Vicenza Hire Car Tips, Experiences & Comparison

Exploring Vicenza by Hire Car

Even Johann Wolfgang von Goethe was enthralled by the landscape and atmosphere of Italy and was inspired by it.

The magic and charm of this country remains unbroken to this day and still attracts many travellers here. In addition to the recreational value of the varied Italian landscapes, you will find many cities with incredible historical treasures.

For example, the northern Italian city of Vicenza.

Powerful Renaissance buildings, a picturesque old town, richly decorated Gothic palazzi but also good restaurants and charming shops – all this makes Vicenza an all-round worthwhile holiday destination.

In the surrounding countryside, moreover, picturesque places invite to excursions, which are easy to reach by hire car. We have put together a few tips for rental and travel.

Taking over the hire car

Many hire car travellers arrive in Vicenza via Venice or Verona airports. There you will find numerous hire car agencies right by the terminal. Before you decide on a provider, however, you should make sure that he also operates his station directly at the airport. If it is only close to the airport, you may have to wait a long time for a shuttle to take you to your hire car.

Choosing the right hire car

Over 100,000 inhabitants populate Vicenza, and parking spaces are correspondingly scarce. So it’s better to book a smaller hire car that will allow you to use tight parking spaces.

Hire car prices

In Vicenza, Verona and Venice you can often get hire cars at quite reasonable rates. You can usually get the best deals if you book well in advance of your trip and use our handy price comparison tool.

hire car price comparison Vicenza

Insuring the car properly

When you’re driving an unfamiliar hire car in foreign Italian cities, it’s easy for an accident to happen. Cover yourself and book a hire car with fully comprehensive insurance without excess. With liability insurance, it is important to pay attention to the amount of coverage. It should be at least one million euros so that you have at least some protection if people are injured in an accident or several vehicles are involved. If you find that your rental company’s coverage is too low, you can get additional protection with a Majorca policy. Your insurance agent will be happy to advise you.

age limit

You must be at least 19 years old and in possession of a driving license valid for one year to hire car at many hire car companies in Vicenza, Verona and Venice. With most rental companies, the age limit is even 21 years. Drivers under 25 often pay an additional fee. And some hire car companies do not rent cars to seniors over 75. Check out your hire car company’s terms and conditions before booking a car.

Accessories

As everywhere, in Vicenza, Verona and Venice you must always order accessories such as child seats or navigation equipment separately from your rental company. Make a reservation well in advance to ensure that your desired equipment is available on the day of rental.

Language barrier

Although many of the staff at the rental stations in Vicenza, Verona and Venice speak English reasonably well, it can also happen that there are communication problems. If you have noted down the telephone number of the Italian head office of your rental company before your trip, with a bit of luck you will find a member of staff there who can interpret.

Tank control

Always book with a rental company where you pick up the hire car with a full tank of gas and return it with a full tank. This way you will avoid any disputes about the correct level of the tank when you return the car.

Bail

Rentals that actually charge the deposit for the hire car to your credit card like to take longer before you transfer the amount back after you return the car. Rather, book with a rental company that just blocks the amount. And before you travel, make sure your card’s credit line is sufficient to cover the deposit.

Customer Satisfaction Hire Car

Most customers are quite satisfied with the hire car services in Vicenza, Venice and Verona. However, some complain about long queues at the counter. Especially when returning the car, you should therefore allow enough time so as not to miss the plane or train. The external appearance of some vehicles is also occasionally criticised. When you pick up your vehicle, inspect it carefully and have any damage, such as dents or scratches, confirmed in writing in a defect report. Keep the document safe so that when you return the car, you can prove that you did not cause the damage to the vehicle.

Safety Hire Car

Most hire cars in Vicenza, Venice and Verona are perfectly roadworthy. However, there can always be exceptions, so for your own safety, test all of your car’s lights before your first trip. Don’t forget the indicators and brake lights. Also check that you have a warning triangle, high-visibility vests and first-aid kit on board. And do a quick brake test in the parking lot of the rental company.

Sights in Vicenza

Piazza di Signori: Magnificent Basilica
A city stroll could begin at the Piazza di Signori. The square is the center of the old town and is lined with magnificent palazzi. The so-called “Basilica” – a palace that dominates the square – owes its name to the famous master builder Andrea Palladio. Palladio, who planned many of the city’s buildings, had built a magnificent marble loggia in front of the façade of the Pallazzo della Ragione, thus creating the “Basilica”.

