Driving In Tuscany, Italy: 15 Tips For A Safe & Happy Journey

Are you heading to Tuscany on your next road trip? We spent eight weeks road-tripping around Italy, with a big chunk of the adventure driving in Tuscany. It’s a gorgeous, scenic and fun part of the country, but it’s a little different from home.

You’ll be driving along narrow roads lined with stone walls and backed by olive groves. The famous rolling hills provide beautiful vistas, but they don’t make it easy to drive. With meandering lanes, tall trees, and obstructed views, safety was our biggest concern.

But we managed just fine, even in our 6.8-metre jumbo Ford Transit. That’s not to say there weren’t a few scares! We had it all: wrong turns, low bridges, rough roads, and even a blown tyre, but no accident, thank goodness.

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In this guide, I’m going through everything we learnt and sharing all the tips we picked up for driving in Tuscany safely, legally, and, of course, happily. So you’ll know exactly what to expect from your trip.

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15 Essential Tips For Driving in Tuscany

I’ve narrowed it down to the 15 most important things to know when driving in Tuscany.

Read next: We spent weeks driving around Tuscany and have written the PERFECT 10-day Tuscan road trip itinerary. We filled it with tons of useful information on where to stop, must-visit attractions, places to park and tons of practical information.

1. Tourists Like Stopping For Photos

It’s a given and, of course, expected; however, we weren’t too impressed by tourists who would suddenly decide to break and pull over. With no indication, or if there was, it was a blinker going off at the last second before they’d turn.

We learnt quickly that indication wasn’t really a thing. The same goes for the locals, but at least they weren’t swerving off at viewpoints. I suggest staying a safe distance behind the car in front, as they are prone to stopping suddenly for a photo. 

This really is something you need to be mindful of. It’s also worth mentioning that Italian drivers are pretty impatient. This is ironic as driving successfully in Tuscany requires a lot of patience and slow manoeuvring, especially if you’re in a heavy lump like we were!

2. Prepare For Small, Narrow Roads

With the above in mind, I’m sure you’ll like to know that the roads in Tuscany (and most of Italy) are small, narrow and winding. Unless you’re on the Autostrada, expect to make diversions from the GPS as it likes to guide you down small roads, which will be impossible to turn down unless you’re in a small rental, aka Fiat 500.

There’s a reason the Fiat 500 is Italy’s flagship car; it really is the perfect vehicle for navigating the small roads. If you’re not in a campervan and hoping to rent a car, I highly suggest a small car, like a Fiat 500, as it will make life a lot easier! 

Another thing we noticed is that there is a lot of roadside parking down smaller roads. It’s perfectly legal if there are no prohibition signs or markings, but for larger vehicles, it can be challenging to get through. If you’re parking on the roadside, be considerate to other drivers.  

3. Check The ZTLs

You might have already heard about the “Zona a Traffico Limitato”, which are the Limited-Traffic Zones in Italy. We have them here in the UK, too. Generally, they exist to protect the central historic areas within popular destinations by reducing traffic during certain hours.

Most of Tuscany’s larger towns have ZTL restrictions, and entering these areas will incur a fine. However, some of the roads leading into such areas do not always have barriers, and mistakes can happen, so it’s crucial to watch out for the signs if you’re driving near historic centres. 

The good news is that for those of you who are staying in hotels within the ZTL, you can still take your rentals through. To do this legally, you’ll have to inform hotel reception prior to your visit so they can register the vehicle number.

⭐ Pro tip >> If you drive into the zones without a registered number plate, you’ll be fined around €80, although I have heard it can be as high as €300. If you pay within five days of receiving the fine, you’ll be given a 30% discount.

4. Stop By Roadside Vineyards

Throughout Tuscany, you’ll find loads of family-owned farms, vineyards, and olive groves. The establishments are usually a combination of the above and offer wine and olive tastings without prior bookings. If you see a place you like, pull up and go for it – they are usually signposted along the road.

The nice thing about this is that it’s a spontaneous activity, and you’ll never really know what you’ll be getting; this is certainly true if you visit the smaller vineyards. 

You’ll also want to add some popular locations to your experience. For example, we visited the Castello Brolio, which is famous for its Barone Ricasoli wines. It’s in the Chianti Valley and a great stop if you want a day of touring a castle and tastings.

The smaller, lesser-known sites offer a simple and authentic way to learn about the local produce in a more intimate setting. Unexpected vineyard stops make driving in Tuscany a little more exciting! 

