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Finding a car rental in Siena is easy with Road Genius. Compare prices of vehicles from dozens of suppliers in Italy with no booking fees. Pick up your Siena car rental near the train station, or search Florence (FLR) and Pisa (PSA) airports for more choice and longer opening hours. Note the city’s ZTL in the center and plan to park outside the walls; automatics are limited, so book early in high season.
Siena has no airport, so visitors arrive by train, bus or car. Rental options include:
| Location | 👍 Pros | 👎 Cons |
|---|---|---|
| Siena City | • Convenient if staying in Siena • No need to travel to another city to rent • No airport surcharge |
• Limited selection of vehicles • Smaller rental offices • Restricted operating hours • Navigating ZTL when exiting |
| Florence Airport (FLR) | • Larger selection • Extended hours • More vehicle categories |
• 85 km (53 miles) from Siena (approx. 1h 15m drive) • Airport surcharge • Requires travel to pick up |
| Pisa Airport (PSA) | • Wide selection • International carriers • Extended hours |
• 120 km (75 miles) from Siena (approx. 1h 45m drive) • Airport surcharge • Considerable distance |
Most rental offices in Siena are near the train station or just outside the city walls. Companies include Hertz, Avis, Europcar and some local operators. Advance booking is strongly recommended due to the limited number of vehicles.
On average, car rentals in Siena cost around €76 per day, with the lowest-priced rentals available from €38 per day.
Compare pick-up locations. Check Siena city vs Florence or Pisa airports in our search. City pick-ups avoid airport surcharges, while airports can have better availability on automatics. Pick the cheaper net price for your dates.
Only rent for the days you’ll drive. Siena is very walkable and parking costs €20-35/day. Pick up the car the morning you leave town or just for day trips.
Choose smaller and manual. Automatics in Tuscany often cost 30-50% more. A compact manual is cheaper and easier to park in hill towns.
Time your booking to the season. For July-August and for automatics, book 2-3 months ahead. In shoulder or low season, pick a free-cancellation rate and re-check prices to rebook if they drop.
Avoid add-ons and fees. Add only necessary drivers, use your phone for navigation instead of renting GPS, refuel near Siena before return and keep the receipt. Same-location returns usually beat one-way fees, but compare both.
Plan around local hours and ZTL. Siena offices often close 13:00-15:00 and on Sundays. Schedule pick-up/return during opening hours to avoid extra-day charges, and set navigation to avoid ZTL to skip fines and admin fees.
Siena has a strict Limited Traffic Zone (ZTL) covering its historic center:
| ZTL Feature | Description | Additional Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Coverage | Entire walled historic center | • Camera enforcement at all entry points • Active 24/7 in most central areas • Some areas have time-specific restrictions |
| Fines | Fines can be substantial and a rental company administrative fee may apply | Fines often arrive months later |
| Hotel Access | Hotels inside ZTL may arrange temporary access | • Must contact hotel in advance • Get written confirmation of registration |
| Navigation | GPS may try to route through ZTL | • Set navigation to avoid ZTL zones • When in doubt, park outside walls |
Important: Never drive into Piazza del Campo area; it's entirely pedestrian/ZTL and strictly enforced.
| Parking Area | Location | Cost (Approximate) | Additional Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Caterina Parking Garage | Northeast of center | Paid; rates vary | • Connected to center by escalators • Large capacity • Good for longer stays |
| Il Campo Parking Garage | Near Porta Tufi (south) | Paid; rates vary | • Convenient for Piazza del Campo • Covered spaces available • Can fill up by midday in high season |
| San Francesco Parking Garage | Southeast of center | Paid; rates vary | • Slightly further walk to center • Often has space when others are full |
| Stadio/Fortezza Parking Lot | Northwest of center | Paid; rates vary | • Large open-air parking lot • Good for longer stays • 10-15 minute walk to center |
| Free Street Spaces | Outside city walls | Varies; check local signage | • Limited availability • Walk uphill to center • Best for early arrivals |
Parking Tips:
| Regulation | Description |
|---|---|
| Speed Limits | • 50 km/h (31 mph) in urban areas • 90 km/h (56 mph) on secondary roads • 110 km/h (68 mph) on divided highways • 130 km/h (81 mph) on autostrade |
| Driving Etiquette | • Headlights required on highways and rural roads even during day • Use hazard lights to indicate sudden slowdowns on highways • No right turn on red |
| Rural Roads | • Many roads in Tuscany are winding and narrow • Hairpin turns common in hill areas • Allow slower vehicles to pass when possible |
| Winter Driving | November-March can bring fog in valleys around Siena Use fog lights when needed |
| Special Events | • Palio periods (June 29-July 2, August 13-16): Extreme traffic restrictions • Various festivals throughout year may affect access |
Get a car rental so you can get to:
Val d'Orcia – Pienza, Montepulciano, Montalcino
Chianti Region – SR222, Castellina, Radda, Gaiole
San Gimignano – Volterra
Crete Senesi – SS438
Val di Merse – Abbazia di San Galgano
Cortona – Lake Trasimeno
Do I need an International Driving Permit to rent a car in Siena? If you're from a country outside the EU (like the USA, Canada or Australia), you will need an International Driving Permit as well as your home license. If you're a UK visitor and have a photocard license, you don't need an IDP for Italy.
Where can I park when visiting Siena's historic center? The historic center is a ZTL (Limited Traffic Zone), which means tourists aren't allowed to drive there. You should park in one of the parking lots just outside the walls, like Parking Santa Caterina (which has escalators up to the center), Parking Il Campo or Parking San Francesco.
Is it difficult to drive in the Tuscan countryside? The countryside roads are usually in good condition but can be winding and narrow in some spots. Main regional roads (SR) are excellent, but provincial roads (SP) can be narrower. You'll also find 'strade bianche' (white gravel roads) in rural areas. Rental companies often stop you from driving on unpaved or gravel roads. You should always check your rental agreement carefully for these rules.
What documents do I need to rent a car in Siena? You will need a valid driver's license, an International Driving Permit (if your license isn't from the EU), a passport or EU ID card, a credit card in the driver's name and your booking confirmation.
Are automatic transmission cars available in Siena? Yes, but there aren't many available and they usually cost more than manual cars. You should book well in advance, especially during the busy season. You'll find fewer automatic cars at local rental offices in Siena compared to airport locations like Florence or Pisa.
Can I drive to multiple hill towns in one day? Yes, Siena's central location means you can easily visit 2-4 towns in a single day. For example, you could visit San Gimignano and Volterra, or do a loop of Montalcino, Pienza and Montepulciano. Just make sure you allow time for parking, walking in each town and enjoying the scenery between places.
How do I avoid ZTL violations when visiting other Tuscan towns? Most historic centers in Tuscany have ZTL restrictions. You should always park in marked parking lots outside the center and walk in. Look for the blue "P" parking signs instead of following your GPS into the town centers. Each town enforces its own ZTL rules separately.
What is the best scenic drive from Siena? Many people consider the Val d'Orcia route south of Siena one of Italy's most scenic drives. It has cypress-lined roads, rolling hills and picturesque villages. The SR222 "Chiantigiana" wine road north toward Florence is another beautiful drive that takes you through vineyards and wooded hills.
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