duffy13

1.Just how crazy is the traffic (or how crazy are the drivers? We plan to rent a car at the airport and head to Tuscany, trying to avoid driving in the city.

2. How easy/hard is it to follow signage, etc.?

nessundorma

It's not hard to follow most signage on the autostrade, but something of trick to do it in the countryside, where it is easy to get lost.

My concern is whether you are doing this immediately following an overnight flight and whether you are going to try to rent a manual to save money when you are used to driving an automatic.

You might consider taking the hour-long airport train into Rome's Termini station, where you can catch another train for Orvieto -- which is a beautiful, beautiful Tuscan hilltown that is an hour's train ride from Rome. See the cathedral, get a good night's sleep, and pick up your rental the next morning and begin your Tuscan touring.

LoveItaly

Hi duffy, my late husband always drove all over Italy including in all the major cities including Rome, Milan, Naples etc. But..he always picked up the rental car after two nights in Italy..so that he didn't have to worry about jetlag. Being in the insurance business we were (and I still am) very aware of being completed rested before driving after a long flight which we had as we always flew from SFO.

I don't drive in Italy..but I have always felt "alright" when I have landed in Italy. Friends pick me up and after being in the car although I have thought I didn't have jetlag I have realized that I would not have good reactions if I drove as soon as I got off of the plane.

So I too would encourage you to have a least one nights good sleep after arriving in Italy before driving. Best regards

basingstoke1

Ditto with the previous posts. Get a good night's sleep before hitting the road. I have never found Italian drivers to be crazy except in Naples, a city where I hate to drive, but do when I have to. If anything, on the highways driving is more orderly than many other places I can think of. Signage tends to be as good or better than in the US (the only place where I consistently get lost is in Washington DC). Just learn the road signs, don't drive in the left lane except when passing, and you have it made. Rome is no more difficult to drive in than other big cities and don't even think of driving in Florence if you can help it. Always keep an third eye peeled for kids on motor bikes in cities and towns.

Bob4

We drove from Rome to Florence several years ago. Horrible. Take nessundorma's advice. Or take a train to Florence and rent a car at the train station. Train stations usually have rental stations in them, like airports here. Go on any rental car website to find their locations.

When we went to southern Italy, we didn't make the same mistake. We took the airport train to Termini station and got a train to Naples, where we stayed for a few days, then took a bus to Amalfi. Much more fun. And fun is the point.

AngelaS

I would not suggest renting a car in Florence. We just came back from that experience and we got lost a lot - the signs were pretty bad along with the traffic - very stressful. I would also suggest Orvieto or another town to rent a car in.

miaspapa

I drove on the Amalfi coast what a nightmare.When I say crazy thats being nice.The people are much different , THEY LOVE TO TAILGATE, then when you let them pass they put a curse on you.I had mine removed Christmas night.

Royal

Hi Duffy13

Don't let others discourage you. We were apprehensive after listening to people on this forum discourage others from driving especially on the Amalfi.

It may be challenging after an overseas flight to drive anywhere however we did rent a car at the Rome airport and drive to the Amalfi coast without any problem whatsover after spending a few days in Rome. The autostrada was great - signage was not difficult just make sure you get a good map and directions from the airport.

I am so glad we didn't let other people influence our decision to do this. It's ggreat to have your own car - the convenience is worth it.

ilana25841

bookmarking

OReilly

Last year, I picked up a car at Rome airport and drive to Umbria. I agree, get a nights sleep beforehand (the Hilton is very convenient). Don't be intimidated; I drove the whole journey on my own.

Actually, if you click on my name you will find my unfinished trip report where I devote two pages to driving in Umbria (tongue-in-cheek).

No need for panic. Once you get into the countryside, driving is fine.