We are going to rent a car in Florence and drive around in Tuscany for 5 days or so.
Our next destination is Venice. Should we go back to Florence, drop off our car and take the train to Venice, OR,
should we drive from Tuscany to Venice and drop off our car in Venice?
Thanks.
Personally I would take the train since I think it would be easier to drop the car in Florence. But - either way works.
Dropping the car in central Florence is almost impossible because of the ZTL, so you'd have to drop either in the city outskirts or at the airport. I'd just Drive to Venice and drop the car off in Piazzale Roma square, to save holiday time.
Bear in mind that the new A1 motorway section built under the mountains is full of speed traps, just like the causeway connecting the mainland districts of Venice and the islands.
Locals know where cameras are, you don't: drive 5 kms/h above the posted limit and you'll receive an expensive letter from Italy in the coming months.
I agree with Dario, drive to Venice.
Just make sure you are aware of not only the ZTLs, but their rules of the road and speed limits.
https://media.sumo.com/3edd7a94b19350d13b81f277e1c2f5b5c0f917d5965b529d238da52daa2b93f6
Another couple of hours of driving probably does not change the price of the car rental. In round numbers, highway tolls might add up to about the same price as one 2nd-class train ticket (but you have more than one person). I think driving is easier, for the reasons that Dario gave.
Thanks to everyone for your helpful comments.
The speed limit on the A1 is largely 130km/h or 81mph. You basically have to drive 85mph or above to be ticketed.
You really have to push it to get a speeding ticket on the autostrada.
I’d been more concerned with the speed trap in Florence on the way to Hertz on Via del Sansovino, if you return it there. The speed limit there is only 31mph but the road is very inviting to drive over 45mph.
Driving to Venice from Tuscany is a nice drive, especially if you take time to stop and have lunch (or just visit) at an inviting town on the way. We've done the drive a few times now, most recently last July. Yes, there are speed cameras on the autostrada. But, it's no worse than speed traps here in the US and, in our experience, there are signs alerting you to the fact that there are cameras coming up. Also, once you take the time to notice one camera, you will see the others as you drive.
It is super easy to drop your car off at the Venice Airport then take a bus, vaperetto or train onto the island of Venice. It is much easier to return your car at the Venice Airport then returning it to a rental agency in Florence proper.
You should consider the cost of the Autostrada. It is a toll road. The take only credit cards. Here is a great website where you can calculate how much it would cost in gas and toll charges to travel from one destination to another. https://www.viamichelin.com/web/Routes
Have a great trip!
Arriving by train at the main Santa Lucia train station in Venice is very convenient; you just exit the train station and you are right on the Grand Canal - from there you can take a vaporetto to your hotel (more or less).
