Venice: Rent a car from 8€/day

Venice is the capital of the Veneto region in northeastern Italy. It is situated on a series of 118 tiny islands connected by nearly 400 bridges and separated by canals. The islands are located in the Venetian Lagoon, a shallow confined harbor located between the Po and Piave river mouths (more exactly between the Brenta and the Sile). In 2020, the Comune di Venezia had a population of 258,685 people, with roughly 55,000 living in the ancient city of Venice (centro storico). The city is part of the Padua-Treviso-Venice Metropolitan Area (PATREVE), which is designated a statistical metropolitan area, together with Padua and Treviso.

The name comes from the ancient Veneti people, who lived in the area as early as the 10th century BC. For nearly a millennium, from 697 to 1797, the city served as the capital of the Republic of Venice. From the 13th century to the end of the 17th century, it was a major financial and nautical power, as well as a staging ground for the Crusades and the Battle of Lepanto. It was also a notable hub of commerce—especially silk, grain, and spice—and of art. The city-state of Venice is regarded as the first true worldwide financial hub, having emerged in the ninth century and reaching its pinnacle in the fourteenth. Venice was a prosperous city for most of its existence as a result of this. The Republic was seized by the Austrian Empire after the Napoleonic Wars and the Congress of Vienna, until it was annexed by the Kingdom of Italy in 1866, following a referendum held as a result of the Third Italian War of Independence.

"La Dominante," "La Serenissima," "Queen of the Adriatic," "City of Water," "City of Masks," "City of Bridges," "The Floating City," and "City of Canals" have all been nicknames for Venice. The lagoon, as well as a portion of the city, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Parts of Venice are known for the natural beauty of their surroundings, as well as their architecture and artwork. Venice is the birthplace of Baroque composers Tomaso Albinoni and Antonio Vivaldi, and has played a key part in the history of instrumental and operatic music.

Parking and traffic advice

The speed limit in cities is 50 km/h, though it may be reduced to 30 km/h in some locations.

For experienced drivers, the legal alcohol limit is 0.05 percent, whereas for novice drivers, it is 0.00 percent. Exceeding the legal limit can result in severe fines and even incarceration.

The speed limit on major highways is 130 km/h, non-major highways are 110 km/h, and minor roads are 90 km/h. When it rains, the speed limits are reduced to 110 km/h, 100 km/h, and 80 km/h, accordingly.

When there is heavy fog or other poor visibility, the general speed restriction is reduced to 50 km/h.

The emergency number is 112. It is the same as it is in the rest of the EU.

When driving, you must have your insurance and vehicle papers with you at all times.

You must have your passport or ID card with you at all times if you are the driver.