5. Obey The Speed Limits

Italy has various speed limits depending on the type of road you’re on. There are seven road types, each with its own speed limit. It’s essential you obey the speed limit; otherwise, you’ll likely get pulled over by the police and incur a fine.

Unfortunately, we didn’t think the roads were well signposted, and we generally saw speed limits only when entering towns. In the UK, speed limits are everywhere. Even so, there are set speeds for each road type, so if you learn the information below, you’re less likely to get caught out.

• Type A – Autostrada/motorway: 130 to 150 km (80 to 93 miles) or 110 km / 68 miles in adverse weather. 
• Type B – Dual carriageway: 110 km (68 miles) or 90 km / 56 miles in adverse weather.
• Type C – Secondary road (can be a dual carriageway into a city): 90 km / 56 miles. 
• Type D – Urban highway (two lanes in and around cities): 70 km / 43 miles
• Type E – City/town/village streets and ring roads: 50 km / 31 miles. 
• Zona 30 – Roads within cities and popular areas: 30 km / 19 miles
• Rural Roads – Single lane roads: 5 to 50 km / 3 to 31 miles

I read that the Italian laws allow a 5% (minimum 5 km/h) tolerance on speed limits; however, I suggest obeying the speed limit as fines are generally costly.

⭐ Pro tip >> Some other things to keep in mind are that in Tuscany, the roads leaving towns (generally urban highways) are always 70 km, although the Firenze-Siena autostrada and the Fi-Pi-Li are 90 km roads. There are also average-speed cameras, so it’s crucial you pay attention and don’t tailgate.

6. Carry The Correct Documents

We did notice quite a few Italian police officers, and although we didn’t get stopped, apparently, it is common for foreign vehicles to be pulled over. While driving in Tuscany, it’s important to have the correct documentation. But what is it you actually need?

Here’s the list:

• A full, valid UK driving licence 
• Your passport 
• Motor insurance certificate
• V5 registration (if you are driving your own vehicle)

7. Are You Familiar With Roundabouts?

If you’re from the UK, this won’t be a problem, but for those of you driving in Tuscany from countries that aren’t familiar with roundabouts, they can be a little worrisome. But they are really very simple and nothing to worry about.

For those of you who don’t know, a roundabout, or “Rotonda” in Italian, is a circular intersection where two or more roads meet. Traffic flows counterclockwise around the circle, with vehicles entering and exiting at various points. 

Think of it as a crossroad, but instead of traffic lights, there’s a big ol’ circle in the middle. In Italy, you must stop, look at the oncoming traffic to your left, and go around the circle counterclockwise and indicate right when you’re ready to turn off. 

This is a common feature of Italian roads and is used to regulate traffic at intersections. You’ll find them when driving in Tuscany; however, they are generally single-lane and relatively small, so easy to navigate.

8. GPS Navigation Is Important

Most of us will use our mobile phones, and this is the best way for me. I personally love Google Maps and found the GPS worked well while driving around Tuscany. It’s also pretty good at picking up speed cameras and noting the average speed limits, too. 

As far as I’m aware, using your phone to navigate is perfectly legal as long as it is attached to the dashboard or windscreen. That said, specifically designed car GPS/Sat Nav are also a good option if you’d rather not use your phone. Just remember to remove them every time you park. If you’re renting a car, you can opt for a GPS Navigation add-on. It’s a valuable tool when driving in Tuscany.

GPS Navigation is important for your road trip because it will (nine times out of ten) guarantee you follow the correct roads and most efficient routes; however, paper maps can also be helpful. Ensure you purchase a current, updated map, as the roads are constantly changing.

⭐ Pro tip >> We used our phone for the whole trip and bought a dashboard holder for the car. It’s excellent and saves the copilot (me!) having to read the map the entire time. Also, make sure you attach it out of the way of the gear stick. Ours was too low, and by the time we used it, we’d already set off. It took us till the next stop to change its position. 

9. Avoid Rush Hour Traffic

Although we didn’t encounter too much traffic, likely because we avoided driving in busy areas during peak hours, places like Florence and Siena can get backed up by traffic. If you can, avoid the 7 am to 9 am and 5 pm to 7 pm time slots.

The Firenze-Siena and the Fi-Pi-Li autostrada are particularly intense. Commuters tend to flood the roads during this time, so it’s best to avoid diving. In general, the main roads are good but can get busy on weekends.

