Tuscany in Camping-Car: advice, areas, routes

How do I visit Tuscany on a camper or van? Discover our response elements for a successful trip to Italy!

Tuscany is a beautiful region of Italy whose capital is Florence ! It is located in the west centre of the country and covers nearly 23,000 km2. It is a region rich in culture and art. She was also the place of birth or life of some of the greatest artists. Indeed, it was the place of residence of Michel Ange, Dante and Léonard de Vinci!

But Tuscany , it is also many villages and cities dating from the Renaissance as well as beautiful landscapes! You can see the Tower of Pisa , the Cathedral of Florence or the plains lost sight of the Tuscan countryside! This region is the ideal place for a road trip! A motorhome will allow you to discover the most beautiful places and to sleep on site!

Want to try the experience? Here is a mini guide to visit Tuscany in Tuscany camping-car during a road trip!

Idea of itineraries in Tuscany by motorhome

With a short distance of 23,000 km2, Tuscany is a fairly wide area. It is therefore ideal to visit Tuscany in fitted van or campervan. You can really enjoy the heritage and beautiful landscapes of this part of Italy! In addition, it will allow you to sleep where you wish, even in the middle of nature.

There are many routes to visit Tuscany in furnished van. These depend on your travel time and your interests. However, here are some ideas of course that might interest you:

• in a week : Pisa, San Gimignano, Siena, Chianti and Florence

• for a 10-day stay to make the coast: Marina di Carrara, Viareggio, Livorno, Rosignano Solvay, Piombino, Follonica and Orbettello

• for another 10-day stay: Pisa, Volterra, San Gimignano, Siena, Marina di Carrara, Val d’Orcia, Chianti and Florence

• in 15 days: Pisa, Volterra, San Gimignano, Siena, Marina di Carrara, Val d’Orcia, Montalcino, Chianti, Florence and Cinque Terre

• in 30 days and more: 10-day route to the coast + 15-day route + Isère and Pienza

Of course, nothing obliges you to follow these routes, they are only there to give you ideas. Free to prepare your own route to visit Tuscany in a furnished van or camping car.

How and where to rent a motorhome in France?

If you want to leave directly from home, know that it is possible to rent a camping-car in France . For more ease, you can go through the Yescapa application.

How does it work?

• At first, you have to choose the motorhome in your city (For example Bordeaux, Nantes, Toulouse, Paris, Montpellier or Marseille).
• Choose the vehicle according to the type, the number of beds, but also the mileage formula. In addition, check that the owner authorizes the country to leave.
• Send an online rental request to the owner. In this, specify all the information about your trip.
• In case of acceptance, you will first meet the owner and visit the camper.
• On the day you leave, you will pay the deposit to the owner after the contract is signed. A state of the premises will be made to carry out the contract.
• There you go! You can go to Tuscany by camping-car and enjoy your stay! When you return, you will simply make a state of the place.

How and where to rent a motorhome in Tuscany?

If you go to Tuscany by plane, know that it is possible to rent your camper on site. However, it is advisable to go through online platforms and book your camper before even leaving. This will allow you to have the vehicle you want to visit Tuscany in furnished van or van.

On this type of site, the rental is very simple. Enter your travel dates as well as the city where you want to rent your camper. Search among those offered by number of seats, price and vehicle type. Then make a request and pay online if accepted. You'll receive a confirmation email, and that's it! All you have to do is go get it and visit Tuscany in a fitted van or camper!

Drive in Tuscany by motorhome: traffic rules to know

The Code of the road in Tuscany is not much different from that of France. However, it is important to know that Italians tend to drive in a sporty way. They like speed and sometimes leave the road code aside. But this should not discourage you from visiting Tuscany in a fitted van or camping car! Just be careful and be vigilant.

You will also have to respect certain rules concerning motorhomes. For example, you must wear your seatbelt. Of course, it's self-evident. However, it is also mandatory to light your day crossing lights on highways and fast track. In addition, if you carry bicycles or any object exceeding the vehicle’s template, you will need a sign.