Piazza dell’Erbe: Lively market hustle and bustle
Nearby you will find the Piazza dell’Erbe. Here you can stock up on fresh fruit at a small market.

Teatro Olimpico: magnificent theatre
You’ll encounter another work by Andrea Palladio when you visit the Teatro Olimpico. It is considered the oldest indoor theatre in Europe and was built in 1580. Palladio designed the auditorium in the shape of an amphitheatre. The walls are decorated with statues.

Santa Corona: Gothic building
Perhaps you will wander on to the Santa Corona. Here you will stand in front of a mighty brick church in Gothic architectural style. It was built as early as the 13th century. The paintings that adorn the interior were created by renowned artists such as Giovanni Bellini and Paolo Veronese.

Basilica di Monte Bérico: Church with a view
Another magnificent church is the Basilica di Monte Bérico. It is located just outside the center on a hill. From here you have a beautiful view over the city and the surrounding area. In the interior of the church, built in the 17th century, especially the richly decorated dome inspires visitors.

Villa Rotonda: Enchanting frescoes
Not far from the basilica is the pretty Villa Rotonda, also a masterpiece of Palladio. It was built around 1566 and impresses with its richly decorated interior with frescoes and sculptures. But the loggia with its Ionic columns is also worth seeing.

Corso Andrea Palladio: Shopping Paradise
Back in the city, you can go shopping extensively if you head for Corso Andrea Palladio. Here you will find yourself in Vicenza’s pedestrian zone. Magnificent palazzi line the street here as well. In many small shops you can fill your shopping bags to your heart’s content.

Find a good restaurant

Many good restaurants cater for the physical well-being of guests in Vicenza. We recommend Tre Visi at Corso Palladio 25, a traditional establishment serving tasty regional specialities in a stylish setting.

Discover a good hotel

Many tourists are drawn straight on to Verona, so the number of good hotels in Vicenza is limited. Book a room at the Due Mori. This simple hotel is well maintained and centrally located in the middle of the old town. Many of the tastefully decorated rooms are furnished with Art Nouveau-style antiques.

Discover a worthwhile destination in the area

Ferrara: Lively university town
Drive to Ferrara with a hire car. The 113 kilometres will take you about an hour and a half. In Ferrara, a quiet town awaits you, which is almost completely enclosed by a nine-kilometre-long wall. You can take a relaxed stroll here, as the city centre is closed to motor traffic.

Visit the mighty cathedral. Construction began in the 12th century. Already the shining facade of white marble is exceedingly worth seeing. The interior, with its beautiful frescoes, also delights visitors.
Next stop on your city tour could be the Castello Estense. Construction work began in 1385. The castle was built by the Este family to defend the city. Inside you will find richly decorated halls but also gloomy dungeons, where you can still see the drawings of the prisoners who stewed here in the 16th century.

Back in the city, you can stroll through the alleys and observe the lively hustle and bustle. Many young people characterize the cityscape. Ferrara is a university town and can boast of being home to the second oldest university in the world. Perhaps you will sit down in a cosy student café at the end of your visit, order a cool drink and plan your next excursions by hire car.

Suggestion for a trip by hire car

Ásolo: Hanging Gardens with a View
A trip by hire car could start in Ásolo. You will be there in about an hour. A charming town picturesquely nestled in a hilly landscape awaits you. In the cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta you can admire a magnificent painting by the artist Lorenzo Lotto depicting the Assumption of the Virgin Mary. Afterwards, the Villa Scotti-Pasini is worth a visit. It was built in the 17th century and offers enchanting hanging gardens as well as a great view of the city and the surrounding area.

Masèr: Enchanting Frescoes
The next stop on the trip is Masèr, which you can reach in fifteen minutes by hire car. Once there, you can admire Villa Barbaro, one of the masterpieces of Palladio’s architect. The villa was built in the 16th century and is particularly impressive for the magnificent frescoes inside.

Marostica: mighty city walls
Before you return to Vicenza in your hire car, you can pay a visit to Marostica. You can be there in three quarters of an hour. The whole place is enclosed by a city wall. Inside you can visit a castle that now houses the tourist information office. Especially on the 2nd Sunday in September of even years it is worth visiting the place. Then a chess game with living figures in historical costumes takes place there.

conclusion

Numerous sights and charming towns in the surrounding area make Vicenza an ideal base for a hire car trip. And our convenient price comparison will help you book a car that’s right for you at great rates.