Auto Europe
Car hire in Pisa - Culture and leisure around Tuscany
A car hire in Pisa is an excellent choice for travellers who would like to explore not only north-western Italy, including the highly popular Cinque Terre and Genoa, but also charming Tuscany and its capital Florence. Start your Italian adventure in Pisa and both Tuscan villages and the Italian Riviera will be at your fingertips! Tuscany hardly needs describing and the Italian Riviera, also known as the Ligurian Riviera, also offers a plethora of lovely places to visit.
Pisa is the main cultural, intellectual and economic centre of the region visited by thousands of tourists all-year round. The first thing that usually comes to mind on the mention of this city is its landmark, the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Although an architectural fail, the tower still attracts thousands of tourists and is an inevitable part of numerous holiday photos with people pretending to "support" it or simply striking poses with the tower as a backdrop.
Admittedly, the Leaning Tower of Pisa steals the spotlight of other noteworthy landmarks, which is a pity, as Pisa is endowed with numerable Renaissance, Gothic and Romanesque buildings worth visiting. Keep reading to find more information not only about the affordable car rental offers in Pisa that we offer, but also great tips as to what to visit in the city and its vicinity and helpful tips and FAQs when renting a vehicle through Auto Europe.
Auto Europe's strong relationship with leading car hire companies worldwide allows us to provide quality car hire services in a number of locations in Italy - at airports, downtown locations and railway stations. This allows our clients the flexibility of choosing the pick-up location best suited to their needs, safe in the knowledge that they will always get the most competitive prices. In Pisa, our clients can currently pick up their rental at Pisa Airport and in two downtown locations. To compare and book a vehicle you can use our booking engine or contact our reservations team for assistance and they will be happy to assist with your booking or help you with any questions.
Visit our Pisa car hire reviews page for all the latest views and opinions about Auto Europe's wide-ranging products and services in Pisa.
For more information about renting a vehicle in Pisa, click on the car hire related topics listed below:
| Suppliers | Car Hire FAQs | Travel Guide |
Where to Pick up a Car Hire in Pisa
Booking your car rental in Pisa on Auto Europe’s comparison portal is quick and simple thanks to our state of the art booking engine, where you can search and compare different rental options in 3 easy steps across the world. Thanks to our well established relationships with leading car hire companies across Italy and the world, in Pisa you are able to find car hire offers directly at Pisa Airport or at convenient downtown locations like the Lungarno Sonnino, just a stones throw away from Pisa Central Station.
Clients wishing to make their trip even more flexible are also able to find offers for so called one-way rentals, where the drop off location is different than that of the pick up. Meaning that you can consider picking up your rental car in Pisa and dropping it off in Livorno, Florence or even Rome, allowing you to explore and discover more of the beautiful Tuscan landscapes. Just un-tick the box "Drop-off at different location" on the booking engine form above, fill in the requested data regarding pick up and drop off location and dates, and we will show all available suppliers and vehicles for your trip.
Pisa Airport
Galileo Galilei Airport is the main international airport for the Tuscan region and welcomes over 5 million passengers a year. Conveniently located less than a mile away from Pisa downtown, this single terminal airport, offers car hire pick up at a dedicated car hire centre, called the Car Hire Terminal, and is located less than half a mile from the main terminal building. You can either reach it on foot or wait for a shuttle bus that departs regularly just outside the arrivals area.
Galileo Galilei -Pisa International Airport (PSA)
Address: Aeroporto Galileo Galilei, 56121 Pisa
Website: Pisa International Airport
Telephone: +39 050 849111
Book with the Best Car Hire Suppliers in Pisa
As an international car hire broker, Auto Europe cooperates with major international brands like Europcar, Sixt, Avis, and Alamo in Pisa, but also reliable low-cost suppliers like Budget and the Italian companies SicilybyCar and Maggiore. We strictly select trustworthy partners, because at the end of the day we want to offer the best quality and service to our customers. Below you can click on the logos of four of our suppliers in Pisa, to get specific insight into each of them.
