Hello all! In Sept. I will be taking a trip to Switzerland and then taking a train to the Dolomites, it looks like Bolzano is the best place to pick up a rental car from the train station. Then to Ortisei, Cortina d'Ampezzo and then Venice. In Venice we are staying right near the Rialto Bridge (I don't know the neighborhood). My main question for now is where should I drop the car off in Venice? I'm assuming we should drop it off then take public transport the rest of the time. And then how to get to the airport, I assume that's easy? Thank you!
Posted by
Twin Cities of MN
6288 posts
I am doing the same--renting in Bolzano to visit the Dolomites. I'm returning at the Venice train station.
Posted by
Seattle, WA
17253 posts
The simplest place to drop the car is in Piazzale Roma on the island of Venice. Most rental companies accept returns there, and it saves you having to get a boat or bus into Venice from the airport.
Be careful with your speed when driving over the causeway from the mainland to Venice. There are speed camera along there and I have seen reports of people getting tickets from all 3 of them in one trip. I believe the posted limit is 50 kph (30 mph) but check the signs to confirm.
Then you just walk to the vaporetto dock and catch the #1 or #2 vaporetto to Rialto Bridge, or Rialto Mercado if that is closer (I believe only the #1 makes that stop). The advantage of boarding at Piazzale Roma is the stop is not as crowded as the next one at the train station. Buy your tickets from the machine and make sure to validate each one before boarding.
Posted by
OP
8 posts
Sounds great. Hopefully I can get a car in Bolzano late in the day because it looks like the train takes all day. Or we could pick up in Milan I guess?
Posted by
Twin Cities of MN
6288 posts
We booked a car for late afternoon pickup from Bolzano. I used Autoeurope to book.