3 nights for CT and Tuscany countryside

Posted by jlfrankl on 06/23/24 04:15 PM

Hi! I know the right answer is I need more time, but I have 3 nights available to me to spend in the Florence area. I would like to spend at least one night in CT and one night experiencing the tuscany countryside (think slow, agriturismo, wine tasting, rolling hills, maybe a small town) but I cannot for the life of me figure out how to do it. Maybe it's impossible but I'm turning here to see if anyone has any ideas.

I'll be coming in from Venice and need to end up in Rome. Open to car or public transport. The answer might be that I just need to stay in Florence and do day trips to CT and vineyards but I'd prefer to stay in a quieter place since the rest of our trip is busy city life in Venice and Rome. Thank you!

Posted by ChristineH

Gettysburg PA

06/23/24 04:24 PM

7229 posts

You really need a car to explore the Tuscany countryside
CT is not really worth the trouble for a 1 night stay
Or the time it takes for a day trip JMO

You are going to have to choose

You could train to Florence then bus to Siena
Rent your car in Siena-and return it there-spend 3 nights. Siena is lovely in the evenings. Head out during the day to a few other hill towns
Then bus to Rome

Are you not for spending any time in Florence?

I see your trip is Sept-that's a gorgeous time to be in Tuscany

Posted by MaryPat

Irving

06/23/24 05:02 PM

3277 posts

Because there are no direct routes by public transportation from Venice or Florence to the Cinque Terre, skip it. Furthermore, it’s an outlier and you need a minimum of two nights. If you add hikes you need to add an additional night per hike.
From Venice (Tronchetto) Flixbus has a direct bus to Siena departing at 2p arriving in Siena at 7:05p. Take a taxi to Siena’s old town and you’ll need to find your place of lodging on foot. Cars are not allowed in the historical district.
Spend two nights in Siena then rent a car and drive to Montepulciano through Val d’Orcia: https://lovefromtuscany.com/scenic-drives-in-tuscany/. This will be one of the most if not the most scenic drive in your lifetime. Montepulciano is worth spending one night. The next day drop off your car in Chiusi and take a direct train to Rome’s Termini station.

Posted by ChinaLake67

NorthCarolina

06/23/24 05:19 PM

1077 posts

If you are going to be in Venice - I'd skip CT . . . it is SO crazy crowded. You will spend so much time traveling. CT is not as quaint as it was years ago - it is overrun with tourists. I'd spend more time in Florence and skip CT. Take a day trip with WalkAboutFlorence - we loved their BEST OF TUSCANY TOUR and the CHIANTI WINE & FOOD SAFARI TOUR.

Posted by jlfrankl OP

06/24/24 12:08 AM

11 posts

Thanks everyone for the suggestions!!

Posted by Cynthia

Gig Harbor, Washington, USA

06/24/24 12:26 AM

1869 posts

If you stay three nights in Siena, you could spend one day exploring the Chianti area and one day exploring Monteriggioni and Volterra. (This is what we did last month.) Skip San Gimignano - it is really crowded and felt like a giant outdoor shopping mall. No good vantage point to see those 14 towers while in the town. We also enjoyed Pienza and Cortona on a different day.