We will be flying into Florence and leaving from Rome 1 week later. We want to spend 2 days in Florence then travel to Rome by way of Pisa, San Gimignano, Chianti and Siena, but we do not want to drive. I see a lot of day trips from Florence that cover that area, but nothing for 2-3 days. Any suggestions? This is our first trip to Italy so we do not want to over do it, but want to see as much as we can.
Posted by
Park Ridge, IL
524 posts
Sarah You will love Italy! Would you clarify whether your 7 days includes your 1st day and your last day when you are flying out? Are you staying in Rome? How many days? Is there a reason you don't want to drive? In this part of Italy, it is easy. May want to rent a car outside of Florence or on the edge of the city to make it easier to get out of town. Although you can take a bus to Sienna from Florence, the countryside is lovely driving and you will be free to stop and go when you see something interesting in a car. See previous thread regarding training/bus in Tuscany. There are many day trips from Florence to Tuscany. Check to see if there are any from Sienna out to the countryside as well. Happy planning your trip! This forum is a great source of info! Bobbie
Posted by
OP
boston
20 posts
We will be arriving in Florence around 3 PM on a Saturday and leaving around 11 AM from Rome the following Saturday. Not being familiar with the area or the language I would feel more comfortable not driving and trying to find a 2 or 3 day tour of that area. Thanks for you comments.
Posted by
Forest Grove, OR
11834 posts
Sarah: I think you can do what you want, but without a car, you have to be very strategic about where you stay . Consider this possible itinerary, if you will, and skip Pisa. It's rather a long trip out of your way with little to see except the tower. Really. Sat - Arrive Florence, check in, dinner, sleep Sun - Tour Florence, sleep Florence Mon - Transfer to Siena via San Gimignano. You'll have two somewhat lengthy bus trips, but quite doable. Sleep Siena Tue - Guided tour of Chianti region with https://www.toursbyroberto.com. You can choose one of his "standard" tours or contact Roberto to design your own day. Sleep Siena Alternately you can certainly spend 4 nights in Florence and day trip all of it, but I think you can only do 2 of 3 outside Florence: Siena and/or San Gim. and/or Chianti. Wed - Transfer to Rome Thu - Rome Fri - Rome
Sat - Depart This is a bit choppy for my taste, but if you really want to see all of these places and not have a car, it will work. Rome really deserves at least 3 nights. If you have the resources, Tours By Roberto can do a custom trip for you covering all of your Tuscany locations. That would take some transportation and planning pressure off.