Munich to Florence
 

Can anyone tell me how long it takes to drive from Munich to Florence?
Also, any recommendation of a reasonable hotel in Florence would be much appreciated.

Thanks

Check out www.viamichelin.com

About 400 miles, 6 hrs by autoroute/autostrada.

You may need longer than 6 hours, 7 hours or more. If you go on a weekend, the trip might last much longer: Long pile-ups between MUC and Innsbruck and again at the Brenner.
If you have a car, you need a hotel with parking. Hotel Royal is such a hotel. In 2001 I did not like the 3 rooms I was shown, and we went to Fiesole just "on top" of Florence.
However, I know, Hotel Royal has some nice rooms; facing the garden.
You find the address etc. at Michelin.
See that you get a car with (turbo) diesel. And make sure that you can take the car to Italy. Last time I made them change/addend their documents.

Excellent advice from USAFAN.

Diesel is much cheaper in Italy; however there are not that many diesel rental cars in Germany, so an advance request may be a good idea. Modern European turbodiesels are very pleasant, being much torquier than equivalent gasoline-powered cars.

Most rental companies specifically prohibit entering Italy, due to high theft rates.

As for hotels in Florence, looking just outside of the main tourist area will yield much lower rates. Do avoid the noisy and not-too-secure SMN train station neighborhood if possible, though; most of the affordable hotels in booking engines are located there.

[This message has been edited by monahos (edited 04-07-2002).]

I rented a Mercedes A type and a VW Golf/Jetta all diesel from Sixt in MUC. They had plenty of beautiful new cars at their parking area. Audi A3 (diesel) is the same class like Merc. A, VW Passat is one class higher.