Between the sea, rolling hills, mountain ranges, secluded villages and bustling tourist cities, making the right choice can be hard—especially if your time is limited. For travelers who want more than just a single destination, renting a car is the perfect solution.
A weeklong road trip in Tuscany
In the age of smart mobility, where the transport sector is focusing on sustainability and efficiency, car rental has become a well-established option. According to a report by ANIASA (the Italian National Association of Car Rental and Automotive Services), over 5,369,172 cars were rented in Italy for short periods (an average of one week) in 2018—3% more than the previous year. The numbers confirm that renting a car is now a common habit in Italy.
To find the right vehicle, just use a comparison website like offertenoleggioauto.it, which checks prices from 1,600 rental companies in 170 countries and lets you quickly book your car in countless locations. But if you have seven days and a rental car, where should you go in Tuscany?
All roads lead to Florence
As Italy’s fourth-largest region by area—and second for the number of provinces—Tuscany boasts cities worth visiting across the board. The most beloved is undoubtedly Florence: a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1982, world-famous for its extraordinary art, Florence offers an impressive line-up of monuments and museums, from the Duomo and Santa Maria Novella to the Uffizi Gallery, Ponte Vecchio, and Piazza della Signoria. The city is well connected to the rest of Tuscany via highways and provincial and state roads.
The A11 links Florence to Prato, Lucca, Pisa, and Pistoia, then on to Massa and Carrara via the E80. The “Autopalio” takes you to Siena and then to Grosseto by the Via Senese. The SGC connects Florence with Livorno, while the Autostrada del Sole and E35 reach Arezzo. Essentially, in under two hours you can drive from Florence to any other Tuscan capital—and vice versa.
Slow travel, off the beaten path
If you prefer hiking in the mountains, relaxing on the beach, unwinding in thermal springs or enjoying food and wine experiences, the car will still be your trusted companion. Here, highways give way to scenic and country roads, perfect for custom slow travel itineraries. You can stop whenever you like to admire a panorama, try a local snack, or explore a trail. Opportunities abound, but one ideal itinerary starts with a walk among the woods of Garfagnana (in the province of Lucca), continues with a swim in the sea of Versilia, a tour of the Chianti hills (between Florence, Siena, and Arezzo), and a deep dive into the peaceful Maremma—exploring villages like Pitigliano, also known as the “little Jerusalem of Tuscany”, or treating yourself to some wellness at the thermal springs of Saturnia, famous since Roman times.
If there’s a perfect means of transport for exploring the gentle Tuscan hills—without missing out on the region’s vibrant culture and charming villages between sea and mountains—it’s the car. The key word is improvisation: let yourself be surprised and don’t hesitate to stray from your planned route—this is often the best way to discover Tuscany.
