Florence's historic center is a limited-traffic zone, with access monitored by cameras. For those renting a car, this means one simple thing: in the center, you can get around on foot, and the car is needed to leave the city.
If your hotel is within a restricted traffic zone, ask the front desk how they handle guests arriving by car. It's often best to collect your car at the hotel on the day your excursions begin, not the day of arrival.
Many guests choose to sleep in the hills surrounding the city. Fiesole, about 20 minutes away, has hotels and villas overlooking the Duomo's dome and the remains of a Roman theater; Bellosguardo, above the Oltrarno, southwest of the center, is a hill of historic villas and gardens overlooking Florence.
A car is really useful here. We deliver to the villa or hotel entrance; for evenings downtown, you can leave it at the property and take a taxi down.
Viale dei Colli is a tree-lined road that winds up the hill south of the Arno River to Piazzale Michelangelo, the great terrace overlooking the city. Traveling along it in a convertible is the easiest way to see Florence from above; just above the piazzale is the Basilica of San Miniato al Monte.
On summer evenings, the square is very crowded. For a quiet stop, it's best to stop early in the morning, when the light is soft and the buses haven't arrived yet.
Heading south from Florence, the SR222 Chiantigiana winds through the Chianti hills, past vineyards, olive groves, and castles. Greve in Chianti, with its porticoed piazza and wine bars, can be reached in about 40 minutes. Further on, you'll reach Panzano and, further south, Castellina.
The road is a succession of curves and ups and downs, quieter on weekdays. Many wineries offer tours and tastings, usually by reservation: decide in advance who will drive and who will forgo the tastings.
San Gimignano, with its medieval towers, is about an hour away. Lucca, about an hour and a quarter away, has a compact center dominated by the Piazza dell'Anfiteatro, built on the ruins of a Roman amphitheater. Pisa and its Leaning Tower are a similar distance away, while Siena can be reached in just over an hour and the Val d'Orcia in about two.
Towards the sea, Forte dei Marmi and Versilia are about an hour and a half away: a good idea to round out the trip with a few days at the beach.
To the north, the highway crosses the Apennines: Bologna is just over an hour away, Modena and Maranello about an hour and a half. Modena and Maranello are home to two Ferrari museums, a natural stop for those traveling with one of our Maranello cars. Find details on the Modena and Maranello pages.
Bologna is worth a visit for the porticoes of its historic center, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and for its cuisine.
Florence Peretola Airport is close to the city, about 20 minutes from the center. Pisa Airport, with many European connections, is about an hour away; those arriving from outside Europe often land in Rome or Milan. You can also fly into Pisa, collect your car there, and return it to Peretola.
For Chianti and the hills, the Porsche 911 (992) 4S Cabriolet and the Ferrari Roma Spider are natural choices. If your villa is located at the end of a dirt road, choose an SUV like the Range Rover or Land Rover Defender 110; families and groups travel more comfortably in the Mercedes-Benz V-Class.
If your trip revolves around a Ferrari, the Ferrari rental page in Florence includes routes designed for these cars: Mugello, the Futa and Raticosa passes, and the Sienese Chianti region.
Do you need a car to visit Florence? No, not the city center: you can explore on foot. A car is useful for the hills, the Chianti region, and trips around Tuscany.
Do you deliver to Fiesole or a villa on the hill? Yes, at the entrance to the villa or hotel, even along private roads.
How far is Chianti? Greve in Chianti is about 40 minutes away along the Chiantigiana road.
Can I pick up the car at Pisa Airport? Yes, and return it in Florence or another city.
When is it best to book in advance? Spring, summer, and the Pitti Uomo weeks, in January and June, when the city's hotels are in high demand.
Can you go to Maranello in one day? Yes, it's about an hour and a half away: you can visit the museum and return to Florence for dinner.
Until when can I cancel my reservation? Cancellation is free up to 72 hours before delivery. The model remains guaranteed in any case: the car you receive is the one you booked.
