Warned not to drive from San Gimignano to Rome. Legit warning?

As long as you are driving straight to FCO and not entering the city, it should be fine. Allow lots more time than Google Maps indicates.

For the record, I drove in Italy as a resident for a few years. I hated driving in the city but would drive out to Tuscany or other areas away from Rome itself. It takes two people to drive, IMO, an aware driver and an equally aware partner/navigator. Be sure to familiarize yourself with Italian road signs. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Road_signs_in_Italy

Thanks Laurel. Am I correct in assuming we need a car for San Gimignano? Seems silly to order a cab to get around.

To Rome or to the Rome airport? Makes a big difference. Planning to stop and sightsee along the way or not? Also matters.

You will receive many thoughts, but I would say that driving to FCO is not risky, scary, nightmarish……..or scenic. We have either picked up or returned a car at FCO, Civitavecchia, Terni in nearby Umbria, and Perugia (also in Umbria) without difficulty. We also picked up a car in Rome once and my husband did find that just a bit hairy, but he grew up driving in New York city.

San Gimignano you park and walk into the centro storico.

Thanks Nancy. We would drive from San Gimignano to Rome to return the rental at the airport. I assume this is highway driving and would avoid the ZTL and narrow streets that everyone says are brutal. I don't know how else I would get from San Gimignano to Rome. A cab would be a fortune I would think.

driving to Rome will me w-a-y slower than the train. The train sees similar scenery to the toll road driver but much faster (train does 360 kph, Autostrada limited (enforced by various ways) to 130 kph) which is OK because there really is nothing to see either from the tracks or the Autostrada.

You don't intend to drive to your Rome hotel do you? Sounds like you might. I cannot emphasise too highly what a bad idea that could be.

That’s interesting. I never considered we could take a train to Rome from San Gimignano We were thinking a cab or uber to hotel once in Rome after we drop the rental off at the airport. But then where do I return the rental if we take the train from San gimignano?

You will want a car in San G if you plan to tour the countryside at all.

Where to return the car depends on the agency you rent from. Probably Poggibonsi, which is closest the train station to San G.

Though it may seem counter-intuitive, your easiest option is probably to just bite the bullet, return the car in Florence, and catch the high speed train to Rome from there. It would certainly be the least stressful option since, as your friend has advised, driving on the Autostrada is no fun - no scenery to speak of combined with some of the combat driving conditions that the Italians are famous for.
Any of the other options would be pretty convoluted since there really is no convenient place to drop a rental car in the vicinity of San Gimignano.
Though we generally found that driving in rural Tuscany was a pleasue, the thought of spending up to 3 hours on the Autostrada would fill me with dread quite honestly.

Here is another viewpoint from someone who does this often…
There is no train station in San Gimignano. There is no nonstop, high speed train from nearby Poggibonsi to Rome…the train goes through Florence where I believe you need to change trains for Rome. Plus I am not sure what rental car offices are located in Poggibonsi in order to return your car.
I would definitely drive directly from your accommodation in SG to the Rome airport and then get a cab directly to your hotel. We do this often from our rental villa in the Chianti region just east of SG.

Driving back to the Florence airport to return the car…then taking the shuttle bus to get from the rental car offices to the airport…then taking the tram into the Florence train station…then boarding the train to Rome…then arriving at Termini in Rome…then getting a taxi to your hotel…seems exhausting to me, especially if you have luggage.
The drive will not be that exciting once you get on the Autostrada, but it is generally fast and easy. You should not encounter any ZTLs.
Just make sure that if you stop anywhere along the way, you be wary of leaving luggage or anything of value in your car. We sometimes stop at an Autogrill for a bathroom break or snack…one of us always stays in the car.

Uber as we know it doesn’t exist in Italy

Just to repeat, there is no train station in SG

I would return to FCO then take a taxi right from the rental agency to your hotel. Fixed rate from FCO to center is 55 euros

You need to watch out for ZTLs in all the Tuscan towns. You will be parking outside the walls and walking in.

