Venice to Verona & Lake Garda: Private Car & Driver Day Trip

Skip the tour bus: rent a driver for Verona and Lake Garda from Venice

You get a dedicated driver for the full day, pickup from Piazzale Roma, and the freedom to spend four hours exploring Verona's Arena and old streets, then three hours at Lake Garda in either Sirmione or Malcesine: all without arranging transport between stops or timing yourself to a group. The driver is English-speaking and knows the area. The car is air-conditioned and includes bottled water. You return to Venice in the evening with a fixed price agreed upfront.

Step-by-step itinerary

Venice to Verona and Lake Garda tour

• Depart Venice with private driver
• Explore Verona city center
• Visit Piazza Bra and Arena di Verona
• Walk Via Mazzini to Piazza delle Erbe
• See Torre dei Lamberti and Casa di Giulietta
• Optional visit to Juliet museum
• Drive to Ponte Pietra for photos
• Travel to Lake Garda
• Visit Sirmione and Scaliger Castle
• See Roman Grottoes of Catullus
• Stroll Riva del Garda promenade
• Stop in Malcesine village
• Optional cable car ride at Monte Baldo
• Return to Venice

The experience

"How long until we see the lake?" The question comes about halfway through the drive from Venice, somewhere past the flat Veneto plains, and it's the kind of thing you'd never ask on a coach full of strangers. This is a private day trip with your own driver. You leave Piazzale Roma in the morning in a clean, air-conditioned car (sedan if it's two or three of you, van if it's a group of five to eight), and the whole day unfolds at your pace, not a schedule's. Your driver speaks English, knows the region, and will point things out without the microphone commentary.

Verona gets four hours. That's enough to walk the Historic City Center properly: through Piazza Bra to the Arena, which is one of the best-preserved Roman amphitheaters in Italy and sits right there, massive and real, not behind a fence. You can stroll Via Mazzini (the shopping street that connects the piazza to Piazza delle Erbe), climb up to Torre dei Lamberti if your legs are up for it, and find Casa di Giulietta with the famous balcony. If you want to go inside the museum, you can. If you'd rather skip it and walk to Ponte Pietra instead for photos of the river and the city reflected in it, nobody's timing you. The driver waits, or you meet him back at the car.

Lake Garda is three hours, and you choose where to spend it. Sirmione is the obvious stop: medieval Scaliger Castle at the water's edge, the Roman Grottoes of Catullus just beyond it, and the promenade where you can sit and actually look at the lake without rushing. Malcesine, on the other side, is smaller and sits at the foot of Monte Baldo. There's a cable car if you want the mountain views. The Riva del Garda waterfront runs the whole length and the light off the water in late afternoon is the kind of thing you notice when you're not herding between bus stops. Your driver knows both towns and can suggest where to eat lunch, but that's your call. The trip includes transportation, water, and his knowledge, not a restaurant reservation.

The whole day is roughly seven to eight hours of driving and stops combined, and you're back in Venice by evening. The price is fixed before you book, so there's no negotiation at the curb, no surprises about tolls or parking. Bottled water is on the car. If someone in your group needs a wheelchair-accessible vehicle, that's available. Just mention it when you book and choose the right group size so the car fits everyone comfortably.

What’s included

• Private two-way transportation from Piazzale Roma in Venice in a clean, air-conditioned vehicle (sedan, MPV, or van depending on group size).
• bottled water on board.
• English-speaking driver who shares local knowledge.
• four-hour sightseeing stop in Verona including the Historic City Center, Arena di Verona, Via Mazzini, Piazza delle Erbe, Casa di Giulietta, and optional Ponte Pietra.
• three-hour sightseeing stop at Lake Garda with free time to explore Sirmione, Malcesine, or the Riva del Garda promenade at your own pace.
• 24/7 customer care service.
• all fees and taxes.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 12 days ago

Operated by Europe Journey - Private Sightseeing Transfers and Day Tours

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to see Verona and Lake Garda in one day without renting a car yourself or following a group schedule: the private driver and fixed itinerary mean you spend your time looking at what interests you, not waiting for a coach to load.

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Top questions

How long is the drive from Venice to Verona?

Roughly two hours each way. You have four hours to explore Verona itself before heading to Lake Garda.

Can we stop somewhere for lunch?

Yes. Lunch is not included, but your driver can suggest restaurants in Verona or at Lake Garda. You choose where and when to eat during your stops.

What's included in the price?

Private transportation in an air-conditioned vehicle, pickup from Piazzale Roma, bottled water, an English-speaking driver, and all fees and taxes. Entry to attractions (like Casa di Giulietta museum or the cable car at Malcesine) is separate.

How many people can fit in the car?

1–3 people travel in a sedan; 4 people in an MPV; 5–8 people in a van. You choose the vehicle size when you book.

Is the driver a licensed tour guide?

No, he's a driver who speaks English and knows the area well enough to share information and answer questions, but he's not a licensed guide.

Can we visit both Sirmione and Malcesine at Lake Garda?

You have three hours at Lake Garda total. Most people choose one town to explore properly rather than rushing between both.

What if someone in our group uses a wheelchair?

All vehicles are wheelchair-accessible, and all areas you'll visit (the city streets, the promenade, the castle grounds) are accessible. Mention your needs when you book.

Do we need to book entry tickets to the Arena or other attractions in advance?

No. Entry tickets are not included and can be bought on the day at each site. Your driver can advise on queues and opening hours.