Do NOT, under any circumstances, rent a car to get around Florence. If you are renting one to leave the city, however, read on for tips.
You cannot drive in the center of Florence without notifying the police
Almost all cars are now banned from the historic center. This is indicated by signs with a red circle on white (see the picture below to the right) accompanied either by the abbreviation "ZTL" or spelled out Zona Traffico Limitato, ("Zone of Limited Traffic"). Only residents or merchants with special permits are allowed in.
This used to be a joke, but no more. They are now quite serious about this.
The city has recently installed traffic cams that will take a picture of your license plate when you enter and you will receive a €100 ($118) fine by mail. (They can—and will—track you down via your rental agency.)
If you must drive into the ZTL to reach your hotel, make sure the very first thing you say to the person at the reception desk (well, after "Buon giorno!" and giving your name) is that you drove in and have a car parked out front.
Have your car's make, model, and license plate number ready to hand to them on a slip of paper so they can phone this into the police.
You now officially have two hours either to get the car safely into a garage, or drive it back out of the ZTL.
The practical upshot and real solution: Simply do not drive within the ring road that follows the line of the old medieval walls. Instead, follow this ring road around to a parking lot.
- Autoeurope.com - Wholesale prices on rentals (and short-term leases) from major rental companies. You end up picking up the car at the local Avis, Hertz, Europcar, or whatever office; you just pay less than the rack rate from those companies.Partner
- Rentalcars.com - Comparison shop the rates at multiple rental companies all at once.Partner
- Momondo.com - Comparison shop the rates at multiple rental companies all at once.Partner
- Europebycar.com - Offers both short-term rentals and short-term leases, making it easy to compare prices on a single site.
- Priceline.com - Actually finds good prices on European rentals.Partner
- Carrentals.com - This Expedia.com property searches about a dozen major rental companies at once.Partner
- Accessibilitacentristorici.it - Information about ZTLs across Italy.
- Urbanaccessregulations.eu - Information about ZTLs across Europe.
- Amazon.com - A link to get road maps of Italy.Partner
- Autostrade.it - Nifty official site of Italian Motorways Association that lets you quickly caclulate distance, time, tolls, gas costs, weather, and traffic conditions on any route in Italy.
- Sabait.it - find parking lots all over Italy
- Parkopedia.com - Search for lots, garages, and other public parking options.
- Parkatmyhouse.com - Like Uber for parking, a "sharing economy" site allowing individuals and private entities to offer parking, often just a space or two but for far than garages and lots (plus it is reserved in advance and gauranteed).
- Urbanaccessregulations.eu - Central clearinghouse for information on every city in Europe (most, nowawdays) that has some sort of limited access to the city center, congestion charging, Low Emission Zones, or other wrinkle you need to be aware of.
- Aci.it - Italian AAA
- Theaa.com - The British version of AAA provides good intel on driving rules and norms in countries across Europe.
- Ztl-italia.blogspot.com - A bit outdated, but handy, with links to cities' traffic-free zones
- Firenzeturismo.it - official site
- Comune.fi.it - civic government
- Theflorentine.net - local English-lang mag
- Theflorentine.net - The Florentine launched in 2005 as an English-language magazine that comes out twice a month. Aimed at ex-pats, but packed with good info. It also has a website.
- Visittuscany.com - official site
- Regione.toscana.it - regional government site
- Toscana.beniculturali.it - regional cultural department (major museums & monuments)
- italia.it - Official tourism site for Italy. Great for links to local sites, but light on info.
- Beniculturali.it - official site for major sights across Italy
- italiantourism.com - This site, set up by the North American office of Italian tourism, is not as handy as the general one.
- Culturaitalia.it - Italy cultural patrimony
- Coopculture.it - Handles the online presence for major archaeological areas, monuments, and museums in most of Italy's major cities and surrounds.