Make sure all drivers have an IDP

ETA
There is no need to go to Florence airport to pick up car. There are dozens of threads on this forum with instructions how to drive out of Florence safely. Look for posts by “ Roberto”

The rural driving is part of the fun! I see no reason to not drive to Rome. ZTL is everywhere, you look for the sign and park outside. I think instead of a matter of concern, this may be the highlight of your trip.

Would you return the car to the airport and then check into a hotel near the airport and then fly home the next morning?

One reason people get stuck in narrow streets is that Google Maps wants to send you the quickest way, not the actual best or safest or most scenic or easiest way. We got literally stuck on a tiny street as recently as a week ago and also drove on something that I suppose was technically a road but was not fully paved and was full of big deep potholes. A paper map in addition to Google Maps might have helped us avoid those two places. We have also learned to strategically ignore Google which will send you all around on one-way streets in order to deliver you to an exact address when we could just park and walk a very short block or two. My husband thinks this kind of thing is a fun challenge rather than any kind of nightmare, so with that attitude and reading up on what street and highway signs mean, you should be fine.

Yikes lots of options to consider here. And yes, once we get travel to Rome from SG we are staying at hotel near the airport for the night and then flying home. I was thinking a cab from either the train or from the car rental place, depending on which option we go with.

It sounds like you all agree I should have a car to explore the Tuscany area since we will be there for 5 days. I just have to decide how to get back to Rome. Is there a helicopter option? kidding kidding.

if your destination is in fact the airport and an airport hotel, then yes, the very best option is likely driving straight to the airport rental lot at FCO. Key bit of new info - thanks

For info, the fast trains from Florence SMN to Rome airport take about 2.5 hrs., which includes one change (of about 10 minutes) at the Rome Termini station.

Robert,
So, you're saying it makes sense to drive from SG, to the Florence Airport (I'd avoid ZTL on Autostrada), drop off the rental car, figure out a way to get to SMN (cab maybe?) then take the train to Rome Termini and then a cab to the hotel (which is next to the airport)?

Since you are staying at Rome airport just drive to Rome from SG
That makes the most sense

Pick up car in Florence or at FLR-your choice

Driving to the Rome Airport from SG to drop off the car avoids the crazy driving I've been warned about then? For the most part?

I didn't read the whole thread so sorry if redundant. The area between St. G and Rome is some of the most interesting in Italy -- so many wonderful stop on the way. e.g. Saturnia and its wonderful hot spring waterfall (we stopped there for a soak years ago -- free public park although there was no changing room then -- had to use a towel by the car). many Etruscan tomb sites -- near Sovana you can get a map and drive to hillside tombs. Or stop in Tarquinia or Cervetari for amazing well preserved tombs -- one site has house like tombs above ground and the other underground -- can't remember which is which.

We did not pay a drop charge picking up in Florence and dropping at FCO but of course that is something to check out when renting. I like to rent at the florence airport to avoid the ZTL in Florence -- it is easy to make a mistake on the way out of town -- and it is easy to return at FCO.

We drove in Italy for years staring 45 years ago -- it is not scary. And the ZTLs are well marked and most towns have parking lots clearly marked outside the ZTLs. I'd drive and give plenty of time to visit some sites between St. G and Rome.

I don't understand the fraidy cat approach to international travel. Get appropriate insurance and don't worry about it.

If you did want to return the car at Florence airport you could just take the tram from there to SMN station but IMHO this is stupid especially if you give yourself the time to explore a bit between Tuscany and Rome.

I have driven all over Italy. Driving from San Gimignano to Rome FCO is no big deal if you are a normal average driver who has been on a highway before. I drive, my husband navigates. Leave plenty of time so you're not stressed if you like. You'll be fine. Especially since you'll have had your time in Tuscany to get used to the car etc.

(I’d avoid ZTL on Autostrada)

There is no ZTL on Autostrada

ZTLs are in towns, villages, cities but in Tuscany you won’t be driving IN to any of those
You will be parking outside the walls and walking in

Thank you everyone. I spoke to my fiance and she wants to drive from SG to Rome and possibly stop somewhere along the way (maybe a winery or something to break up the drive). Then just drive to the Rome airport area to drop off the rental.

I can't thank you all for your input. One less thing to thing about. Shopping for car rentals now...

Ok
Make sure your luggage is well hidden and take valuables with you when you stop en route.

