Why rent a car in Florence?
Florence is the heart of Tuscany, known for its Renaissance art, historic architecture, and vibrant atmosphere. With a rental car, you can easily visit nearby destinations such as Pisa, Siena, and the rolling hills of Chianti.
Renting a car gives you the freedom to explore Tuscany at your own pace, from charming villages to scenic countryside routes. Start planning your trip by exploring car rental options across Italy.
Exploring Florence and Tuscany by car
Routes and highlights from Florence
Florence is compact enough to explore on foot, but a rental car opens up the broader Tuscan landscape that the city sits within. The Via Chiantigiana, also known as the Chianti route, runs south through vineyards and medieval hilltop villages toward Siena, passing through Greve in Chianti and Castellina along the way. Siena itself is about 70 km from Florence and is most enjoyably reached via this scenic road rather than the motorway. In the other direction, Pisa is under an hour west on the FI-PI-LI road, and the hilltop town of San Miniato, with its tower overlooking the Arno valley, is a rewarding stop en route. The Mugello valley northeast of the city, famous for its motor racing circuit and unspoilt Apennine scenery, is just 30 km from the centre. For more destinations, see car rental in Italy.
Driving and parking in Florence
Florence operates a restricted traffic zone (ZTL) covering the historic centre. Driving inside the ZTL without a permit will result in automatic fines via roadside cameras, and this applies to foreign-registered vehicles as well. For visitors staying in the city, the most practical approach is to park at one of the car parks outside the ZTL boundary, such as the Parterre car park near Piazza della Liberta, and use public transport or walk into the centre. If you are based outside the city and driving in for the day, the same rule applies. On the roads outside Florence, standard Italian traffic rules apply with right-hand traffic, speed limits of 90 km/h on secondary roads and 130 km/h on motorways.
Best time to rent a car in Florence
May and September offer the most pleasant driving conditions around Florence and Tuscany. Temperatures are comfortable (20 to 26 degrees Celsius), the vineyards are either in full growth or approaching harvest, and visitor numbers are lower than in peak summer. July and August are very hot and the city itself is crowded, though the Chianti roads and the Apennine routes remain relatively uncongested. The countryside around Florence is also very rewarding in October, when the autumn colours and the olive harvest season make for a particularly scenic drive.
Car rental price in Florence
The table below shows the lowest all-inclusive weekly rate for renting a car in Florence, with full insurance and zero excess included. What you actually pay depends on the supplier, availability and how far ahead you book. Check the current price in the search above.
| Car type | From, 7 days |
|---|---|
| Small car (economy) | from €197 |
| Mid-size car | from €268 |
| Large car / SUV | from €301 |
Measured at 23 airports in September 2026, for a 7-day rental starting 10–17 October 2026. All-inclusive, zero excess, no credit card required. Prices vary by supplier, availability and how far ahead you book.
These prices typically include full insurance and zero excess when booking an all-inclusive rental. Prices can vary significantly between providers. If you want to avoid hidden costs, it’s worth taking a moment to compare car rental companies and rental conditions before booking. At MarSoleil, you can also find options without a credit card and no deposit.