- Vivaticket.it - tickets to about 75 sights across Italy
Useful Italian for car travel
| English (inglese) | Italian (italiano) | Pro-nun-cee-YAY-shun |
| car | automobile | ow-toh-MO-bee-lay |
| scooter/motorboke | un motorino | oon mo-tair-EE-no |
| gas station | stazione di servizio | stah-zee-YO-nay dee sair-VEE-tzee-yo |
| gas | benzina | ben-ZEE-nah |
| diesel | gasolio [or] diesel | gah-ZOH-lee-oh [or] DEE-zell |
| Fill it up, please | al pieno, per favore | ahl pee-YAY-noh, pair fa-VOHR-ray |
| Where is... | Dov'é | doh-VAY |
| ...the highway | l'autostrada | lout-oh-STRA-dah |
| ...the state highway | la statale [written "SS"] | lah sta-TAHL-eh |
| ...the road for Rome | la strada per Roma | lah STRA-dah pair RO-mah |
| to the right | à destra | ah DEH-strah |
| to the left | à sinistra | ah see-NEEST-trah |
| straight ahead | avanti [or] diritto | ah-VAHN-tee [or] dee-REE-toh |
| keep going straight | sempre diritto | SEM-pray dee-REE-toh |
| to cross | attraversare | ah-tra-vair-SAR-ay |
| toll | pedaggio | peh-DA-jo |
| parking | parcheggio | par-KEH-jo |
| road map | carta stradale | kar-ta stra-DA-lay |
| where can I pay the fine? | dove posso pagare la multa | DOH-veh Po-so pag-GAR-ray la MOOL-tah |
Typical road signs / terms » more
| English (anglais) | French (français) |
| Stop | Stop |
| Exit | Uscita |
| Staffic light | Semaforo |
| One-way | Senso unico |
| Dead-end | Strada senza uscita |
| Parking prohibited | No parcheggio or parcheggio proibito |
| Pedestrian zone | Area pedonale |
| Limited Traffic Zone (you pay to drive in) | ZTL or Zona Traffico Limitato |
Basic phrases in Italian
| English (inglese) | Italian (italiano) | pro-nun-see-YAY-shun |
| thank you | grazie | GRAT-tzee-yay |
| please | per favore | pair fa-VOHR-ray |
| yes | si | see |
| no | no | no |
| Do you speak English? | Parla Inglese? | PAR-la een-GLAY-zay |
| I don't understand | Non capisco | non ka-PEESK-koh |
| I'm sorry | Mi dispiace | mee dees-pee-YAT-chay |
| How much is it? | Quanto costa? | KWAN-toh COST-ah |
| That's too much | É troppo | ay TROH-po |
| Good day | Buon giorno | bwohn JOUR-noh |
| Good evening | Buona sera | BWOH-nah SAIR-rah |
| Good night | Buona notte | BWOH-nah NOTE-tay |
| Goodbye | Arrivederci | ah-ree-vah-DAIR-chee |
| Excuse me (to get attention) | Scusi | SKOO-zee |
| Excuse me (to get past someone) | Permesso | pair-MEH-so |
| Where is? | Dov'é | doh-VAY |
| ...the bathroom | il bagno | eel BHAN-yoh |
| ...train station | la ferroviaria | lah fair-o-vee-YAR-ree-yah |
| to the right | à destra | ah DEH-strah |
| to the left | à sinistra | ah see-NEEST-trah |
| straight ahead | avanti [or] diritto | ah-VAHN-tee [or] dee-REE-toh |
| information | informazione | in-for-ma-tzee-OH-nay |
Days, months, and other calendar items in Italian
| English (inglese) | Italian (italiano) | Pro-nun-cee-YAY-shun |
| When is it open? | Quando é aperto? | KWAN-doh ay ah-PAIR-toh |
| When does it close? | Quando si chiude? | KWAN-doh see key-YOU-day |
| At what time... | a che ora | a kay O-rah |
| Yesterday | ieri | ee-YAIR-ee |
| Today | oggi | OH-jee |
| Tomorrow | domani | doh-MAHN-nee |
| Day after tomorrow | dopo domani | DOH-poh doh-MAHN-nee |
| a day | un giorno | oon je-YOR-no |
| Monday | Lunedí | loo-nay-DEE |
| Tuesday | Martedí | mar-tay-DEE |
| Wednesday | Mercoledí | mair-coh-lay-DEE |
| Thursday | Giovedí | jo-vay-DEE |
| Friday | Venerdí | ven-nair-DEE |
| Saturday | Sabato | SAH-baa-toh |
| Sunday | Domenica | doh-MEN-nee-ka |
| Mon-Sat | Feriali | fair-ee-YAHL-ee |
| Sun & holidays | Festivi | feh-STEE-vee |
| Daily | Giornaliere | joor-nahl-ee-YAIR-eh |
| a month | una mese | oon-ah MAY-zay |
| January | gennaio | jen-NAI-yo |
| February | febbraio | feh-BRI-yo |
| March | marzo | MAR-tzoh |