Be very careful wine tasting- alcohol limits are much lower in Italy than US- strongly suggest designated driver
Most wineries will require an appointment

If the object of this drive is to get to/near FCO for a flight the next day, and want to make a pleasant drive, this is a routing I would consider.

https://www.google.com/maps/dir/53037+San+Gimignano,+Province+of+Siena,+Italy/Leonardo+da+Vinci+International+Airport+(FCO),+Fiumicino,+Metropolitan+City+of+Rome+Capital,+Italy/@42.7379346,10.0299133,273659m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m19!4m18!1m10!1m1!1s0x132a3c3831446b6f:0x4c4ef55452f54491!2m2!1d11.0434187!2d43.4672085!3m4!1m2!1d11.2872227!2d42.9990324!3s0x13299e833ae4b1a9:0x470019a9d122079b!1m5!1m1!1s0x1325f0793898141f:0xafe513b4e358316f!2m2!1d12.2519211!2d41.8034632!3e0?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI1MDQwMi4xIKXMDSoJLDEwMjExNDUzSAFQAw%3D%3D

I have not driven that area. I did drive Naples to Sorrento; the Amalfi coast road enroute to ancestral villages, then up the Adriatic coast road to Milan The roads were all at least as good as their US counterparts, most were better. Spent very little time on the Autostrada ( mostly boring freeway driving).

Or perhaps this alternative:
https://www.google.com/maps/dir/53037+San+Gimignano,+Province+of+Siena,+Italy/Leonardo+da+Vinci+International+Airport+(FCO),+Fiumicino,+Metropolitan+City+of+Rome+Capital,+Italy/@42.9605734,10.9558225,68169m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m24!4m23!1m15!1m1!1s0x132a3c3831446b6f:0x4c4ef55452f54491!2m2!1d11.0434187!2d43.4672085!3m4!1m2!1d11.165671!2d43.0520599!3s0x13299a809ab1ba5f:0x960b53ec5dd65d7!3m4!1m2!1d11.1730877!2d43.0017251!3s0x132999e57dcb774d:0xe8577111231fb3d8!1m5!1m1!1s0x1325f0793898141f:0xafe513b4e358316f!2m2!1d12.2519211!2d41.8034632!3e0?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI1MDQwMi4xIKXMDSoJLDEwMjExNDUzSAFQAw%3D%3D

Thank you Joe. That looks fantastic. Any ZTL issues? Just a free coastal drive along the coast?

The rental car return exit at FCO from the motorway is well marked. We’ve driven from Umbria twice and returned cars at the airport…easy to do, and we’ll be doing that again in September. One thought that came up last visit…the car rental returns are in two different parking garages, depending on your rental company. Our last car was through Europcar, and we had mistakenly assumed it would be returned to the same garage as Hertz. You would think that it would have been easy to leave the one and go into the other, but it turned into quite a hassle. So it’s helpful to have that information before you arrive.

Having spent a lot of time driving in Italy (and many other countries), I can offer some perspective here.

San Gimignano to Rome IS a bit of a jump in difficulty level, but not impossible if you're a confident driver. The ZTL zones in Rome are notorious and can lead to expensive tickets if you accidentally drive into them without permission.

My thoughts:
- Your Florence to San Gimignano plan makes perfect sense
- The drive from Tuscany to Rome CAN be beautiful, especially if you take the scenic routes
- But arriving in Rome by car is stressful even for experienced international drivers

Maybe a compromise? Drive from San Gimignano to a train station outside of Rome (like Orvieto), return the car there, and take the train into Rome center. This gives you the scenic drive without the Rome driving stress.

If you're still considering the full drive, I'd recommend looking into proper preparation for Italian driving rules.

Quick tip - if youre not super confident with Italian roads/signs, might wanna check out Tripiamo before your trip. They've got really helpful guides for driving in Italy that cover everything from road rules to common situations youll run into

Thank you for your thoughtful response. Very helpful.

OP just needs to get to hotel at FCO- not into Rome- so train from Orvieto (while a good suggestion if you need to get to Rome) not a good one for OP. It adds several more steps to their travel day.
Orvieto only has Hertz so you are limited to renting from Hertz if you want to drop in Orvieto.