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For more information or extra requests such as out of office pick up, information and fees for extra equipment, special promotions like free additional drivers, or information on age restrictions etc., please call our reservation agents that will be glad to assist you per telephone or email.
Frequently Asked Questions about Renting a Car in Pisa
To be sure you book the best car hire package matching your specific travel needs and that you fully understand the general requirements when renting a car in Italy and other destinations across the globe, we advise you to spend a couple of minutes reading through our selection of FAQs about booking a car hire in Pisa. The topics discussed and explained concern the pick-up procedure, car rental insurance types, and the traffic and parking situation in Pisa.
Do I need a credit card to rent a car in Pisa?
Yes. A credit card is a must if you want to rent a car in Pisa. The answer why this is needed is simple; suppliers need to block an amount of money, called a security deposit on the credit card of the main driver, in case of accident or theft of the vehicle. The amount varies depending on chosen supplier and car category, but can always be found under "Info Icon" on our booking engine (before booking) and on your reservations voucher (after booking). It is important to note that cash deposits, debit cards or credit cards in the name of any additional driver will not be accepted by the car hire supplier, and failure to show a valid credit card in the main drivers name might mean that the supplier will have to charge you a costly extra insurance or refuse you the rented vehicle altogether, without Auto Europe being able to reimburse you for the cost.
The security deposit amount will be returned to you again once the rental car is handed back in the same condition as at pick up. For further information please read our dedicated page on credit cards and deposit FAQs.
What insurance do I need for my car rental in Pisa?
All Auto Europe Pisa car rental deals include the necessary car hire insurance coverage as stated by Italian law for the rented car to be driven in Italy and encompasses Collision Damage Waiver (CDW), third-party liability and theft protection (TP). This is our basis rate, however, it is worth to note that the CDW and TP comes with an excess and does not normally cover certain elements of the car like the undercarriage, car interior, roof, lights, mirrors, glass, administration fees, and loss of car keys.
In order to protect your car hire further and make your rental even smoother, Auto Europe can offer clients an affordable coverage protection product called "Full Damage & Theft Protection". The excess is still applied should you have an accident, but will be refunded by Auto Europe, meaning you can get back what you pay locally to the supplier by contacting our customer service. We strongly recommend this option not only for its convenience but also because its coverage is more extensive, encompassing items left out by the CDW.
When it comes to renting a car, drivers under 26 years of age should always check if there are age limitations or young driver fees in place. On the Auto Europe website, this information is to be found under “Info Icon” or on your voucher after your booking is confirmed. Each supplier set its own restrictions and regulations and it is therefore worth comparing different suppliers to one another as not only the restrictions on who is eligible to rent a car may vary, but also if a fee applies and which amount.
How is the traffic in Pisa?
Thanks to its central location, Pisa enjoys very good motorway connections to northern and central Italy. However, Pisa is one of the most visited cities in Italy and is also quite small, so it is advisable to park the car and go sightseeing on foot.
In Pisa, take extra precaution not to drive your car rental into the walled part of the city that dates back to medieval times as this is a trestriced zone or a ZTL. You should keep an eye out for the signs and lane restrictions marking the beginning of the ZTL. Pay attention to the parked cars - if most parking spots on your side are not occupied or if all cars have local licence plates and a special kind of sticker on the windshield, you may very well be in the ZTL. This is especially valid if you catch yourself driving past highly popular monuments and tourist attractions. If you accidentally enter the ZTL, you WILL be fined.
Where can I park my car hire in Pisa?
While in most other cities finding a free car park can be quite a challenge, you will find one such car park on Via Pietrasantina near the stadium and just outside the city walls, conveniently located between the centre and the famous Square of Miracles. This will be perfect to park your car hire and will prevent you to be fined if by mistake you enter a limited access zone (ZTL) in the very heart of the city. In addition to this Park and Ride facility, you will find two more big free car parks near the centre. As for other parts of the city, a car park or parking spaces on-street, marked with blue lines, should be easy to find bearing in mind that Pisa is a spread-out city. You must pay with cash at one of the parking ticketing machines and be sure to display the ticket properly on your dashboard.
