Is it worth renting a car in Florence?

While renting a car isn't necessary or even advised if you're only visiting major tourists city (you can't even bring your rental car into the old town Florence, and having a car in Rome is a very bad idea not just because of traffic but also because many main attractions are only accessible by foot anyway), if you ...



For the city of Florence itself, the answer is a firm "No." The historic center of Florence is small, incredibly walkable, and mostly designated as a ZTL (Zona a Traffico Limitato). If you accidentally drive into these restricted zones without a local permit, you will be caught by automated cameras and face hefty fines of €80 to €300 per entry. Additionally, parking in the city is notoriously difficult and expensive, often costing €30–€50 per day. However, if Florence is your base for exploring the Tuscan countryside—places like San Gimignano, Montepulciano, or the Chianti vineyards—then renting a car is highly worth it and essentially the only way to see these remote areas at your own pace. A grounded strategy for 2026: do your sightseeing in Florence on foot for 2–3 days, and then pick up your rental car from the Florence Airport (FLR) or a rental agency on the outskirts of the city center. This allows you to head straight to the hills of Tuscany without the stress of navigating Florence's narrow, one-way streets and high-risk "Limited Traffic Zones."

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There's no reason NOT to rent a car and drive in Tuscany, it's like driving in rural Virginia. Bicycles would only allow you see a small part of Tuscany. There are many tremendous hills there and we've seen plenty of very experienced bikers walking their bikes up some of them.

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When you're traveling through Italy, having a car is essential, however, like many other historic cities in Italy, downtown Florence is not designed to accommodate the flow of modern traffic. For this reason, sightseeing within the city should be done on foot.

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Getting around by bus is the most popular way of getting around Florence if you don't have a car. The tickets are affordable, so you can get from one side of the city to the other on spare change. The ATAF buses run on a regular schedule and are ideal for when you don't feel like walking.

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It's maze of one-way streets, strictly enforced pedestrian-only areas, narrow roads and lack of parking. Plus, everything you'll want to see is within walking distance, so driving in Florence ill-advised. Still, if you arrive to Florence in a rental car, you need to know how to get into the city and where to park.

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Driving in Italy can be intimidating for a foreigner, but it is safe if you prepare and follow Italian rules. While it is easier to travel between big cities by train, sometimes renting a car is the best option.

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Renting a car in Italy is the best way to visit some parts of the country and specifically: Tuscany – if you want to stay in a villa or agriturismo in the country, a car is a must as not public transport usually served country estates.

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In order to rent a car in Italy, you must be at least 21 years old. There are certain rental companies that allow drivers as young as 18 to rent a car in Italy as long as they have held their license for at least one year. Any driver under the age of 25 should expect to pay a young driver's surcharge.

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Car rental insurance protects you from any liability that results in death, injury to others or any property damage that is caused while you are driving a rental car in Italy. In Italy, the law requires that you must carry certain types of insurances: Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) and Theft Protection.

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Taxis are less common in Florence than other cities in Italy because you can easily walk everywhere! Here are some tips for taking taxis in Florence: Download the taxi application. This is the easiest way to order a taxi in Florence.

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English is widely spoken, but try to learn Italian It goes a long way, even if you're only able to say simple sentences or hello, goodbye, and thank you. Italians really appreciate when you try to learn the local language, not to mention it's a beautiful language to listen to and speak.

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For first-time visitors and those who have only a short time in Florence, we suggest staying in the Centro Storico or historic district. This area is the heart of Florence and here you'll find the magnificent cathedral or duomo – Santa Maria del Fiore – the Uffizi Gallery, and the Palazzo Vecchio.

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