Rental Car Versus Train

Entirely depends where. In some parts of Europe, renting a car makes no sense for tourists - for example, a typical Italian trip might be Venice, Florence, and Rome. There are regular, high speed trains between these cities, so why even bother to rent a car? The trains in Italy and many other countries are efficient and affordable, whereas driving can be expensive and stressful.

Elsewhere, a car makes more sense. Croatia for example doesn't have a great train network (though there is a good system of buses). It's easy and fairly cheap to say rent a car in Zagreb and drive to Dubrovnik and return the car there.

So...figure out what you want to do first, where you want to go. Then decide the best mode of transportation.

I can easily envision three weeks in Italy without a car, except perhaps for a short-term rental to see some small Tuscan hill-towns or the like. There are some challenges involved in traveling through Italy solely by car (starting with, where are you going to park it, and at what cost?). Others can give you more details on what to watch out for if you get serious about renting in Italy.

Three weeks in Croatia would probably include some time in Istria, where a car is really, really helpful. It also eases a visit to the magnificent Plitvice Lakes National Park, and it makes side-trips to Kotor (Montenegro) or Mostar (Bosnia-Hercegovina) faster and more flexible, since the schedule of buses crossing those borders is pretty skimpy.

All that said, I've been to Italy and Croatia at least three times each and have never rented a car.

For me Italy is a train, not car country. The trains network is great, trains are fast and inexpensive relative to other countries. You can get in a lot of very expensive trouble driving into ZTLs--Google it or search this forum. Drivers can be pretty erratic in Italy. I have driven in seven or eight countries in Europe, including Ireland, Portugal, England, am a veteran of 16 Europe trips and at least that many overseas trips on business. I would not choose to drive in Italy. That said, I think my wife and I have focused too much on the major cities on previous Italy trips (we have been four times). Smaller cities like Lucca, Siena, Orvieto are easy to reach on the train. Village Tuscany would be a lot harder, but you could do it. I'm not saying don't get a car, but research it carefully before you do.

Good timing for me on this thread -- I just booked a trip to Italy!
I can't decide whether or not to rent a car. We will be staying in Rome for three nights followed by a week in Cortona (Tuscany). Then we're off to Munich for Oktoberfest and would like to stop by Venice and maybe some other small towns along the way.
Trains to where we want to go in Tuscany are basically not an option -- regardless, the train cost to Munich and back seems to be more expensive than renting a car. Help me experienced travelers -- I can't decide!

Clifford, it would be better if you started your own thread so you get notifications when comments are posted specifically for you. As it stands, rransom is being notified of this post, and I'm not helping him/her at all.

Lots of people are going to chime in here with the pros and cons of driving in Italy. In 4 trips involving Italy so far, I've only been in a rental car once when my husband and I did a loop through the Alps from Stuttgart through southern Germany, Austria, Northern Italy, Switzerland, France and back to Lörrach, Germany to return the car. That trip took 2 weeks and it was all about driving on the backroads and avoiding the fast highways as much as possible.

The transport for all my other trips has been by bus, train, ferry and vaporetto. There are definitely advantages of getting on the backroads and disadvantages of renting a car. You can find lots of info, some of it quite entertaining just by Googling "driving in Italy." This is just one source that has other useful Italian travel sections as well.

And this is more Italy guidance from this very website. Since this is your first trip to Europe, visiting the Travel Tips section should be very helpful.

Gemut.com is a good source of info for car rentals, especially the free download. Be sure to scroll down the page for Italy specifics.

I think a lot of Americans who visit Europe default to renting a car, because that's what we do in America - where Amtrak is fun sometimes but not really a viable way to get around in most parts of the country.

Much of Europe is different. Many countries have great train networks (like the US used to once upon a time), and getting around by train is routine there. There's just no point in renting a car in some countries - it's a hassle and an unnecessary burden, especially in the cities. In rural areas? Sure, driving makes more sense (e.g. Normandy - super easy to drive, beautiful countryside.) I'd probably do the same thing in Tuscany - outside of Florence, at least.

Personally, I love trains, and when I think of going to Europe, where many countries have fantastic train networks (e.g. Italy), taking the train is ALWAYS my first and second choice. Driving is my last choice. (I am no fan of long bus rides either, though - and there are cheap, efficient buses in Europe that compete with trains in many countries.)- In fact, I sometimes try to plan trips that have long train rides involved. Last May, I trained from Venice to the Italian Riviera to the French Riviera and up to Paris. It was a blast! Some of the train rides were hours long but seemed to end too soon.

As I said above, sometimes it makes sense to drive like in Croatia. It's affordable to drive there, and driving is easy - and the alternative is usually long bus rides, not trains. So renting a car there is a no-brainer for me, unlike Italy.

just be sure you are fully informed and conversant with the following critical (possibly very expensive) items:
IDP, ZTL, TUTOR, mandatory insurance.

If you are unfamiliar with any just ask.

All of your comments have been wonderful!!!! Thank you so much. Now we're leaning towards the train for sure, especially Italy. So much to think about.

Much appreciated.

We will be staying in Rome for three nights followed by a week in Cortona (Tuscany).

