Moving around Tuscany by car, rental car or car with driver

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Getting Around Tuscany by car

Touring Tuscany with your own means of transportation gives you maximum flexibility and there are many areas in Tuscany where a car is really the only option to visit them. The main roads are good if often busy. The traffic around Florence, on the autostrade and superstrada between Florence and Siena can be intense at times as they are used by commuters getting to work and back home. So try to avoid driving into or out of Florence around work start and end times (8-9am, 6-8pm)

Remember that the autostrade are toll roads, but there aren't that many in Tuscany. The backbone of the Italian motorway system, the A1 (Autostrada del Sole) goes from Bologna through northern Tuscany, swings around Florence and heads southeast towards Arezzo and Cortona before continuing on to Rome. Off the A1, the Autostrada Firenze Mare A11 motorway connects Florence to Lucca/Pisa and the Autostrada A12 motorway moves along the seacoast from Genoa and La Spezia through Viareggio, Pisa and Livorno. The road continues all the way to Rome but at Rosignano Marittimo, south of Livorno, the roadway ends and the road continues along what is called the "Via Aurelia" which isn't a toll road (yet).

Click for larger image of roadways around Florence, Pisa, Siena
[Click on image for wider view]

A couple of four-lane, toll free roads do exist as alternatives to the autostrade. For example, the SS1 (Via Aurelia) along the coast is four lanes almost all the way from Livorno Sud (south) down to Tuscany's southern border with Lazio. The SGC highway (known as the Fi-Pi-Li) connects Florence, Pisa and Livorno. The Firenze-Siena, which starts near the A1 "Firenze-Impruneta" entrance/exit, is a toll free, 4 lane road that links Florence and Siena. It almost runs parallel to the SS2, also called La Cassia or Senese, which is an ancient road that links Florence and Siena (and continues on to Rome - don't worry, it is paved). As two lane road, it passes through many hill towns on the western edge of the main Chianti area, so expect a winding road that goes up and down through beautiful landscapes. The Firenze-Siena skips most of these small towns, making it convenient when you are interested in reaching the same parts of Tuscany a little faster or to get to Siena and beyond a bit quicker.

Away from the main centers, the smaller back roads frequently offer pretty drives but be prepared to take your time. Progress around Tuscany's winding roads can be slow - but very beautiful!


Main Roads in Tuscany
from - to
SGC Firenze-Pisa-Livorno
(dual carriageway)
SS 12 dell'Abetone e del Brennero
(state road)
Lucca, Garfagnana, Abetone, Modena
SS 2 (state road) Florence, Poggibonsi, Siena
Main Motorways from - to

Basic Road Rules

  • In towns, speed limit is 50 km/hr rising to 70 km/hr on secondary roads (as you exit towns) and 110 km/hr on the autostrade.
  • Outside of city centers, all cars and motorcycles need to use headlights.


Gasoline (benzina) in Italy is among the most expensive in Europe. Prices have been around € 1,70 per liter lately for unleaded (senza piombo) gasoline (about $9 per gallon)! Stations along the autostrade generally cost up to 10 cents more per liter.

Gas stations on the autostrade are open 24 hours a day. Otherwise, hours tend to be from 7.00 am to 12.30 pm and from 3.30 to 7.00 pm. Many are closed on Sundays and holidays, and those that open then are then closed on Mondays. Don't assume you can't fuel up if the station is closed; if you can drive in into the station, it means they likley have self-service pumps that accepts bank notes so you can fuel up anyway.

Breakdown, Accident or Emergency



City Driving

In general, in most cities (such as Florence and Siena) you should park your car and then forget about driving it around town. Driving in the historical center of most towns is either banned or restricted and finding a legal parking spot can be a nightmare. Until you know your way around, park in a designated metered parking area or parking lot/garage. If you leave the car away from the center, you can generally find free street parking.



Rental companies

All the big companies have offices in the main cities and airports in Tuscany. These are some numbers for rental companies that you can call from within Italy:

Company Bookings
Auto Europa 800 33440
Avis 199 100133
E@sy Car 800 939293
Europcar 800 014410
Hertz 199 112211
Liberty Rent International 050 48088
Maggiore/National 848 867067
Sixt Rent a Car 800 900666
Thrifty Italy by Car 800 846083

* The 800 numbers are toll-free within Italy; the 199 and 848 are NOT free numbers and generally cost more than a normal phone call (you should be informed of the cost of the call within the first minute of dialing the number - this gives you the option to hang up without being charged).

If you have any further questions, post on our forum. Enjoy driving in Tuscany!

You can also move around Tuscany:

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