Driving in Tuscany or Day trip?

Posted by aberendt40 on 04/11/17 12:51 PM

I will be making a 10 day trip to Italy with my 71-year-old artist mother, and would really appreciate your suggestions :) I'm trying to squeeze a day or two into the Tuscany countryside to escape the cities and get a different perspective on Italy. I've read that renting a car is the best way to experience Tuscany, but should it still be done for 1-2 days? We will be taking trains everywhere else. My idea was to rent a car in Florence, drive around Tuscany for a day, and return it the next day before taking a train to Rome & getting there in the evening. Thanks in advance for your advice!

Nights 1-3: Venice
Nights 4-6: Florence
Night 7: Sienna? Tuscany countryside? rent car?
Nights 8-11: Rome

Posted by Tim

Wyckoff, NJ, USA

04/11/17 01:13 PM

8076 posts

You don't mention whether your mother has any walking impediments. Walking is very important, including up-hills because so many parking lots (and train stations) are "below" the hill towns. Siena is one of the largest towns in Tuscany. While it is a very rich destination, it requires a lot of walking.

Having a taxi from a train station might make sense, because of ZTL driving restrictions on rental cars. You could also argue for having a car and going only to the smaller hill towns. (Some of them are VERY small.) If you go to a town that has a bus from the parking lots (like San G, I think) you have to add in waiting time for the bus, each way.

It is perfectly true that a car is the best way to experience the Tuscan hill towns. But renting a car is not a trivial matter. Please use the Search box top center to read about insurance, IDP, ZTL, and more. This may help your decision.

Posted by David in Brisbane

Brisbane, Australia

04/11/17 01:52 PM

7175 posts

I wouldn't bother about a car with such limited time at your disposal.

Day
04. Train from Venice to Florence (4 nights)
05. Pisa and Lucca by train
06. Florence sights
07. Siena by bus
08. Train from Florence to Rome

Posted by Gordon

Portland, Oregon, United States

04/12/17 02:52 PM

907 posts

Here's an idea, rent the car in Florence and drop it in Rome. That would give you more time in Tuscany and ease the burden of train schedules. A leisurely pace to stop at Sienna (pick a parking garage with an escalator or hotel with parking), then wander on down to Orvieto (relatively flat and easy parking) then on to Rome and dump the car. You might check out handicap parking permits to make it even easier.

Sounds like a wonderful and memorable trip for you and your mom.

Posted by epltd

04/12/17 03:56 PM

3124 posts

Agree with Tim "renting a car [in Italy] is not a trivial matter. Please use the Search box top center to read about insurance, IDP, ZTL, and more."

My husband has some mobility limitations so for us it's worth the expense to hire a driver for a one-day countryside trip to 3 towns we particularly chose as being of interest to us.