Driving in Italy is no more scary than driving around major cities in the US. Your drive from SG to FCO will be easy.

I have driven on almost every one of our trips (17? 18?) to Italy. My impression is that Italian drivers are doing a lot less honking and speeding than they used to. Perhaps the widespread installation of cameras to monitor speed has had the desired effect. One thing you can be sure of is that, unlike in the U.S., Italian drivers won’t be packing guns to vent their road rage on others who annoy them.

I don’t see all these problems about driving in Italy, but that is where I learned to drive and I’ve never been in Italy without a car, even after moving to the US. Language is not an issue, since the European road signs are based on the International Road sign symbols, so if you know them you can drive in Europe anywhere without knowing the local language.

Regardless of where you rent a car, you should learn the International road signs (the US has adopted only some):
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Road_signs_in_Italy

You can pick up the car wherever you wish in Florence, the ZTL is not an issue getting out of town, so you don’t even need to go to the airport. I’ve given instructions on to pick up and return the car in Florence (use the search box above)

If you want to visit the small villages of Tuscany a car is almost essential, but if you just need to see San Gimignano you can use a bus. If you plan to go to Rome, it would be a perfect opportunity to take the regular roads, like SS2 Via Cassia, and visit a bunch of places along the way.

Returning to the Rome airport is not hard. It’s like returning a car at any US airport. If you plan to go downtown to stay in Rome a few days, returning to the Rome Termini station (rental car returns are at the Via Marsala parking garage under the station) is not difficult and not near the ZTL. I can give you instructions when you make your decision.

Your friends who advised you are making a hill out of a molehill. It’s not a big deal to drive in Italy, really. It’s just that people like to exaggerate their adventures and accomplishments. I’m sure you have friends who are fishermen who caught 10 ft long trouts who almost drowned them (and their boat) in a lake when they caught them. They are the same friends who are telling you that if you drive in Italy the world will fall before you.

Skip the rental car and take the train.
Many tourists that rent cars in Italy get expensive tickets for stuff like entering an inner city without clearance to drive there. Also, parking is a huge problem.
If you don't want to take the train, consider taking a tour of San Gimignano from Florence, then take the high speed train from Florence to Rome.

Is it possible to take a taxi from my hotel directly to the Hertz Car Rental location at the Florence Airport? Or do I have to take a taxi to the airport, then a shuttle to the rental location?

Yes. You can take a taxi directly to the airport car rental center.
Tell the taxi driver to take you to the
RENT A CAR CENTER
on VIA PALAGIO DEGLI SPINI

Explanations of rental car pick up and return below, in case you decide to pick up downtown.
https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/italy/t2-tram-in-flr-to-smn-with-luggage

I agree w Roberto. Your friends are making this way more scary than it needs to be and that’s making this whole thing more complicated than it needs to be. In two months, you’re gonna look back on this thread and laugh at the hand-wringing.

Trust me. I live in Manhattan, where we do not have to drive often. I've been to Italy maybe 30 times and was always afraid to drive the rental car (partner drove). Four years ago, I realized that my fear of driving in Europe was making my travel more complicated and I actually rented a car, by myself. I drove from Rome to Norcia (Umbria) and it was so easy!! Even for a non-driver like me!!

At the end of my visits, I usually return the car at FCO (make note of where the return area is; I returned the car in a multi-level garage at the airport; (I always rent from SIXT). The only tricky thing was finding my way to the taxi rank from the rental parking area. I then take a taxi into Fiumicino and spend my last night in that town before flying home.

My point with all this is that if I can drive in Italy--solo--it won't be an issue for you, at all.

Do not forget to bring your license from the US/Canada. SIXT requires that for renting. They do not require IDP but you will probably get one, just in case.

In reference to the last comment.

An IDP (International Driving Permit) is required by law in Italy. (art. 135 Motor Vehicle Code). The fine for not having one is €408 (minimum fine).

The IDP is a translation of your home license in multiple languages and can be obtained at any AAA office for $20 (for members) + $9 for 2 photos (if you don't have your own).

