Car & Van Hire - Treviso

Many visitors overlook Treviso in favour of Venice. However, while the city may often be overshadowed by its more famous neighbour, it is a great destination in its own right. With medieval city walls, labyrinthine canals and narrow cobbled streets, this is a quintessential Northern Italian city. It has beautiful architecture and wonderful cuisine. Treviso is said to be the birthplace of tiramisu, so be sure to indulge in this famous dessert while you're here!

Start your visit to Treviso by walking around the old city walls. This was a heavily-defended city in the medieval period, and its sturdy walls remain almost entirely intact. Walking around them, you'll have great views of the city and its complex network of canals. As you admire the views, one building is sure to stand out: Treviso Cathedral. There has been a cathedral on this site since the 6th century, but it has been rebuilt many times over the centuries. The old crypt, which dates back to the 11th century, is open to visitors.

Like Venice, Treviso has a network of canals running through its centre. Take a walk along them, following the waterways to the River Sile. You can cross a bridge over the river to reach the Pescheria, or fish island. This island has housed Treviso's fish market for many years and remains the best place to buy fresh seafood. It's only open in the mornings, and it's always a hive of activity.

Thanks to car rental in Treviso, you'll be able to visit other towns in the surrounding region. The top choice for a day trip is Venice, just half an hour away. The city, famous across the world for its canals, is certainly worth exploring. Wander through the Rialto, hop onto a gondola, admire the Doge's Palace and St Mark's Square or just enjoy the gelato. However you spend your time in Venice, it's sure to be unforgettable.

There's more to see in Northern Italy. With car or van rental in Treviso, you can also head out of the city to the Prosecco hills. This verdant countryside is home to the finest sparkling wine in Italy. Many of the wineries here are still family-run, and the owners are often happy to welcome visitors. You can take a vineyard tour to see how the wine is made and indulge in some delicious local cheeses. This beautiful countryside is also great for a gentle hike over the rolling hills.

Due to the prohibitive cost of living in Venice, many people work in Treviso and commute. As such, you'll usually find traffic heading out of Treviso in the direction of Venice in the morning and returning in the evening. You can avoid this by planning your trip around rush hour, which tends to peak at 08:00-17:00. There is far less traffic heading in other directions.

If you have spent time in Italy, you may already be familiar with the concept of the ZTL. These limited traffic zones can be found in almost every city, preventing vehicles from entering the historic centre without a permit. Treviso has one of the strictest ZLTs in the country. Vehicles cannot enter the ZTL at any time of day, and even motorcycles and scooters require a permit to enter. Make sure you are familiar with the sign that indicates a ZLT, which is circular, with a white centre and red ring around the outside.

There are several car parks around Treviso where you can park. On-street parking is also available in some areas. On-street parking spaces marked with blue lines are pay and display, while those marked with white lines are free.

Most visitors to Treviso also want to explore Venice. To enter Venice by car, you will need to cross the Ponte della Libertà, a bridge that spans 3.5 km over the lagoon. Once you have crossed the bridge, you will find several different car parks. The largest ones are Venice Tronchetto Parking and the Venice Passenger Terminal car park. Parking here is a budget-friendly option, but you are not too close to the city centre. You'll probably want to take a vaporetto water bus to St Mark's Square. Alternatively, you can drive a little further to Piazzale Roma. Parking spots here can be reserved online in advance and are a short walk from the city centre.

If you are going to visit Venice in high season, booking a parking space in advance is highly recommended. Otherwise, you will probably want to arrive very early in the morning to ensure you find a spot.

When driving between cities in Italy, you are legally obliged to keep your headlights on, even during the daytime. If you like, you can turn them off when you enter an urban centre.