Hello Italy wanderers.

I have an upcoming trip to Italy that involve several locations. Rome, Florence, Venice, Positano, then Back to Rome.

I don't think I feel comfortable driving around the Amalfi Coast area, winding... steep, crazy drivers, but I would not mind driving Rome to Florence to Venice.

Would it be better to rent a car to wander? Or take the train? We will be in Florence for 4 nights and I think I would like to take a day trip or two to some smaller Tuscan towns.

When you rent cars for a trip like this do you turn in the car outside of the city? And pick it back up when you leave? I know these cities do not allow private cars inside the historical centers or at all. I have only rented a car once in a foreign country (Greece) and it was rather scary. But I want the freedom to go where I want when I want.

If I were going to Rome, Florence, and Venice I would not rent a car since the train is so easy and cheap. What towns do you want to visit from Florence? It might make more sense to take the bus or train. Where will you park the car during your stay in Florence?

I don't consider having a car with your itinerary as having any freedom.

I usually pickup rental cars outside of cities. When I last rented a car I took the train from Rome to Chuisi to get the car.

Bmeyer, since you're specifically asking whether YOU should rent a car, it would help us to help you if you told more about yourself: where are you from, which kind of traffic are you used to, what means "scary" in your book, what was scary for you about driving in Greece (all that oncoming traffic driving on "your" side of the road, perhaps, which in Greece isn't considered yours at all)? Remember, everyone is scared by something else, and if I just tell you that Italians are the best drivers in the world, that steep winding roads are the only true driving fun while straight plane roads are terribly boring, and that I even like the Greek concept of always using the entire surface of the road, from left to right, and of just diverting to the right if and when another car is coming your way... then that's hardly going to be very helpful for you. Ah yes, and I love driving into large cities, so would never think of turning in the car outside ... seriously, please explain what you are hoping for and above all, what you are scared of.

When we were in Rome, Florence, & Venice we did not have a car, we took the train; and we took the bus to Positano.

On another trip we rented a car in Tuscany (Siena) after we had left Florence. We didn't get back to Siena on our last day in time to drop the car off so we dropped it off at the Pisa airport since we were on our way up to the Cinque Terra; which we took the train there and back to Florence to fly home. Driving around or in Florence is not recommended.

Point taken, but I was sort of joking. But how many people do you know that like to drive like it is their last day on earth? Also since you seem to know exactly how Greeks drive, then I suppose you know what I find scary :]

Anyway I am from a suburb of the East Coastof the US, right outside of a small city. So not a lot of action on the roads (although I drive 10-20 miles over the speed limit during rush hour on the way home from work).

I would consider myself a pretty average driver.

I really am looking for more of a convienience factor. Especially with the luggage.

We spent 12 days in Italy, going from Milan -- Florence --(day trips to Pisa and Siena) -- Venice -- Milan, all without a car. There was no need for one, and I think it would have been a hindrance.

If you want to explore the smaller places between the cities, a car is best. We stayed in rural Umbria and needed a car to get to the villages and the train station. But when we went to Florence and Rome it was trains all the way. I didn't find Italian traffic outside the big cities to be scary. Roads aren't overly narrow and while traffic on the motorways and other main routes can be kinda heavy, it isn't as bad as most of the interstates between cities here in the US.

Well, if you take my advice, don't drive to Venice. On north Italian freeways, there are always some drivers who are very impatiently chasing others who are too slow in their opinion, and those chasers have a habit of tailgating that you would be scared of, I'm absolutely sure. Farther south, this habit is not common, so on autostrade between Rome and Florence, you should be fine (of course, driving a little over the speed limit is a good start for Italian freeways), although near the cities, there will be incomparably more action than you'd care for. Basically, you should also be fine in large cities, although there is very, very much traffic there, huge jams, all true; but here, Italian drivers are pretty slow, and incredibly considerate - if you are in the far right lane and have to turn left (three lanes away), no problem if you use your brain and your turn signal. Just bear in mind that they expect the same consideration of you, and that they want to do the same right-to-left or left-to-right thing.
The biggest problem could be the Tuscan country roads, the smaller ones. No, there's not so much traffic there, but they are incredibly winding and often, yes, also steep, and many are narrow and not quite up to modern standards, so take your time - there's no way of being quick on most Tuscan country roads, not even for a quick driver like me. Don't overplan daytrips, or they might end up two-day-trips, particularly if you're not used to drive mountain roads. Maybe I should add that for me, it's beyond imagination to drive roads like those with an automatic; without the engine braking effect of a gear shift, no serious driving seems possible there, at least IMO. And yet, to visit the Tuscan countryside, and its more interesting parts in particular, a car is indispensable - that's not just a question of convenience, but very simply of getting there or not.

