Car rental in Florence is essential if you want to see more of Tuscany – it’s not a city that’s well-served by public transport, and many of the places you might have on your wish list can’t be reached without a car. 

The center of Florence itself is closed to traffic. As a UNESCO world heritage site, the city is keen to preserve the historical parts of the town, so you’ll see signs for a ‘Zona a Traffico Limitato’ or Restricted Traffic Zone, meaning only residents can drive in this area.

If you’re staying out of the center, we recommend driving to the edge of the zone before parking up and proceeding on foot. If your hotel is in the center, you can drop off people and luggage by car, but will then have to go and park elsewhere. There are public parking lots nearby.

Don’t forget to tell your hotel first, so they can register your car with the authorities in order to avoid a fine. You can drive into the Zone on a Sunday, but parking is limited.

Italian speed limits apply, which is 50kph (just over 30mph) in built-up areas, 90kph outside of these, 110kph on highways and 130kph (around 80mph) on freeways.

Seat belts must be worn by all passengers. If you have any specific queries about driving in Florence and Italy, our staff will be more than happy to advise you.

A drive in any direction from Florence is a pleasurable one. You’ll pass through Tuscany’s famed countryside, past orchards and vineyards, and through tiny towns with fantastic local restaurants.

Head south on the SR222 and bask in the scenery, or head north-east to Bologna. Pisa is only an hour to the west by car, while another popular tourist route is taking the SS67 east to Arezzo.

There are few cities that can compete with Florence when it comes to getting a grip on the importance of the Renaissance. This is a place where you could spend weeks alone poring over the incredible art on show.

While that’s worth doing, the modern aspects of the city are also packed with interest, with new artists and sumptuous food to discover.

David, the Duomo and Dusk & Dawn

Michelangelo’s legacy is front and center throughout Florence. In fact, seeing his works could form the basis of an entire trip. There’s the famous statue of David at the Accademia Gallery, sure, but also take in the Madonna della Scala and Battle of the Centaurs at Casa Buonarroti, not to mention the wonderful statues of Dawn and Dusk at the Church of San Lorenzo.

The icon of the whole city is Filippo Brunelleschi’s Duomo with its red cupola. Gorgeous both inside and out, the stained glass windows, frescoes, bell tower and sheer sense of scale never disappoint.

Botticelli and the Basilica

Michelangelo isn’t the only old master whose work is celebrated in Florence. The Uffizi Gallery specializes in art from the 12^th to 17^th centuries, and includes major pieces by Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael, Caravaggio and more. The influential Birth of Venus by Botticelli is housed here, as is Titian’s Venus of Urbino.

Some of the city’s famous names are buried at the Basilica de Santa Croce, which can boast being the world’s largest Franciscan church, with construction dating back to the end of the 13^th century.

Adapted and added to over the centuries, it retains a unity of style. Here you’ll find Giotto frescoes as well as a statue of a famous daughter of the city, Florence Nightingale, celebrated for her nursing of British soldiers during the Crimean War.

Michelangelo’s tomb can be found here, directly opposite that of Galileo, while it also houses the tombs of Machiavelli and composer Rossini, who wrote The Barber of Seville.

Feast on Florentine food

As with every place in Italy, Florence has its own larder and recipes, drawn from the bountiful Tuscan earth. Cuisine here is rarely over-complicated, letting the produce speak for itself.

Florentine steak – on menus as Bistecca alla Fiorentina – is a common dish, simply grilled and served rare. You can ask for it cooked another way, but your request may fall on deaf ears. Portions are usually ample enough to share.

Ribollita is classic peasant food – a tomato and bean soup thickened with stale bread and punched up with herbs. It’s a comforting dish, especially in fall and winter. You can try both of these at the unassuming but highly regarded Trattoria Mario in Mercato Centrale. It’s been going for over 60 years, and the menu has changed little – expect pasta with artichokes, bean soup and fried veal.

Street food is great here – side streets packed with vendors offering up tiny parcels of flavor both tempting and challenging. The schiacciata is the safe option – soft Tuscan bread – but be careful if ordering lampredotto, otherwise known as cow’s stomach.

Florence is undoubtedly a city for the senses – the smells of Tuscany, the taste of Florentine food, the sound of the bustle, the sight of the amazing art.

Car rental in Florence brings the rest of Tuscany and the city’s suburbs to your doorstep for a trip that will be filled with new experiences and provide the source for countless magical memories.