This Is Italy
Every year, thousands of Dutch people drive to a beautiful and warm Italian holiday destination by car. It is a long journey with several possible routes and different traffic rules. Read below a number of useful tips for when you travel to Italy by car.
Prepare yourself and the car
Italy is a long drive away. From Utrecht it is quickly 1.000 kilometers to Milan, Rome can only be reached after 1.700 kilometers. You also drive over hills and through mountains, something that does not happen quickly in the Netherlands. And then you often also drive in the summer with a lot of heat. This will give the car (and you) a lot to endure.
If you want to reach your holiday destination without problems, damage and worries, prepare yourself well. Be rested, know which route you are going to drive and give your car a thorough check.
There are garages that sell a car for a few tens holiday check If you'd rather check your car yourself, start with the engine and fluids. Fill everything up and bring plenty of extra bottles (oil, coolant, and possibly windshield washer fluid, although you can easily buy this at gas stations along the way).
Also check the AC. In the scorching Italian heat, it is very nice for all passengers to get into a cooling car after it has been in the sun for a few hours (but open the windows first to let the worst heat out of the car) and pay the tax on don't let the engine get too big.
De tires Your car's tires must be in good condition. This is safer, ensures better roadholding, and also saves you fuel. Check for damage, whether the tread is still sufficient (at least 3 mm), and whether the tire pressure is correct. Inflate your tires 0,3 bar more than usual because your car will be more heavily loaded for the holiday.
Routes to Italy
Everyone has a favorite route to Italy. Usually most routes take you either through Switzerland or through Austria. You drive into Italy via the German Autobahn, Basel, Lucerne and Gotthardtunnel. The disadvantage is that you often have to wait a long time at the tunnels, especially at the Gotthard tunnel.
That is why there are enough holidaymakers who just before the tunnel stay overnight, so that they can go through the tunnel fresh and quickly the next morning. Take into account the vignette of Switzerland. You can also purchase this in advance in the Netherlands (costs € 35), so that you can continue driving straight away.
The route via Austria is slightly longer. It saves 100 to 200 kilometers to Rome. For destinations in the east of Italy (Venice, Verona, Trieste) this is definitely the better route. The advantage is also that you drive a bit longer and faster on the German highways.
The route takes you via Innsbruck and the Brenner Pass towards Verona. This route is often experienced as a bit more romantic. You also need a vignette for Austria. However, you do not need to purchase an annual vignette for Austria. You can also pay for 10 days or 2 months. The cost of a 10-day vignette is approximately €9.
Another option is through France. Easy for people from Belgium or Zeeland. On this route you will come across the cheap gas stations in Luxembourg. A disadvantage are the French toll roads. If you are in northwestern Italy (for example, the Aosta Valley) is spending your holiday, this is a great route.
German environmental zones
Almost everyone driving to Italy drives via Germany. If you leave the motorway in Germany (for example for an overnight stay), you should bear in mind that you may need a green environmental sticker. With such a green sticker you can get a Environmental zone drive in. Not without such a sticker. Older diesel cars often have a problem. The environmental sticker can be obtained from the ANWB or the German TÜV. In Germany they are also for sale through garages.
On the Italian roads
There are tourists who find the driving behavior of many Italians 'macho' and find them disturbing. Italians generally drive more on 'feel' than on the traffic rules. The maximum speed on highways is 130 kilometers per hour, 110 in bad weather. There is an exception to this rule: drivers who have had their driving license for less than three years are always allowed to drive a maximum of 110 kilometers per hour.
With a trailer or caravan the speed limit is 80 on highways. Unlike in the Netherlands, Italy has a minimum speed on some roads, indicated by a round blue sign with a white number. Recommended speeds are indicated by a blue sign and a white number.
Italy has a penalty point system, also valid for foreigners. What does not apply to foreign cars is that children up to 36 kilos and up to 1,50 meters tall must sit in a child seat. The Dutch rules apply to cars with a Dutch registration. Keep this in mind if you rent a car in Italy, for example.
Of course you are a great driver and nothing will happen under your driving skills, but when you drive in Italy you always have to pay extra attention. Italians are also temperamental on the road and this sometimes creates exciting scenes that will warm even the most experienced driver (if they weren't already).
For those looking for a real challenge on the road during their holiday in Italy, it is recommended to take a drive through Palermo, Rome or Naples. Preferably go during rush hour for extra excitement. You can clearly see that many Italian cars are covered with dents and scratches, the result of the loose driving style that many Italians have.
Pass or tunnel?
For many people it is an abomination: standing in traffic for hours in front of the Gotthard tunnel or the Brenner pass. The most important thing is that you take into account when you come. Try to avoid the black Saturdays in the summer months. Fridays and Sundays are also often busy. It is better to go early or late during the week. From Basel it is another 2 hours drive to the Gotthard.
Unfortunately there is no fastpass for the Gotthard tunnel. But for the Brenner Pass. If you pay toll, you can take the special bypass at the Brenner Pass and you will pass many compatriots. You can pay this toll (Videomaut) at the last two gas stations before the border with Austria.
On busy holidays, the waiting time for the tunnel often increases quickly. One kilometer of traffic jam is then equivalent to 10 minutes of waiting time. If it's too much for you (it's indicated in advance on signs along the highway), get off the road to first have a bite to eat and chill a bit. You can also choose to find a hotel in front of the tunnel and continue early the next day.
You could also try the detour via the pass. That also costs you a lot of time, but you can usually drive on. However, the pass is only open a few months a year, because it is too dangerous during the winter period. You should 'do' the Gotthard Pass at least once just for the view over the valley.
What about road safety in Italy?
