Fears of driving in and out of Montepulciano

They are two lane highways with curves.
Traffic will be minimal.
I know that in Florida there are two lane roads with some curves, although not as many.
There is nothing to fear but fear itself.

I think you can do it without a problem. Driving in Tuscany is not hard and is the best way to see the towns. Your lodging is located in town so be sure they have parking for a rental car. The directions for getting to the hotel are pretty straightforward on their website.

My first visit to Montepulciano was on the east side of town, up a very steep hill and into a parking garage that had no spots left. I had to turn around on the steep hill and go back to the west side of town and find a place. No problem really.

We stayed at the other end of town one year. Yes, there was a hairpin turn uphill (with a mirror to help you see if anyone was coming down) and then a couple of tight turns around stone buildings. It was a little spooky, but nothing dire happened. Montepulciano also has one-way streets to contend with. Of course I don't know what the parking situation is at your locanda.

We have made 18 trips to Europe and one stay in Montepulciano is the only time we have ever rented a car rather than relying on public transportation. We first stayed in Montepulciano in 2004 and made a couple of day trips by bus. But we realized that having a car would have made things a lot easier. So we came back in 2010 and rented a car for our four days in Montepulciano. Having the car delivered to the hotel sounds like a great deal to me, especially if they will come take it back as well. We rented in Chiusi and it wasn't ultra-easy. Plus, your first driving trip would be downhill out of Montepulciano rather than uphill into the town!

My mom was the driver (she’s 58) and I was the navigator (because I know how to work Google Maps a hell of a lot better, lol) on our recent trip to Tuscany. We honestly found the driving really manageable and my mom actually preferred driving on those rural Tuscan roads. Why? Because they are far less crowded than the main thoroughfares. It’s easier to drive when no one is around, haha.

The majority of the roads are paved, as mentioned. And yes, they are curvy but we were generally able to take our time with curves. I think you would do fine driving. My only advice would be to let the locals pass when they do appear. There were enough little pull-outs to do this. We drove into Montepulciano from the west and drove out to the south with no problems.

(Second piece of advice, sorry, I lied, perhaps just check out where the parking lots are located via the little maps in the RS Florence & Tuscany book. It really helped when I had to direct my mom into Montepulciano, Pienza, and Montalcino. If we can do it, you can!)

I believe the OP is asking about the location of their B&B inside Montepulciano itself, and how difficult it is to reach once through the town gates.

I'm not sure how it works exactly but you will be driving in the ZTL zone before you reach your accommodation. You may pass cameras on the way up. Loconda will likely to give you a permit, I don't know whether that permit allows you full access and daily parking close by, or if parking is elsewhere in town. Email them to find out. I do know that most of the streets inside the wall can be on the narrowish side, cars possibly parked on each side.

Once outside the town walls, it's a breeze. You may consider parking elsewhere once your luggage is dropped off. A car is a definite benefit for this area, it's beautiful.

PS: Unless you are really stuck on Loconda, this place is very nice, cheaper and outside the walls: https://www.fontecastello.it/

Thanks to all. Gunderson - that is exactly what I was wondering - getting through Montepulciano.

We followed the owner into the town. It was quite windy and narrow to reach the top where we were staying. My husband was the driver and with a small car and careful attention he had no problems. Yes it was narrow and windy but similar to other towns that we have stayed in. Glad that we followed the owner up the first time though.

Hi
My husband and I stayed in Montepulciano last summer and had no issues. There is parking just outside of the city...so you don't necessarily have to drive up through the winding roads. Once you are out of the city there is no problem at all. Pienza has plenty of parking in wide open parking lots...I suggest driving, you will see things at your leisure and can stop along the way as you wish ! We are going back this fall to stay in Pienza and Montalcino
Cheers~

We stayed in Montepulciano with a car, at the top of the town near Piazza Grande. The first trip up to the parking lot was challenging trying to follow the map provided by the hotel--several switchbacks, sharing the road with pedestrians, and avoiding ZTLs. When we got to the hotel, they asked if we found the parking easily enough and I replied, "Well, we're still married" which they found amusing. After doing it once, it was easy enough the other times. I always relied on their map for navigating since GPS didn't help. My husband drove.

You might think about the option of having the car delivered. Driving down from the hotel would be easier, and they can give you verbal instructions. Then on your next drive up, you'll have the lay of the land. Parking outside of town, as suggested, is an option, also. I believe there is a shuttle that runs from the base of the town up to Piazza Grande, with stops along the way.

If there's a busy time of day or you otherwise aren't ready to brave the hill, you can certainly park first at one of the lower pay lots, and take the shuttle bus up, so you can see the hotel and parking space in person and talk to staff in person before making the drive later. If it weren't already included in the room price, then I might continue to park lower down. But then, "feeding the meter" may have to be done at inconvenient times, like 8:00 a.m.

Parking lots and metered spots near the Fortezza in Montalcino are also easy to find but accepted only coins (as of 3 years ago).

I think you're wisest to listen to the concerns of those who stayed at your same B&B. If people who have stayed there have expressed that it wasn't the most pleasant experience, they probably did so in part to alert others who follow them so they (you) can avoid the same daunting experience. I'd pay the 20 euros for the peace of mind. Then once you're there, you can see what you think of it.

(In other words, there must be a "there" there. People wouldn't repeatedly mention it in the comments if it wasn't a bit anxiety-inducing! We all have different tolerance levels for these kinds of things, but you do have some clear signals here that this is at least potentially an issue.)

Thanks to everyone for the advice. After I posted my question, I read, on this site, about a new hop on, hop off bus that leaves Montepulciano several times a day and stops at many of the nearby towns.

We have decided to give it a try. Only 18€ each. Sounds like a great idea. Can see the countryside, hop off, drink some wine. No worries about drinking and driving. Will let you know how it was.

hey sue
when are you planning this trip, the dates? where will you go to after tuscany? got a couple ideas if you'd like.
aloha

Rome, Majorca, Cinque Terre, Varenna, Verona and Ortiesi. The fun begins August 27th.

ok sue
i'll put together a few things you may like and send to you. you can take it with a grain of salt. we had plans last year that i saved but things changed and we went to amsterdam, venice and paris so my friend could show her 30 year old daughter and 55 year old friend, both had never been to europe. it was a fun wine and prosecco party adventure. haha
aloha

Can you post website for that bus?

Callen510, the bus to the surrounding villages is from the Valdichianaliving.it website. (I was the person who originally found it, wanting to see a couple of villages for photographing & a relaxing meal.). You will want to find the Gran Tour on their site. The buses run different routes on various days of the week. I also contacted them through their Facebook site, and they replied quickly. The bus option is new; previously it was just buses routing through Montepulciano.