Driving in Tuscany

Driving in Tuscany offers an unparalleled way to explore the region's picturesque landscapes and charming towns at your own pace. Whether taking your own vehicle or hiring a car, driving provides the best access to everything Tuscany has to offer - from beautiful hilltop towns offering traditional restaurants to unique, local attractions.

Having a car means you can come and go as you please, so when you are ready to venture away from your villa's pool, you can visit some of the beautiful historic towns and villages completely at your leisure. Experience the freedom of the open road, where every turn reveals breathtaking vistas and the opportunity to discover Tuscany's rich cultural heritage.

Whether you're travelling on the motorways between cities or taking it slow through the Chianti countryside, the roads in Tuscany make for an enjoyable drive with some of the most spectacular views of rolling hills and cypress tree-lined lanes. Tuscany is known for its narrow, winding country roads, which is something to consider when leaving your villa, as short distances may take longer to drive.  

There are two types of main roads in Tuscany – the Autostrada (motorway) and the Superstrada (state roads). 

Autostradas are toll roads, indicated by green signs, whereas the Superstradas are free roads, indicated by blue signs.  

When going on to the Autostrada you might see signs for the Telepass among the toll booths. Telepass is an electronic toll collection system used in Italy. It allows drivers to pass through toll booths on motorways and other toll roads without stopping to pay manually. If you do not have this system avoid passing through those tolls as the barrier will not open. To be able to use it users install a small electronic device on the inside of their vehicle's windshield. 

Typically, all Autostradas have service stations and rest stops but, the Superstradas do not which, is good to keep in mind if travelling a further distance and needing to fill up with fuel.

There are also the white roads called Strade Bianche, which are unpaved gravel roads that reach across the countryside of Tuscany and Umbria, weaving their way through oak forests, olive groves, vines, meadows and fields of grain. The white colour that gives these roads their unique character comes from the compacted local limestone gravel that forms them. 

Today, the Strade Bianche is preserved as a national treasure. In 1997, the L'Eroica, a non-competitive cycling event that now attracts around 8,000 riders per year for the ultimate vintage bike challenge, was created to help preserve the Strade Bianche. 

In the summer, most Strade Bianche traffic is peaceful and recreational, whether on foot, two wheels or four wheels so, although the terrain may a little trickier to navigate, take your time and enjoy the surroundings, it's well worth it!

Many of our villas have unpaved approach roads, therefore for our guests, we have divided them into four categories:

Category 1: Unpaved, even, standard road clearance vehicle recommended

Category 2: Unpaved, uneven, high clearance vehicle recommended

Category 3: Unpaved, uneven, high clearance vehicle recommended, uphill segments, experienced drivers recommended

Category 4: Unpaved, uneven, high clearance vehicle only, steep uphill segments, experienced drivers recommended, vehicle weight below 20kg per kW (33 lb per bhp) of power only.

Click on the link to check your vehicle’s weight-to-power ratio: http://www.carfolio.com/

When driving in Tuscany there are a few road signs to familiarise yourself with before jumping in the car. The most important to know are the following:

No Parking – blue circles with a red border and a red diagonal slash through the centre.

No Stopping – blue with a red border and have an X (instead of a single slash)

Parking – solid blue square with a big white capital ‘P’ 

Speed surveillance area – square with a policeman with one handless arm extended

Autostrada (toll road) - green sign

Superstrada (main road – no tolls) - blue sign

Restricted Traffic Zones (ZTLs) - signs which say the words ‘Zona Traffico Limitato’ with a red circle below.

Most of Italy’s historic centres have Restricted Traffic Zones (ZTL or Zona Traffico Limitato) where non-resident vehicles are prohibited from entering. These zones aim to reduce pollution and damage to streets and buildings, with many being UNESCO sites, and create a better environment for pedestrians visiting the town.

Unlike other European eco-friendly zones, you cannot purchase a low-emissions permit for these areas. When entering these historic city centres, a photograph is taken of your number plate to check if you are allowed to enter. If your number plate is not registered with the traffic police, you will receive a fine of approximately €80.

If you are driving a hire car, the rental company will receive the fine and charge it (often with an admin fee) to your credit card. If you are driving your own vehicle, the fine will be sent to your home.

Most towns and cities across Tuscany have ZTLs. Therefore, we advise you to find suitable parking outside the city or town and walk in.

It can often be hard to determine where vehicles are allowed and where restricted zones start, so ensure you look for signs indicating where ZTLs begin.

When parking in Tuscany it is also important to make sure you are parking in the right place. Therefore, keep an eye out for the colour coding on the parking spots.

