Booking the right car

Tight traffic and a devastating parking situation make it advisable to rent a small car in Florence. This will allow you to get around easily everywhere and make the most of tight parking spaces.

Insurance

You will find few cars in Florence without dents or scrapes. Minor accidents happen all the time. To be well protected with your hire car, you should always choose comprehensive insurance without excess. After all, if the repair to your car costs 500 euros, for example, but you have an excess of 750 euros, you will pay the full price out of your own pocket.

With liability, it is quite important to pay attention to the coverage amount. It should be at least one million euros. If people are injured in an accident or if several vehicles are involved, the costs can quickly mount up. If the sum insured of your rental company seems too low, you have the possibility to provide additional protection with a so-called Mallorca policy. Let your insurance company advise you.

Accessories

If your rental company offers it, be sure to book a navigation device to help you navigate Florence’s maze of streets. Other accessories, such as child seats, also need to be booked well in advance.

Language barrier

Not all staff at hire car stations in Florence are fluent in English. To avoid being left out in the cold if you have language difficulties, you should make a note of the telephone number of the Italian head office of your rental company. There you can ask for translation help in case of need.

Customer Satisfaction Hire Car

Most customers are satisfied with the rental companies in Florence. However, some complain about the external appearance of the vehicles. Always have dents and scratches on the hire car confirmed in writing. Then you can not be charged when returning the car for damage that you have not caused.

Sights in Florence

Domo: Magnificent façade and Gothic simplicity
A city tour could begin at the magnificent cathedral. Construction began in 1296, but it would take nearly 150 years before it was completed. Already the facade with its pink, white and green marble bands inspires visitors from all over the world. It should be noted, however, that it was not built until the 19th century, after the unfinished old façade had been demolished.

Inside the cathedral, you can expect Gothic architectural style with sparse decoration and magnificent stained glass windows that give a special atmosphere to the mighty nave. To grasp the full historical dimension of the cathedral, you should hire an audio guide. That way you won’t miss any of the countless highlights.

Campanile: Fantastic view
After visiting the church, you will have the opportunity to see Florence from above. 414 steps lead up to the Campanile, which stands right next to the cathedral and was completed in 1359. From up here you have a sensational view over the city and the surrounding area.

Palazzo del Bargello: Experience Michelangelo
You can see a palace dating back to 1261 when you visit the Museo del Bargello in the Palazzo del Bargello. But it’s not just the magnificent rooms that are worth a visit, but also the exhibition itself. Among other things, you will find works by Michelangelo, who spent many years in Florence.

Uffizi: Gigantic art collection
No stay in Florence is complete without a visit to the world-famous Uffizi Gallery. In one of the most important museums in the world, a gigantic art collection awaits you, which the Medici had bequeathed to the city of Florence. Again, be sure to rent an audio guide to get an overview.

Florence still has countless churches, museums and historic buildings to offer. But the best way to get to know the city is to just let yourself drift. Stroll through picturesque alleys or along magnificent shopping streets, observe the life of the locals and feel the pulse of the city, where history and modernity form a unique combination.

Find a good hotel

It’s easy to find a nice hotel in Florence. However, the city’s popularity with tourists means that you’ll have to dig deep into your pockets during peak season. We recommend the Relais Uffizi. You’ll be staying in a 16th century palace. The rooms are stylishly furnished and offer plenty of comfort. The service is cordial.

Suggestion of a round trip

San Gimignano: Manhattan of the Middle Ages
A first round trip with the hire car could lead you first to San Gimignano. In just under an hour you will be there. Even from a distance, you will spot the 15 family towers that dominate the townscape and have earned the city the nickname “Manhattan of the Middle Ages”.

The term gender towers does not suggest phallic symbols. Rather, it was wealthy families whose gender donated the towers, which were used as residential towers but also as defensive structures. The higher the towers were, the more prestigious was the gender of the donating family. But not only the towers, also the cathedral with its impressive frescoes from the 14th century is a real attraction.

Montalcino: home of mighty red wines
Continue your journey to Montalcino. In less than an hour and a half you will be there. In Montalcino, you can fill your trunk with one of Italy’s most delicious wines, as the famous Brunello di Montalcio is pressed there. At the tourist information office of the town you can get a list of the winegrowers in the area and find out where you can buy wine directly from the farm.

Arezzo: Enchanting Frescoes and Medieval Inner City
Before you park your hire car back in Florence you should make a stop in Arezzo. With the hire car you reach the place in a good hour. In Arezzo, it is worth visiting the Chiesa di San Francesco where you can admire the frescoes of the artist Piero della Francesca. His work, created between 1452 and 1466, is entitled “The Legend of the True Cross”.

It depicts the story of the cross on which Jesus of Nazareth met his death. After visiting the church, you can then stroll around the medieval town centre for a while or plan your next hire car trip in a café. Your car will take you back to Florence in an hour after an eventful day.