how difficult is drive out of florence airport?
 

Planning my next trip back to Italy in October (#3 - can't wait!!) and wondering if there is a big difference (in terms of ease) between flying into Pisa or Florence and renting a car. I haven't flown into Florence yet, so i am just wondering how difficult it is to pick up the car and especially to get out of the city and down to Tuscany.

Right now, it looks like it is less expensive to fly into Florence, but just nervous about traffic, etc...

Any tips would be most appreciated!

Hi zooey,

here's the link to gogglemaps for Florence airport:

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?rlz=1T...ed=0CDEQ8gEwAA

it seems to be well out of the city with good connections to the motorway. So even though you are right to be wary of the traffic in Florence [horrific] there would seem to be no need to go there unless you want to. in which case I would not rent a car until I'd left.

My recollection of renting a car at Pisa is that it wasn't too bad, but it is a lot closer to the centre of the city than the Florence one appears to be.

I have rented at the Florence airport several times and have found it not difficult. Each time, I have done it solo and without the help of anyone to help navigate. It is a right turn out of the airport and a straight shot on just one road for a few miles to the A1 and south. Follow the signs to the A1 Rome direction. You will need to stop at the toll entrance and collect a toll ticket- nothing difficult and again, straight forward. The A1 usually has some construction going on and a lot of large trucks- just stay in the middle lane as much as possible.

I have not rented at Pisa, but I understand from friends that it is also easy. If Florence has the cheaper flights, I say do it.

Where are you headed to from the airport?

It's not hard to drive out of Pisa airport. Just look at a map before you leave the airport.

Go with the cheaper flight.

Zooey - it's very easy to pick up your car at the Florence airport and to get to the A1 to head south. I've done it about 14 times now, and two more from the center of Florence, which was also easy from the Ognissanti pick-up point. You won't be anywhere near the center, and a short distance only from the A1. It will be a breeze and since flying in to Florence is cheaper, make your arrangements to get your car there without fear.

Zooey,
We did not fly in or out of Florence, but we did pick up our rental car from there for a week in May 2010. All I relied on when leaving was a google map printout and it was just fine. The airport is small, the rental car area is easy to navigate and leaving the airport you should be just fine with some idea of where you are heading. Good luck!

I just got back. We were in Florence for a few days and then picked up our car near the A1. We took a taxi from our hotel to get the car and it was right near the
A1. We did have a navigator with us and it did help.

The only difference for me is that in Pisa I got the car really fast while in Florence I need to wait in line for an hour and half under a scorching summer sun. After you're in the car, no big differences