White spaces: free parking

Blue: paid parking

Yellow: reserved for disabled permits, taxis or official vehicles

Pink spaces: for expectant mothers or mothers travelling with an infant

Driving in a different country can be daunting, let alone when driving with an accessible car in a country which has narrow, winding roads and towns and villages often not as accessible as at home.

When parking in different locations across the region you are going to want to make sure that your vehicle is clearly marked when parking in the yellow marked disabled spots. You can obtain a translation of the blue badge from the Motability website. However, if you display disabled stickers on both the front and back of the car this should allow you to use your UK blue badge.

Paula, one of our villa specialists, who has travelled with a Motability car in Tuscany has given some great insights to make things easier.

. At Empoli station (30km southwest of Florence), it is possible to park in a disabled space outside the main car park, which means you do not have to pay.

. When using the Pisa Mover to get into Pisa, push the help button to speak to the attendant. They will guide you on where to pay and provide a free ticket for the wheelchair user. Additionally, you will not need to pay for the car park upon your return by calling a provided number. 
This approach is recommended instead of applying for a permit to enter the city, which must be done 48 hours in advance and cannot be pre-planned from the UK.

. In Montecatini, you can park in a side street in a disabled space and use the blue badge.

. In Lucca, there are no concessions in the car park outside the city walls, and standard parking fees apply.

It should be noted that we are not experts, and you should always make sure to check all local travel details before your journey.

If you intend on parking your car on the street overnight, make sure to check local signs indicating when street cleaning will be carried out. Vehicles left on the street when cleaning is scheduled to take place will be towed away.

Speed cameras line many of the main roads in Tuscany, so keep an eye on your speed. Don’t be pressured by locals who may tailgate or overtake you.

Typically speed limits are: 

Urban areas: 50km/h (31mph) 

State roads: 90km/h (56mph) 

Motorways: 130km/h (81mph) 

If you are caught speeding, a fine can still be sent back to your home country or even lead to points on your license.

Whilst in Tuscany, you are bound to need to fill up whilst driving around. Here is some information about Italian petrol stations and how they work.  

When pulling up to most petrol station, you can choose if you want to fill your own vehicle or have someone else fill it for you. It is common for most stations to have an attendee who can fill your vehicle for you and is who you will make payment at the end, which is usually more expensive than self-service.  

Alternatively, there is the option for self-service. If visiting during open hours (staffed hours), you can fill your vehicle and pay at the cashier's desk. However, if you're arriving during closed hours (typically evening or early morning when the station is unstaffed), then you will need to pay before you pump. Most stations take cards, or you can pay by cash. Once you have paid, you can then fill up and drive away.

It should be clearly displayed if the pump is served or self-served with signs above the pumps.

Our team are experienced when it comes to driving both to Italy and within Tuscany. Below we share some of our top tips for driving in Tuscany and explain just how easy it can be for visitors and holiday goers - great to know particularly if this is your first time.

“Driving around Tuscany by car is not a challenge at all. Outside the centres of large cities, driving is pleasant and easy, and speed limits are respected. When planning to visit the most popular places, such as Florence, Siena or San Gimignano, we recommend choosing a larger parking lot further from the centre. Searching for a free space, especially when a group travels in two or three vehicles, can be troublesome.” ~ Miko, Villa Specialist

“Driving from the UK was quite straight forward but made easier by the fact that there was always two of us in the front to help with driving on the other side of the road and paying for tolls.  Always have a good amount of change (if possible) for the tolls. You can pay by credit card, but it is more complicated, and we found it easier to have a bag of change always readily available.” ~ Paula, Villa Specialist

If you have travel insurance with organisations such as AA (UK), AAA (US) or RAC then you will be provided with an emergency assistance number whilst travelling in Italy. However, you can also call the Automobile Club d’Italia (ACI) for roadside assistance/ a tow by calling 116 (which should be covered if you have the appropriate insurance). Check your roadside assistance to ensure you are fully covered when travelling in Italy. 

In case of emergency call 112

Pedaggio: toll

Casello: toll booth,

Telepass: Electronic toll collection system

Area di servizio: Service area (Tangenziale: bypass)

Sinistra: left

Destra: right

Dritto: straight ahead

Uscita: exit 

Senso unico: one way

Noleggio auto: car rental 

Benzina: this is petrol (UK) or gas (US), not to be confused with diesel at the pump

Senza piombo or benzina verde: unleaded or green petrol 

Gasolio: diesel

Il pieno, per favore: fill it, please

Zona Traffico Limitato (ZTL): restricted drive zone reserved for cars with permission

Zona Pedonale: Pedestrian streets or streets reserved for pedestrians.