In late May of this year, my fiance and I are attending a wedding and two other events that are each about 20 - 30 minutes from Siena, Italy (in Sovicille). We plan to fly into Florence and will need to travel to Siena where we plan to get a hotel room (not yet booked). The invitation says we will NEED to rent a car as it is very difficult to get taxis to and especially FROM the venues (Castello di Celsa and San Lorenzo a linari). We really don't want to drive in Italy so we would only be using the car to get to and from the events and will take taxis for short excursions within Siena for site-seeing, shopping etc. While cost is of some concern, our biggest priority is convenience and simplicity! Since I have a bad back and we will have multiple suitcases each, it is important that the rental car location, our hotel, and parking in Siena are all easy to find and get to AND that we are not driving in an area where we could get confused and end up with a ZTL fine. (I've read some people have had issues with this in Florence and Siena.) With that being said, should we rent a car in Florence and drive to Siena or take public transportation from Florence to Siena and rent a car there?
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area (USA)
16133 posts
Rent a car at the Florence Airport.
Hopefully you will be in good shape to drive after a long flight. If not, you can stay near the airport and drive the next morning. That would be my preferred option if you, most likely, arrive to FLR in the late afternoon or evening.
Below are two hotels I usually stay near the airport. I usually stay there before flying out but in your case it might be a good idea to stay upon arrival. The drive to the venues you describe are well over one hour. No danger of ZTL (but plenty of speed cameras in the freeway there) and a portion is on a curvy two lane highway that you shouldn’t drive after dark especially after a long flight.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/aKKLeqgoVh1X46Pg6?g_st=ic
https://maps.app.goo.gl/aSZmCYyAanmecV4x6?g_st=ic
you can rent cars through AutoEurope. Check all their websites:
www.autoeurope.com
www.autoeurope.eu.
www.kemwel.com
I suggest you select the no deductible option under insurance coverage (a.k.a. Excess Refund in their European website).
Don’t stay in Siena city center with a car. Everything is ZTL there and the hotel may not have parking. I would stay outside of Siena in a smaller village or countryside agriturismo. If you want to stay in Siena city center make sure you choose a hotel outside the ZTL with parking.
Posted by
martinez, ca, usa
2421 posts
hey hey ccerra1
agree with roberto, he's from the florence/tuscany area.
get your IDP (AAA.com/IDP) for rental and driving, each driver needs one. $20 each, 2 passport size photos and receive same day. good for a year.
how long is this trip? cut back on your packing, packing light will do wonders with your bad back. we have sink washed clothes, bringing a small bottle of laundry soap or laundry mats are around.
aloha