I am planning to rent a car for 1 day to drive from Florence to Tuscany. I am thinking of visiting Sienna, San Gimignano, and perhaps Pisa, etc. Is this a difficult drive? and how long should I expect? I am fine driving anywhere in the world. Any advice would be helpful.
Posted by
Huntsville, AL, USA
8159 posts
We found Siena very congested and confusing--with poor parking facilities. I'd suggest taking a Sita Bus across the street from the Florence train station for a day trip to Siena.
San Gimignano and Volterra are a great day trip from Florence. The roads are well paved but a little crooked. Intersections and roads are well marked, and we didn't even travel with a road map. By late afternoon, the buses and tourists have disappered from San Gim, and it's very pleasant.
Posted by
Firenze
500 posts
San Gimignano and Siena are possible in a single day. You don't have too much time at both destination but a lot of persons do it. Driving is not difficult, the difficult (and possibly expensive) thing may be parking.
San Giminiano and Pisa would be possible through some detours. Siena and Pisa in a single day are too much - let alone three cities in a single day.
Posted by
Vancouver, BC, Canada
1208 posts
On our recent trip, our friends did a bus tour from Florence to Siena to San Gimignano and back. They were on the bus for at least 3+ hours for a total 10-11 hour day. You will have to contend with unfamiliar roads and parking so your car seat time may even be longer. They also considered a tour which included Pisa but if I recall it would have added at least another 3 hours of bus time, with reduced visit time in Siena/San Gimignano, all for a 15 minute picture op in Pisa. You can google map your driving times to confirm.
Posted by
Milwaukie, Oregon
1056 posts
You won't have time to do Siena and other sites in only one day. And, as already pointed out, Siena is not easily someplace you want to go by car, as there is no place to park that is anywhere near the center of town I would suggest San Gimignano and Volterra for a one-day trip.
Posted by
Vernon, Canada
32213 posts
Escape,
A few thoughts.....
- For driving in Italy, note that each driver will require the compulsory International Driver's Permit, which is used in conjunction with your home D.L.
- You'll have to be VERY careful to avoid the dreaded ZTL (limited traffic) areas, which exist in many towns in Italy (especially Florence but also Pisa). If you pass through any of these, hefty fines will follow!
- As mentioned previously, finding parking in Siena can be challenging. If you have the time, that trip is easily done by Bus from Florence (about an hour each way using Corse Rapide Buses).
- I'd probably do a bit of research online to get some idea of the parking facilities in each of the towns, so that you have some idea what's available.
- A GPS or at least a good Map would probably be helpful.
- Note that Florence is the capital of Tuscany, so you'll be driving within Tuscany.
Posted by
Ann Arbor, Mi
3696 posts
Been there... done that... on two separate trips to Italy I tried to visit Siena with my car... and was unsuccessful on both. I don't give up easily but after about the 5th circle around the same place I gave up and went someplace pleasant... smaller village with parking.
Finally last trip to Florence I had a few xtra days so I hopped the train and visited Siena for the day. FYI... I drive all over Europe but it is only an asset when it makes sense... all small villages, vineyards, countryside views, etc. are far more enjoyable with your car, but pass on the cities that make it stressful... take the train or the bus!
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area (USA)
15202 posts
Florence is in Tuscany so you don't need to drive to it, you are there already.
If you rent a car early in the morning you could take the freeway to San Gimignano. Then from there drive to Siena for a quick visit. On the way back you could drive through the Chianti road back to Florence.
Finding parking in Siena is easy if you know what you are doing. Just follow directions to the "Artemio Franchi" stadium (look for sign displaying a soccer ball logo). Near the stadium there is the Fortezza parking lots. The historical center is walking distance from there.
However this is kind of a rush to do in a day.
A better plan is to do Siena in a separate day by bus (so you don't have to deal with parking at all). Siena has a lot to offer (Museo pubblico, Palazzo pubblico, piazza del campo, Duomo, Torre del Mangia, etc.) so it can keep you busy most of a day on its own, and a car is not needed while in Siena.
Then by car, on a separate day, you could do a loop visiting the smaller villages. For example from Florence - San Gimignano- Volterra- Colle Val D'Elsa- Monteriggioni- Castellina in Chianti-Greve in Chianti-Florence. That would be a nice drive (plot it on Google Maps to see).