If I were only going to the cities, I probably wouldn't rent a car. However, as I've always wanted to wander around the hill towns & take the country by-ways, as you say you would like to do, I've always rented one.

Off the superstradas, the pace is slower and I had no difficulty at all. Just had to remind myself not to stray onto the left hand side when there wasn't any other traffic around to remind me (LOL). On the superstradas, just remember not to sit in the fast lane - but if you're used to driving on the right hand side, that won't be a temptation for you.

For your Venice leg, I'd leave the car in Verona if you can & take the train in from there. No point paying car parking when you can't use the car.

Only you will know what's "scary" for you. This is just my experience. I would have been mid 40's the first time I drove in Italy. I've picked up rentals from Fiumicino, Linate and just out of the centre of Florence. Going back, I've dropped off at Orvietto, taken the train into Rome for a few days & then flown home.

I don't think you can beat having your own wheels for flexibility and convenience. Certainly, parking in some towns can be an issue, and a car's a nuisance in Rome, Florence & Venice - but elsewhere I find the challenge of driving on the opposite side to my norm a small price to pay.

Keeps your brain awake!

Exactly, Franco - half the fun of country driving is gearing up or down for the turns & flat runs. Besides, the rental on automatics is enough to fund a week at the Villa Cipriani!
I like to have a little Fiat or something similar - nippy enough to be interesting, and can park on sixpence. I'm a light packer, so don't need a semi-trailer for my luggage.

<< but I was sort of joking >>

What are you joking about? Going to Italy? Renting a car???

<< I really am looking for more of a convienience factor. Especially with the luggage. >>

In Venice you will have to park in the lot and take your luggage on the vaporetto (or water taxi) to get to your hotel. The same applies if you take the train to Venice so there is no difference in convenience.

In Florence you cannot drive in the historic center so you will either have to park on the outskirts and walk with luggage or take a taxi or find a hotel accessible with the rental car. Then you will be away from the historic center where most of the sights are.

In Rome you will either pick up your car within the city and drive out of Rome or go to the airport and leave from there. Either way you will need to take your luggage with you.

Joking about the scary factor in Greece. I was a little uncomfortable at times but eventually got in the groove of things and did not care if I died. Again, a joke. :]

It seems for this trip we should go by train. However I havent ruled out renting a car for a day or two while in Florence just to drive around a little of Tuscany.

I just got back from Italy. We landed in Rome and took the train to Florence. We picked up a car as we left Florence and drive to Sienna and returned it in Ovieto and took the train to Rome. You definitely do not need a car in Florence. Driving in Tuscany was fine--empty roads and beautiful. Have a great trip.

"It seems for this trip we should go by train. However I havent ruled out renting a car for a day or two while in Florence just to drive around a little of Tuscany."

Exactly.

I agree with others that the train is the best way. It is fast, easy, drops you in the city center and makes the most of your time.

I'm not even sure you can rent a car for a day to drive from city to city. If you can, you may have to pay a 3 day minimum rate. This could be expensive. You may want to research a bit to determine if a car rental is worth the time and money (not to mention the pain of navigating into/out of cities).

I suggest renting a car on your next trip when you plan at least 3 days in the countryside.

I'd be tempted to rent a car for a few days in between Rome and Florence, staying somewhere not easily accessible by public trans like Montalcino or Volterra. If your only thought was to spend a few hours in the usual spots (Orvieto, Siena, San Gim), then don't bother as these towns are easy to reach from Florence without the expense and parking issues a car presents. If your only thought is fear, I say 'fear not' because I think driving in Tuscany is pretty easy.

I don't find the drive between Florence and Venice tempting enough to rent a car. The only detour/stop I'd consider would be Ravenna, but that detour would make for a long day.