Munich to Venice Road Trip Through the Alps (4 Days)
Drive from Munich to Venice across the Dolomites — the best alpine stops, where to sleep, tolls and real costs.
Rough estimate — fuel + nights at typical rates. Get an exact figure in the calculator.
The route on video
Munich to Venice is a classic alpine crossing: from Bavaria over the Brenner Pass and through the Dolomites down to the Adriatic. Three countries, one unforgettable drive.
Day 1 — Munich to Innsbruck (160 km)
An easy start on the A8/A93. Innsbruck sits under the mountains and makes a great first night. Note the Austrian vignette (motorway toll sticker) — buy it online before you cross the border.
Day 2 — Innsbruck to the Dolomites (180 km)
Cross the Brenner Pass into Italy, then leave the motorway for the mountain roads around Ortisei and the Seiser Alm. This is the scenic heart of the trip.
Day 3 — Dolomites to Venice (220 km)
Wind down out of the mountains toward the plains and into the lagoon. Park on the mainland (Mestre) — cars can’t enter Venice — and take the train or bus across.
Day 4 — Venice
No car needed. Explore on foot and by vaporetto.
Tolls and costs
Austria needs a vignette; Italy has distance-based motorway tolls plus the Brenner toll. Use the cost calculator for fuel and nights on your dates. Rent the car in Munich for the best rates and one-way options.
Where to stay on this route
Pick your dates and see what is available in Venice.
See places to stay — Venice →Affiliate link — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
🚦 Know before you go
Vignette. Germany and Italy need no car vignette, but Austria does: buy the digital plate-linked e-vignette (10-day approx €12.80) online before crossing the border, as there is no booth on the main network. A physical sticker is still sold at petrol stations and motoring clubs through 2026; from 2027 Austria is digital-only.
Tolls. On top of the Austrian vignette, the A13 Brenner is a separate special toll (approx €12.50 per car, paid electronically or at a booth), and Italy's A22 Brennero autostrada then charges per-km tolls via ticket-and-barrier (cash/card or Telepass).
Bridges & tunnels. The A13 climbs over the Europabrücke, one of Europe's highest motorway bridges, whose cost is included in the Brenner special toll.
Good to know. Buying Austria's 2-month or annual DIGITAL vignette from the official ASFINAG shop carries an 18-day activation delay (EU right-of-withdrawal rules); the 1-day and 10-day versions are valid immediately online, and any vignette bought in person at a service station works straight away — check whether a rental car already carries a toll box, and note that in Venice cars go no further than Piazzale Roma or Tronchetto.
Estimate your exact costs in the cost calculator. Prices are approximate — check official sites before you travel. Some links are affiliate links.
Plan this trip
Where to sleep
Hotels & B&Bs → Holiday homes & apartments → Campsites (bookable) → Campervan & overnight spots →Tours & tickets
Find things to do →Affiliate link — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Drive on from here
New road trips in your inbox
One email when we publish a new European route — the full guide, map and real costs. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.