Also note that some equipment is mandatory on motorhome. You will need a yellow vest for each passenger and a signage triangle. It is also important to take a spare wheel and first aid kit with you during your stay.

With regard to the documents to visit Tuscany in motorhome, you will first need a driver’s license. In addition, you will need the vehicle identification certificate as well as its insurance certificate. And if you rent your camper, then you will need a rental contract.

Finally, let's talk about speed limitations in Tuscany, which are:

• 130 km/h on the Autostrades (roadways), reported in green,
• 90 km/h on free fast track, reported in blue,
• 50 km/h when you drive in agglomeration.

Note also that Tuscany, like all of Italy, has limited traffic areas. These are noted "Zonas traffico limitato" and you must absolutely avoid them! They can only be borrowed by residents, public transport and public authorities. You risk a fine through these roads. These are cumulative and can climb to over 100 euros each.

Motorway toll in Tuscany: what price for your motorhome category?

Unfortunately, as when you travel to Spain or France, you will face tolls in Tuscany. There are several means of payment for Italian tolls. First, you can take a ticket at the entrance to the highway. This will then be presented to get out of it and you will pay according to the number of kilometers travelled.

The second solution is the remote control system. This system is ideal not to run to the different tolls in Tuscany. It combines your license plate and your bank card. This will then be flown according to the number of kilometres travelled.

Finally, the third solution is to take a prepaid subscription card. You can charge it with 25 euros, 50 euros or 75 euros, depending on your needs.

In Tuscany, you will probably have several tolls if you choose to take the pay highways. Here are some of the things you could do:

• Florence – Pisa, toll in Lucca: 4,80 euros
• From Florence – Pisa, toll in Altopscio : 3.60 euros
• Florence – Siena, toll in Valdarno : 2,70 euros

Finally, here are the total prices of the tolls from a few cities in France:

• Paris – Florence : 141.70 euros
• Bordeaux – Florence : 119,20 euros
• Marseille - Florence : 61,70 euros
• Lyon – Florence : 122.20 euros

Of course, it is possible to avoid tolls by choosing to take free fast tracks. There are still few compared to the paid highways in Italy. However, you can visit Tuscany by camping-car easily thanks to these.

Campsites in Tuscany: where to park?

When you are visiting Tuscany in a furnished van, you can park on the public road! Look out, we said park, not camp. Indeed, when you wish to stop on the public road, you will need to apply certain rules.

First, you will always have to park inside the white lines. You will not be able to leave any furniture and will have to ensure that nothing goes beyond your camper. This means that doors and windows must be closed during parking. In addition, you will not be able to install hold during a parking lot. Finally, you will not be able to sleep inside your camper during parking. It is unlikely that you will be controlled, but if so, you will be liable to a fine.

For what is to install, you will find without difficulty many campsites and campgrounds in Tuscany. No need to look far, you will always have a free or pay area nearby. It is also possible to easily find campsites or parking areas. In particular, you can discover them on applications and websites. For example, you can use Campercontact or Caramaps to see the best camping car pitches in Tuscany.

Be careful, however: the wild camping is forbidden in Italy, as in many European countries. However, if you want a remote space to camp, the Park4night app can help you. This includes a community of travellers in camping-car or in fitted van. Each member can share the "spots" for the wild camping, but also the points to be avoided.

What is the best time to travel by motorhome in Tuscany?

Finally, there is only one question left: when to go to Tuscany by camper? Tuscany is under the influence of a Mediterranean climate. Winters are therefore mild, but can sometimes become cold. Some cities, such as Siena or Florence, suffer from snowfalls. Summers are warm and generally dry. However, a risk of storm should not be excluded during the hottest months.

It is therefore advisable to visit Tuscany in a van built between May and October. The temperatures are between 20 and 30°C during this period. However, note that the night temperatures of the months of September, October and May are relatively low. Indeed, we count between 9 and 14°C only.