Day in Tuscan countryside from Florence - drive on our own, or take a bus tour?

Just a few days? Then why go elsewhere? Please do not drive because if you do you'll be back here on this forum a week after you return talking about horrible traffic is in Italy. Then about 6 months later you'll be back talking about the traffic ticket you just received for driving in a ZTL or a camera speed ticket. Just enjoy Florence and if you just must must must take an additional daytrip use the train.

How many days could you tour around Tuscany? If you have 3 or more I would consider renting a car. Driving out of the cities isn't bad. The countryside is beautiful and there are many places that are hard to reach without a car. As for driving in cities, just watch out for the ZTLs (historic centers that are marked with signs) and be sure not to drive into them. We checked out the DK Insight Guide on Backroads in Northern Italy (our libray had a copy) and got some wonderful ideas for routes and places.

Thanks for your ideas! We only have one day to do it. I have a reservation for a bus tour - but we would be gone from 8:15 am - 7:30 pm. I also hate to take away from our time in Florence. We are spending 2 nights in Manarola in Cinque Terre, weather permitting. I am wondering if we should limit our time in CT to one night only, to allow for a day in the Tuscan countryside. I just feel we should see some of the countryside towns such as San Gimignano, Chianti, and Siena (those are on the tour we have reserved).
Thanks again for your suggestions - I really appreciate it!

Maureen
We did a bus tour similar to the one you mentioned while we were in Florence- ours went to Sienna, a farm/wineery for lunch, San Gigmiano and Pisa - it was fantastic. We were glad to leave the driving to others and the guide was wonderful.

I agree...if this is your first time to Italy, take the bus tour. Much less stress, and you will learn a lot from a guided tour.
Why have the stress/hassle of navigating the roads, and dealing with traffic, and worse, speeding tickets, parking, etc.

Sit back, enjoy and let someone else do the driving. It's the most efficient use of your time!

Thanks, all!
Glad you agree a bus tour is the way to go.
But to Tim's point earlier, I wonder if I need to tweak our itinerary to allow more time in Florence. Here's our Itinerary (doesn't include arrival in Venice, 2 nights there), then:
Saturday: 3 pm arrive in Florence
Sunday: Florence
Monday: Daylong tour of Tuscany
Tuesday: Manarola
Wednesday: Manarola
Thursday: Return to Florence
Friday: Leave Florence, train to Rome
Saturday: Rome
Sunday: Rome
Monday: Fly back to USA

**Should we plan for more time in Florence and less time in Manarola?
Thanks!
Maureen

With limited time (and possibly bad weather) an organized tour is going to allow you to visit more places in the time available.

I'm also wondering why you're going to the Cinque Terre in December. Most of the tourism infrastructure (and probably most of the trails) will be closed for the season. I suggest devoting those days to Rome or Florence.

Maureen, Cinque Terre can be very iffy in December. Boats will probably not be traveling between the towns. If the weather is bad, there is not too much to do. And it's often been written here that many inns, restaurants and probably shops close for the winter season. I think you would be better off spending that time in Florence or in nearby towns in Tuscany or Umbria, and leaving CT for a future trip, ideally in the soaring it fall.

I am wondering why you will be in Florence, leave to go to Manarola, and then go back to Florence for one night. Like others said, Cinque Terre may be closed up. I would just stay in Florence and see the other Tuscan towns as you wanted.

Forget the tours. Enough to see in Florence for 3-5 days and then extend your time in Rome where there is enough to see for 7+. Take it easy, get lost, have a long lunch with a nice bottle of wine and enjoy your trip of a life time. Less is more! Enjoy your time.

I really appreciate everyone's input - thank you!
So the reason we're going to Cinque Terre is that my husband is not a city person and loves the ocean (we live in Dana Point, CA), so he's very interested in seeing the coastal region of Cinque Terre. He also did some reading on the Presepe Manarola - which is why we selected Manarola.
It's been like pulling teeth for me to get him to spend more than 2 nights in Rome (we're staying 3!) because when he went after college (30 years ago) he went to Rome in the summertime, it was blazing hot and very crowded - so that's his memory of Rome. Since we're going in December, we know we won't have the heat to contend with - which is great! So now I just need to find a way to manage our time wisely so we don't let the crowds dampen his spirit so we can really enjoy the sights.

John, I really LOVE your perspective - it really resonated with me. I really want to be able to get lost in Florence (or wherever we are) and live in the moment so we can soak it all in.
My challenge is that this may be our one and only trip to Italy. Don't you think we should try to see some of the countryside? (San Gimignano, Siena, Chianti)??? And my question to all of you - knowing my husband is not a fan of cities - do you think Florence will be "different?"

I sincerely appreciate hearing from all of you - thanks again!

One thought about your husband's affinity for the water and the CT – any chance you might be able to interest him in the Adriatic instead? I'm thinking about Venice. If the weather is not good, you'll have far more options in Venice then in the CT. If the weather is good, you can take a vaporetto to the outlying islands and enjoy time on the water And you can be certain the tourist infrastructure will be operating in Venice.

I'm not sure what your husband defines as "city", but certainly Venice is unique. simply the absence of cars gives a very different feel. I grew up on boats and really love the ocean, and spending time in a city where public transport is by boat is wonderful for me. He might also enjoy it.

I can so identify with your situation. My husband hates the large cities. He refuses to go into another church or museum.
What we do now if we are in Florence, or larger city (usually because we have to spend the night to get to the airport) is search out a tower we can climb. He wants to "exercise" while on vacation, so we climb to the top of any building we can. It is fun, and certainly gives you a different view of the town. In Florence there is the Duomo and the Bell Tower, and of course walking the the other side of the Arno...

For sure get out into the countryside and spend sometime in a smaller town. December is going to be difficult along the coast, weather makes it iffy there. you could encounter some snow in the interior...so a bus tour would be better than a personal car.

We personally love the countryside in Italy. I'd imagine that in December you will not have any type of crowd but the locals. I'd hope you even get lucky and be in a small hilltop town when there is some sort of festival happening...

Venice has ocean, city sites AND down at the tip of the island in St Elena are parks, flowers, trees all along the sea wall. I would spend all of the extra time you can in Venice. Nothing like it anywhere else. CT - not a fan.