Compare Florence car hire

Romance, art and culinary creativity collide in Florence, the capital of Tuscany and one of the most popular holiday destinations in Italy. In the city, enjoy Renaissance buildings and galleries with wall-to-wall masterpieces. Complement this by hiring a car in Florence and heading out into the Tuscan countryside.

Language: Italian | Currency: Euros (€) | Avg. Flight time: 2 hrs

Florence Airport (FLR) is just a 30-minute drive from the city centre, and a prime place to pick up a cheap pre-booked hire car in 2025. Rental companies with representation include Avis, Hertz and Sixt, as well as several local brands.

Once you’ve gone through arrivals, you’ll need to take the free shuttle bus from just outside the terminal to Palagio degli Spini to pick up your car.

Car hire companies that have desks at Florence Airport include:

• Avis/Budget (Tel: +39 055 315588)
• Europcar (Tel: +39 055 318609)
• Sixt (Tel: +39 02 9475 7979)
• Hertz (Tel: +39 055 307370)

The historic centre of Florence is easy to navigate on foot, so if you’re starting there and exploring Tuscany later, you might want to pick up a hire car in town. You’ll find the offices of some hire car companies a short walk from Santa Maria Novella railway station.

The first thing you need to know about driving in Florence is that most of its historic heart is pedestrianised, making it far easier to park up outside and explore on foot. The roads you are able to access are part of the city’s Limited Traffic Zone (ZTL), which is designed to help reduce emissions, so is only accessible to permit holders. If you enter the zone by mistake, you could face a hefty fine.

Many of Florence’s streets are narrow and one-way, so be cautious and look out for signs to see who has right of way. An up-to-date sat-nav will help, but bring your own to save hire company fees. The city’s traffic hub is Piazza della Liberta, which is the meeting point of arterial roads heading north, south, east and west.

Further afield, Florence is linked to nearby cities like Sienna and Pisa by the country’s motorway system (Autostrade per l’Italia). It is fast and well maintained, but have change ready for toll gates, which are common.

When it comes to parking in Florence, you’ll find the city operates a zone system. Parking spots marked blue are for visitors, and you’ll need to purchase a ticket from a machine. There are also a few car parks, especially around the main train station Florence Santa Maria Novella, that offer decent day rates.

Arezzo

Driving time: One hour 15 minutes

Nowhere is quite like Florence, but nearby Arezzo’s treasures are still pretty impressive. The highlights include a Roman amphitheatre, a crumbling Medici Fortress and the ornate Arezzo Cathedral, which houses a beautiful fresco of Mary Magdalene. There’s also a famous antique fair, which takes place at Piazza Grande on the first weekend of every month.

Pisa

Driving time: One hour 30 minutes

There’s more to Pisa than the iconic Leaning Tower - though it’s still good, and the beautiful interiors are arguably better than the famous view from outside. Elsewhere, visit the medieval Pisa Cathedral and the Pisa Baptistery. Most of Pisa’s historical attractions are centred around Piazza dei Miracoli, but if you wander further afield, you’ll discover a contemporary cafe and bar scene at Piazza Cairoli.

Chianti

Driving time: 45 minutes

Wine lovers and foodies will adore this rural area of Tuscany, peppered with vineyards and rustic restaurants. The route from Florence takes you along the SR222 road, which meanders across picturesque countryside, through quaint villages and past some of the best wineries in Europe. When you’re done sampling local vintages, explore the Chianti Sculpture Park, an outdoor gallery of contemporary work near to Siena.

1. The centre of Florence is a Limited Traffic Zone (ZLT), meaning only permit holders are allowed to access it. If you drive in by mistake, you could face a fine.
   
2. Florence has a parking zone system when it comes to street parking. Visitors can only park in spots marked blue and will need to pay.
   
3. If you’re heading out of the city into rural Tuscany or another city, you’ll find the motorways are toll roads. You’ll need to keep change handy and make sure you don’t lose your toll ticket.

Fair fuel policy

A fair fuel policy (also known as full-to-full or same-to-same) means you’ll only pay for the fuel you use. All car rental deals compared on TravelSupermarket come with a fair fuel policy, so you can book your hire car safe in the knowledge there will be no nasty surprises at drop-off. More information on TravelSupermarket’s commitment to fair fuel policies can be found here.

No hidden fees

All rental deals compared on TravelSupermarket include mandatory fees (for example, one-way and young driver surcharges) in your rental quote at the time of booking, meaning you’ll know the full price of your car hire upfront.