Can I drive my car hire in the ZTL-zone in Pisa?
No, unless you have previously obtained a permit to drive in the ZTL-zone. Be very careful when driving in Pisa and be sure not to make a typical foreigner mistake of driving into the ZTL. Pay attention to the ZTL road signs and read carefully the hours and days of the week in which the restrictions are in place. Accidentally entering one of these zones is probably the most common way to get fined in Pisa. As in many other Italian cities, this is a section of the city centre closed to traffic other than residential traffic and public transportation. If you accidentally enter the ZTL, you will be fined. In fact, you may be fined several times in a course of just a few minutes, every time you pass by a camera. If you do get fined, a letter will be sent to your home address, informing you of the fine. Frequently, car rental companies will also charge an administrative fee per fine. Please note, you will be held responsible for entering the ZTL zone even though you did not realise you were driving in it.
Pisa Travel Guide
Pisa is located in central Italy, in the region of Tuscany, and enjoys a mild Mediterranean climate. Like many Italian cities, Pisa owes much to the works and architectural feats of the great masters of the Italian Renaissance. Up to the 15th century, Pisa was a maritime power situated directly on the sea coast. It was only later that the town was cut off from the sea due to a high silt accumulation by the Arno River. Thanks to its great naval position, Pisa became a Roman colony and a naval base which survived even the fall of the Roman Empire and continued to flourish as a prosperous commercial centre throughout history.
Best day trips with my car rental in Pisa
Thanks to the city's convenient position, from Pisa your car rental will take you to some of the loveliest places in the hilly Tuscany, on the Ligurian Riviera, or in central Italy, such as the capital Rome, the Apennines, or the microstate of San Marino. So, let's start:
Siena
In the heart of Tuscany is Siena, a popular Italian city with a longstanding tradition and beautiful heritage. Spend a day in Siena and see its famous landmarks all centred between the famous Piazza Campo and the Duomo cathedral. If you are fit enough, dare to climb the four hundred stairs of the Torre del Mangia tower. Combine this with a visit to the Civic Museum (buy a combined ticket to save some money), where you will be able to admire some fantastic frescoes. Piazza del Duomo is full of monuments, so if you are short of time make sure to visit the Cathedral and the Piccolomini Library to admire its splendid ceiling. Round up your visit with a dinner in one of the traditional restaurants in the centre.
Tuscany - Wine and History
This day trip will take you directly to the heart of Tuscany. Set amid Tuscan rolling hills, Volterra, a rustic walled town built by the Etruscan, awaits its visitors with historic palazzos and a marvellous cathedral. The city has existed for over two thousand years. In the course of history, it has been a crafts centre and a prosperous alabaster industry point. You can still step back in time and visit Etruscan and Roman ruins while feasting on typical Tuscan delicacies. The next step on this day tour is a real Tuscan gem and part of the UNESCO World Heritage, San Gimignano, an ancient town on top of a green Tuscan hill. Book a winery visit ahead of time to enjoy a tasting tour and learn how wine is produced and which types complement at best the local food. This will be a proper hands-on Tuscan holiday experience!
Cinque Terre
The typical Italian landmark featured in every guide book is the Cinque Terre on the Ligurian Riviera. The steep cliffs dramatically cascading down into the blue sea with brightly coloured houses on their top are simply picture-perfect. The five old fishing villages that Cinque Terre consists of have been included in the UNESCO World Heritage List and ever since then their popularity has only continued to grow. Cinque Terre villages date from about a thousand years ago and their intricate landscape - gardens, fields, and pathways on the cliffs that steeply plunge into the sea - gives them particular charm and grandiose appearance. The houses perched on the cliffs are in pastel hues and are lined up without any particular order, while numerous hiking paths traverse the land and make for some of the best hiking trails in southern Europe.
