Car Rental - Venice

 

Rent a car in Venice to explore the winding canals, Gothic palaces and picturesque piazzas that make up the Floating City.

Collect your car rental from Venice Airport at our Hertz hire lot, or at one of many Hertz locations in the city, then follow the bridge from the mainland to the Venetian Lagoon. Park up and start exploring the City of Bridges as intended – by boat or gondola. Float down the Grand Canal, visit the iconic Saint Mark’s Basilica, then grab an early evening meal at one of Venice’s hole-in-the-wall eateries.

Fancy a mini road trip? With Venice car rental, you can easily explore the wider Veneto region of northeast Italy. Padua is only a 30-minute driveaway, while Verona and Lake Garda are around an hour and 30 minutes’ drive.

You can choose a compact hatchback for smooth city driving or a smart sedan for added luxury. Reserve your car rental in Venice with Hertz today to start your Venetian adventure.

Venice Locations

A Quick Guide to Venice

Basilica di San Marco

San Marco, 328, Venice, Italy, 30124

It’s hard to miss the gilded domes and Byzantine columns of St. Mark’s Basilica in Piazza San Marco. In fact, it’s one of the most visited landmarks in Venice – and for good reason. Take a tour to admire the mesmerizing interiors, from the golden mosaic ceilings to the tessellated floor that covers more than 2,000 square meters. From our Venice airport car rental lot, it’s only a 16-minute drive making it a great place to visit when you land or leave.

Palazzo Ducale

Plaza San Marco, 1, Venice, Italy, 30124

Just next door to the Basilica is the Palazzo Ducale, or Doge’s Palace – a Gothic masterpiece dating back to the 14th century. See the Doge’s apartments for yourself on a tour of the residence, which includes entry to the Museo dell’Opera, the central courtyard, prisons and armory. And don’t miss the 24-carat Scala d’Oro – or Golden Staircase – that leads you to the top of the palace.

Grand Canal

Ghetto Vecchio, Venice, Italy, 30121

Swap driving your rental car on Venice’s mainland for floating down the Grand Canal in a gondola or vaporetto boat. As the main waterway in the City of Bridges, the Grand Canal offers some of the best views of the city. Spot the Gothic palaces that line the waterfront, as well as iconic landmarks like the Rialto Bridge.

Restaurant Terrazza Danieli

Riva degli Schiavoni, 4196, Venice, Italy, 30122

Head up to Hotel Danieli’s top floor terrace for a Venetian-inspired dinner, set against the city’s skyline. The hotel’s 200-year history is marked by a seven-course Bicentennial Tasting Menu featuring herring rolls à la Kaiser Wilhelm III and oysters with salsa “Veneziana”.

Al Covo

Campiello de la Pescaria, 3968, Venice, Italy, 30122

This family-owned Italian restaurant offers a rustic, yet refined setting for a light lunch or family dinner. An authentic menu showcases the very best of the Venetian lagoon, with locally sourced ingredients and seasonal flavors that change daily depending on market availability. Try the homemade pasta dishes, freshly caught fish, and artisan meats.

Ristorante Da Ivo

San Marco, 1809, Venice, Italy, 30124

Step off your gondola into the eclectic dining room of Ristorante Da Ivo, filled with vintage wine bottles, copper pots and framed photographs. As you twirl your fork into fresh taglioni, truffle scallops and grilled lamb chops, you might even spot a few familiar faces on the walls. This cozy eatery is a popular haunt of film stars, singers and celebrities – from George Clooney to Alicia Keys.

The St. Regis Venice

San Marco, 2159, Venice, Italy, 30124

With its prime position along the Grand Canal, the iconic St. Regis Venice hotel offers a luxury retreat in the city. Elegant guestrooms capture the spirit of Venice, with bespoke furnishings, views of the terracotta rooftops and a personalized butler service for every suite. Dine on Italian delicacies at the on-site Gio’s Restaurant & Terrace and enjoy some well-earned pampering in the Spa Suites. Here, you’re only minutes away from our local Hertz Venice car rental location.

Hotel Indigo Venice - Sant'Elena

Calle Buccari, 10, Sant'Elena, Venice, Italy, 30132

Tucked away in a converted monastery in the laidback Sant’Elena neighborhood, Hotel Indigo Venice is the ideal base for exploring the Floating City. Enjoy traditional Venetian cuisine at the hotel’s Savor Restaurant or take a break in the inner garden before venturing out to the lively streets and squares. From our Hertz car rental lot at Venice Airport, it’s a 40-minute drive to the hotel.

San Clemente Palace Kempinski Venice

Isola di San Clemente, 1, Venice, Italy, 30124

Nestled on a private island, the San Clemente Palace Kempinski guarantees a peaceful retreat with breathtaking views over the Venetian Lagoon. Enjoy superb hotel amenities including an outdoor pool, tennis court and golf course, plus a dedicated boat service to and from the shores of Piazza San Marco. 

Driving In and Around Venice

  • Venezia Tronchetto Parking (30135) offers almost 4000 covered parking spaces with convenient access to the city via the nearby ferry terminals.
  • Venice City Park Srl (30175) has 250 parking spaces on the mainland, near the Pala Expo di Venezia conference center. From here, you can also take a bus to the city center. It’s a perfect parking spot if you want to leave your rental car to explore Venice on foot for a while.
  • Venice Park (30135) is a convenient parking garage just moments from the Grand Canal. It’s open 24/7 and also has EV charging points available. If you’re exploring Venice by EV car rental, you can charge and explore at the same time.
  • Via della Libertà (SR11) runs parallel to the train track and bridges the old city of Venice with the mainland.
  • Autostrada A4 is one of the main motorways in northern Italy, which connects Turin and Trieste – passing through Milan and Venice.
  • Via Orlanda (SS14) links the city to Venice Airport, then continues further east until it reaches Trieste.

How to Get From Venice to Florence

It takes around three hours to drive the 162 miles from Venice by rental car to Florence.

  1. Leave the car rental parking lot in Venice and follow the SR11 on to the mainland.
  2. Keep left at the fork and use the slip road to join Tangenziale di Mestre.
  3. After six miles, take the A13 exit towards Bologna/Padova Zona Ind/Interporto.
  4. Continue on the A13 for 72 miles.
  5. As you approach Bologna, take the A14 around the city following signs for Firenze.
  6. Use the left lane to merge on to the A1 and continue for 54 miles.
  7. Take exit Firenze Scandicci and follow signs into Firenze (Florence).

 

How to Get From Venice to Milan

Milan is a three-hour drive from Venice by rental car. Just head west on the A4 for around 100 miles, then take the A35, A58 and SP14 into Milano Centro.