Tips for travelling solo through Italy

Are you craving adventure but don’t have a travelling buddy?

I recently returned from travelling solo in Europe, and I loved it.

While I didn’t have any friends or relatives in Europe, I had a tentative plan including hiring a car for 30 days in Italy, while I was house sitting in Tuscany.

I pre-booked and paid for a small SUV that I would collect at the Pisa International Airport.

After catching trains that morning from Venice to Florence and Pisa, I needed to catch the Pisa Mover, a high-speed shuttle service, to the airport, then a shuttle bus would take me to the car rental office.

There were so many people waiting for the shuttle bus I decided to walk to the rental office which was about 10 minutes away.

Beautiful view of the main square in Montepulciano, featuring the town hall.

Navigating car hire and driving in Italy

Eventually arriving to the car rental office, I received the keys to the Fiat.

Make sure you check the navigator is set in English and working before you leave the rental yard. Mine wasn’t, and one hour later I was ready to go.

As expected, my phone charger was not compatible with the car but, I was able to purchase one later from a petrol station.

Driving around Italy was quite daunting as the Italians drive fast - formula one fast.

It didn’t matter if they were driving on straight roads or winding roads up a mountain without line markings or guard rails, they are fast.

If it was possible, I would always pull over and let them pass.

Driving on the opposite side of the road wasn’t difficult once I mastered the correct way to enter and exit a roundabout.

How to apply for an International Driving Permit

Toll roads and scenic detours

Almost as soon as I left the rental yard I was on the autostrada (motorway) and was greeted by my first road toll.

Unfortunately, the tolls were not my friends.

After holding up a very patient driver, who was giving me instructions from his car in Italian at the first toll, then emptying all my loose change at the second toll, and hoping for the best, I decided it would be kinder for me, and the Italians, to select ‘avoid tolls’ on my navigator.

While avoiding tolls made my trips longer, the view driving over the alternative mountain roads was spectacular with unexpected, charming villages appearing along the way.

A real, live navigator would have been very handy on the autostrada.

My first destination was Scansano, a medieval walled town in Tuscany only two hours away from Pisa, probably less for Italians. However, by avoiding the tolls and incorrectly exiting roundabouts, it took me about four and a half hours.

An aerial view of the stunning Montepulciano architecture.

Exploring Tuscany: Scansano and Montepulciano

After leaving the autostrada, the alternate route had breathtaking ocean views before I headed inland to the majestic hills and scenery of Tuscany.

Travelling solo does present some issues, more importantly than the autostrada tolls, is staying safe.

While in Scansano I didn’t feel safe on my own, therefore I decided to leave earlier than planned.

However, only 96km away is Montepulciano, also a medieval hilltop town in Tuscany and one of my favourite places in Italy.

The town is tourist-friendly and car-free so you can walk everywhere.

I like staying near the town centre and there was parking provided with my accommodation a short distance away, and if you are visiting Montepulciano for the day, there is paid parking outside the town gates.

Wine tasting and festivals in Montepulciano

Tuscany is famous for wine, and venues in Montepulciano offer free wine tasting after a tour of their ancient cellars.

The town streets are very steep and people often rest on the steps of the church while enjoying the best gelato in Tuscany.

There was a wine festival in Montepulciano during my stay and for $30 you received a wine glass offering free refills at wine stations around the town.

Each wine station offered a variety of entertainment, from local foods, to markets and even a marching band.

Monterosso al Mare is the most northern of the five Cinque Terre towns.

Visiting Cinque Terre from La Spezia

Reluctantly leaving this beautiful town, I headed 286km north-west to Cinque Terre; on the way I discovered Italian petrol stations close between 12 and 2pm and fuel is 40 cents per litre cheaper when using self-service.

It was difficult to find accommodation with parking in Cinque Terre, so I decided to stay a few nights in La Spezia which offered ferries and trains that stop at the five Cinque Terre towns.

A short walk to the beautiful La Spezia harbour from my accommodation and I caught the ferry to Monterosso al Mare, the most northern of the five Cinque Terre towns.

The ferry stopped at each of the towns on the way to Monterosso, and the scenery along the coastline was breathtaking, with the towns perched on steep hills.

Beach life and local vulture in Monterosso

Arriving in Monterosso, I spent the afternoon swimming and sitting on the crowded, pebbled beach watching a group of Aussies using the swimmers’ safety net to play volleyball while impressively holding their cocktails.

For more personal space you can move further along the beach to a sandy stretch where you can also hire sun lounges and umbrellas.

Train travel tips in Italy

After a 20-minute train ride from Monterosso, and a five- minute walk I arrived back in La Spezia and my accommodation.

If you haven’t travelled by train in Italy before, don’t be alarmed when you see the intimidating Italian armed police standing at the top of the stairs, with their rifles and their dogs.

Returning the rental car in Pisa

From La Spezia, I drove to Pisa to return the car. While I loved having the freedom of a car, I was so relieved to return it without any incident, I wanted to kiss the ground.

I was expecting maybe a speeding ticket as the car navigator, my maps app and the car dashboard, all showed different speed limits but, so far, so good.

Leila (@roamingwithleila) was born in Brisbane but has lived on the Gold Coast since she was 17. An RACQ member for 40 years, Leila hopes by sharing stories as a female solo traveller (of a certain age) she will encourage others, who may be hesitant, to experience travelling on their own.

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