Pisa Galileo Airport Car Hire
Welcome to Pisa. Our Avis car hire office is only 500 metres away from the main airport terminal. You can find the Avis shuttle bus at the terminal exit by the Arrivals side. Alternatively, if you're travelling light, it's just a five minute walk to our rental car location.
Pisa Galileo Airport is less than five miles from Pisa city centre itself. If you're heading further afield, it's around 50 miles from Florence, and 80 miles from Siena.
Many other cities are easily accessible from Pisa. If you’re heading north to Lucca for example, take the A12 followed by the A11 - this journey takes about 20 minutes.
If you're heading to Viareggio on the coast, its a 30 minute journey on the A12. To the south, the port city of Livorno is only 35 minutes away when you take the SS1.
In and around Pisa
It’ll take you around 15 minutes to drive from the airport into central Pisa. When you arrive, you'll find the Piazza dei Miracoli - or Square of Miracles - a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The buildings found in the square are central to religious life in Pisa - the Baptistery, the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta and the famouse leaning tower.The iconic Torre Pendente - or Leaning Tower of Pisa - is officially the bell tower of the Cathedral, which over time has famously tilted. A limited number of visitors can climb the 300 steps to the top of the tower. Once the climb has been completed, the lucky few are rewarded with a stunning view of Pisa.
Work began on Pisa’s magnificent Cathedral (Duomo di Pisa) in 1064 - and the elliptical dome itself was added in 1380. The Cathedral is beautiful both inside and out, and it holds some of the greatest medieval works of art in the world. The stunning carved pulpit by Giovanni Pisano depicts heroic figures in various poses, created in marble.
Pisa’s Baptistery (Battistero) is the largest in Italy and is dedicated to St. John the Baptist. It’s mostly Romanesque and Gothic in style, also featuring Byzantine and Islamic influences.
Pisa also boasts a famous soccer team, having had multiple spells in Italian top league Serie A. The Pisan mountains create a stunning backdrop to the football stadium - the Arena Garibaldi.
Road trips from Pisa
FlorenceThe history in Florence is rich and varied. The Basilica di Santa del Fiore Cathedral is an impressive Gothic structure and stands tall over the city. It’s possible to climb to the top of the cathedral, where you will be rewarded with stunning views over the city of Florence.
It’ll take you 1 hour and 30 mins in your Avis hire car to drive from Pisa to Florence, if you drive direct. Florence is the capital of Italy’s Tuscany region where the Renaissance was born.
Genoa
It’ll take you just under 2 hours to drive to Genoa from Pisa along the beautiful and scenic coastline. Genoa is a port city and packed with history, and quintessentially Italian. Visit the aquarium, which is the largest in Italy, exhibiting a wide array of marine life and educational for the whole family.
Genoa’s old town is a maze of narrow lanes and classic buildings. Much of it was destroyed in World War II, but it has since been rebuilt and is a lively mix of cafes, shops and restaurants. Walk through the alleyways and discover shrines, churches and fashionable bars.
Genoa’s Cathedral demonstrates a number of different architectural styles - from Renaissance to Gothic to Romanesque. Make sure you don’t miss the painting of the Last Judgement and the medieval Sacro Catino, which was once thought to be the Holy Grail.
Driving rules in Italy
Which side of the road?In Italy, please drive on the right side of the road.
Country driving laws
- Mobile phones may only be used with a hands-free device
- Dipped headlights must be used in poor daylight visibility when driving on motorways, dual carriageways, and rural roads
- Use the outside lane to overtake on motorways and dual carriageways
- Do not use the horn in a built up area unless in danger
- There are historical areas in which you cannot drive. Look out for “Zona traffico limitato”
Speed limits
All speed signs will be in km/h.
For a standard Avis rental vehicle with no trailers:
- Urban roads: 50 km/h (31 mph)
- Urban highways: 70 km/h (44 mph)
- Secondary extra-urban roads: 90 km/h (56 mph)
- Main extra-urban roads (Expressways): 110 km/h (68 mph)
- Motorways: 130 km/h (80mph)
Be aware of changes to speed limits displayed on road signs due to adverse weather conditions.
Child safety / Seatbelt laws
- It is compulsory for the driver and all passengers to wear a seatbelt
- Children aged under 12 and less than 150cm tall must be seated in an appropriate child restraint for their size
- Children weighing up to 9kg must be seated in a rear-facing child restraint, in the back of the car only
This road rules information is for provided for general guidance only. We endeavour to keep the information up to date and accurate, but any reliance you place on this information is at your own risk.