. |
| Mainland Venice (Mestre) | • Cheaper hotel spaces • Public garages • Park & Ride facilities |
Many Mestre hotels offer free or reduced-cost spaces. Consider staying on mainland if planning extensive driving. |
| Day Trip Destinations | • Padua: Parking lots outside city walls • Verona: Arena area garages • Treviso: Ring road spaces |
Most Veneto cities have ZTL (Limited Traffic Zone) restrictions. Park in designated parking lots outside historic centers. |
| Beaches (Lido di Jesolo, Caorle) | • Beach-adjacent paid parking lots • Hotel spaces for guests • Street areas in some locations |
Summer beach parking lots fill early (by 10-11 AM). Consider early arrival or public transport alternatives from Venice. |
Important Driving Rules:
Book a rental car to visit:
Prosecco Wine Road – vineyards, wineries
Padua – Scrovegni Chapel, Giotto frescoes
Verona – Arena di Verona, Piazza delle Erbe
Lake Garda – Sirmione, Bardolino
Cortina d'Ampezzo – Falzarego Pass, Lake Misurina
Brenta Canal – Villa Pisani, Villa Foscari
Where exactly can I park a car near Venice? You can only park your car in two spots that connect directly to the main part of Venice: the multi-level garage at Piazzale Roma (around €26-30 per day) and the parking lot on Tronchetto island (around €21-25 per day). From both places, you can walk into Venice or catch a vaporetto water bus. For cheaper parking, you can use San Giuliano Park in Mestre (around €12/day) and then take a short bus ride to Venice.
Is it difficult to return a rental car at Venice Airport? It's easy to return a car at Venice Marco Polo Airport. As you get close to the airport, just follow the signs for "Car Rental Return". You should give yourself 20-30 minutes to drop off the car if it's busy. After you leave the car, you can walk to the terminal in about 5 minutes. If you want to get a water bus to Venice, you can walk along the covered walkway to the Alilaguna dock. This takes about 7–10 minutes from the terminal.
Can I drive from the mainland to my hotel in Venice? No, the main part of Venice doesn't have roads. It only has canals and walking paths. You can only drive your car as far as Piazzale Roma or Tronchetto, which are on the edge of the city. From there, you have to get around on foot or by water transport like a vaporetto or water taxi. If your hotel is in Venice itself, you will need to park your car in one of those spots and take your luggage to the hotel separately.
What's the best day trip from Venice by car? People often enjoy day trips by car to the Prosecco wine road (30-60 km (19-37 miles) north) for vineyard tours and tastings. You can also visit Padua (40 km (25 miles)) for its historic university and Scrovegni Chapel, the Palladian villas along the Brenta Canal and the medieval towns of Asolo and Bassano del Grappa in the foothills. For a longer day out, you could drive to Verona (115 km (71 miles)) or the southern shores of Lake Garda.
How can I avoid ZTL fines when visiting cities in the Veneto region? You'll find that most historic city centers in the Veneto region (like Padua, Treviso and Vicenza) have ZTL driving restrictions. You should look up parking lots before you go and search for ones that are labeled "Park outside ZTL" or something similar. It's best to follow the brown "P" parking signs instead of trying to drive right to your destination. If your hotel is inside a ZTL, you need to contact them beforehand. Give them your license plate so they can register your car for authorized access.
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