Don’t rent car in Italy

Every year I see the same thing. Tourists land in Italy, rent a car immediately, and then spend half their trip stressed out.

Italy is not the US. Driving here can be chaotic due to the very tiny roads, historic centers are full of ZTL zones (restricted traffic areas), parking is limited, and Google Maps doesn’t always save you from a €100 fine.

Most of the places tourists want to visit are actually easier by train, where Italy is able to offer a great service with the high speed rails (except when we have strikes…at least once every two months…)

Where a car does make sense is smaller regions: Tuscany countryside, Puglia villages, parts of Sicily, the Dolomites, Abruzzo, etc.