Of course we all got the news of the Morandi Bridge near Genoa collapsing in 2018. A flyover near Ancona also collapsed in 2017. And at the end of 2019 another bridge collapsed at Savona. Since 2013, 6 major bridges and viaducts have collapsed in Italy.
Compared to the Netherlands or Germany, Italy lags behind when it comes to maintenance. Many provincial roads also show holes and damage and the streets of Rome are miserable.
That said, it is certainly still safe to drive to Italy by car. The state of the highway is generally good, especially in the northern half of the peninsula. The regular routes to the holiday destinations are not yet directly related to overdue maintenance.
But it is clear that Italy has some catching up to do when it comes to the state of its infrastructure.
By car to Italy: costs
The costs of traveling to Italy by car are usually lower than the costs by plane or train. Especially if you are traveling with a larger group. However, you have to deal with a number of costs. Just take a look:
Fuel costs to your destination in Italy
The costs for petrol, diesel or LPG depend on the consumption of your car and the number of kilometers you have to drive. Count on at least 1.000 kilometers. That is a lot of cases 2 full tanks of fuel there and 2 full tanks of fuel back. And then there are the kilometers you drive during your holiday.
If I speak for myself, and I drive an 18-year-old Volvo V70 on petrol, I usually use about 5 to 6 tanks of petrol for a holiday in Italy. There is 70 liters in the tank and the Volvo drives 1 in 10 to 12. With an average price of € 1,50 per liter of petrol, the costs for fuel amount to a maximum of around € 630. With a more economical car (or a electric car) that is of course cheaper.
Toll costs to Italy
The toll costs depend on the route you have chosen. For the route via Switzerland you need a toll vignette of €35. For the route via Austria you usually need 2 vignettes of 10 days or one vignette of 2 months. A 10-day vignette costs about €9.
In addition, you also have to pay toll in Italy yourself. Toll to get to your holiday destination and toll to travel back to the Netherlands or Belgium. At least, if you travel on the highway. But in most cases you will, because otherwise you will be on the road for a very long time.
Count on an average of about € 40 toll there and € 40 in toll back. It's less if you're all the way in the north of Italy.
Costs during the trip
You can save as much further travel costs as possible by driving to your destination in Italy in one go (without costs for a hotel stay). You can also save costs by making your own sandwiches and bringing drinks with you.
But usually you can't avoid having something to eat somewhere along the highway. You will soon lose a tenner per person. Keep in mind that Switzerland is outrageously expensive. Both in terms of accommodation options and in terms of refreshments along the way.
Tips for car travelers
Whether you feel like taking part in it, or you prefer to stay a little quiet on the Italian roads, it's always useful to keep a few things in mind before departure. So here are some tips for travelers by car.
It is smart if you have the ANWB Wegenwacht service in Europe, because it can be expensive if you have to pay for the towing of the car yourself. In addition, it is sometimes possible to get a replacement car so that you can continue on holiday. If you drive a not-too-new car, we can definitely recommend it.
Travel insurance is mainly useful to ensure that you quickly have a replacement car or that you are reimbursed for extra medical costs. You are already insured for assistance in the event of a breakdown through your Roadside Assistance service and through your health insurance for hospital care in Italy. However, the costs for care can be higher than in the Netherlands, so you have to pay extra without travel insurance. You can also choose to insure valuable items or, for example, winter sports.
Make sure you know what to do in the event of an insurance issue. So make sure you have the right paperwork and that you know which phone numbers to call. A list of important numbers with your papers is useful.
Make sure you know what papers you need to have to drive around in Italy. These are often the title deeds, maintenance history and of course the papers of the insurance (green card).
Before you go, read all deviating traffic rules again well. Well prepared you can enjoy your holiday better!
Treat your car to a holiday check. This costs a maximum of a few tens and in some cases is even free (note the offer around the holiday period!). This way you at least know whether your car is in good condition for a long and warm ride. Do not forget to have any air conditioning installed.
Are small passengers traveling in the back seat? Then have some fun along the way. A DVD or an iPad will keep them busy for a while. But you can also look for it in a holiday activity book or some games. Also the classic backseat games stay nice.
In terms of safety and child seats, the rules of the relevant country apply to cars with a Dutch or Belgian registration.
In Italy you have with toll roads to make. It is easiest if you have a credit card to hand for this. Then you can easily drive through the gates with the inscription CARTE. The cost of the toll is about €25-30 for a ride to Tuscany (one way). Also take into account an annual vignette for Switzerland (€35) or 1 or 2 vignettes for 10 days for Austria (€9 each).
Are you going to your holiday destination in Italy in one go? Or take it easy. Keep in mind that destinations in Tuscany can be as much as 1.300 kilometers or further away. Many families therefore opt for the convenience of a hotel en route to Italy.
First aid kit, safety vests and a warning triangle are mandatory. But what is useful to take with you and what is better left at home. In this article we will list for you what you should definitely take with you, what is handy to take with you and what you can also take with you if you wish.
You will not encounter many problems along the way. There are sufficient charging stations along the roads in the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany. You can also charge anywhere along the well-known holiday routes in Switzerland and Austria.
The challenge lies in Italy itself. There are only a few thousand charging stations left, the majority of which are located in the major cities and in the north of Italy. If your destination is in the middle or south of Italy, you need to prepare well. Just like when you drive for trips during your holiday in Italy.
A good source to check where the charging stations are located is this European map for alternative fuels.
Your tips for a successful car holiday?
Have a nice Italy holiday! Do you often go to Italy by car and do you have any tips for a successful one? car holiday? Have you tried the different routes yourself? Which route do you prefer to take?
Comments