Best-seller
4,400+ reviews
Cancel 24 hours before departure for a full refund
Your driver will meet you at your address in Vienna.
You’ll travel in comfort for 6 h 20 min.
Your driver will drop you off at your address in Venice.
Driving from Vienna to Venice takes you through a sprawling map of spectacular scenery on a journey of around 6 and a half hours. The most popular route will take you through the picturesque lowlands of the East Austrian countryside and Slovenia, both dotted with historic castles and charming villages to visit en route to Italy.
The most direct path will place you on the S Autobahn, a central motorway that presents you with a wealth of sightseeing options that don’t require too much of a detour. A local driver can tailor your journey to include gems such as Graz, a city in the South of Austria famed for its Renaissance and Baroque architecture and its romantic, narrowly winding streets.
While some opt for one of the train routes connecting these two historical cities, traversing this distance can take over 10 hours and involves at least one transfer. If you use Daytrip to drive from Vienna to Venice instead, you will have a much more convenient door-to-door experience. You’ll be assisted with your luggage, avoid the stress of navigating the train schedules and most excitingly, you’ll have the option of exploring sightseeing stops along the way with an English-speaking driver who can provide unique local insight. Some of the smaller cities and villages along this route are less well connected by public transport options, but are no less worth seeing!
Venice is perhaps one of the most iconic cities that spring to mind at the mention of Italy. Traveling through the tucked-away cobblestone squares and grand cathedrals offers a mesmerizing glimpse into the city’s arts-centered Renaissance past.
An official UNESCO World Heritage Site, Venice is a beautiful feat of engineering and architecture that defies probability and gravity by rising proudly from a lagoon as if floating atop the water. Because of the resulting interlacing maze of canals, Venice is sometimes aptly called “the city of bridges” or “the floating city.” Driving from Vienna to Venice grants you a unique opportunity to experience one of Italy’s greatest treasures. Naturally, because of its watery base, it is not possible to drive in the heart of Venice itself, but once you’ve come that far with a personal driver, you will be transferred directly to the ferry dock where your exciting navigation of the map of canals can begin.
The stunning floating city was built atop a series of marshy islands that have been slowly dissolving into the surrounding lagoon over the course of the last two thousand years. The weighty marble structures rest atop wooden piles pushed deep into the mud, a foundation that has become increasingly unstable with time.
This phenomenon is what gives the city its beautiful aquatic appeal, but it has also become a cause for concern. In recent years, many people have become increasingly eager to visit Venice on their trips to Italy, due to the widespread notion that the city is slowly sinking as a result of rising sea levels. The usual flooding that results in Venice is called _aqua alta, _and it now occurs at least 60 days of the year where it once was sporadic.
All is not lost, though! If you are keenly planning your trip to Venice, know that the rate of sinking is still reportedly at only around 1-2 millimeters per year. The damage that this causes certainly isn’t to be overlooked, but it doesn’t mean you should rush to cancel your flight either. Many coastal cities, unfortunately, face the same perils in the age of climate change, and keeping Venice on your list of destinations in Italy is certainly worth it for any traveler hoping to experience the city’s rich artistic and cultural impact on Italian heritage.
As you cover the distance from Vienna to Venice, it’s worth stopping along the way throughout Austria to stroll around cities such as the aforementioned Graz, or Klagenfurt’s historic city center, with its elaborate arcaded courtyards overlooking the shores of Lake Wörthersee. With a private Daytrip driver, as part of your travel day through Slovenia, you may be able to stop in Maribor for an exploration of the region’s wine heritage and visit the world’s oldest vine or spend some time amongst the gardens in Ljubljana, overlooked by a medieval castle.
While it may seem cheaper to rent a car and tackle the drive from Vienna to Venice yourself, note that this area is rich in hills and valleys and that some of the sightseeing stops along the way may involve difficult winding passes, hairpin turns, or unfamiliar traffic patterns.
What’s more, once you get to Venice, you will not be able to use a rented car and will have to either return it outside of the city or pay to park it during your stay - not a cheap option! To save yourself the headache, it can be best to leave these routes to a professional driver who is familiar with the area and can ensure your safe transfer.
If you are visiting Venice in the hot summer months, be mindful that there is a significant influx of visitors to the relatively compact city (sometimes, in the peak season, this can look like a 2:1 ratio of visitors to locals). This means that it can be trickier to carry large amounts of luggage along the canals upon first arriving, so consider utilizing the water bus (starting at about €9.50) or private boat taxis to get to your accommodation.
There are a few different ways to get from Vienna to Venice, and the best option for you will depend on your budget, time constraints, and personal preferences.
One of the best ways to make the most of your journey between these two remarkable cities is to seek out a private car service to provide you with a seamless door-to-door transfer. With Daytrip, this route will cost around €142 for two passengers (that’s about the same as a train or bus ticket per person!).
The real benefit of this option is that you will have the freedom to select sightseeing stops along the way to gain once-in-a-lifetime access to the less accessible parts of the Austrian and Italian countryside. Driving allows you to see more on your way, which is a real benefit on longer routes such as from Vienna to Venice, as it can break up how far you have to travel in one uninterrupted stretch.
The fastest possible way to get from Vienna to Venice is by flying between these two city’s airports, which will cut your transfer time to around 3 hours and 45 minutes. However, depending on when you intend to travel as well as when you book your flight, the costs can be widely variable and appear to range from €28 to as much as €170.
Remember that while you will save time with a flight, you will also likely need to pay more for any excessive baggage and will need to account for the time and money spent on the transfer between your accommodation and the airport.
