I will be flying into Pisa from Dublin on May 28 getting in at 17:45. Will be staying the night in Pisa and then plan on going to Siena the next day. I have 6 full days to spend in Siena as a home base w/o a car. Want to do a wine tour, go to Assisi visit other hill towns. Is 6 days to many to spend in this area? Will I run out of things to do? Should I try to spend a few days in Pisa, Florance, Livorno, other recommendations? Will be flying back to Dublin from Pisa on June 4th.
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area (USA)
16232 posts
Six days is not a lot for all of Tuscany. Without a car I would have chosen Florence as a base. Or, even better, I would have split my nights between Florence and Siena. Florence needs at least 2 days, by staying Siena the whole time you need to take at least two separate day trips to Florence. Also certain towns are more easily reached from Florence using public transport (Florence is the transit hub). Assisi may be rough in one day only from Siena without a car. Livorno, Lucca and Pisa are easy day trips from Florence. I would split your stay between Florence and Siena. How many in each depends on what towns you want to see. Some are closer to Siena, others, like the ones I mentioned above, are easier to reach from Florence.
Posted by
OP
Mill Creek, WA, USA
3 posts
Roberto, thank for the input. I haven't finalized my time in Siena so I can still make changes. I will look into Florance. Any recommendations on a B&B to stay or things to do?
Posted by
Toledo, Ohio, US
11613 posts
Some other possible daytrips might include Arezzo or Montepulciano.
Posted by
Huntsville, AL, USA
8371 posts
Too bad you're not going to have a car. Travelers can see so much more of Tuscany by driving. The back roads are crooked, but easily driven.
Staying outside of Siena in the countryside in an agriturismo would be relatively inexpensive compared to larger cities.
Posted by
OP
Mill Creek, WA, USA
3 posts
Can you rent a car either in Pisa or in Florence?
Posted by
Forest Grove, OR
11848 posts
I'd suggest a couple of days without a car, then pick one up for more flexibiity in day-tripping. Tours by Roberto does a lovely wine/history/culture tour out of Siena, so you won't need a car for that. You can get to San Gimignano and Volterra by bus, but a car is better. If you want to go to Assisi, you really should have a car to maximize use of time, or consider spending a couple of nights there instead of the long daytrip. SO much to see in Umbria, too!