Driving from MXP to Venice

By your self? Why aren't you taking the train? So much easier. You won't get any speeding tickets and will still get there quicker. Won't pay any tolls or parking fees or buy any fuel. And the train delivers you right to the Grand Canal. If you want a car, rent it after you leave Venice.

I'm one who always has a car while in Italy, but a car is not needed at all in your case. On the contrary it would be a bad choice, first of all because of safety reasons, since you will be jet lagged and too tired to drive that distance on busy freeways.

The train will be faster, cheaper, more comfortable and relaxing. I realize that most Americans feel a car is needed once on the ground, but that is not the case in Europe where public transportation is very efficient.

A car in Italy is useful only to visit small villages in the countryside where public transport is less frequent. But within cities and from city to city, public transportation is better, especially to Venice, where cars can't even drive.

cr,

I definitely agree with the others! Your profile doesn't indicate your location, but if you're travelling from North America you may be significantly affected by jet lag. The practice of driving in that condition has been compared to impaired driving.

There are some potentially expensive "caveats" to be aware of when driving in Italy. For example, each driver listed on the rental form must have the compulsory International Driver's Permit, which is used in conjunction with your home D.L. These are valid for one year, and easily obtained at any CAA/AAA office (two Passport-sized photos required, which may be provided by the issuing office).

You'll also have to be vigilant to avoid the dreaded Zona Traffico Limitato areas which exist in many Italian towns & cities especially Florence, which is almost saturated with automated ZTL cameras. Each pass through one of the cameras will result in a violation ticket and hefty fines. In addition to that, there's parking tickets, high fuel costs, tolls and automated speed cameras including the devious Traffic Tutor system which measures not only instantaneous speed but also average between two points (again, hefty fines).

It's important to note that there are also some potentially expensive "caveats" when using trains and other public transit in Italy, but those are easy to deal with.

It would be much easier after a long flight to use one of the high speed trains from Milano Centrale to Venezia S. Lucia. They travel at up to 300 km/h, so much faster than a car.

There won't be much difference in the price of the train ticket and the cost of one day's parking at one of the car parks at the entrance to Venice.

That doesn't count all the other costs of the car such as rental, fuel, tolls and fines.

If you are anxious about drive, then the question is why do it? You may want to come back and explain your choice of a car otherwise we will just continue to beat up on your for your choice.

There is a large paid garage parking right at Venice. Fairly expensive - in the range of 30 to 40 $ a day.

You've never driven by yourself in a foreign country and you'rr driving from a horribly congested city to another city that allows ZERO vehicles. You're setting yourself up for a huge mess. Just jump on the train and be done with it.

I assume this is a done deal, that is, the decision is made. If not, consider the train.

Driving in Italy is no biggy. Good advice above about ZTL's and watch for speed cameras along the roadside.

It is imperative that, while on an autostrada, and you likely will be one this trip, stay in the right lane. Again. stay in the right lane. You can pass on the left but do NOT camp in the left lane.

Depending on how long you will be in Venice, don't park the car, dump it. Then re-rent when you are ready to leave.

Good advice. I rent a car every time Im Italy. But I dump it in the big cities or towns, and depending where i go..take a train or fly. Car rental is good if you like small town hopping...which i do. I'm over most of the big cities, having been to them all. But yeah, those ZTL's are rough.

Regular, 2nd-class train tickets from Malpensa to Milano Centrale Station and then onward to Venezia S. Lucia station will add up to about €45 when you buy them there on the spot. Trains run at least hourly.

I just skimmed the other replies and didn't notice mention of the fact that parts of the route will be full of enormous trucks, jockeying for positions, and hard to see around. Meanwhile, impatient Italian drivers will be zipping in and out of the passing lane and, as is their practice, tailgating you if they think you aren't going fast enough. Challenging under normal circumstances; with jet-lag, NIGHTMARE!

The walk up fares are 12 EUR for the Malpensa Express train to Milano Centrale and 38.50 EUR to Venezia Santa Lucia 2nd class.