As previously mentioned, there is a train route connecting these two cities that operates with a schedule of about 15 weekly departures. This means you’ll need to be somewhat flexible with your intended departure and arrival times, as you may only have one or two scheduled trains to pick from on any given day. The train costs an average of €70-110 and can take from almost 8 hours to 10 and a half depending on the number of transfers. You’ll usually transfer to a new train once in Salzburg and again in Innsbruck, following a more Northern route through Austria that skips over Slovenia entirely. There is also a night train that tends to have a slightly lower cost, ranging from €50-150 depending on your travel dates - but only some of these trains are direct, so you may face a middle-of-the-night transfer.
It is possible to take a bus from Vienna to Venice, and it averages around 9 hours in travel time, so it will take about as much time as a train. This option can be more affordable, with tickets ranging from €40-60. The night bus schedule tends to cost less than those departing during the day, but again be sure to check whether your sleep in transit will be interrupted by a transfer. Most routes involve at least one stop in Maribor.
However you decide to get from Vienna to Venice, you are not short of choices of things to see, taste, and experience in this artistic center of Italy.
St. Mark’s Square is the centerpiece of Venice, boasting an expanse of 12th-century galleries and central access to some of the most iconic sights in Venice, including the iconic St. Mark’s Basilica.
This spectacular work of architecture with its signature domes and elaborate artistic touches is one of the most opulent churches you could ever hope to see. The interior is just as stupendous as the facade suggests, with ornate mosaics and plenty of gold covering nearly every surface. The square is a must-see for your time in Venice to appreciate the centuries of work put into these intricate displays of Italian history and culture.
These two small islands are a reasonable boat ride away from the center of Venice, with Murano being a little closer for those seeking shorter transfers. This island is renowned for its blown glass, so catch a demonstration of this ancient fiery art in action or spend your time shopping for beautiful hand-crafted souvenirs to bring home.
Burano on the other hand is known for its distinctive rainbow-hued buildings, as well as for its intricate lace making. On both islands, be sure to shop around a bit before purchasing either blown glass or lace products, as some shops here can carry the same items at very different prices.
A highly recognizable symbol of Venetian culture is the sleek black gondola, piloted by a singing gondolier in a striped shirt and straw hat. It’s important to note that these gondolas are no longer a primary form of transport in Venice, and the water taxis have largely taken over for practical transfers.
The gondoliers now cater more toward scenic tours of the canals, romantic evenings, and historical experiences. Interestingly, the price of gondola rides in Venice is regulated as strictly as the iconic gondoliers’ uniforms, so you’ll want to focus on finding a route you’ll enjoy with a friendly gondolier rather than trying to hunt for a cheaper option.
It should be no surprise that the floating city specializes in seafood dishes, but there are a couple of standouts in the world of Venetian cuisine that you should sample during your stay, including Bigoli in salsa (a thick-cut pasta coated in a salty onion and cured anchovies sauce) or the notably jet black Risotto al nero di seppia (squid ink risotto).
One of the best parts of Venice in the warmer weather is enjoying a leisurely Italian meal on a patio overlooking the canals. Just be sure to try and find smaller restaurants off of the main streets and away from the busiest squares—if you want to avoid a highly crowded meal, consider asking a local for their favorite place to eat.
Many people choose to visit in the summer months, from around May to October, but this peak travel season is very hot and often Venice becomes incredibly crowded. Prices also tend to be higher for the main attractions given the influx of tourism the city receives.
Instead, consider planning your drive from Vienna to Venice for the earlier spring months or in early autumn when the weather will be cooler and the destinations will likely be much less crowded. For the budget conscious, visiting the city in winter can reward travellers with the fewest crowds and the cheapest accommodation, dining, and activities.
All Daytrip drivers speak English* as well as their native language (and sometimes additional languages too!). They'll be happy to discuss local history and culture with you, as well as answer any questions you may have. And because they speak the language, they're able to provide you with a unique opportunity to connect with local culture. *Drivers for Lite service aren't required to speak English but must meet all other standards.
We screen all our drivers for criminal and traffic records, and personally interview each one. We also inspect their cars for safety, comfort, and reliability. All cars must be less than ten years old, in excellent operating condition, and insured as required by local law. And because our drivers are locals, they're familiar with the rules and customs of the road.
You can cancel your booking up to 24 hours before departure and get a full refund.
If you’re traveling with children, make sure to let us know in the booking so we can get the appropriate child seats ready!
Pets are allowed (and loved)! We just need to know beforehand. You can tell us about them in the next phase of the booking.
Gratuity isn’t included or required, but if you really enjoyed your trip, you can show your driver your appreciation with an optional tip (10% is sufficient).
Each passenger is allowed to have one checked bag and one carry on. If you’re traveling with more bags or oversized luggage, you can adjust this while booking.
Pay by credit card online, or in cash directly to your driver!
If you have any questions, here are the answers.
Every traveler deserves real insight into the cultures of the countries they’re visiting. And every amazing place on Earth deserves to be visited and appreciated. We believe unique local knowledge and real human connection are irreplaceable when it comes to truly comprehending another culture.
Austria - Poland
Austria - Croatia
Austria
Austria - Italy
Austria - Romania
Austria - Poland
Austria - Slovakia
Austria - Switzerland
Austria - France
Austria
Austria - Croatia
Austria - Bosnia and Herzegovina
Austria - Italy
Austria - Romania
Austria - Czech Republic
Austria - Germany
Austria - Germany
Austria - Germany
Austria - Italy
Croatia - Italy
France - Italy
Slovenia - Italy
Croatia - Italy
Italy
Italy
Italy
Croatia - Italy
Slovenia - Italy
Slovenia - Italy
Germany - Italy
Bosnia and Herzegovina - Italy
Austria - Italy
Italy