We will be in Milan for a couple of days in June. We don’t need a car those two days but need to hire one for the rest of our five weeks trip in northern Italy then to Austria, Switzerland and return car to Milan. Should we pick it up from the airport or the train station or is there a more convenient place so we don’t have to put up with city traffic for our onward journey. We are heading towards either Ortisei or Cortina so any driving route suggestions are much appreciated with a one day stopover along the way. From the Dolomites we will head to Austria then Switzerland so suggestion etc are welcomed . I did come across the great Dolomites road from Bolzano to cortina. I was thinking Milan-Verona -Bolzano-Cortina. What do you think. Thank you so much
Posted by
Green Bay
21274 posts
What else are you doing in Austria and Switzerland? You do know to purchase vignettes for Austria and Switzerland and attach the to the windscreen.
Posted by
OP
Perth, W.A, Australia
61 posts
Sam. Yes we know about vignettes. We are going to the Dolomites for hiking as well as hiking in Austria and Switzerland. I am looking at the Lauterbrunnen Valley and the Oberland as well as Ortisei and CASTELROTTO
Posted by
Green Bay
21274 posts
You might contact a consolidator like Auto Europe for prices and locations. Linate Airport is just out side of town on your way. Or you could take a train to Verona Porta Nuova and rent cars at the station. Its is a short way back to the entrance to the Autostrada to head north to Bolzano, then turn off for the road to Ortisei.
Stay there for hiking. Later you can take the mountain roads over a couple of passes to Cortina. Then north to Dobaccio and Lienz, Austria and then the Gross Glockner hwy for more hiking. Then work your way west into Switzerland, eventually getting down to Malpensa Airport.
Posted by
OP
Perth, W.A, Australia
61 posts
Hi Sam. Thank you for all info. I will research your suggestions now. It’s all I’ve been doing all day! Cheers
Posted by
Northamptonshire, England
34215 posts
You know that coming from Australia all drivers driving in Italy and Austria are required to obtain an IDP to accompany their home driving license? And you are aware of Austrian tolls on top of the Vignette, and you understand about ZTL?
Posted by
OP
Perth, W.A, Australia
61 posts
Hi Nigel. Thank you. Yes I’ve read about International Driver’s licence and vignettes and ztl. I’ve keot notes and studied ztl signs. I just want to know where in Milan would be ideal to pick up car. Airport or train station for a fast getaway to Verona
Posted by
Vernon, Canada
32393 posts
Rocky,
After looking at some of the options, I tend to agree with Sam that car hire should be relatively easy at Milano Linate airport. Here's some information on the agencies located there - http://www.milanolinate-airport.com/en/directions-and-parking/to-and-from/car-hire . For heading towards Verona, the A4 / A35 route looks to be a good one - https://www.google.com/maps/dir/45.46133,9.27838/45.4299,10.98444/@45.3516304,8.9941837,8z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m2!4m1!3e0 .
I assume you'll be spending at least one night in Milan after arrival on an international flight. Linate is close to the city, so I'd suggest just taking a Taxi from your hotel to the airport to pick up your hire car.
Posted by
Coraopolis, Pa, USA
1018 posts
All of the previous suggestions were cogent. We always rent through Autoeurope, which is a consolidator, and generally take a car from Europcar. FYI, the Europecar location for the central station is no longer in Stazione Centrale. It is located a few blocks away at Via Luigi Galvani, 12.
One strategy we use for peace of mind is to purchase the zero deductible insurance and we feel it is worth every dime. Since none of my credit cards provide auto coverage in Italy, and most do not in Italy, this is a most cogent tactic.
We've driven in Milano many times and found it to be like any large city.
Buon viaggio,
Posted by
OP
Perth, W.A, Australia
61 posts
Thank you Ken and RB. Will look into your recommendations.
Posted by
OP
Perth, W.A, Australia
61 posts
Hi everyone. Thank,you so much for all,your help and suggestions. Due to a change in my husbands work schedule we will likely now be flying into Munich. And so be warned, I will post questions when all are firmly set. Thank you
Posted by
11670 posts
We always book with AutoEurope. We picked up our car at Linate Airport when leaving Milan. It is near the city center, a short taxi ride. Malpensa MXP is much farther out in the countryside.
Posted by
Northamptonshire, England
34215 posts
My experience is that driving around Munich is easy and straightforward - I have a particular hotel near an S-Bahn station which welcomes cars - but driving in and parking in the centre of Munich is difficult.
That said I have managed over the years to park at (with a fair degree of persistence) the Augustiner biergarten and various other destinations, but there is a real knack at succeeding with parking in Munich. Mostly it isn't straightforward and often not free.
The autobahns around there are good and there are plenty - but avoid rush hour especially heading south and southeast. The Autobahn towards Garmisch Partenkirchen can plug up at the most inconvenient times but can also be smooth, at least until the approach into Garmisch.
If you like playing in hot water - as I do - there's a pretty neat Therme near Munich too - with both free parking and easy access from the S-Bahn.