Car Hire in Brindisi

About Brindisi

Brindisi is a city in the Apulia region of southern Italy and the capital of the province of Brindisi. It is located on the Adriatic coast and due to its excellent strategic position with a natural harbour, Brindisi was an important cultural and commercial city in Italy. The most important commercial activities were recorded with Greece and the Middle East. The city experienced its greatest growth during the Roman period when it was one of the most important transportation and trade hubs in this part of the country. Of course, Brindisi also experienced a period of growth and expansion later in history, and this is still the case today. During World War II, Brindisi was heavily bombed and largely destroyed. Afterwards, the city was rebuilt and renovated several times, and today in Brindisi you can visit many modern neighbourhoods, avenues, shopping centres, squares and, of course, many historical, cultural and religious monuments.

Today Brindisi is still an important port with good connections to other parts of Italy and also to Greece, the Middle East and other parts of the world. In addition, Brindisi is also an important tourist city, mainly thanks to the transit function that the city has due to the many ferries and ships that depart from Brindisi to other destinations in Italy and Europe. Another advantage of Brindisi is that the city not only has good connections to other parts of the country and the world by sea, but also a very good transit infrastructure on the mainland. You can either use the highway, the expressway or the local roads if you want to travel by car or motorcycle, but you can also use the train because there is a railroad line that provides connections with other parts of Italy. And of course, we can not forget that there are two airports in the area, so you have a wide range of options if you want to vacation here in Brindisi.

Brindisi is not so much a popular destination to vacation here, but more of a transit city because there are good connections from here. So people usually just stay here for a day and then continue their journey elsewhere. If you are planning a road trip through southern Italy, then Brindisi is an ideal starting point. You can first spend a day or two in this charming city and then move on to explore other extraordinary places in Southern Italy. When you come to Brindisi, be sure to spend a few hours here exploring the city. You will be surprised by the cleanliness and the wide streets, the many boulevards, the avenues, the great restaurants, the bars and of course the great buildings. If you are wondering whether it is worth visiting Brindisi or not, you should know that it is a city worth visiting. You will not spend a week here enjoying a rich cultural program with concerts and other events and lively beach parties. But you will find something interesting if you decide to explore Brindisi. And of course, it's worth renting a car here and exploring the surrounding area. Southern Italy is truly unique and you will not regret having been here.

Basic info and car hire in Brindisi

• Location: Apulia region, Southern Italy
• Population: 87,141
• Official language: Italian
• Currency: Euro
• Weather: Brindisi has a Mediterranean climate   
• Internet coverage: Hotels, bars, restaurants, and cafés offer Wi-Fi.
• Road conditions:  Most roads in Brindisi are in good condition.
• Car hire in Brindisi:  The most common pick-up point for vehicles in Brindisi is at the Brindisi Airport. Please note that prices vary frequently. It is best to book a car 3 to 8 weeks before your desired pick-up date - this will ensure you get the cheapest rental rate. Alternatively, it is also possible to find cheap last-minute car hire. Find the best deal on car hire in Brindisi!

 Driving in Brindisi

Thanks mainly to the fact that Brindisi was and still is one of the most important commercial and industrial ports on the Adriatic, the city has an excellent transit infrastructure. Traded are mainly coal, fuel oil, natural gas and chemicals, but these activities require good connections to other parts of the country. So you can either use the railroad, the international airport or the road to travel from Brindisi. All three options are good and it depends on your preferences and plan which one you want to use.

Renting a car is probably the best solution here if you want to manage your own time and travel according to your plans and preferences. The roads are in good condition and you have many different options to choose from, so you can always avoid major traffic jams if you follow the latest information about traffic in Italy.

The main roads you can use here are:

The Bari-Lecce expressway connects you to Brindisi, Lecce, with Bari and the A14.

The Adriatica SS 16 is the bypass of Brindisi and connects the city with San Vito Dei Normanni and Lecce. Brindisi-Taranto Brindisi with Taranto.

When driving in Italy, it is good to know that the police here are very strict. So you should always pay attention to all the road signs and especially obey the speed limits because there are many speed controllers on the Italian roads and you can get quite a heavy fine if you drive faster than the speed limit. And of course, it's not only about fines but also about your safety and the safety of other road users. So all you need to know is that you need to follow the rules, be attentive and prepare for your drive. Once you have checked all that, buckle up and drive safely!

• Age limits: 21 years old-25 for larger vehicles
• International Driving Permit:  Yes, if you are a non-EU license holder.
• Additional papers:   Identification(passport), a valid driving license, and valid proof of insurance.   
• Additional requirements: Glasses (in case you need glasses, you must always have a spare pair in the car), light bulbs (are usually already in the car and are provided by the car rental company), warning triangle (2 are required for all vehicles registered in Italy and one if coming from abroad), high visibility vest (recently made compulsory)- First aid kit (not mandatory, but we strongly recommend you have it with you, just in case).
• Children in the car: Children up to the age of 12 may only be taken in the back seat, and a suitable child seat must be available up to a height of 1.50 meters.
• Driving side of the road: Right hand
• Lights:  Check that all lights are working, clean, and correctly aimed.
• General speed limits: The speed limit in cities is 50 km/h, although, in certain areas, the speed limit may be reduced to 30 km/h. Main highways are limited to 130 km/h, non-major highways to 110 km/h, and local roads to 90 km/h.

