Best way to get around Tuscany? Rent Car? Florence/Cinque Terre/Hill Towns

We've done 3 trips to Italy (so far).
First trip did the Rome-Florence thing. Walked everywhere, took the train to Florence walked everywhere then train back to Rome and home.
Last year, flew into Pisa, picked up rental car and spent the rest of the trip driving thru Tuscany and Umbria. Three nites in Siena, three nites in Orvieto visiting San Gimignano, Volterra, Panzano, Greve in chianti, Assisi, Todi, Montalcino.
This year we flew to Rome and took the train to Monterosso where we spent 4 nites. We hiked the trails between each town, took the train twice and the ferry once when there was a strike. (A car is totally useless in CT.) Then took the train to Siena where we spent 3 nites and had a wonderful time. So, are you planning 5 days for Tuscany, or 5 days for CT and Tuscany? You could easily spend 3 days in Florence and 2 in Siena and wouldn't need a car. Or spend 2 in CT and 3 days in Florence with a side trip to Siena - all which can be done by train and or bus. The only real reason to have a car would be if you were wanting to hit alot of the hill towns in Tuscany.

Depending on what you want to see and how much time you want to spend, most everything is accessible by train or bus, including the CT and Tuscany. A car is recommended for easier access but if you don't want to rent a car, don't. We may be able to give you some more suggestions on how to make the trip work by public transit if you specify where in Tuscany particulary you want to go. It's a big region. :-)

Your question: "I really didn't want to rent a car for our Italian vacation but I'm thinking there is no other practical way to see Cinque Terre and Tuscany... is that true?"That's correct as to the Tuscany "hill towns" but flat-out wrong as to the Cinque Terre. Actually, I can't recall even one person on this forum recommending to others that driving a rental car to the CT makes sense. What 90% to 95% of experienced travelers do is plan the trip so they can use a rental car to explore the hill towns, which are one of the few parts of Italy not well served by rail--then turn in the car in LaSpezia (not in the historic core of Florence!) and take the train to and from the CT. Or you can do the CT first, then Tuscany. The point is that people, who know or are well advised, plan the trip so that the CT part and the Tuscany hill town part are separated in a way that they can take the train to and from the CT and rent the car to explore the Tuscany hill towns.

Peter a car for Tuscany is great but take the train into the Cinque Terre. On our first visit there in 2002 we trained in coming from La Spezia. In 2006 we were coming from Provence, France, and driving. The drive to Vernazza was on a very, very narrow road once you leave the autostrada and lots of hairpins. Although my husband claims it wasn't bad and says he would drive it again. When we left, the drive from Vernazza to La Spezia wasn't nearly as bad. Going again this summer and taking the train!!

agree with previous posters. A car is going to be a headache in the CT region. However for Umbria and Tuscany (2 adjoining regions many Americans consider as about the same) a car is very helpful for seeing wineries, hilltowns, etc.

The rental car is great for the Tuscan and Umbrian hill towns. The trains will get to some of them but a car is much better. If you are just doing Siena and San Gimignano, the train or bus will work better than a rental car. Great service to those towns.

For the CT, forget it. Except for rare circumstances, tourist cars are not permitted in any of the 5 towns. You simply cannot drive in the towns. A rental car is useless there. The train system from Levanto in the north and La Spezia in the south is excellent. The train stations are in the center of each town. This is far more practical than a rental car.

Cinque Terre has first rate rail service and is the best way by far to see them all. One of them had a car park up the hill and a minibus to go down the hill. For Tuscany generally, By car is the way to go. When you see something interesting, you can go to it then and there. Yes, by car. ===gm===

Hi Peter,

I agree with other posters...do not rent a car for Cinque Terre. It's so easy to access by train. Why bother.

In regards to Tuscany it depends on where you're staying and what you really want to do. I was just there in May and my husband and I decided we didn't want to rent a car so found other ways to see Tuscany. One day we took the bus to Sienna & San Gimignano which was a great trip. However my favorite part was going to a wine tour at Castello di Verrazzano (http://www.verrazzano.com/en/index.php) . From Florence it was an approx. 30min bus ride into the Chianti region. Then you walk up through the vineyards to the winery. We did the Lunch tour (Chianti Tradition tour) and it was amazing. After an approx 1 tour of the place you sit on a terrace overlooking tuscany and have a lunch filled with meats, cheeses, and bread drizzled with olive oil. We sampled 4 wines, 1 balsamic vinaigrette, and 1 dessert wine. It was fabulous. And really I got the Tuscany feeling just from doing that and we took the bus the entire time.

Of course one day I'd like to go back and rent a car to experience more of Tuscany, but for the short time we were in Florence (3 nights) this was the perfect way to still experience it.

Let me know if you want anymore tips or have other questions. Have a great trip! :-)

Thanks everyone!... you've convinced me that the best thing is to use trains from city to city and to take a bus to Sienna or San Gimignano (still can't make up mind between these).

Well, Peter, everyone gave you the correct advice regarding the trains and only renting a car for Tuscany, but if you are stuck between going to Siena or San Gimignano, go to Siena and stay there for at least two nights. San Gimignano is a day trip at best.