Hire Car Piombino Tips, Experiences & Comparison

Discover Piombino by Hire Car

Piombino is a small, tranquil town on the Italian coast, right on the Tyrrhenian Sea, opposite the island of Elba.

First and foremost, it’s probably the ferry to Elba that draws most tourists to Piombino.

However, the town has more to offer Piombino has an enchanting old town with buildings dating from the Middle Ages to modern times, but also beautiful beaches.

The city with about 35,000 inhabitants is located in the province of Livorno. In the surrounding area there are many interesting places that can be easily reached by hire car.

Taking over the hire car

Many travellers reach Piombino via Pisa International Airport. There you will find numerous hire car agencies right by the terminal. Before you book your hire car, however, you should make sure that your rental company also operates its station at the airport. If it is only close to the airport, it can take a long time for a shuttle service to take you to your hire car.

Booking the right hire car

If you want to visit the many charming towns in the area, you’ll be glad you opted for a small car. This will help you get through the often turbulent traffic and make it easier to find a parking space.

Hire car prices

If you rent your car directly in Piombino, you will often face high costs. Significantly cheaper are the hire car prices in Pisa as a rule. Our practical price comparison will help you to find a suitable car at favourable conditions.

hire car price comparison Piombino

Insuring the car properly

When you’re driving around Italian cities in an unfamiliar hire car, it’s easy for an accident to happen. Protect yourself and book a car with comprehensive insurance without excess. With the liability insurance you should absolutely pay attention to the amount of the coverage. After all, if people are injured in a major accident or several vehicles are involved, high costs can quickly arise. If the amount of coverage of your rental company seems too low, you can provide additional protection with a Mallorca policy. Talk to your insurance company.

age limit

You must be 21 to hire car from most rental companies in Pisa and Piombini. And drivers younger than 25 are often charged an additional fee. Check out your rental company’s terms and conditions before renting the car. You can find them under the heading “Details and rental conditions”.

Accessories

In the maze of streets in Italian cities, a navigation device can give you valuable help. And if there are children on board, they must be secured with suitable child seats. No matter what accessories you need for the trip, you must always order the items separately from your hire car company. Make reservations well in advance to ensure the equipment you want is available when you pick up the car.

Language barrier

In Pisa and Piombino, it is quite possible that employees of a hire car station speak and understand English poorly. To prevent communication problems, you should note down the telephone number of the Italian head office of your rental company before the trip. There you can ask for translation help if necessary.

Free kilometers

The multitude of charming places around Piombino makes it advisable to hire car with all kilometres free. This will allow you to explore the surrounding countryside to your heart’s content without constantly having to keep an eye on your mileage.

Remember the tank regulation

Some hire car companies in Pisa and Piombino require their customers to buy the first tank of fuel for an expensive service charge. The car can then be returned with an empty tank. Since you will never be able to roll the car into the rental company’s parking lot with the last drop of gasoline and since you will also have to pay the service fee, this option is always a losing proposition for you. Rather, book with a rental company where you pick up the car with a full tank of gas and return it with a full tank of gas.

Bail

Be careful to book with a rental company that only blocks the deposit for the hire car on your credit card. If the money is actually debited, it sometimes takes a long time for the amount to be transferred back to your account after the car is returned.

Customer Satisfaction Hire Car

Since there are not a lot of car rentals booked in Piombino, you should check the opening hours of your hire car company before you travel to avoid being faced with closed doors. In Pisa, customers are largely satisfied with the rental companies. However, some do complain about long waiting times at some hire car counters. So, in order not to miss the plane after returning the car, you should allow enough time.

Some customers also complain about the external condition of some vehicles. If you discover damage such as dents or scratches on your hire car, you should always have the defects confirmed in writing in a defect report. Keep the document in a safe place. This way, when you return the car, you can prove that you are not responsible for the damage.

Safety hire car

Although most hire cars in Piombino and Pisa are quite roadworthy, you should still test the car’s complete lighting system before your first trip. Remember to check the brake lights and indicators. And make sure that you have a safety vest, first-aid kit and warning triangle on board. After you have done a short brake test in the parking lot of the rental company, the journey can begin.

