Tankful
From Kraków or Wrocław to Lake Garda or Venice it is roughly 1,100–1,300 km, from Warsaw even more. For 1,300 km in a car that uses 7 l/100 km, petrol costs about €169 at Polish prices and about €196 at Italian prices – one way. A diesel at 6 l/100 km uses about €161 worth of fuel at Polish prices. With four people in the car, petrol comes to about €42.15 each.
Fuel prices on the way to Italy
Most drivers go through Czechia and Austria (over the Brenner Pass) or through Austria and Slovenia. These are today's average prices in those countries:
| Country – fuel | Poland | Neighbour | Difference | Cheaper in | On 50 l |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Czechia – petrol (95) | €1.85/l | €1.88/l | €0.03 | Poland | €1.36 |
| Czechia – diesel | €2.06/l | €2.08/l | €0.02 | about the same | – |
| Czechia – LPG | €0.75/l | €0.89/l | €0.14 | Poland | €6.96 |
| Austria – petrol (95) | €1.85/l | €1.96/l | €0.10 | Poland | €5.16 |
| Austria – diesel | €2.06/l | €2.26/l | €0.20 | Poland | €9.91 |
| Italy – petrol (95) | €1.85/l | €2.16/l | €0.30 | Poland | €15.17 |
| Italy – diesel | €2.06/l | €2.35/l | €0.29 | Poland | €14.49 |
| Italy – LPG | €0.75/l | €0.77/l | €0.02 | Poland | €1.15 |
Prices are national averages from 28 September 2026. Motorway stations are often noticeably more expensive than the table – especially in Italy.
Where to fill up on the way
- Poland or Czechia: A litre of petrol is cheaper in Poland by €0.03 – €1.36 saved on a 50-litre fill-up. Fill up in whichever is cheaper.
- Austria or Italy: A litre of petrol is cheaper in Austria by €0.20 – €10.01 saved on a 50-litre fill-up. A litre of diesel is cheaper in Austria by €0.09 – €4.58 saved on a 50-litre fill-up. If Austria is cheaper, fill up before the pass.
- In Italy, for short trips around the country fill up away from the motorway – motorway stations are usually above the average.
- On the way back, if fuel is dearer in Italy, it pays to reach Austria or Poland with just enough in the tank.
Vignettes and tolls
Czech and Austrian motorways need a vignette, while Italian motorways charge per section at toll booths. Some sections and tunnels have separate tolls on top. Check the current rules and rates on the official websites before you go – here we only count fuel.
How much your car really uses on a trip like this
Long motorway driving with a full boot and a roof box can raise consumption by more than ten percent over the brochure figure. If your car normally uses 7 l/100 km, on 1,300 km with luggage plan for about 8 l/100 km – that is about €193 of petrol at Polish prices.
Work out the exact cost of your route – with the price in every country on the way and the cost per person – in the calculator. If you are heading on to the Adriatic coast, see driving to Croatia, and for prices in every country there is the fuel prices in Europe table.