Therefore, I recommend planning your route accordingly and avoid driving during peak hours to ensure a smooth and stress-free journey.

10. Learn How To Change A Tyre

Since we had a blown tyre, it was great that Jack was capable of changing it; if it had been me, I wouldn’t have had a clue. We did have breakdown cover, and they were great—we went with Adrian Flux—in terms of offering support, but the wait was long.

So, instead of waiting for recovery, we decided to change the tyre ourselves. The problem was the jack stand wasn’t tall enough to raise the tyre off the ground—strange since it came with the van. Nevertheless, we managed to find a large rock to place under the jack to get enough lift so we could change the tyre—I don’t recommend this, as it is dangerous!

However, it worked. Luckily, two road patrol officers also stopped and directed traffic around us while we (Jack) changed the tyre. If you’ve never changed a tyre, I advise you to give it a go before you set out. We encountered a few snags, mainly the jack, but also trying to release the spare tyre from under the van was amusing. 

11. Watch Out For Blue Parking Spots

The blue parking spots are chargeable! When you get to a car park, you’ll often see white and blue parking lines, sometimes yellow. It’s essential to know the parking rules and regulations.

• The blue parking spaces, or “blue zones,” are marked with blue lines and are paid street parking areas. 
• Yellow lines, on the other hand, are either accessible parking spots or reserved for residents only, so it’s best to avoid those areas.
• The white parking zones are free unless otherwise indicated.

There are two types of blue zones: one where an attendant asks you how long you intend to stay and another where you can use a parking meter. Parking prices vary, and you are usually required to pay between 08:00 and 20:00 Monday through Saturday.

It’s important to note that parking is usually free on Sundays and public holidays, except in certain areas. 

12. Petrol Stations Have Cheaper Self-Service Pumps

First of all, what are petrol stations in Italy called? Benzinaio – ben-zee-neye-oh. Learn that.

In the UK, we have to go inside to pay for petrol, but in Italy, you can save some pennies by using the self-service pumps and paying at the pay station. We noticed the price variations were usually shown on a digital sign at the station’s entrance.

That said, I’m not sure how it works where you are, but the idea of pay stations is still very uncommon here in the UK. So, when we arrived at the petrol station in Italy, we got all confused trying to find where to pay (and how).

We noticed most of the pay stations accept cards only. You have to insert your card, and sometimes you can select the language, but other times, it’s all in Italian. We also found that the payment machine would take full/set payment before we’d filled up and then credit the account if we didn’t use the total amount.

For example, if we filled up €50 but the machine was set to €100, it would take €100 before we started pumping and then re-crediting my card to €50 afterwards. This is really strange, but we noticed it happening often.

13. Pick Up Rentals At The Airport

If you haven’t driven into Italy and are looking to rent a car, I suggest picking it up from the airport. If you’re grabbing it straight away, great, but if it’s after a few days, I still recommend heading back to the airport.

The narrow streets in the city centres, finding parking and driving in general can be pretty stressful, especially if you are not familiar with the area. There are also the ZTLs to consider.

Picking up your car rental from the airport avoids the hassle of navigating unfamiliar city streets and finding your way to the rental office. Airport rental offices are typically located in the terminal, making them easy to locate, so it makes a lot of sense to do this.

It’s also worth noting that most rentals are stick (not automatic), so if you only know how to drive automatics, you’ll need to ensure you apply for an automatic rental; otherwise, you might be in a sticky situation.

14. Budget For The Autostrada

The Type A roads are tolled and mark the country’s Autostradas. When driving in Tuscany, look out for the A1, A11, and A12 roads, which pass through the region.

• A1: Milan – Bologna – Florence – Rome – Naples
• A11: Florence – Pisa
• A12: Genoa – San Pietro in Palazzo, Tarquinia – Rome

Although we avoided most of the A-roads during our trip by sticking to rural roads, we decided to use them on our way home. The Autostrada is fantastic for skipping past the winding country roads, and we thought it would save us petrol. Plus, we’d experienced a lot of rural Italy, so we were happy with the decision.

However, the cost still ate into our budget, and it was more than we had expected. In the end, we hadn’t budgeted enough, and using these roads caused us to go over budget. We worked it out at around €10 per 100 km, which, when driving from Italy to the UK (or vice versa), is quite a lot!

15. Driving Permits

If you’re a non-EU resident planning to rent a car in Italy, you may need to get an International Driving Permit (IDP) along with your valid driving license. If you’re from the UK, you won’t need an IDP.

