If you’re looking for the iconic Italian experience of sipping wine and dipping home-baked bread into olive oil, there’s no better region in the country to do so than Tuscany. This area is home to some of Italy’s most famous cities including its capital Florence, Lucca, Siena, and Pisa, all of which have their own local culture and flair. The region is also rich with history and architecture, home to some of the most famous artworks on Earth, such as Michelangelo’s “David” statue, the Duomo basilica, the Leaning Tower of Pisa, and Botticelli's works in the Uffizi Gallery. Truly, Tuscany is one of the greatest hotbeds of culture that you can find anywhere in the world.
On top of the amazing manmade works that are housed in the region of Tuscany, it’s also home to some incredible examples of natural beauty. To the west coast, you have the beaches of the Ligurian Sea and the Tyrrhenian Sea, both of which offer pristine views of crystal-clear waters. If you want to get off the mainland for a day, you can take a trip over to the stunning island of Elba, the largest island in Tuscany. You can take tours through the outstanding Chianti countryside and participate in some wine tastings. You can take a swim or have a picnic on the banks of Lake Massaciuccoli. You can even do some epic hikes through the Apuan Alps or the Apennine Mountains. Truly, the region of Tuscany has endless experiences to offer. So, if you’re planning on taking a trip to the region and want to get the very most out of your trip, the best way to do so is by renting a motorbike and making your way around Tuscany on your own time.
Here is everything you need to know about hiring a motorcycle in Tuscany. Most things here can also be applied if you are renting a motor scooter. This guide includes:
- Whether you need an international driving permit to hire a motorbike in Italy
- The best places to find motorcycle hire in Tuscany
- The normal cost of hiring a motorbike in Tuscany
- Whether it’s safe to rent a motorcycle in Tuscany
- The best motorcycle routes to drive around Tuscany
Do You Need an International Driving Permit to Rent a Motorbike in Italy?
If you are a citizen of a country within the European Union, you do not need to carry an international driving permit while driving a motor vehicle in Italy. Your national driver’s license is all you need. However, if you’re from a non-EU country, you will need to obtain an international driving permit to legally drive a motorcycle in Italy. Failure to present law enforcement with a valid IDP could result in a hefty fine.
There is a $20 application fee to get your IDP and you can send in your application online here. Once you send in your application, it typically takes about two weeks to arrive in the mail, so you should make sure to send it in at least two weeks before departing for your trip to Italy. Once you have your IDP, it will be valid anywhere in the world for up to one full year.
Where Are the Best Places in Tuscany to Find Motorcycle Hire?
If you plan on flying into the region of Tuscany, you’ll most likely be arriving at one of the region’s two international airports: Florence Airport (which is actually located in Peretola) and Pisa Airport (also known as Galileo Galilei Airport). Whichever one of the two airports you fly into, you should have no trouble finding a motorbike rental service right outside of the airport terminals. Thus, you can rent a motorcycle and drive it directly to your accommodation, wherever that may be in Tuscany.
However, if you’re a bit skittish about driving through the Italian countryside the moment you arrive in the country, there are also plenty of rental shops scattered throughout the region’s cities. So, you can go to your accommodation first, drop off your bags, then rent your motorcycle and start exploring. The best city to find motorbike hire is definitely Florence, being that it’s the largest city in the region by far. However, you shouldn’t have any issue finding motorbike rental in Pisa, Lucca, Siena, or any of the other relatively large cities.
What Is the Average Price of Motorcycle Hire in Tuscany?
Being that Italy is one of the most popular countries in the world for tourism and Tuscany is the send most popular region for tourists within the country, you’re not really going to find anything cheap in the region of Tuscany, motorcycle hire included. If you’re looking to stay on the cheaper side, you can rent a basic motor scooter, such as a Honda SH 125, for a decent price of €35 per day. That’s about the lowest price you’ll find to rent any sort of vehicle. However, if you’re looking for big motorcycles, you’re looking at paying around €120 per day at the very lowest.
Regardless of what kind of vehicle you choose to buy, you should always make sure that insurance and helmet rental are included in the stated rentals price. You should never drive a motorcycle or motor scooter without a helmet. And operating a motor vehicle in Italy without insurance is completely illegal. Plus, it could end up saving you a ton of money if you get into an accident. Reduced rates for weekly or monthly rentals if you plan on staying in Tuscany for a while.
What Are the Best Motorcycle Driving Routes Around Tuscany?
Now that you’re an expert on hiring a motorbike in the Italian region of Tuscany, it’s time to hit the road. Here are some of the best driving routes in the region:
Siena to Asciano
Italians like to joke that SS438, the road from Siena to Asciano is one of the most dangerous drives in all of Italy. Why? Because the entire road is surrounded by captivating natural beauty that will make it difficult to focus on the road ahead of you. So, while you’re taking this short, 20-kilometer drive, you should make sure to get off your bike and drink up the scenic landscape all around you. You’ll get a taste of what a typical Tuscan terrain looks like with lanes of cypress trees and misty hills.
The cities of Siena and Asciano are also definitely both worth visiting. Siena is known for its medieval brick buildings and lavish churches that you can tour for hours. Asciano is a small town on top of a hill that has some breathtaking views of the surrounding region and some pristine rivers that you can swim in.
Florence to Monteriggioni
When people think of the Italian countryside, most of the time, the image that pops in their head is the wine country of Chianti. Take a drive south out of the capital city of Florence and that’s exactly where you’ll find yourself. As you wind through the hilly roads, you can admire the expansive vineyards on either side of you. And, if you’re looking to buy some locally made wine or oil, you can hop off of your motorcycle and find one of the finest selections in the world here.
Honestly, no matter where you choose to stop for the day, you can’t go wrong when you’re in the Chianti region. However, if you’re looking to have some cultural experiences when you get to the end of your drive, you should check out the small commune of Monteriggioni. Here you can find all sorts of medieval buildings and watchtowers that offer outstanding views. You can also check out some of the amazing museums in the town that house everything from medieval weapons to modern art.
Porto Santo Stefano to Orbetello
If you want to see the best of the coastal regions of Tuscany, the best drive you can do is on the peninsula of Argentario. You can start your drive in the small town of Porto Santo Stefano and follow the signs for Panoramico, a hilltop vista that has some of the best ocean views in Tuscany. Then, you can make your way through forests and coastal roads to the town of Orbetello.
Along your way, keep your eyes peeled for hidden beaches. There are so many small pieces of coastline around this route where you can park your motorbike, hop off, and lounge out on a beach away from the crowds of tourists for hours. Both Porto Santo Stefano and Orbetello have some of the most amazing seafood in Italy as well, so you should stop in one of these towns for a bite to eat.
Take on Tuscany on a Rented Motorcycle
You could take a trip to Florence or Pisa or Lucca and have a nice time, but you’d be missing all that the rest of Tuscany has to offer. So, by renting a motorcycle, you’re giving yourself the freedom to explore every backroad and small town in this incredible region.
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