For drivers, Italy is probably one of the greatest countries in the world to explore by car. Fabulous, twisting roads with incredible vistas, deep gorges and towering mountains, all interspersed with historic, fashionable cities – what’s not to love? Milan and Rome both have their attractions – for the ultra-sophisticated nothing comes close to the shopping and high fashion on offer in Milan, while Rome really does live up to its name as the ‘Eternal City’ with thousands of years of history on show.

But what about those days when the sun is shining, you’ve hired a convertible from Hertz Car Rental, and you want to escape the city for the open road for the day? Here’s our pick of the best day trips by car from Milan and Rome.

Milan

Lake Como

Italy’s third largest lake is where all the beautiful people come to relax and unwind. Como city sits at its southern tip, but head around the lake to the northern end and you’ll escape the crowds and find your own little piece of lakeside heaven. Take a luxury cruise across the lake, or wander around the winding streets of Como city in search of the perfect espresso. It’s a two-hour drive via the SS36 highway.

Venice

A leisurely drive east will bring you to one of the most incredible places in the world – Venice. A day trip is just enough to give you a taster of this magnificent location. Park your car in one of the large car parks out of town and then take a water taxi right up to the steps of St Mark’s Square, or go island hopping and visit the glass factories of Murano. It’s around a three and a half hour drive from Milan along the E64 and the E70, and takes you through some very scenic views along the way. Stop off at the historic city of Verona on the way back.

Lake Maggiore & the Borromean Islands

An hour and a half down the A8 and the E62 brings you to the stunning Lake Maggiore. Its waters are dotted with tiny islands that you can visit by buying a hop-on-hop-off ferry ticket for the day. Don’t forget your camera for this trip because the scenery is simply gorgeous. Drop into the Place Museum and gardens on Isola Madre, or wander around the town and find yourself a lakefront tavern for a spot of lunch.

Rome

Tivoli

About 30km from Rome is the playground of the ancient emperors, Tivoli. Chosen by Hadrian in the 2nd century BC as his perfect country retreat, the rest of Rome society soon followed suit and turned what had been a sleepy fishing village into the ancient version of Monaco. Drive there today and you can spend a pleasant day wandering around ancient villas, including Hadrian’s own out-of-town palace. A perfect spot for history lovers, the culturally curious, or just hopeless romantics. Take the A24 and the E80 to get there.

Lago di Bolsena

This stunning lake is a two and a half hour drive from Rome down the E35 and E45 (be aware that you will have to pay a toll on-route), through some gorgeous Italian countryside. It’s a food lover’s paradise, and famous for its olive oil. The village is charming, where cobbled streets are still lined with traditional fisherman’s cottages. It’s peaceful, it’s one of this region of Italy’s hidden gems, and it’s usually relatively tourist-free.

Pompeii

Two hours and 45 minutes down the A1 and the E45 is one of the world’s must-see destinations, Pompeii. This incredible location has been frozen at the exact moment when Mount Vesuvius spewed a cloud of boiling pumice over the inhabitants, giving them no time to escape the mountain’s fury. It’s a humbling site, but truly unique and definitely worth the trip. Along the route you can drop into Naples for some of Italy’s finest food and drink, or simply soak up the coast views as you drive along. This is one day trip from Rome that’s really worth getting up early for (do watch out for the traffic around Naples, which can be quite heavy during the morning and evening rush hours).

Hire a car from Hertz Car Rental and you can discover all this and more when you add in a few day trips from Milan and Rome into your schedule.

ABU DHABI MALL Dubai Head Office, Al Rashidiya Dubai Airport Terminal 1 Dubai Airport Terminal 3 Dubai Motor City Dubai Marina Dubai Festival City Abu Dhabi Airport Al Reem, Abu Dhabi Al Reef, Abu Dhabi Sharjah Airport Al Hamra Mall, RAK

ABU DHABI MALL

Address

AK07 Al Mayaani Street, Al Zahiyah, AUH Mall,
Abu Dhabi ,
United Arab Emirates

Phone

026315320

Opening Hours

Sunday to Thursday - 10:00 am to 10:00 pm Friday to Saturday - 10:00 am to 11:00 pm

Dubai Head Office, Al Rashidiya

Address

Um Ramool, Rashidiya,
Dubai ,
United Arab Emirates 36800

Phone

971 4 2060206

Opening Hours

Monday-Sunday; 07:00-22:00

Dubai Airport Terminal 1

Address

Terminal 1 Arrivals Hall, Dubai International Airport,
Dubai ,
United Arab Emirates 36800

Phone

971 4 2245222

Opening Hours

Monday-Sunday; 24 hours

Dubai Airport Terminal 3

Address

Terminal 3 Arrivals Hall, Dubai International Airport,
Dubai ,
United Arab Emirates 36800

Phone

971 4 2203013

Opening Hours

Monday-Sunday; 24 hours

Dubai Motor City

Address

Shop 8, Ground Floor, Foxhill 8, Motor City,
Dubai ,
United Arab Emirates 36800

Phone

971 4 4273200

Opening Hours

Sunday-Friday; 08:00-20:00 Saturday; Closed

Dubai Marina

Address

Hertz - Dubai Marina City Premiere Marina Deluxe Hotel Apartment ,
Dubai ,
United Arab Emirates 36800

Phone

971 4 4226775

Opening Hours

Sunday-Friday; 08:00-20:00 Saturday Closed

Dubai Festival City

Address

InterContinental Hotel, Dubai Festival City,
Dubai ,
United Arab Emirates 36800

Phone

971 4 7011239

Opening Hours

Sunday-Friday; 09:00 - 15:00 Saturday; Closed

Abu Dhabi Airport

Address

AUH Terminal A Rental Returns, short term park 2nd level,
Abu Dhabi ,
United Arab Emirates 36800

Phone

971 2805 8090 971 2805 8089

Opening Hours

Monday-Sunday; 24 hours

Al Reem, Abu Dhabi

Address

Marina Square, Al Reem Island,
Abu Dhabi ,
United Arab Emirates 36800

Phone

971 2 6320494

Opening Hours

Sunday-Friday; 09:00 - 15:00 Saturday; Closed

Al Reef, Abu Dhabi

Address

Al Reef Downtown, ,
Abu Dhabi ,
United Arab Emirates 36800

Phone

971 2 645 8488

Opening Hours

Sunday-Friday; 09:00 - 15:00 Saturday; Closed

Sharjah Airport

Address

Inside Arrivals Terminal, Kiosk 2, Outside baggage claim area, Sharjah Airport,
Sharjah ,
United Arab Emirates 36800

Phone

971 6 5528290

Opening Hours

Monday-Sunday; 08:00-20:00

Al Hamra Mall, RAK

Address

Unit 52, First Floor, Al Hamra Mall, Sheikh Muhammad Bin Salem Rd,
Ras Al Khaimah ,
United Arab Emirates 36800

Phone

971 7 2434386

Opening Hours

Monday - Sunday: 10:00 to 16:00, 19:00 to 22:00

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