To be technical, Cortona is in Umbria, not Tuscany.

just be sure you are fully informed and conversant with the following critical (possibly very expensive) items:
IDP, ZTL, TUTOR, mandatory insurance

Ok here you go:

IDP: International Drivers Permit. For $20.00 in 20 minutes at a AAA office you're all set. No problem.
ZTL: Zona Traffico Limitato. Everywhere we drove in Tuscany the ZTLs were very clearly marked. I had absolutely no problem avoiding driving into them.
Tutor: A system instituted by the Italian Police to control speeds on the Autostrada. It has been extremely successful in reducing traffic accidents and fatalities. It has pretty much eliminated the notorious "crazy Italian driver". Again, anyone capable of following well posted speed limits should have absolutely no problem. I sure didn't. Just keep in mind that there is no "wiggle room" on the speed limits like we have in the States.
Mandatory Insurance: Check with your insurance agent and rental car company. We rented from Hertz and went with comprehensive insurance. It's easy to determine what coverage you need, what coverage you have and what, if any additional you should purchase.

I agree that public transportation in Italy is wonderful. There are places, such as the Amalfi coast and the big cities, that I would never consider driving. If that describes your interest, then you will be well served. However, there's another side of Italy that pretty much demands a rental car. We would not have been able to have the kind of experience in Tuscany that we enjoyed. For instance, we attended vespers in a monastery that was held in Gregorian chant. It was one of the highlights of our trip. We would not have been able to reach the rural monastery and get home afterwards without having a car.

We lived in Germany when I worked for the Army and drove to Italy three or four times. If you use the Autostrada, the tolls are very expensive. Unless you have a family of four, you would probably save by taking the train.

Don't miss going to Venice, Florence and Rome/

You can take day trips or tours from Florence to places in Tuscany and Umbria.

Take a car and parking is a royal pain.

All depends on your plans for Italy.
If you stick with the cities the train will be better than a rental car.
If you stick with small towns than the car is often better and driving in Italy is no problem.

Issue is usually people think they need a car and then book an itinerary which is much better served by train.

Croatia I think a car will be desired in most cases. of note if combining these 2 countries the rental car companies classify Croatia as Eastern Europe so may not allow an Italian rented car to drive there or at least you will need to tell them in advance and they may charge you more because of it. Even if you are renting and returning to Italy and just want to make a side trip for a few nights into Croatia.
Also if planning on taking a rental car on a ferry that is something that may or may not be allowed.

All good advice from other to consider . First trip we did from Rome , Florence, Cinque Terra, Bologna, Verona, Venice, Lake Como, Milan all by train with ease. Next trip we rented a car in Tuscany area only and had a ball zipping around the country roads. It does allow you to get off the beaten path and stay in some of the less crowded hilltop towns ( Rhadda and Pienza), which were delightful. In October, we are heading back and renting a car only in the Umbria region.....the rest by train, on into Croatia ( car rental again ). If you feel uncomfortable driving in Italy, the countryside is just fine. They didn't ask for an international drivers license either. You sound like you enjoy the countryside so for those areas, it seems you would love having a car. Do have fun !!! Italy feels like a " second home " for some reason or other.

It is an International Driving Permit not License, the boys at the rental desk wouldn't ask for it because only the police need it, or other party in a collision. The rental guys just want you to take their car. You still need it. Never know if you will be asked for it.

My advice, getting from large city to city, take the train. You don't want a car in the center of Rome (did that once to get to the hotel and then return the rental) but you will want one if you are going to wander the hill towns of Tuscany. Trains for urban travel and a rental for the countryside.

Never have gotten an international driver's license. Never had a problem getting the car. What they want is your passport.
Many credit cards add rental insurance if you use the card to pay for the rental. You may want to check and then only take the basic coverage that is require by law in Italy.
Italian's have no concept of death and they drive like it. Horrible drivers and I'm Italian!
Enjoy your trip.

John:

Never have gotten an international driver's license. Never had a problem getting the car. What they want is your passport.

And what the cops will want, if you are stopped, is your International Driving Permit - as well as your passport. The rental car company never asks for the IDP.

John, it's really not a good idea to encourage people to go to Italy without an IDP. The car-rental agency may not require it, but the law does, and if there's an accident or some sort of random traffic stop, the fine for not having the required IDP can be very high. Someone posted the amount not too long ago. I don't remember what it was, but it was at least hundreds of euros. That is not in most people's travel budget.

Wow, sure appreciate ALL the comments. It is helping immensely with our decisions. Will definitely train for the most part and likely rent for trips to the countryside.
Happy travels everyone

The IDP is just a translation of your home license.
Some agencies ask to see the IDP before renting a car, most don't.
Italian law requires it, and the fine for not having one is 400 euro.

Clifford,

Have you factored in the cost of fuel for your rental car option? Gas is going for the equivalent of about $6 a gallon (yes, SIX DOLLARS). Also, paying for parking in most every place you will stop? And the tolls can be expensive!

I agree that getting to some of the out-of-the-way spots cannot be done via train and a car gives you the most flexibility, but most of those spots do have regular bus service. Maybe use a train for the longer portions of your trip and then rent a car for the day to explore the off the beaten track locations.

Something to think about.

I was in Italy for a month last summer and had a car for three days, using Montepulciano as my base while visiting Montalcino, Orvieto, and other nearby towns; then I returned the car when I reached Siena, my next destination. I enjoyed the freedom to stop along the side of the road and gape at a gorgeous field of sunflowers or the view across the hills. The freedom of having a car is great, but for me it adds stress. As much as I enjoyed being able to explore Val d'Orcia without being bound to transit schedules, it was a relief to turn in the car and move on.

Also, posts I read on this forum instilled a healthy fear of ZTLs and speed cameras. I did a lot of reading in advance about both the laws related to driving and the unspoken "rules of the road," and I'm glad I did.