To ensure a smooth and hassle-free experience, I recommend that you check ahead of time to determine whether an IDP will be required. Being proactive and obtaining the necessary documentation in advance will help you avoid any potential issues or delays during your road trip. 

⭐ Pro tip >> If you need an IDP, you can apply for it here: IDP for Italy and Vatican. 

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Essential Italian Road Signs To Know When Driving In Italy

Most of the road signs in Italy are self-explanatory and don’t differ too much from the ones made home, but it’s still good practice to brush up on your road theory!

The most vital road signs to know about are as follows:

• (1) No motor vehicles (with four or more wheels) sign: At the entrance to roads that are prohibited to cars, the front of a vehicle in a red circle will appear. If you encounter this sign, you’ll need to find a different route.
• (2) Restricted vehicular traffic zone’ sign: A red circle on a white background appears in ZTLs. They can be either blank, which applies to all vehicles, or they might specify that certain vehicles are prohibited from using a ZTL.
• (3) Max width’ and ‘Max height’ signs: These are really important to be aware of, especially when approaching tunnels. However, on numerous occasions in rural locations, they convey the wrong information.
• (4) No parking signs: The circle with one horizontal line indicates that parking is not allowed. The sign applies to the side of the road on which it appears.
• (5) No stopping signs: The circle with two horizontal lines indicates that no stopping is allowed. The sign applies to the side of the road on which it appears.
• (6) Parking Signs: Big blue parking signs with a white “P”
• (7) Speed Limits: Red circle with white background and number.
• (8) Minimum Speed Limit: A blue circle with white numbers in the middle.
• Give way sign: A red triangle pointing downward with a white centre; give way to any oncoming or crossing traffic.
• (9) Roundabout ahead sign: It is three arrows arranged in a circle on a red triangle.

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Best Time to Take a Road Trip in Tuscany

From our experience, the best time to take a road trip in Tuscany is from September through early October. For us, it was a fantastic time. In September, the weather was still great, and we enjoyed the beaches along the Tuscan coast. 

That said, spring from April to May is also a lovely time to visit Tuscany. However, I would avoid the peak season, which runs from June through August, as it can get hectic and sweltering.

Early autumn was perfect for us. During October, we headed north from Monte Argentario into the Chianti Valley before reaching Florence, and the weather was superb. It was only towards the end of October that the weather started to change, and in early November, rain clouds began circling above.

Although September and October are harvesting (vendemmia) months, they are less busy than the previous months. Villages hold mini-festivals to celebrate the year’s harvest, which is another reason to visit Tuscany during this time. 

Autumn is also a beautiful time to visit Tuscany in terms of nature. The scenery is stunning as the forests begin to change colour to auburn shades, and you’re more likely to spot wildlife as the temperatures start to cool.

Read next: If you want an in-depth weather guide for Italy we’ve written one for you here. It’s broken down into a month by month weather guide so you can choose exactly when the right time to visit tuscany is for you.

Don’t Forget About Travel Insurance!

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Rapid Fire Questions: Driving In Tuscany

Is renting a car in Tuscany worth it?

A road trip to Tuscany is totally worth it, and if you can’t drive there from home, renting a vehicle is the next best thing. 

Is driving in Tuscany stressful?

Driving in Tuscany can be stressful at times. The roads are narrow and winding, and locals drive pretty fast and can be impatient. However, the views make it worthwhile, and Tuscany is a stunning place to visit by car. Ensure you drive carefully and at your own pace, and you’ll have a wonderful trip.

Is driving easy in Tuscany?

Jack and I felt that driving in Tuscany was easy 90% of the time. As for the 10%, it was because we were driving along narrow roads, in bad weather or taking a wrong turn and having to turn around, which can be challenging in a large van. That said, if you follow the GPS, drive carefully and avoid large cities, driving can be a lot of fun.

What is the most scenic drive in Tuscany?

For the most scenic drive in Tuscany, we really enjoyed driving around the Chianti Valley. However, the Val d’Orcia was also stunning. Both offer picture-perfect scenery and “typical” Tuscan vistas. 

So That’s Driving In Tuscany!

Well, I hope this guide to driving in Tuscany and all my “insightful” tips have been helpful. I know from first-hand experience that driving in another country can be intimidating and challenging, but the fun of a road trip outweighs all of the cons. 

I’m sure you’ll have a fantastic trip. Just remember to read up on those road signs, drive carefully, and be patient. Patience is definitely the key to a successful road trip.