How far to drive our first day - Venice to Dolomites

Posted by mdelich2010 on 01/26/15 04:22 PM

In September we will fly in to Venice arriving at 11AM and will be renting a car to begin an 11 day land tour of northern Italy. I am trying to estimate how long to allow at the airport to rent a car and recommendations as to how far to drive on our first day, allowing for some jet lag. We plan to spend the following night in either Bolzano, Castelrotto or perhaps Ortisei after driving through some of the scenic passes. On our first day we would like to wind up in a good location for the second day of driving. We are not interested in staying in Venice when we fly in as we will end up in Venice for three nights at the end of our land tour when we will begin a cruise.

Thank you for your thoughts suggestions.

Posted by Mike

Fishers, IN, USA

01/26/15 05:06 PM

111 posts

My son and his family have lived in N. Italy for 7 years, near Aviano AF Base, we have visited them multiple times. The drive from the Venice airport to the Aviano area is almost an hour at the most. Aviano is located at the base of the Dolimites. You could be in the Dolimites within a few hours if you drive almost straight north from Venice.

You ask about car rental, I never rented a car there but I can't imagine amymore than a 1/2 hour. Venice Marco Polo is a relatively small airport compared to US standards.
I'd advise to identify a place to stay at the base of the mountains on your first night which I believe you intend to do. After flying all night then driving a few hours I'd not recommend driving through mountains until you get a good nights rest.
You might start looking for places to visit and stay then Google map the distances. There are many websites out there to assist with driving directions and distances.
Have a great trip.

Posted by gerri

lexington, il

01/26/15 06:05 PM

4105 posts

From Marco Polo airport to Vicenze is 55mi. about an hour. To Verona is 75mi. 11/2 hrs.
I would stay in Verona. Either of these two towns would make a good first stop. Verona is about 118 miles from Ortisei, 2Hrs. I wouldn't push it the first day.

Posted by Anita

Long Beach, California, USA

01/27/15 01:45 AM

3398 posts

I agree with the recommendation to stay in Verona but would also say that Bolzano is a good place to stop as well. Verona is an easy drive from Venice with no "tricky" driving. You could walk the city (beautiful!!), have dinner, get a good night's rest, and then tackle the drive into the mountains the next day. The road up to Bolzano is also a wide, easy road to drive, so if you want to go a bit further into the mountains (where it won't be as hot) then this is also a good option. Verona will probably have cheaper accommodation than Bolzano - it's a very pricey town.

Posted by doric8

01/27/15 02:33 AM

1540 posts

we rented a car this summer at Marco polo (had a reservation to pick it up) (make sure you all have your international drivers permit) we left the airport, walked across the street, and had a wicked hard time cracking the system for finding our particular car. at that time, the rental car lot was way off to the right with your back to the terminal. of course, don't be afraid to ask for guidance from some one in the parking lot.....

Posted by Roberto da Firenze ⚜

San Francisco Bay Area (USA)

01/27/15 03:07 AM

16243 posts

I would estimate that you are not going to drive out of the rental car lot at VCE much before 1pm.
Then I would simply take the A27 freeway to Belluno and proceed up the Val di Cadore through Longarone until I reach maybe Pieve di Cadore. It's 1.5 hrs drive. Get a hotel in Pieve di Cadore or if you feel like driving another 45 min go all the way to Cortina. The drive from Venice to Cortina is very easy. You can do it with your eyes closed (which you might do if you are jet lagged).

Check into the hotel, then if you feel like it, go out on a drive to lake Misurina, the 3 peaks of Lavaredo and then come back down to your hotel (wherever it is, Cortina or Pieve di Cadore), rest have dinner, then the next day you go to Ortisei via the Pordoi pass. To do that stretch from Cortina to Ortisei via the Pordoi you need to be wide awake, so go the next day.