Sights in Piombino

There are no sights worth seeing in Piombino. Just stroll through the picturesque alleys of the old town, where you will rarely meet another tourist.

Discover a good restaurant

Since most tourists only roam Piombino when passing through, there are many typical restaurants here where locals go to eat. We recommend Taverna di Boncompagni. Here you can find delicious Tuscan specialties in a pleasant ambience.

Discover a good hotel

Since the town is for many just the springboard for the trip to Elba, good hotels in Piombino are rare. We recommend the Hotel Est. You stay very centrally, the old town and harbour are within easy reach. The rooms are functionally furnished and offer amenities such as air conditioning, minibar and LED TV.

A worthwhile destination in the area

Siena: pure culture
Direct the hire car to Siena. The city is just 111 kilometres from Piombino. As the roads are quite winding and not well developed, you should allow a driving time of a little over two hours. But Siena makes up for the grueling journey.

In this city, pure culture awaits you. In Siena, the Gothic period comes alive again. Start your stroll at the mighty cathedral. In 1229, construction work began. In 1263 the largest parts of the cathedral were completed. Even from the outside, the building impresses with its magnificent façade. It is richly decorated and consists mainly of white and red marble. In the interior, the splendor continues. Especially the marble floor with its rich inlays is worth an extensive visit.

Next on the city tour could be the Piazza del Campo. Unlike most cities, Siena’s main square is not flat but shell-shaped. It is dominated by the mighty Palazzo Publico that was built from the year 1297 on. Twice a year, on July 2nd and August 16th, a spectacular horse race takes place in the Piazza del Campo. It has existed since the Middle Ages. The 17 districts of Siena symbolically compete against each other, chasing the horses around the Campo at breathtaking speed.

A visit to the Pinacoteca Nazionale could be the end of your stroll through the city. Here you can expect to see a remarkable collection of Sienese artists from the 14th to the 16th centuries. And the setting is right, too. The Pinacoteca is housed in a 15th-century palace.

After visiting the museum, it’s a good idea to simply stroll around the city and take in the beauty of Siena. Then sit down at a sidewalk café, preferably in the Piazza del Campo, watch the hustle and bustle, and take your time planning which destinations around Piombino you want to visit next in your hire car.

Suggestion for a trip by hire car

Massa Maritima: mining town with a view
The town of Massa Maritima, perched on a mountain, is a nice first stop for a trip by hire car. You can be there in less than three quarters of an hour. In the old town of Massa Maritima you have the opportunity to dive deep into the past and experience two eras at once. The lower town, Città Vecchia, is dominated by Romanesque architecture. The upper town, Città Nuova, on the other hand, is Gothic in style. As Massa Maritima is an old mining town, you should not miss to visit the Museo della Miniere. It is located in an old mining gallery and teaches you about the mining trade. Afterwards you can climb the Torre del Candeliere above the old town and enjoy a fantastic view over the town and the surrounding area.

Castiglione della Pescaia: Relaxed seaside resort
Continue your journey in three quarters of an hour to Castiglione della Pescaia. In this picturesque seaside resort, you can enjoy extensive sunbathing on the long sandy beach or go for long walks in the pine forests in the surrounding area. At the end of your visit, you will then have the opportunity to go hunting for original souvenirs in the small shops of the town.

Ruins of Roselle: Excursion into Antiquity
Ancient excavations await you when you steer the hire car to the ruins of Roselle at the end of your trip. The drive will take you a good half hour by hire car. Discover the remains of a Roman city with amphitheatre and forum. Excavation work has also uncovered the remains of an Etruscan settlement. A one-hour drive now separates you from Piombino, where you can plan your next excursions by hire car.

Conclusion

Even though Piombino itself does not have much to offer, the city is still highly recommended as a location for a trip with a hire car. Numerous charming places lie in the surrounding area and can be reached perfectly by car. With our practical price comparison you will have no problems finding a suitable car for you at good conditions.