Florence · by car or on foot?
Driving in Florence: is it worth it?
Short answer: not in the historic centre. Florence is small and the sights are close together, so the best plan is to leave the car in a garage and walk. The car is useful for what lies outside the centre: Piazzale Michelangelo, Fiesole and the Chianti hills.
No need to give us your number plate in advance. The ZTL permit is issued at the garage when you arrive.
Booking takes place on our main website, cityparkingfirenze.it (form in English).
Why the car is no use in the centre
The historic centre is a ZTL, a limited traffic zone. Cameras at the gates read number plates, and a car that is not authorised gets a fine. Many streets are narrow, some are pedestrian-only, and street parking is not a realistic option for visitors.
You do not need a car to see the main sights anyway. The Duomo, Piazza della Signoria, Ponte Vecchio, Santa Croce and the Galleria dell’Accademia (where the David is kept) are all within a short walk of each other. Walking is simply the quickest way to go from one to the next.
What to do with the car
Park it once, in a guarded garage, and forget about it for the day. Our three garages are inside the ZTL, so you can drive straight to the garage and then continue on foot. Read the ZTL guide to see how the access works.
The garage registers your number plate on the City of Florence portal when you arrive. You do not need to send the plate in advance, which helps if you are in a rental car and only know the plate at pick-up. The registration covers the drive in up to 3 hours before the start of your stay; the minimum stay is 1 hour.
When the car does make sense
Some of the best things near Florence are easier by car. Piazzale Michelangelo, the terrace with the view over the city, is outside the ZTL and can be reached by car. Fiesole, on the hill above Florence, and the Chianti countryside are also better done by car than by public transport.
A good plan is to park in the garage on arrival, walk the centre, and collect the car on the day you leave for the hills or for your next stop. Check the garage opening hours first, because they differ.
What not to do
- Do not set the satnav to “Florence centre” or to your hotel: it can lead you under a camera gate without authorisation. Use the address of the garage.
- Do not follow cars ahead of you through a gate. Each passage under an active gate without authorisation can be a separate fine.
- Do not drive in bus and taxi lanes: the garage registration does not cover them.
How to arrive
From the A1 motorway, exit Firenze Nord (also reached from the A11), Firenze Sud or Firenze Impruneta. From there, use the Google Maps link on each garage page to reach the garage.
Which garage
City Parking Fiesolana (Via Fiesolana 17R) is open every day from 7:00 to 23:30. City Parking Via Venezia (Via Venezia 20, near Piazza San Marco and the Accademia) is open Monday to Saturday 7:00–21:00 and Sunday 8:00–21:00. Garage Firenze Borgo Pinti (Borgo Pinti 101R) is open Monday 8:00–14:00 and Tuesday to Friday 8:00–20:00, and closed on Saturday and Sunday: when it is closed you cannot collect the car.
Rates start at €35 per day for a small car (€7 per hour). Up to 4 hours you pay by the hour, above that the daily rate applies. You book directly with the garage on our official website, with no intermediaries.
Garages inside the ZTL
-
City Parking Fiesolana
Via Fiesolana 17R, 50122 Firenze · ZTL
Opening hours: Every day 7:00 am–11:30 pm
Phone: +39 366 571 6947
PROMO: €30 per night until 6 Dec
-
City Parking Via Venezia
Via Venezia 20, 50121 Firenze · ZTL
Opening hours: Mon–Sat 7:00 am–9:00 pm, Sun 8:00 am–9:00 pm
Phone: +39 335 746 5740
Not part of the promo
-
Garage Firenze Borgo Pinti
Borgo Pinti 101R, 50121 Firenze · ZTL
Opening hours: Mon 8:00 am–2:00 pm, Tue–Fri 8:00 am–8:00 pm, closed Sat–Sun
Phone: +39 327 755 0590
PROMO: €30 per night until 6 Dec
More guides
- Florence ZTL hours
- Hotel in the ZTL: where to park
- ZTL fine for foreign drivers
- When does a ZTL fine arrive?
- Why keep your garage parking ticket
- ZTL fine with a rental car
- Rental company letter or real fine?
- Pay the ZTL fine or appeal?
- Can the garage appeal for me?
- Prefetto or Giudice di Pace?
- How to appeal a ZTL fine
- Rental company fees for fines
- ZTL guide
- Parking near the Duomo
- Parking near the Accademia (David)
- Parking near Santa Croce
Questions from international drivers
Do I need a car to visit Florence?
Not for the historic centre, which is best seen on foot. A car is useful for Piazzale Michelangelo, Fiesole and the Chianti area.
Can I drive into the centre of Florence?
The centre is a ZTL. You can enter it only when authorised, for example when you go to one of our garages and the garage registers your plate on arrival.
Where do I leave the car while I visit the city?
In a guarded garage. City Parking has three garages inside the ZTL, with the address on each garage page.
Can I reach Piazzale Michelangelo by car?
Yes. Piazzale Michelangelo is outside the ZTL and can be reached by car.