Hey!
We are planning to visit Tuscany in mid June for 5 days 4 nights as below:
Day 1- Sunday : arriving into Pisa midday so will probably explore Pisa that day
Day 2 - Monday : thinking of doing a day trip to Florence, exploring Florence then coming back on a late train
Day 3 - Tuesday : Thinking of a day trip to Cinque Terre area, and back in Pisa for evening luminara festival
Day 4 - Wednesday : planning to rent a car and drive around Tuscany countryside
Day 5: not sure yet, return flight from Pisa in evening 8pm
Would be lovely if anyone could give suggestions on places to go to etc
I have heard cinque terre is v overcrowded so we don't mind visiting alternative coast town that is beautiful too
Or anything else you would change in general Guidance is much appreciated, travelling from UK!
Grazie!!!
Posted by
Irving
3580 posts
Get an early start the days you visit Florence and rent a car. Good Tuscan day trips are San Gimignano and Volterra.
Do visit the Cinque Terre. It would be a shame to be that close and miss it.
Posted by
Minnesota 🎒
18218 posts
Day 2 - Monday : thinking of doing a day trip to Florence, exploring
Florence then coming back on a late train
You might want to switch this to a different day depending on what you want to see in Florence. Italian State Museums, such as the Uffizi, Accademia and Palazzo Pitti, are closed on Mondays. There is still plenty to see but if a couple of the biggies are on your list....
Posted by
6 posts
I'd personally swap Lucca for Pisa, but you can't go wrong either way!
Posted by
Gettysburg PA
9383 posts
I think Pisa is fine for what you want to do. Lucca is a bit too far north for exploring Tuscany and your car rental options there will be limited.
Pisa is a college town so probably livelier at night than Lucca (which doesn't really have any sights other than churches)
Be sure to visit the Field of Miracles at night- it is breathtaking all lit up.
Change your Florence day if museums are important as noted by Kate.
Don't know where you are from but you might need an International Driving Permit as require by law.
Posted by
Saint Paul, Minnesota
2174 posts
You might have time to get to the Museo Piaggio museum in Pontedera, a town a bit east of Pisa, about 20 minutes by train. My husband and I have close to zero interest in vehicles, but we do like the 3-wheeled Ape and really enjoyed the whole museum. Closed Sunday and Monday, also midday. Best to book your visit online.
Things to see and do in Pisa itself:
https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/italy/a-longer-visit-to-pisa
Lunch in Pisa:
https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/italy/lunch-restaurant-in-pisa
Posted by
Alberta
777 posts
Do you have to stay in Pisa the entire time? Florence and Cinque Terre are both very busy, and it is so much nicer to stay over in busy places. Personally I would go straight to Florence on Sunday and stay Sunday/ Monday there.
Lucca is a nice town to explore and you could consider that instead of Pisa too. There is a car rental just outside the walls, Europcar that we just used
. Portovenere is also very pretty, potentially instead of CT.
Posted by
OP
2 posts
thanks a lot everyone!
Posted by
10088 posts
Except for the Leaning Tower, Cathedral and Baptistery, Pisa is a pass.
Florence in a day trip, NOOOO. Florence is amazing, you could do all your time there.
Skip Cinque Terre and visit Siena, San Gimignano and Voltera.
Posted by
Birmingham, Alabama
2 posts
I have returned from 3 weeks in Italy. For your one-week trip, I agree with perhaps passing on Cinque Terra this trip and try to do two days in Florence at a minimum. Florence is amazing. The View on Art Rooftop Cocktail Bar has an amazing daytime and nighttime view of the Duomo, Tower & Basilica. Castles abound everywhere in Tuscany. Drive, stop and explore. Did not encounter a bad restaurant experience during my time there.
Posted by
Minnesota 🎒
18218 posts
I have returned from 3 weeks in Italy....
Welcome to the forum, kentcoee! Very nice first post, and I'm delighted that you had a great trip!