Renting a Campervan in Italy: 8 Tips for Beginners
We recently took a 10-day road trip through Italy, starting in Milan and winding our way through the Dolomites mountain range, Venice, and Lake Como. The trip was everything we hoped for: breathtaking views, unique landscapes, and the freedom to explore at our own pace.
We wanted the flexibility to explore off-the-beaten-path locations and to experience Italy from a different perspective. A campervan offered us the perfect combination of adventure and comfort. We could park by a quiet field, wake up to the sunrise in the mountains, and have all our essentials with us, without the hassle of constantly checking in and out of hotels.
While we had a great time, we also learned a lot along the way. Here are a few nuggets of advice we think everyone should know before embarking on their first campervan adventure through Italy.
Be Careful of the Toll Booths
Italy has a lot of toll roads, and the booths can be tricky to navigate. They have multiple lanes, and don’t be fooled, you can’t just cut through by taking the shortest line of cars. We made this mistake a few times, assuming the quickest lane would be the easiest, but instead, we ended up risking a hefty fine by driving through electronic toll gates, which are great if you have all the right systems in place. More often than not, you won’t, so if you’re going through toll booths, stick to lanes marked with the cash or card symbols. And keep your receipt, you’ll need it when you reach the end of the toll road, as they charge you based on where you entered.
Look for Free Campsites, Waste Disposal and Taps
Park4Night became our go-to app for finding places to park overnight, especially in places like the Dolomites, where free camping spots are limited and can be a bit tricky to find. The app also helped us locate places to fill up the van with water and dispose of waste. We found the reviews incredibly helpful too, as other travellers would often mention whether a place had a great view, or if there was any risk of danger or not to bother because security would move you on. To park in popular tourist spots like Lago Di Brais or Tre Cime was charged by the night or for a minimum of 24 hours, and car parks often filled up quickly each morning. I would recommend arriving the night before to get the most value from the paid parking.
Prepare to Embrace the Natural Elements
If you're not used to a hot climate, the inside of the van can get pretty hot, especially when you’re parked in a private area concealed from the wind. Take a battery-powered fan to keep the air circulating through the van at night. Unfortunately, I’m susceptible to mosquito bites, so I’m often the first to notice them, and I usually wake up the next morning with huge welts. The mosquitoes were relentless and the van didn’t provide us with any protection against them. Pack good bug repellent, long sleeves for the evenings, and maybe even a mosquito net.
Avoid Using the Toilet
This was more of a personal choice, but we tried to avoid using the toilet as much as possible, opting for public bathrooms whenever we could. The space is small, and cleaning it after each use is not glamorous. That said, when you do have to use it, make sure you have the right cleaning supplies and deodorizing tablets to keep things as fresh as possible.
Check the Equipment and Extras Available
One thing we did check before booking was the campervan’s equipment, and we're so glad we did. We wouldn't have enjoyed the trip nearly as much without the basics like cleaning supplies, kitchen utensils, plates, cutlery, bedding, and even a gas tank. It did come at an extra cost to add these on, so we can’t stress enough how important it is to double-check what's included and what will cost extra.
They also offered some neat extras, like fold-up bikes, which we considered to avoid paying for parking near the more touristy areas. In the end, we decided against it. When we crunched the numbers, the cost of renting the bikes was pretty much the same as the parking fees. It's a good reminder to think through all the options carefully when booking and to consider how much value you'll get from them.
Get a Van with a Shower
We had to consider whether we wanted an indoor hot shower or an outdoor cold one. Obviously, the vans with outdoor showers are cheaper, but considering some of our stops were alongside busy roads, we would have felt too exposed having an outdoor shower, so the extra cost was worthwhile. The Dolomites also reach much cooler temperatures compared to most of Italy in the summer. While the indoor shower was a bit on the small and awkward side, we honestly can’t imagine what we would’ve done without it.
Know the Pickup and Return Locations
When we returned the van to Milan, we had to drop it off in a location closer to Milan Malpensa airport, rather than the airport we were flying out from, Milan Bergamo. I wish we had pre-booked a taxi or booked a flight from Malpensa airport. Make sure you check exactly where the campervan drop-off location is and factor in enough time for transport between. We ended up having to leave the keys behind and skip the proper check-out process because we simply ran out of time.
Plan for Water Refills Using Roadside Taps
If you’re not staying at campgrounds, use Park4Night to find roadside taps or other places to fill up on water. Once we found the taps, we also realised the van didn’t come with a hose or funnel, so we had to manufacture a system of funneling water from a large tub into the van via a funnel made from a plastic drink bottle, which was truly a humbling experience. I would recommend purchasing a hose while you’re in a larger city or asking if your rental agency will provide one.
Looking back, our first campervan trip through Italy was an unforgettable experience. It gave us the flexibility to explore at our own pace, wake up to incredible views, and save on accommodation costs. But there were a few challenges along the way that we think first-time campervanners should be aware of. With the right preparation, renting a campervan in Italy can be an amazing way to see the country, especially if you take the time to plan ahead.