Renting a car in Florence

Many travelers posting here decide to pick up a car at the airport, for the reasons discussed click here, see esp. the original post in the link.

I think I'd just pick it up in the city in Florence and be done with it. Driving out is not a problem, and the ZTL issue is workable.

Catching a bus involves a change in mode of transportation, a bit of a hassel but luggage and people need to be moved around. Plus there's the expense of the bus tickets. I have no idea how long the bus takes, or even if it leaves when you're ready (unlike a car), but surely it makes some stops along the way, so it can't be faster than a car.

You can drive from Florence to Siena in about an hour. By adding another twenty minutes or so to the trip, you can swing by Greve with some good Chianti scenery along the way that beats the freeways.

NO, don't rent in the city. Take a taxi to the airport and rent from there. The autostrada entrance is just outside the airport. I can't believe the other posters are even recommending that scenario. You can't count on a hotel or car rental agency to report your presence to the local authorities. It is worth the 20 Euro just to take a taxi and not have to worry about a 100+ Euro fine in the mail a year later. You could easily get lost within the ZTL and get multiple fines for passing from one zone into the next.

I cast my vote for the airport. Very easy and you don't have to worry about driving in Florence.

Anne,

One other point to mention. For driving in Italy, each driver will need the mandatory International Driver's Permit. Failure to produce an IDP if requested can result in fines on the spot!

These must be used in conjunction with your home D.L., and the IDP can be obtained easily at any AAA office.

Happy travels!

Another vote for the airport, worth the extra charge up front to avoid a ZTL ticket later!

The only reason I would say not to rent in Siena is because you have a better choice in Florence, of cars and rental companies. I know for me, an automatic was a must and I couldn't find any automatics to rent except for Pisa or Florence. It was also important to me to rent from a large reputable company (ended up doing it through Hertz via Kemwel).

If you do decide to rent a vehicle in Florence, there are several major car rental companies located on Via Borgo Ognissanti, at the south end of Florence near the river. Some of the Tuscan towns you might visit are south of the city, so this option might work for you. Via Borgo Ognissanti is a short walk from the center of town (if you pack lightly), or a quick taxi ride (if you pack heavily). As long as you have good directions, or a map, or a GPS, you should be able to quickly navigate out of Florence. If you have any hesitation regarding the ZTL's, though, the airport option would give you peace of mind.

Via Borgo Ognissanti is still well within the Florence ZTL. I have test "driven" this area using Google Earth and it it rife with one way streets and "can't get there from here" streets, etc... After this test run, I decided it was better to stick to the airport.