Car hire Pisa airport

Cheap Car Hire Pisa airport

About Car Hire at Pisa Airport

Pisa is probably best known for an architectural project gone wrong. But the Leaning Tower of Pisa is just one of the many notable sights in this ancient city. Enchanting Romanesque buildings, Renaissance piazzas, Gothic churches, and a vibrant nightlife – you’ll quickly see why people fall in love with Pisa’s charm. Not to mention to the surrounding areas. Pisa is in the heart of Tuscany’s rolling hills, with tiny villages, vineyards, and farmland stretching for miles upon miles. It makes for a dreamy drive, cruising through ancient hamlets in the mountains with views of endless natural beauty. To explore Pisa and the wider Tuscany region by car is the best way to see it. No restrictions and no time constraints, on your own time and leisurely. How a visit to laidback Tuscany should be!

Pisa’s airport is officially named Galileo Galilei Airport, after the world-famous Pisan scientist, but it’s most commonly known as Pisa International Airport. The Car Hire Terminal is just 500 metres from the Passenger Terminal, about five minutes on foot. When you get there, you’ll see why there’s a whole terminal dedicated to car hire. Evidently, it’s a popular way to get around here! There are international, household name car hire brands like Sixt, Hertz, and Europcar, as well as wallet-friendly Budget. There’s a good mix of international brands and Italian, independent brands, such as Noleggiare and Maggiore, so it’s worth shopping around to find the deal for you.

Hiring a car in Pisa

Although hiring a car at the airport is convenient, there are extra charges and fees that can add up. If you want your trip to be as budget friendly as possible, there are some options in the city to avoid those fees. However, be aware that there are limited options for car hire in Pisa, so you might want to check ahead to ensure there’s availability if you don’t want to pay the extra fees at the airport. Centauro Rent-a-Car is a local car hire farm, primarily in Italy, Spain, Portugal, and Greece. The office is just outside of the airport, so you won’t have to go too far to avoid the fees! There’s another Europcar office just five minutes away from the airport, too.

Driving in Pisa

Pisa is surrounded by medieval walls which means there are limited traffic zones, so you have to be careful to not drive in these areas. You’ll see warning signs that say Zona Traffico Limitato or ZTL. Not to worry, there are plenty of parking spaces outside the walls. While Pisa is a walkable city, and walking actually is enforced in the city centre by the medieval walls, driving around the rest of Pisa is beautiful. And it's perfectly located to explore the rest of Tuscany and its other famous cities of Siena, Florence, and Lucca, as well as its gorgeous hills and vineyards.

Tips for driving in Pisa

• It’s worth mentioning again – watch out for the limited traffic zones! You will get fined if you drive through them.
• Watch out for speed traps, always be vigilant.
• Traffic violations are usually caught via camera, so you probably won’t know if you get one until a few weeks later.
• Make sure to carry cash with you – most parking is paid for at machines and although most of the toll roads will accept card, it’s always handy to have cash on you just in case.
• Shop around for your rental car
• When it comes to choosing a car, the smaller the better. The highways are wide enough, but winding through narrow country roads and villages is easier in a smaller car

Top road trips in Pisa

If you’re after a road trip with beautiful, sweeping views, you’re in luck. There’s the possibility of taking day trips or hitting the road for longer for a sense of adventure. Florence is just an hour-and-a-half drive away, making the perfect day trip destination. It’s the capital of Tuscany and the homeland of Renaissance, you could spend a good few days exploring the city. Other cities like Lucca and Siena are great for taking day trips from Pisa, too, and the drives to get there will be breathtaking. And if you don’t mind driving just a little bit longer, a trip to Cinque Terre is a must. The string of colourful ancient seaside villages along the rugged coastline are beautiful. Another great trip is the Chianti region and its many vineyards and quaint little villages – you'll probably want to spend the night after tasting a few wines!