Driving Around Venice

The Italian city of Venice is known across the world for its spectacular architecture, fantastic food and of course those canals. With buildings and artefacts spanning centuries and the Venetian art collections dating from the 12th century, the city is a magnet for history and art lovers alike. It is also a great draw for foodies as it offers a wide variety of international dishes as well as local fayre such as seafood rice, creamy pasta dishes and crispy pizzas.

Couples flock here from all over the world for its quaint hotels, romantic gondola rides and sunset bridges, but single travellers love coming to the city of canals for its vibrant night life, great bars and huge range of places and activities in which to meet new people. The hot weather, bustling markets, night-life and welcoming bars make it a great place for tourists from all backgrounds and interests. As a result, ever more people are flocking to Venice to soak in the atmosphere.

Although Venice is renowned for its waterways, canals, water taxis and boats which are the main mode of transport in the heart of the city, many tourists exploring this region of Italy find that driving can really take you off the tourist trail and provide access to delights off the beaten track.

A popular driving route is along the roads from cosmopolitan and castello-filled Turin to the fashion capital Milan and through to Venice. The main motorways (autostrada) along this stretch have limits of 85 miles an hour. This route will get you to Venice or Milan in about two and half hours and so is good for a day out, also in view of Expo 2015.

If you are looking for the more leisurely drive, a lot of smaller country roads are available with a lot lower speed limit and are ideal for taking in the Italian scenery. Motorists along these routes almost always stumble across quaint villages, authentic local restaurants and food and craft markets, offering a real taste of the Italian lifestyle and culture, maybe during the Expo 2015. As well as following the city routes, you can also enjoy the many beautiful fishing villages lining the Italian coastline - which is interspersed with winding roads for exploring and offers stunning views.

Driving in Venice city itself is not allowed but parking for your car is easily accessible with mainland parking on offer for long periods of time. There is also a garage constructed on a purpose built island called Tronchetto which is cost-effective and convenient for long-term parking.

In terms of car rental in Venice, there are many main international companies from which to choose your rental car and different price deals on offer throughout the year. With so many fantastic sights and scenery to see around Venice and the nearby cities, it is little wonder that so many people every year make the most of the cheap car hire Venice airport and other local locations have to offer.