We are staying in the lake area for five days and plan to spend four more days in Bolzano. Can we drive from the lake area, rent a car and go to Bolzano? We leave out of Venice. Should we drive from Bolzano to Venice? We plan to stay the last night at an airport hotel .
Posted by
Washington DC
28487 posts
You can get approximate travel times by car as well as by train and bus from Rome2Rio.com. I've never driven in Europe and can't comment on road conditions in northern Italy, but Rome2Rio's projected driving times suggest that neither drive would be a burden. The train would take a little longer but would still be reasonable.
Consider whether you want a car in Bolzano in order to drive up into the Dolomites. There is bus service, so you don't absolutely have to drive, but it allows for some spontaneity. And check to be sure there's not a significant drop charge if you want to pick up a car in Como and drop it in either Bolzano or Venice.
Posted by
2 posts
Roads in northern Italy are fantastic. You will love driving in that area. Please be aware that on the very tiny road around the lake, it takes a little getting used to seeing an oncoming car in your lane until you realize that it is normal to use the entire road as you approach the oncoming car only to swerve back into your own lane just as you are about to pass. Freaked us out until we understood the system.
wcorrie
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area (USA)
16240 posts
Very doable and actually I recommend it. An excellent drive would be through the Stelvio Pass and Merano. Not sure if I would stay in Bolzano, the whole time, but the majestic Dolomites (I recommend Ortisei in the Val Gardena) are just minutes away from Bolzano.
Unless you have a car already for visiting the lakes (which I recommend if you visit more than just lake Como where you won't need it much) you will need to go to Lecco or Como to rent one. If you are staying in Varenna, Lecco is more convenient.
Posted by
Green Bay
21384 posts
A bit more direct would be Sondrio to Edolo then over the Passo Tonale and finally the Mendelpass into Bolzano. But on a nice day they're all pretty drives.
Posted by
Tucson
4183 posts
In 2011 we drove from Merano, near Bolzano, to Varenna where we stayed at Lake Como. It was part of a 2-week trip driving the Alps. We had planned to go over Stelvio Pass, but decided to keep to the lower roads after getting snowed in at the top of Grosglockner. It was late June.
The drive was very enjoyable through small villages and orchards on steep hillsides. Naturally, we paid for secure parking at our hotels in Merano and Varenna.
I'd say that renting a car is a good idea if you intend to take small roads and explore. And if you are fully informed on the requirements and issues related to driving in Italy. And if you are prepared to pay for parking.
I think it's a waste of € if you want to get from one place to another as quickly and as easily as possible.
The Lake Como area is pretty congested and the towns are small. One thing you'd need to research is exactly where you would pick up a rental car. I can't imagine that you couldn't return it at the airport, but that would have to be verified, along with any costs or oddities with the dropoff.