With world-class museums, art galleries and architecture, as well as delicious food and drink, the city of Florence is a top destination. When you arrive at Florence-airport, pick up your Avis hire car and take to the road in pure comfort.

We make car rental easy, because we know you can’t wait to feel the freedom of the road and get the very most out of your stay. Wherever your travels take you, the keys are waiting for you to unlock the world.

What kind of vehicle do you need? A large SUV for a big family? An eco-friendly compact car to zip around the city? Whatever you’re looking for, Avis car hire at Florence Airport will have you covered. Our vehicles offer practicality, performance and comfort, so you can enjoy your trip as much as possible. Get in touch for more information about the exact models that are available.

Florence is indisputably the most famous Tuscan city in the world. Every year millions of people arrive in the “cradle of the Renaissance”, visit the museums of the city, stroll through its streets admiring monuments, churches, palaces and places of interest.

Closed within a circle of medieval walls, Florence is divided into four districts: Santa Maria Novella, San Giovanni, Santa Croce and Santo Spirito.

In the Santa Maria Novella district, don’t miss the church with the same name: started in 1246 for the monks of the Dominican order, it was finished in 1360. The Roman-Gothic façade in white and green marble is the work of Leon Battista Alberti. Inside are splendid masterpieces by Masaccio, Filippino Lippi and Ghirlandaio, Giotto’s crucifix and Brunelleschi’s wooden crucifix.

The religious centre is the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, built in a gothic style on a design by Arnolfo di Cambio over the ancient basilica Santa Reparata. Brunelleschi enriched the cathedral with its elegant cupola, which is entirely covered with frescoes on the inside and is one of the city’s famous symbols. On the right side of the Cathedral, the square bell tower designed by Giotto is covered white, green and red marble.

In front of the Cathedral, the Baptistery of St. John (1128) is a masterpiece of Florentine Romanesque style covered in white and green marble with splendid bronze doors by Andrea Pisano and Lorenzo Ghiberti. Another outstanding church in Florence is Santa Croce by Arnolfo di Cambio, which is famous for its frescoes by Giotto and the tombs of many illustrious Italians.

Piazza della Signoria has been the centre of civil and political life since medieval times: this vast and solemn square is dominated by Palazzo Vecchio with a monumental statue of Michelangelo’s David in front of it. Palazzo Vecchio was originally known as Palazzo dei Priori, and in the fifteenth century it became Palazzo della Signoria. Later it became the Medici family home and during the time that Florence was the capital of Italy, at the beginning of Italian unification, it hosted the parliament. Since 1872 it has been the municipal building.

Which side of the road?
In Italy, please drive on the right side of the road.

Country driving laws

• Mobile phones may only be used with a hands-free device
• Use the outside lane to overtake on motorways and dual carriageways
• There are historical areas in which you cannot drive. Look out for “Zona traffico limitato”

• Dipped headlights must be used in poor daylight visibility when driving on motorways, dual carriageways, and rural roads
• Do not use the horn in a built up area unless in danger

Speed limits

All speed signs will be in km/h.

For a standard Avis rental vehicle with no trailers:

• Urban roads: 50 km/h (31 mph)
• Secondary extra-urban roads: 90 km/h (56 mph)
• Motorways: 130 km/h (80 mph)

• Urban highways: 70 km/h (44 mph)
• Main extra-urban roads (Expressways): 110 km/h (68 mph)

Unless indicated by road signs.

Be aware of changes to speed limits displayed on road signs due to adverse weather conditions.

Child safety / Seatbelt laws

• It is compulsory for the driver and all passengers to wear a seatbelt
• Children weighing up to 9 kg must be seated in a rear-facing child restraint, in the back of the car only

• Children aged under 12 and less than 150 cm tall must be seated in an appropriate child restraint for their size

Please note - It is the child’s parent/guardian or vehicle renter’s responsibility to fit the child seat.

This road rules information is for provided for general guidance only. We endeavour to keep the information up to date and accurate, but any reliance you place on this information is at your own risk.

Once you’ve sorted your car hire at Florence Airport, you can take just a short trip to experience a lot of what this unique city has to offer. But to fully appreciate the area, it’s recommended to take your car into the countryside surrounding Florence.

Tuscany, a geographically diverse region, composed of hills, plains, mountain massifs, islands and the sea, offers a very rich territory of traditions and culture. Driving around Tuscany is a perfect way to savour the atmosphere of a unique land, with a strong identity, which attracts tourists from all over the world.

The best way to get around by car is to avoid highways, but enjoy the scenery on country and provincial roads. The main ones are the FI-PI-LI (which connects Florence, Pisa, Livorno), the SS2 (road with 2 lanes) and the Florence-Siena (road with 4 lanes, which continues even after Siena).

How do I collect my hire car at Florence Airport?

When you land at Florence Airport, head from the Arrivals hall to our desk. One of our members of staff will process your booking, and then you may proceed to collect your vehicle at the Car Rental Centre.

Can I return a rental car to the airport?

If you've rented a car from a different Avis hub but wish to return it at Florence Airport, then you must arrange your return prior to the commencement of your rental agreement. If you return your car to Florence Airport without specifying in your rental contract, a fee will apply.

Do I need winter tyres to drive in ?

No, there is no legal requirement for passenger cars in Italy to be equipped with winter tyres. However, most of our cars in our Florence rental hubs will have winter tyres available.