Driving in Italy can be intimidating for a foreigner, but it is safe if you prepare and follow Italian rules. While it is easier to travel between big cities by train, sometimes renting a car is the best option.
Is it easy to rent and drive car in Italy?
I recommend against renting a car in Italy if you: Plan on visiting large cities such as Venice (car-free), Rome, Bologna, Florence, Milan or Naples. They are all well connected by high-speed trains and very difficult to explore by car, with crazy traffic and hard-to-grasp parking rules.
Should you rent a car in Italy or use train?
If you were to compare car vs. train in Italy, the train would be fair in terms of cost and time efficiency but cars would do better when it comes to getting into places that are not so close to the railway lines.
Is it difficult to drive in Italy as a tourist?
Do I need anything special to drive in Italy?
He also said the rules for driving in Italy are clear: You must either have an Italian driver's license or one issued by a European Union country. If you don't have one of those, you need to get a IDP to carry with your home country driver's license.
Is driving through Italy easy?
Driving in Italy is generally very easy once you get used to driving on the right side of the road. Main roads are in good condition and well signposted. Be careful on steep mountain roads if you're unaccustomed to them, and be wary if you go off the beaten track as the quality of the roads and signage can vary.
Is it worth it to drive in Italy?
Driving in Italy is not for the unadventurous. While most forgo driving in the cities and rely on public transportation, driving is the main way to access and explore remote areas and small towns and is most often the only way to take in the beauty of the Italian countryside.