Popular day trips from Brindisi

During your stay in Brindisi, you will have the opportunity to explore the south of Italy. Of course, the best way to explore this beautiful part of the country is to rent a car and drive around on your schedule. But if you already have a plan for your vacation but are only staying in Brindisi for a day or two, you can always take some great day trips from here. One of the most popular day trips from Brindisi is undoubtedly a trip to Masagne. Masagne is known for its amazing old town, which you can spend hours exploring and where you will always find something unique and interesting. Another popular day trip from Brindisi is a trip to Lecce, the most popular city in this region. It is also known as the Florence of Southern Italy. In Lecce, you can visit the church of San Giovanni Battista, the church of Santi Niccolo e Cataldo and the ancient Roman amphitheatre, the Piazza del Duomo...

What to see in Brindisi

Brindisi was not an important tourist city in the past, but after the Second World War, this began to change. After the devastating bombings, the city was renovated and slowly it became more and more beautiful and welcoming for tourists from Italy and other parts of the world. It is not a place where you will spend your entire vacation, but it certainly offers enough activities to spend a day or two here.

When planning a trip to Brindisi, you should make a plan of what you want to do and see, and one of the priorities on the list of things to do and see should be the port of Brindisi. This port has so many faces that if you take a tour of it, you will be amazed. You can take a look at the small naval base that can be seen from Via Ettore Ciciriello. From Via del mare you can explore the docks for commercial shipping, but let us not forget the fabulous marina and the monument to the Italian sailors in the northern part of the port.

Another attraction you should visit is Castello Alfonsino di Brindisi, built in the 16th century to defend the entrance to the port of Brindisi. Today it is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the city and you should visit this majestic castle and enjoy the wonderful view from the castle in addition to the view inside.

The church of Santa Maria del Casale is one of the most important and beautiful religious objects in the city. It was built in the 13th century and is a classic representation of medieval architecture. You can admire both the facade of this church and its amazing interior. Another religious object worth seeing is the Brindisi Cathedral. This church was built in the 11th century and together with the beautiful small square in front of it, it is a very special tourist attraction that you should not miss during your stay in Brindisi.

If you are looking for great beaches, you should visit Lido Azzuro. This great beach is about 20 minutes from the city centre and has a large parking lot nearby, so if you arrive by car, you will not have any problems finding a parking space.

Other places in the city worth visiting: Brindisi Archeological Museum, Enjoy a fine Italian meal at La Locanda del Porto, Try a coffee at Café Olympia, Monument to the Italian Seamen, Parco Urbano del Cillarese, Piazza Santa Teresa, Local market, Take a walk along the promenade...

Drive your rental car beyond Brindisi

If you take a road trip through southern Italy, you can expect unique experiences. This part of Italy is something special. You can tell by the fact that the people here have a very different temperament than in other parts of Italy. The food here is also special, and of course, we can not help but mention the landscape and architecture, which is also unique here and different from other parts of Italy.

But there are so many other regions in Italy that are worth exploring. For example, if you have decided to stay in the Umbria region and take a road trip through it, one of the activities that you should put on your wish list is undoubtedly truffle hunting. This region is famous for its truffles and truffle hunting is truly a unique experience. In the countryside you will find many experts searching for these "black diamonds" and besides truffle hunting, you can also learn a lot about the history of the region and the daily life of the locals. The Marmore waterfalls are another sight not to be missed on your trip through the Umbria region. These are the largest man-made waterfalls in the world and the second-largest waterfalls in Italy. These amazing waterfalls were created by the Romans who wanted to divert the Velino River to use more fertile land. For this reason, the Marmore Waterfalls are one of the most visited attractions in this region. For people who prefer a more active vacation, there are many activities here, for example, rafting on the Nera River, cycling in nature, visiting the Monte Cucco Regional Park, a side trip to San Pietro

There are so many places to visit in Italy that you need to make a good plan if you want to take a road trip through Italy. Italy is a very diverse country with so much to see and do. But one thing is for sure, there is something for every kind of tourist here. Italy is known for its fantastic beaches, amazing cities, a large number of historical, religious and cultural monuments, great gastronomy, volcanic islands, the Alps, the Mediterranean Sea, beautiful lakes and rivers, breathtaking landscapes, etc.

The capital is Rome, which of course you must see. It is known as one of the most iconic cities in the world and certainly, the city most talked about in the history of mankind. Travelling from the north to the south of the country, you can experience so many different landscapes, people, cultures, cities and traditions that make Italy a special place. If we then add the truly rich and turbulent past of this trunk-shaped country, there is no doubt that you should visit Italy at least once in your lifetime.

If you prefer winter and winter sports, then you should go to the Dolomites, because there are some of the most famous ski resorts in the world, such as Cortina d'Ampezzo. However, if you are more interested in history, you should visit Pompei and other cities in the south of the country.

Where to eat, drink, and party in Brindisi

Italy is one of the most famous culinary destinations in the world. Italians know almost everything about food and you can learn a lot about culinary here. For this region, it is known that fish and seafood are important ingredients for many dishes. But of course, there are many other types of food prepared here and you will always find something delicious for yourself.

Southern Italy is also famous for its desserts and it is no different here in Brindisi. You can enjoy many traditional Italian desserts here and not to forget, you can also have a fabulous cappuccino or espresso. There are delicious Italian wines and liqueurs to go with it. All this means that you are really in a unique gastronomic country. So when you are in Italy, be sure to enjoy the cuisine, because it is great.

Best restaurant in Brindisi

Vieni A Casa Ca Ti Cucinu

Il Trullo

Locanda Ti Li Spilusi

Social-Hamburgeria

Brunda Pizzeria

Grano&Uva

Pescheria del porto