If you decide to come to Florence by car, or rent a car to move out of Florence, the following information may prove very useful.
Given its historic nature, the city center is clearly not designed for modern traffic's needs and vehicles. The area of greatest tourist interest coincides with the ZTL ("Zona a Traffico Limitato" or Limited Traffic Zone), a restricted traffic area controlled by a network of video cameras. Since Florence's historic center is a UNESCO Heritage Site, it makes sense to protect it in this way and limit the amount of traffic in the historical center.
What does this mean in practice? You need a special ZTL permit to drive in the historical center. You likely WON'T have one, even with a car rental!
If you're staying in the center, you DON'T NEED a car to move around, it is small enough to move around completely by foot or, at the most, on the small electric buses run by Autolinee Toscane buses that cross the center.
The Limited Traffic Access Zone (ZTL) - Where and How it works
First of all, here is a map of the ZTL area in Florence. All of the colored areas are part of the ZTL.
The "ZTL" area has several entrance or "access" points which are clearly marked with EU regulation traffic signs and equipped with video surveillance cameras that automatically detect and photograph license plates of ALL vehicles passing through. Transit through a few of these access points are prohibited at all times, 24/7 so pay attention to the signs. Anyone entering without a ZTL permit will eventually get a fine back home, several months later, even assisted through car rental records to find you. So enter the ZTL with care.
All vehicles without a ZTL permit are banned from the city center from 7:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on weekdays, from 7:30am to 4pm on Saturdays. During the summer, the center is ALSO closed from 11pm to 3am on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturday nights. The ZTL is NOT ACTIVE on Sundays, which means the cameras are off and you can enter the ZTL even without a permit.
PLEASE READ THIS ARTICLE AS IT HAS MORE DETAILED INFORMATION ON THE ZTL.
This is the entrance into the ZTL found on Via dell'Agnolo, off the Viale della Giovani Italia. If you arrive here without realizing you're about to the enter the ZTL - see the red stoplight ahead? It means the ZTL is active and you should STOP if you don't have a permit! You can turn RIGHT onto Via Santa Verdiana and keep going straight until you're back on the "viali" and away from the danger of the ZTL!
What if my hotel is in the center?
If you have a car and your hotel is in the ZTL area, you CAN reach your hotel to drop off your luggage and passengers but you then have to exit the ZTL area to park outside of its perimeter. Your car's license plates will be photographed, it is up to YOU to tell your hotel your license plate number and car make, etc ahead of time so that they can communicate it to the local city police... in essense, a temporary permit of 2 hours is issued so that you can enter the ZTL on that precise date and time. You cannot stay within the ZTL longer as your car won't have a permit. Private parking garages in the ZTL generally offer the service of temporary permits for when you plan of entering and exiting the ZTL, so that is another option.
Make sure to tell your hotel in advance that you will be reaching them with a car so that they can tell you the best route to take to reach them. Follow their directions closely, and if they don't offer this service (notification to the local police), then you will know you cannot reach them and won't be surprised later when the fine reaches you back home!
Parking Areas
To find the car parking lot that is most convenient and suitable for your needs, look at our map of parking lots in Florence. It also includes parking areas where you can park for free, all outside the center, particularly useful when you're visiting Florence for the day. We don't recommend the free parking lots for several days or overnight.
Outside of the ZTL, the city is still divided into controlled parking zones for street parking. Non-residents, therefore visitors, should always park in the blue marked spaces and pay for the hours you intend to park ahead of time at the "P" parking ticket machines located nearby. You need to leave this ticket stub inside your car's dashboard where it can be seen. White lines are spaces reserved for residents only.
At the "Parterre" (Piazza Libertà), "Porta al Prato" and "Piazza Alberti" parking lots you'll find discounted daily rates so these are the best if you're intending to park for longer periods of time or throughout the night. These, however, are parking lots with no guard or custodian. Do not leave luggage or valuables inside!
Private Parking Garages
Want to park inside the ZTL area to be close to your hotel or to walk less to the sights? Do you want to have the added security of leaving your car in a garage with attendant and which is guarded 24 hours a day? In all of these cases, we would suggest you use a private garage for their convenience as well as added security as opposed to street parking.
Take a look at Parclick, which offers the chance to book your spot in a private garage ahead of your arrival - in this way, you can choose the best one for you as well as know exactly where you are going! You can also take advantage of savings when you book for multiple days ahead of time.
Other Options
Don't want the hassle of driving but don't want to use public transportation? Another option to get around by car is to hire one (with the ZTL permit) with a driver, one that can take you around Florence and outside of the city. No hassle of parking and navigating through the streets of Florence!
Disabled permit holders who need to enter the restricted traffic zone (ZTL) with their vehicle should call the toll-free number 800 339891 to get a permit for their use during their stay in Florence.
Car rental
To rent a car for day trips into Tuscany, search for special offers on the booking box in the car rentals section, but read our tips first!
Disclosure: This page includes affiliate links. If you book through these links, our website will receive a small commission - thank you!
