A friend & I are flying into Rome & headed up into Tuscany to spend about 5 days city-jumping from outside Florence to possibly Montepulciano to Siena (photographing a wedding there, which is the purpose of the trip). Afterwards, we'd like to spend one day in Rome before flying out the next morning. This will be my 3rd visit to Italy within the last few years, however I've never rented a car there. As I've read, having a car when cruising through Tuscany is really the best way to see it - I'm just trying to decide what the best way is to get from Rome into Tuscany - if we should do a train & rent a car once we're in Tuscany, or if we should rent a car directly from FCO airport & start driving then. What's most efficient on time?
Posted by
Portland, Oregon, United States
906 posts
Rent a car at FCO and return it there. Total freedom and easy to get Tuscany from FCO. Car is most time efficient. Waiting on trains isn't.
Posted by
69 posts
A question people ask is how long will you have been on the plane? I assume you will be jet lagged and are you going to be able to navigate the driving when you are very tired? Do you know the road signs? Do you have an International Driver's License?
We also are flying into Rome from across the ocean and need to get to Tuscany. We will be taking the train from train station in Rome to Tuscany. We then plan on renting a car once we are there and are a little more familiar with things. Just some of my thoughts.
Posted by
Winooski, VT
285 posts
Rome to Florence by train is easy, short, and not pricey. However, as you mentioned you don't see much like you would in a car. Driving is easy, tons of fun. Signs are pretty straightforward even if you know zero Italian like me but I made sure to read up on them prior to leaving.
Can't go wrong either way but the car gives you freedom for sure, especially if you need to go to several towns.
Posted by
824 posts
My personal opinion is that you should take the train to Florence, rent your car there and then return to Rome via the train. Many of the Italian highways are toll roads and driving can be pretty expensive. And you really don't need (or want) your car for the sightseeing day in Rome anyway...
Make a list of the places in Tuscany that you want to visit. Then use Google Maps and the Trenitalia web site to see if you can use trains and buses to get to everywhere you want to go.
If you still decide you need a car, read up on ZTLs and International Drivers' Permits. Both seem to be a constant source of controversy and anguish for travelers...
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area (USA)
15259 posts
If you feel up to driving about 3 hours after your overnight flight, I'd rent in FCO and go directly to your Tuscan base.
If you don't feel that you can drive after a long flight, probably jet lagged, then you might want to take a train to Florence, spend the first night in Florence, then rent a car in the morning and head out to a place outside of the city.
Another option is to rent a car at FCO, but instead of driving all the way to Tuscany, maybe spend the first night on Lake Bracciano (about 40 min from FCO) and take it easy the first day.
Posted by
Rural Georgia
2123 posts
We rented at FCO and went directly to Tuscany as soon as we picked up the car. We were able to sleep on the plane (used Skymiles to upgrade to first class). We returned the car the day before we flew home.
If you have a Garmin that has an SD slot, I highly recommend you buy the Italy/Greece map set. We were able to enter and save all our locations before we left home. In the rental car parking lot, I mounted the Garmin, changed it to KPH and pulled up our agriturismo outside Greve from saved places. The Garmin took us right there, using a combination of the Autostrada and scenic roads. It even displayed speed limits, which matched the road signage.
When we returned to Rome, we stayed at the Hilton at the airport. It is super convenient. They also offer a free shuttle from the airport into the heart of Rome (we were dropped off and picked up right next to Il Vittoriano [the Wedding Cake]). We returned our car and used the shuttle.
Yes, having a car is absolutely the best way to see Tuscany! Don't forget your International Driving Permit, it costs $25.00 and takes 10 minutes to procure at your local AAA office).
Posted by
boston, bangkok and everywhere in between.
92 posts
timewise, even considering that you have to switch trains, it's still faster to take the train than to drive from FCO to florence (assuming you want to be around florence). and you'd save a lot of hassle returning the car in florence and taking the train into rome for your last day.
if you do want to drive back to rome, i would suggest returning to a location in the city instead of back at FCO. otherwise you're adding at least an hour to the whole transaction. you could return at termini, or on via sardegna, which is about 15 minutes by taxi to the centro historico and has most rental car offices. depending on who you are renting with, it's another $10-$25 to return to a different location.