| April | aprile | ah-PREEL-ay |
| May | maggio | MAH-jee-oh |
| June | giugno | JEW-nyoh |
| July | luglio | LOO-lyoh |
| August | agosto | ah-GO-sto |
| September | settembre | set-TEM-bray |
| October | ottobre | oh-TOE-bray |
| November | novembre | no-VEM-bray |
| December | dicembre | de-CHEM-bray |
Numbers in Italian
| English (inglese) | Italian (italiano) | Pro-nun-cee-YAY-shun |
| 1 | uno | OO-no |
| 2 | due | DOO-way |
| 3 | tre | tray |
| 4 | quattro | KWAH-troh |
| 5 | cinque | CHEEN-kway |
| 6 | sei | say |
| 7 | sette | SET-tay |
| 8 | otto | OH-toh |
| 9 | nove | NO-vay |
| 10 | dieci | dee-YAY-chee |
| 11 | undici | OON-dee-chee |
| 12 | dodici | DOH-dee-chee |
| 13 | tredici | TRAY-dee-chee |
| 14 | quattordici | kwa-TOR-dee-chee |
| 15 | quindici | KWEEN-dee-chee |
| 16 | sedici | SAY-dee-chee |
| 17 | diciasette | dee-chee-ya-SET-tay |
| 18 | diciotto | dee-CHO-toh |
| 19 | diciannove | dee-chee-ya-NO-vay |
| 20 | venti | VENT-tee |
| 21* | vent'uno* | vent-OO-no |
| 22* | venti due* | VENT-tee DOO-way |
| 23* | venti tre* | VENT-tee TRAY |
| 30 | trenta | TRAYN-tah |
| 40 | quaranta | kwa-RAHN-tah |
| 50 | cinquanta | cheen-KWAN-tah |
| 60 | sessanta | say-SAHN-tah |
| 70 | settanta | seh-TAHN-tah |
| 80 | ottanta | oh-TAHN-tah |
| 90 | novanta | no-VAHN-tah |
| 100 | cento | CHEN-toh |
| 1,000 | mille | MEEL-lay |
| 5,000 | cinque milla | CHEEN-kway MEEL-lah |
| 10,000 | dieci milla | dee-YAY-chee MEEL-lah |
* You can use this formula for all Italian ten-place numbers—so 31 is trent'uno, 32 is trenta due, 33 is trenta tre, etc. Note that—like uno (one), otto (eight) also starts with a vowel—all "-8" numbers are also abbreviated (vent'otto, trent'otto, etc.).
More on Cars
There are hundreds of road signs blocking your view on Italian roads and—more importantly—telling you how to get where you're going
The hotel garage will often be far costlier than a nearby public garage or other parking option
Italian road rules are similar enough to North American ones that you'll get by fine; here are the important differences
Stay in the slow lane (the rightmost one) on a European highway unless you are actively passing another car
A good road map of Italy can save you time and help you discover places and things not in your guidebook
How to get the most out of renting a car in Italy with the lowest cost and least hassle
How to arrange for a short-term lease on a brand-new car in Italy—cheaper than a rental for longer periods, and far better insured
Camping is a great way to see Italy, but you needn't be tied down to tent pegs; RV rentals are as easy in Europe as they are here at home
General tips of similar interest
There are hundreds of road signs blocking your view on Italian roads and—more importantly—telling you how to get where you're going
Italian road rules are similar enough to North American ones that you'll get by fine; here are the important differences
The hotel garage will often be far costlier than a nearby public garage or other parking option
Stay in the slow lane (the rightmost one) on a European highway unless you are actively passing another car
How to get the most out of renting a car in Italy with the lowest cost and least hassle
A good road map of Italy can save you time and help you discover places and things not in your guidebook
How to arrange for a short-term lease on a brand-new car in Italy—cheaper than a rental for longer periods, and far better insured
Camping is a great way to see Italy, but you needn't be tied down to tent pegs; RV rentals are as easy in Europe as they are here at home
Where to park legally in Italy (white stripes: free; blue stripes: paid; yellow stripes: off-limits), how to use a disco orario parking disk, and how to avoid fines and getting towed