Genoa
The capital city of Liguria, Genoa, can be reached with a car from Pisa in less than two hours. This is an excellent choice if you are looking to spend a day wandering through a maze of ancient narrow streets, breathing in history, and taking fantastic photos. In the medieval times, Genoa was a mighty maritime power on the Mediterranean and this legacy is still vividly present on its old streets. Walk down Via Garibaldi and admire 16th-century palaces with splendid artworks inside, see Paganini's violin at the Town Hall alongside the letters written by Christopher Columbus. The narrow winding historic streets are known as "caruggi" and they allow for a walking tour of the mighty Genovese past.
Appenino Tosco-Emiliano National Park
The national park spans over 26, 000 hectares near Parma, Lucca, and Reggio Emilia and includes several high peaks of the Northern Apennines. Its biodiversity makes the park special and interesting for tourists from all ages and walks of life. In addition to beautiful nature which invites you to relax and renew your energy, there are also historically significant castles, churches, and museums in the nearby villages.
What to do in Pisa
While it can definitely not be compared to Florence in terms of artistic and historic wealth, Pisa still has some wonderful monuments and buildings waiting to be visited. Who is not familiar with the Leaning Tower at the Campo dei Miracoli? Below you can find our 5 not ot miss spots in Pisa. .
- Leaning Tower of Pisa: Campo dei Miracoli or Field of Miracles is a famous cathedral complex in Pisa with one bell tower of a quite unusual appearance. Once upon a time an engineering miracle, the eight-floor bell tower made of wonderful marble was built in the Middle Ages and remains famous to this day. The tower is impressively beautiful and elaborate with its twin spiral staircase and shining white marble. The soft ground under the tower is the reason why the massive construction sank at the beginning of construction. The serious problem was only noticed after the third floor had been built. In an attempt to compensate for the height loss on one side and add some counterbalance, more height to the next floors was added. However, this plan failed as the additional weight pushed the tower even further into the ground. Fortunately, the construction works were interrupted several times, which allowed for it to settle well and not collapse. Meanwhile, engineers have tried to secure the tower with special equipment and make it safe for visitors.
- Santa Maria della Spina: Pisa’s cathedral was built in the 13th century and its façade in Pisan style was renovated in the 1930ies. The baroque interior is a triumph of frescoes, sculptures, and relics. The small quaint church on the river shore appears to be completely out of place sitting quietly next to the Arno River. Santa Maria della Spina is a lovely example of Pisan Gothic architecture. The beautiful rose windows and elaborately carved sculptures make the church an exquisite construction definitely worth visiting.
- Palazzo Blu: At the heart of the historic centre of Pisa, you will find a building with an unusual blue colour. The building has been named after the colour discovered by the restoration works on the building and is believed to reflect the taste of previous owners in the 18th century. Palazzo Blu is nowadays a venue for art workshops and seminars as well as a gallery that displays temporary art exhibitions.
- Orto Botanico di Pisa: Part of the Medici family's legacy, the “Orto Botanico di Pisa” is the first European botanical garden created for university study purposes. The garden was commissioned by Cosimo I de' Medici for Luca Ghini of Imola, one of the best botanists of the time, in the 16th century. It boasts an extensive collection of rare and endangered aquatic plants, specimens taken from ancient Egyptian tombs, and old Gingko Biloba trees. Combine an afternoon stroll through the gardens with a visit to the Leaning Tower of Pisa as it is only one mile away.
- Museum of Human Anatomy: The Museum of Human Anatomy is a fantastic place, but sadly often overlooked by locals and tourists. Pisa boasts one of the oldest universities in the world founded in the 14th century. Thanks to its longstanding reputation and tradition, the university has many interesting departments and features several curious and historically important collections of various sorts, the Museum of Human Anatomy being one of them. There are around 1.600 archaeological and medical exhibits of skulls, fetuses, skeletons, and also mummies from ancient Egypt and Colombia. If you are not too squeamish, be sure to visit this place. The entrance is free.