Europe > 🇮🇹 Italy
The city by city Car or no Car advice for Italy can be broken down into three similar questions - do you need a car in Italy; is it worth it (based on costs), and ultimately - should you rent one? (a balance of the two).🚆 🚌⛴️ Do we need to rent a car in Italy?
These scores are based on the quality of public transport and other travel options. If these are good enough to see the main points of interest, then you don’t need to rent a car.
💰💶💳 Is it worth hiring a car in Italy?
These scores reflect the practical factors that affect whether renting a car is convenient, good value, and stress-free.
🏙️ Main Cities in Italy
| CITY | IATA | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Albenga | ALL | 7 |
| Alghero | AHO | 6 |
| Ancona | AOI | 7 |
| Aosta | AOT | 8 |
| Aviano | AVB | 5 |
| Bari | BRI | 5 |
| Bergamo | BGY | 4 |
| Bologna | BLQ | 3 |
| Bolzano | BZO | 6 |
| Brescia | VBS | 5 |
| Brindisi | BDS | 6 |
| Cagliari | CAG | 6 |
| Catania | CTA | 7 |
| Comiso | CIY | 8 |
| Cuneo | CUF | 7 |
| Florence | FLR | 3 |
| Forlì | FRL | 6 |
| Genoa | GOA | 4 |
| Lamezia Terme | SUF | 7 |
| Lampedusa | LMP | 9 |
| Milan | MXP | 4 |
| Naples | NAP | 5 |
| Olbia | OLB | 8 |
| Padua | QPA | 5 |
| Palermo | PMO | 6 |
| Pantelleria | PNL | 9 |
| Parma | PMF | 4 |
| Pescara | PSR | 6 |
| Pisa | PSA | 4 |
| Rimini | RMI | 6 |
| Rome | FCO | 2 |
| Salerno | QSR | 6 |
| Siena | SAY | 7 |
| Taranto | TAR | 6 |
| Tortolì | TTB | 8 |
| Trapani | TPS | 7 |
| Treviso | TSF | 4 |
| Trieste | TRS | 4 |
| Turin | TRN | 3 |
| Venice | VCE | 0 |
| Verona | VRN | 4 |
🚆 Travelling Without a Car (Recommended for Cities & Classic Tourist Routes)
✅ Why No Car Is Best for Most Visitors
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High-speed trains (Frecciarossa, Italo) connect major cities fast and comfortably.
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Historic centres are pedestrian-only: Rome, Florence, Venice, Siena, Bologna.
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Driving in cities is a nightmare due to ZTL zones (limited traffic areas—huge fines).
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Public transport + walking = best way to experience Italy’s culture and food.
🚄 Perfect Car-Free Itinerary
| City | Stay | Transport | Why It Works Without a Car |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rome | 3–4 nights | Metro + walking | Ruins and piazzas are close together |
| Florence | 2–3 nights | Train | Compact, no cars allowed in centre |
| Venice | 2 nights | Boat only | No roads, only canals |
| Milan | 1–2 nights | Metro | Efficient, modern transport |
| Naples + Pompeii | 2 nights | Train | Direct access via local rail |
| Cinque Terre | 2 nights | Train | Cars banned; trains link villages |
If your trip is focused on Italy’s famous cities and coastlines, you should not rent a car at all.
🚗 Travelling With a Car (For Countryside, Vineyards, Hidden Towns)
✅ Why You May Want a Car
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Access hill towns, vineyards, and rural landscapes unreachable by train.
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Freedom to explore Tuscan villages, Lakes region, Dolomites.
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Stay in agriturismo farmhouses and drive scenic roads.
🚘 Best Regions for a Car
| Region | Why Drive? | Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| Tuscany & Umbria | Rolling hills & vineyards | Siena, Montepulciano, Assisi, Val d’Orcia |
| Amalfi Coast (if staying outside core towns) | Coastal driving views | Positano, Ravello (but parking is limited) |
| Lakes District (Como, Garda) | Explore lake towns at your pace | Bellagio, Sirmione |
| Sicily | Public transport limited inland | Etna, Taormina, Agrigento, beaches |
| Dolomites (Northern Alps) | Alpine passes | Cortina d’Ampezzo, hiking routes |
⚠️ Driving Challenges
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ZTL fines in cities (automatic cameras).
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Very narrow streets in medieval towns.
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Parking is expensive and limited.
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Amalfi Coast roads are beautiful but stressful (tight, busy, cliffside).
🏁 Final Recommendation
| Traveller Type | Best Option | Why |
|---|---|---|
| First-time visitor (Rome, Florence, Venice, Milan) | No car | Train + walking is ideal |
| Food & wine lover | Car in Tuscany/Umbria | Access farms, wineries, hill towns |
| Scenic adventure seeker | Car in Dolomites or Sicily | Incredible drives & remote landscapes |
| Romantic coastal trip | Mix train + driver transfers | Amalfi is better with private transport than self-driving |
| History & art focus | No car | Cities are built for pedestrians, not drivers |