We're traveling to Italy May 2026. Our itinerary is Rome - Orvieto - Florence - Cinque Terre - Venice - back to Rome along Adriatic Sea. Originally we planned to rent a car in Orvieto and then drive to Florence and beyond. But RS doesn't recommend a car in Cinque Terre. We can get a car in La Spezia but are there locations to park in Venice for the 2-3 days we're there? A car gives us some freedom to stop along the way. Many thanks for advice!
Posted by
Vermont
19 posts
We found a parking place in the Cinque Terre and left it parked there for three days. That seemed easier than turning in our car and later picking up another car.We always rent cars in Europe.
Posted by
Arctophilia, Northamptonshire, England
35583 posts
yes, there is a parking garage at Tronchetto just past the end of the causeway (watch your speed like a hawk or pay a lot) in Venice - you will need to sell an arm and a leg or two though.
Don't forget your IDPs and learn about ZTLs and other quirks of Italian driving.
Posted by
Edmonds, WA 🌨 ☂
12839 posts
Venice - back to Rome along Adriatic Sea
That is the only part of your travels that a car would be useful.
The rest of the time it's a needless expense of paying for it and parking and possibly being damaged in the long term parking lots.
We enjoyed the drive along the Adriatic ( Termoli to Rimini en route to Milan)
Happy travels
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area (USA)
16859 posts
I’m 1,000,000% with Joe.
You should rent a car when you leave Venice (at Piazzale Roma City Garage, where all car rental companies are), and drive down the Adriatic coast to whichever places you want to see.
Along the Adriatic, I recommend, among others, Ravenna, Gradara (castle), possibly San Marino, Mount Conero Peninsula (Numana, Sirolo), and many more a bit more in the interior of the Marche region.
I presume that once you hit Giulianova, you would take the freeway toward Teramo - L’Aquila and eventually Rome. This last portion will be a glorious drive through the majestic Abruzzo mountains (literally through since there will be plenty of long freeway tunnels).
Posted by
OP
8 posts
Thank you all for the advice! Shout out to fellow Washingtonian Joe. We're in beautiful Walla Walla.
Posted by
9178 posts
Careful, many tourists that rent cars in Italy get massive tickets in the mail months after departing from Italy.
Posted by
Firenze, Italy
1944 posts
Careful, many tourists that rent cars in Italy get massive tickets in the mail months after departing from Italy.
If you assume you can drive anywhere and park anywhere, you are going to get tickets. For example in Florence consider that there is almost no free parking, not in the center anyway, and all the central area is closed to unauthorized traffic during working days - but a few itineraries that you have to study in advance and stick to them.
Posted by
Chicago
2214 posts
Maybe it's just me, but in 4 trips to Italy and Europe I have not rented a car yet. I do love to ride the trains--it's such a hassle-free way to get from Point A to Point B. Most times I'd rather take a 6-hour train ride than a 2-hour plane, which usually turns into 4 anyway with security and lines and such. I can hop on a train 15 minutes before departure, and be perfectly happy until destination, which is more often than not smack dab in the middle of town, where I wanted to be in the first place!