We'll be in Florence for three nights and will have a rental car.We're staying at the Hotel Hermitage, near the Ponte Vecchio. The last time we visited there we took a train in to the city (left our car in Bologna). We will be coming from the Cinque Terre this time. Can you give us some alternatives to driving into the city and leaving our car in an expensive garage there? Is there a town nearby (to the west?) where we could park the car and take a train in? Any help you can give us would be appreciated.

I think the problems are that if there are good parking spaces, all the locals know them, and the same with parking outside the city or elsewhere which risks your car being damaged or stolen. This site might have something you can use:

http://www.virtualtourist.com/travel..._Car-BR-1.html

On our first trip to Florence, the hotel arranged for our car to be picked up and parked for 3 days. A driver retrieved it upon our departure. It worked well but cost 25 euro a day and that was 6 years ago. That's the last time I had a car while in Florence and we have returned 5 times. It is just impractical and expensive.
I am curious as you say you are coming from the Cinque Terre--another place where a car is impractical. You might want to re-think your rental periods as it is easy to rent in Florence upon departure. Its always a challenge to sort these things out. Best of luck. Paul

The Florence Rifredi train station a few miles north of Florence has park and ride lots designed for Italians who board trains here rather than driving into the city centre station. Trains every few minutes into the in-town Santa Maria Novella main Florence train station.

You suggested we wouldn't need a rental car as we'd be coming from the Cinque Terre. We'll be in Italy for a month, starting in Milan, going to the lakes and Dolomites, then heading to the Cinque Terre, Florence, and then Tuscany and Umbria. We've stayed in the Cinque Terre before, in Monterosso, and the Hotel Steno provides a parking place (so we never drive, except in on arrival and out on departure). And, being photographers we have a lot of baggage for our equipment (so trains are not always a great option).

Hi B,

There is a parking lot at the SMN station and one at the Piazzale Michaelangelo.

The latter is an open lot, though.

You might want to have your hotel park your car gor you.

I agree, if the parking fee is within your budget I too would have the hotel you are staying at in Florence take care of parking your car. Otherwise I would use the Rifredi Station parking lot, hopefully the will have space available. Enjoy beautiful Florence!!

There is also a huge parking lot at the Citadel or whatever that thing is called about a mile north of the SMN station - could be cheaper than in-town lots. Fortezza? On the way into town.

Hello Bob & Bunkie---it has a ring to it.
A month in Italy---I envy you. Our first trip to Italy in 1984 we stayed at the Hermitage and parked our car about 2 blocks away--not a good option now. We have gone back 12 more times.

I hope you are using the French buy back program for your car---may save you a bundle.

Well, you could check if your car hire company has any office in a town west of Florence, and drop your car there. You'll stay in Florence for 3 days and then hire snother car in the same place you dropped the previous one.

Some cities/towns west of Florence are:


Prato: 15-20 minutes by train
Empoli: 30 minutes by train

Both have many car hire companies: just choose one of them...