Visas & entry
Italy is in the Schengen Area. EU/EEA/Swiss travelers can enter with valid ID; many visitors from the US, Canada, UK, Australia and similar visa-exempt countries may normally visit the Schengen Area for up to 90 days in any 180-day period, but must check current passport-validity, ETIAS and entry requirements before travel.
Getting in
- Florence Airport: The best airport for Florence and central/northern Tuscany. It is convenient for a Florence-first trip, though flight choice is more limited than Pisa or Rome; use the city tram and collect a rental car only when leaving Florence.
- Pisa International Airport: Often the most practical low-cost and international gateway for Pisa, Lucca, the coast and a driving route through Tuscany. Pisa Centrale is connected to the airport, and Florence is reachable by rail via Pisa or direct services depending on schedule.
- Rome Fiumicino Airport: Useful for southern Tuscany—especially Maremma, Saturnia, Pitigliano, Montepulciano/Cortona-side itineraries—or when long-haul flight options matter more than proximity. It is not a painless Florence gateway; allow for the onward train or a long car pickup and drive.
Getting around
Use trains for Florence, Pisa, Lucca, Arezzo and much of the Florence–Siena corridor; coaches can be better than trains for Florence–Siena. Rent a car only after leaving Florence or Siena if your plan includes Chianti, San Gimignano, Volterra, Val d’Orcia, Maremma or most of the coast. Do not drive into ZTL-restricted historic centres: fines are common, parking is awkward and a car is dead weight in Florence; use it for rural bases and scenic transfers instead.
Money
Italy uses the euro. Cards are widely accepted in cities and established restaurants, but carry some cash for small bars, markets, parking machines and rural transactions. Service is generally included; round up or leave a modest tip for notably good table service rather than applying North American percentages.
Daily budget · EUR (€)
- Value
- €100–160
- Mid-range
- €190–320
- High-end
- €500–1,000+
- Figures are per person per day excluding international flights, assuming two people share a room.
- Central Florence, summer Elba/coastal rooms, Palio dates, Chianti wedding weekends and premium Val d’Orcia agriturismi drive rates up sharply.
- The bed is usually the biggest variable; after that come car rental, insurance, fuel, parking, museum admissions and wine experiences.
- Automatic cars, historic-centre ZTL fines and parking can make a self-drive itinerary materially pricier than it first appears.
Eating well
- Book destination restaurants and serious winery lunches ahead, especially May–October and on weekends.
- Bistecca is generally sold by weight and is best shared; it is traditionally served rare, so choose another dish if that is not appealing.
- Panzanella is a summer dish and ribollita is best in cooler weather—good menus follow the season.
- For wine-country tastings, schedule a driver or stay nearby; Tuscany’s scenic roads are not the place to improvise after a long tasting.
Book before you land
Uffizi Gallery, Florence · Accademia Gallery, Florence · Brunelleschi’s Dome climb at Florence Cathedral · Palio di Siena paid stands, balconies or window places, if attending · Elba vehicle ferry from Piombino in summer or peak holiday periods
- Florence and Siena have camera-enforced ZTL traffic restrictions; do not follow a navigation app blindly into their historic centres.
- Arrange rural winery visits in advance, particularly in Chianti and Val d’Orcia; many are not casual walk-ins.
- For a no-car trip, base in Florence, Lucca, Pisa, Siena or Arezzo rather than an isolated agriturismo.
- San Gimignano is best early or late in the day; the late-morning-to-afternoon crush is real.
- On Elba, reserve car ferries well ahead in summer and arrive early for vehicle check-in.
- Keep restaurant hours in mind: smaller towns can become quiet early, especially outside the main season.
Entry rules change — verify visa requirements for your passport before booking this region.