ZTL Florence

T

Travelfromoz

New member
I'm just planning ahead to June 2025 where we will be arriving into Florence via train at the SMN station. We thought it was a great idea to pick up a car direct at the station and head off to Tuscany but now I'm a bit scared of trying to get out of the city without hitting a ZTL camera and would love some guidance please. Our return will also see us coming back from Tuscany to return the car to the same place at the SMN train station. We're thinking of using Sixt and wondered whether they will be responsible to making sure we're on the "white list"? Thank you in advance for any guidance you can give. Otherwise perhaps we would be best to pick the car up at the airport which would mean making a special trip out there?
 
Ciao!

It is a good idea, if you're planning to head out of Florence right away. Personally, I'd stay in Florence first, no car, then once you're ready to head out, then head back to the station and pick up the rental.

I was just looking into where Sixt is located at the station and it seems the office is on one side of the station itself, the cars are located in the parking lot below the station. So as the station can be reached and left without going into the ZTL area (there are specific streets that create a route passing under no cameras), then you actually are pretty safe as far as that goes. The trick is getting the car rental place to tell you exactly what that route is when you return to them - there are two entrances to the parking lot and I am not sure they want you to return it to a specific one of those two.
 
Bom dia ! Estou indo em janeiro para Florença e iremos alugar um carro para ir para Siena e conhecer algumas cidades da Toscana. Aluguei na Locaito agência da Santa Maria Novella (porém vi que a garagem fica em uma outra rua). Quero pegar a autoestrada A1 mas estou com receio de passar por alguma ZTL. Qual o caminho que devo fazer ?
 
Ciao Gisele,
I see that Locauto is on the corner of Via Maso Finiguerra, which is a street OUTSIDE of the ZTL, but it is right on the border so you CANNOT make a wrong turn otherwise you risk entering the ZTL and getting fined. I've mapped the first streets you need to get out of the center - I hope you can see it here: https://maps.app.goo.gl/SQpC9e2VPKuqiZwo9
Essentially, you need to pick up car and then head left on via dell'albero to get to via della Scala and then head to the viali, the great ring road that goes around the center of Florence. From there, you have to follow these outer streets to get to the A1 (what is your destination in Tuscany?) but you have to be careful of what Google or another GPS might map out as the route because sometimes it has you cut across the Oltrarno area (the part south of the Arno) that is actually a ZTL area. Not good if it does that!! It's a more roundabout way, but assures you don't risk driving into the ZTL limited traffic area. If you already know where you are headed, I can check whether there is a better route than the A1 exit to the south that I have mapped since I was thinking you were headed south, but otherwise the A1 can also be picked up near the airport and near Grassina.
 
Thank you very much for the explanations and the map. We will leave Florence for Snagimignano, then Monterrigioni and continue on to Siena.
Lourdes said:
Ciao Gisele,
I see that Locauto is on the corner of Via Maso Finiguerra, which is a street OUTSIDE of the ZTL, but it is right on the border so you CANNOT make a wrong turn otherwise you risk entering the ZTL and getting fined. I've mapped the first streets you need to get out of the center - I hope you can see it here: https://maps.app.goo.gl/SQpC9e2VPKuqiZwo9
Essentially, you need to pick up car and then head left on via dell'albero to get to via della Scala and then head to the viali, the great ring road that goes around the center of Florence. From there, you have to follow these outer streets to get to the A1 (what is your destination in Tuscany?) but you have to be careful of what Google or another GPS might map out as the route because sometimes it has you cut across the Oltrarno area (the part south of the Arno) that is actually a ZTL area. Not good if it does that!! It's a more roundabout way, but assures you don't risk driving into the ZTL limited traffic area. If you already know where you are headed, I can check whether there is a better route than the A1 exit to the south that I have mapped since I was thinking you were headed south, but otherwise the A1 can also be picked up near the airport and near Grassina.
Click to expand...
 
Well, if you're leaving Florence with the car rental and heading toward San Gimignano, then you will need to get on the Firenze-Siena Super strada (free, no tolls to pay), you don't actually need to take the A1 at all (the A1 is a toll road, so you do need to pay to use it).

I've redone the map for you - https://maps.app.goo.gl/CB7UuCLtN7FzvxXC7 - but pay close attention, this part which I've screenshot below IS WRONG!!!! Google Maps tells you it is "toll zone" but it really means you're in the ZTL!! Which you don't want to do at all!


1736878651648.png

The only way to go around is a little longer because of one way streets - here it is: https://maps.app.goo.gl/4YRxgg8mLwcLQaSWA

1736878787288.png

but it really is the only way to avoid the ZTL area, which you don't want to drive in as you will get a fine!!

Here is more info about the ZTL in Florence, there are ZTLs in most of the main towns and it just means not everyone can drive in the historical centers, only residents. San Gimignano and Siena also have ZTLs, Monteriggioni is a small castle but it also is all ZTL, closed to cars other than those that really need to drive in for one reason or another.

The ZTL in Florence: Restricted Traffic Zone in Florence

Understand whether driving in Florence is the right option for you, and if it is, how to avoid fines from entering the ZTL area when you're not supposed to. without being penalized.
www.visitflorence.com www.visitflorence.com
 
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