The rental car agency will not ask to see it (I have never been asked), however if you get pulled over by police for a routine check, the police will ask for it. Random police checks on the road are very common in Italy, in fact I've been pulled over 3 times in the past few years and each time I had to show my IDP.

Thanks all. I do have an IDP, so all good there.

Here's the final plan we decided on.

Fly into Rome. Stay for 4 nights.

Train to Florence. Stay for 3 nights.
Cab from Hotel to Rental Car Agency at FLR.
Drive from Florence Airport/Car Rental to San Gimignano aream being mindful to stay behind city walls in the region.
Explore S.G. area/Tuscany for 4 days.
Drive from S.G. to Rome (FCO) on the autostrada - to return the car rental.
Then hopefully walk from Car Rental location to hotel. We're staying at the Hilton Rome Airport, next to the airport. Fly out the next morning.

Whew.

Rental to San Gimignano aream being mindful to stay behind city walls
in the region.

You need to stay OUTSIDE the walls- not behind the wall ;) As posted above you won't be driving IN to any town in the region- you will be parking in lots outside the walls and walking in. No ZTL worries at all. ZTLs are IN the towns not out on the roads/highways.
Parking lots are well signed, some are free others are a few euros

Make sure your lodging in SG has easy to access parking or figure out where you will park.
If you are booked at a hotel they can usually give you very specific directions on how to reach them and where to park.

it's like jumping in the deep end for European driving, which is so
different than the US.
but a friend of mine said driving in Italy is scary

This is not true at all. Driving in Italy is not much different than driving in US- in fact the roads and signage are way better than some places in the US. You have 40 years experience driving- you have nothing to worry about. The roads around the SG /Tuscany area are not crowded, really delightful driving IMO.
Take your time, learn the signage before you get there

Car Rental location to hotel. We're staying at the Hilton Rome
Airport,

Thanks to Roberto I now know that the car rental garages are actually attached to the terminal with walkways right to the Hilton.
If you let us know which agency I am sure Roberto can tell you exactly where to go. (If he doesn't respond let me know- I have a PM from him explaining how to get to Europcar and from there to the Hilton).

Driving in Italy isn’t scary, driving in Italy as a first time visitor can be overwhelming, especially if one doesn’t know the roads, where they’re going, and the language. Personally, as one who’s lived in Italy, is married to an Italian, amd has visited it every year since 2001, I’ve driven thousands of miles in Italy, yet I’d never think of driving from SG to Rome. I’d take the Freccia trains because it takes A LOT less time even calculating the time it would take to return the rental car to Firenze and get to the stazione, which isn’t a lot in my humble opinion. But, it’s your vacation, so you’re doing what you feel best. Don’t feel intimidated by the autostrada just be aware of the speed cameras and the speed limit. Don’t drive like the regulars because if you get tickets they’ll be expensive. Follow the law and all will be well. Learn the road signs too. That will help you more than anything else. Driving in the USA is 1000x scarier than driving in Italy.

To drive from San Gimignano to FCO, you might consider two possible routes.
1. Via the Siena-Bettolle freeway then the A1 at Bettolle.
2. Siena Grosseto freeway then the SS1 freeway along the coast to FCO.

The coastal route via Grosseto is slightly shorter and involves few tolls (the toll portion is only south of Civitavecchia). In terms of time it is however about the same.

If you take the coastal route the one below is the last Service area along the freeway you can refuel before the airport. Save it in your phone and set it as your destination before returning the car at the airport.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/u1xcnHQfmcxVURBr8?g_st=ipc

The drive from SG to FCO should take you less than 3h30m, to which you need to add the time at pit stops along the way, including the refueling.

The train via Florence will take you a bit longer because to drive from SG to Florence you need well over one hour. If you return the car at the airport, then you need another 30 min before you are at the station. The train journey to FCO, even assuming there is a train right away, takes about 2h 30 min from Florence. All things considered I would drive. Once you are in Poggibonsi and get on the freeway, the drive is all on a 4 lane freeway, therefore not any different than an Interstate in the US. The coastal route has a very short portion, near Capalbio, that is a regular 2 lane highway, then it becomes a freeway again.

Thank you everyone. Roberto, if you come to Chicago, lunch is on me.