Taking over the hire car

Numerous hire car customers arrive in Siena via the airport in Florence. There you will find numerous hire car agencies in the arrival terminal. Before you book the hire car, just make sure that your hire car company is also there. After all, if it is only located near the airport, you may have to wait for a long time before a shuttle takes you to your hire car.

Hire car prices

Hire car prices in Siena and Florence tend to be in the mid-range, although you will often find them a little lower in Florence. You can usually get the best deals by booking well in advance of your trip and using our handy price comparison tool.

hire car price comparison Siena

age limit

You must be 21 years old to hire car from most hire car companies in Siena and Florence. Many providers won’t rent cars to drivers older than 75. And drivers younger than 25 often pay an additional fee. Before renting the car, be sure to ask about your rental provider’s terms and conditions.

Language barrier

In Siena and Florence, you can’t assume that the staff at all hire car stations will speak impeccable English. Instead, make a note of the phone number of your rental company’s Italian head office so you can ask them for translation help if you have any communication problems.

Tank control

With most hire car companies in Siena and Florence, you will pick up the car with a full tank of gas and return it with a full tank of gas. Be sure to check that your rental company does the same. Then you don’t have to argue about the correct level of the tank when you return the car.

Customer Satisfaction Hire Car

Most customers are quite satisfied with the hire car service in Siena and Florence. However, some complain that they tried to sell them additional insurance on the spot. Make sure your car is adequately insured at the time of booking and then consistently refuse to take out any additional insurance when in Italy. Customers also complain about the external condition of some vehicles.

If you discover any damage to your car, always get it confirmed in writing by your rental agent. Keep the document in a safe place so that when you return the car you will not be held responsible for damage that you did not cause. A final point of criticism is the sometimes long waiting times when returning the car. Plan a generous time window to avoid missing the train or plane home.

Sights in Siena

Campo: Enchanting Shell
The Campo is a predestined starting point for a walking tour. Unlike other cities, Siena’s main square is not flat, but shell-shaped. Thus it reminds a little of an amphitheatre. It is dominated by the Palazzo Communale. In 1297, the construction works of this mighty building began. The 102-metre-high tower to the left of the town hall was completed in the 14th century. It can be visited. 400 steps lead to the top. The effort is rewarded with a fantastic view of Siena and the surrounding area.

Museo Civico: Masterpieces from ancient times
In the Palazzo Communale you can also visit the Museo Civico. There you will find a selection of enchanting works of art from the 14th to the 19th century. Especially the Maestà by the artist Simone Martini from 1315 is worth seeing. It shows the Madonna and Child surrounded by saints and angels. The frescoes that can be seen in the Sala dei Nove also captivate many visitors. They were created between 1338 and 1339 by the famous artist Ambrogio Lorenzetti.

Domo: Impressive marble floor
Next fixed point on most city tours is the cathedral, built from 1196 to 1215. It impresses already by its facade of red and white marble. Inside, the splendour continues. Don’t miss the wonderful marble floor with its inlays. They were created between the 14th and 16th centuries and show biblical but also secular motifs.

Pinacoteca Nazionale: art from the region
Perhaps after visiting the church, you’ll direct your steps to the Pinacoteca Nazionale. Here you can see many paintings by artists from Siena, including Mary and Child by Simone Martini. The masterpiece was painted around 1321

Palio: Spectacular Equestrian Games
If you are in Siena on 02 July or 16 August, you will have the opportunity to see one of the most spectacular horse races in the world. Ten horses are chased around the Campo by their magnificently dressed riders in the Palio. Each one represents a district of Siena. Three times the Campo must be circled. The first horse wins, even if it loses its rider during the race.

Find a good hotel

Siena is one of the tourist magnets in Tuscany. There is no shortage of good to very good hotels here. We recommend the Hotel Duomo. You reside in a palazzo from the 18th century. From many rooms you have a beautiful view of the cathedral. The rooms are comfortably furnished. WLAN is available free of charge throughout the hotel.

Suggestion for a trip by hire car

Chiusi: Etruscan Tunnels
Perhaps leave the famous destinations like Florence and Pisa to the left for once and steer your hire car to Chiusi. In about an hour you will be there. Under this place the Etruscans built an extensive tunnel system. A small part of it can be visited. In the Etruscan museum of the place you can admire numerous findings from that time.

Pienza: Experience the Renaissance
Next destination of the trip could be Pienza, which you will reach in about three quarters of an hour. There you’ll find a town center that is considered a prime example of the Renaissance architectural style, as in the mid-15th century Pope Pius II wanted to make his birthplace the papal seat and had the town center rebuilt accordingly.

Monticchiello: village with flair
Before you steer the hire car back to Siena, you can still make a stop in Monticchiello. The drive will take you just fifteen minutes. A charming place awaits you, whose harmonious image is not disturbed by new buildings. Apart from the frescoes in the Chiesa dei Santi Leonardo e Christoforo, there are no sights worth mentioning in the town. But here you can stroll undisturbed through the picturesque alleys and observe unspoilt Italian village life.