Driving in Tuscany: A Practical Primer for Siena Visitors

Visit Siena Guide editorial·May 19, 2026·6 min read

Renting a car expands what you can see — Val d'Orcia, Chianti, the small hill towns — but Tuscan driving has rules tourists routinely break.

# Driving in Tuscany: A Practical Primer for Siena Visitors

Renting a car expands what you can see — Val d'Orcia, Chianti, the small hill towns — but Tuscan driving has rules tourists routinely break.

Key facts

ZTL zones in every historic center. Fines arrive 2-3 months later by mail and the rental agency adds a 40-50 euro admin fee on top.
Speed limits enforced by camera, especially on the Siena-Florence superstrada (90 km/h).
Diesel and petrol cost ~1.80-1.90 euro per liter as of 2026. Budget accordingly.
Park outside city walls everywhere, not just in Siena. The pattern is the same in Montepulciano, Pienza, San Gimignano.
Tolls: only on the autostrada A1. The Siena-Florence highway is toll-free.

What I tell visitors

Rent the smallest car you can tolerate. Tuscan country roads narrow without warning.

Related guides

Final word

Whatever brings you to Siena — food, the Palio, the Tuscan countryside — slow down. The city repays attention. If you have a tip to add or a correction, write us at redazione@visitsienaguide.it.