Parking in Florence
 

How much is it to park in Florence and how difficult is it to find a parking lot. What about parking in the street? Is this recommended or not?

In our experience parking in the street was impossible. We were in Florence for a week and left our car in a garage for the whole time, even went by train to Siena. The streets in the old centre are incredibly narrow and difficult to drive along, never mind park.

Just to add to Ann's comment, we spent 1 night there and also left the car in a garage. The hotel drove it to the garage for us (which is a good thing because driving in florence is tough and confusing). i believe the garage was somewhere around $20-25/day. check with your hotel, they can advise you.

there is a large lot at the train station--underground--be careful if you park on the street.

We were in florence last week and parked underneath the train station. Yes, easy in and out, reasonable price, the center of everything. Just don't forget you pay before you get in you car and before you enter the garage area. Have fun, great city.

Three suggestions: Check with your hotel to see if they will valet park for you (most big ones will), park at the train station near Sta. Maria Novella (be somewhat more cautious in this neighborhood for pickpockets/gypsies, or don't rent your car until leaving Florence (easily done, try the airport which is quite close in. We've been to Florence many times and it's still a pain to drive in. I've never seen a place to park on any street and you'll waste valuable time looking for one. We tend to ditch the car with the hotel and pay the price, factoring it in as part of staying in Florence. Wonderful walking city, similar to SF without big hills. You won't want a car while there.

Just adding a bit on kam's note. The most convenient (and costly) way to go about it is asking your hotel to call the closest garage with vacancies to pick your car. In my experience, all hotels (not only the big ones) do this because who's providing the service is actually the garage and not the hotel. The garage sends a scooter with two guys, one of which settle things with you and drive your car away. When leaving, all one has to do is to ask the hotel to call for the car. Many garages in the old center have bigger facilities outside the city. If they know you're only needing the car 2/3 days later, it won't be readily available. It may take an hour or even more. It's therefore advisable that you make the hotel call the garage at least one hour before you need your car. This should cost around $20/day. <BR> <BR>I parked my car in the streets in two occasions. Sure enough, never in the old centre. If you drive to Oltrarno, though, it's not that difficult to find a place. This may be relatively far from your hotel, but nothing that a much cheaper taxi ride wouldn't solve. I've done the same in Rome a couple of times. Also, when travelling with a rented car I actually care less about theft. It's not really my problem (except for the paperwork at the car rental office). Once I don't rent Mereces' and BMWs (can't afford them :-) needless to say I never had a problem. <BR> <BR>Paulo <BR>

Driving is not simple in Florence and one way streets make it even more complex; however, it's not so terrible that you want to give up the convenience of a car. Most known hotels have either their own parking or an arrangement with nearby garages, and they park the car for you and bring it around when you want to leave. USD 20-30/day) I think anyone who takes trains or buses to the nearby Chianti towns is missing alot versus driving there; the photo stops are outstanding; fields of sunflowers; tiny hamlets you don't expect. When you get to the towns, most have parking "outside the city walls", free. In Monteriggioni ( tiniest of tiny towns), you park outside the walls in a field, easy; in popular Siena, there are tourist/oublic lots; in touristy Montalcino & Montepulciano the wineries have their own paring; parking on street is easy & free...just a few minutes to search for a spot! (just some examples) <BR> <BR> Then you can walk the town. Castles-turned-wine tasting vineyards; you will want to stop on your own, unexpectedly. Don't miss the driving around outside of Florence for fear of parking or driving in the city. In Florence center, you can easily walk to everything, except Piazzale Michelangelo, again requiring a car, and much more enjoyable than gettng hoarded on a bus with a set schedule. <BR>Enjoy...it's my birth city and I love it immensely.

A note about the Piazzele Michelangelo -I have parked there many times and walked into the center of the city in about 20-30 minutes. (And walked back.) I have walked with elderly friends and children. It is a wonderful walk. So don't write this place off if you are in reasonable shape. It is not a guarantee - often very crowded - but with a little patience you can get a space most days.

You CAN walk to the Piazzale Michalangelo, but you need to be in decent shape to do it, at least my way. Right near the Ponte Vecchio, on the left as you come from the other side of the city, is a pretty little park. In this park is a path that leads up hill, right to the Piazzale Michelangelo. It is a nice, 10-minute walk, but uphill all the way. And the views of the city are stupendous.

Has anyone commented that the Piazzalle Michelangelo is also free? We just got back, and parked up there three or four times for day trips into Florence. There is lots of space at this time of year, and my 8 and 10 year olds did not complain about the walk at all - we explored different routes back to the car. One of the highlights (!!) was watching the bats come out in the early evening along the Arno.