Heading to Italy dec 1. Was planning on spending about 7 days in and around Florence. Main questions are should we use Florence as a home base and do day trips in and around the Tuscany area? Or spend a few days in Florence then a few days in Siena, Montepulciano, ext? Any advice is welcome. Thank you.
Posted by
Huntsville, AL, USA
8367 posts
Spring, Summer Fall would be great times to be out in the countryside staying in an agriturismo or bed and breakfast type accommodation. But December to late March is a different animal.
Florence is cold in winter, and December can go either way. It might be best to stay in Florence and either take buses, trains or rental cars out into the region for day trips--weather pending.
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area (USA)
16221 posts
I'd stay in Florence the whole week and day trip from there. If the weather is not great, a city like Florence offers plenty of opportunities for things to see and do indoor.
Nearby smaller Tuscan cities are also within easy reach in one hour or so for day trips via train or bus, among them: Siena, Pistoia, Arezzo+Cortona, Lucca+Pisa. Some famous smaller towns are within easy reach as well, like San Gimignano, Certaldo, and others. Another large city, Bologna, is also very close by high speed train (37 min).
Temperatures will likely be in the very low 50s F during the day, and around 40 F at night, with a chance of rain, so go prepared.
Posted by
Toledo, Ohio, US
11613 posts
I would spend five nights in Firenze and two somewhere else (Siena, Bologna, Venezia).
Posted by
Bay Area
3551 posts
4-5 nights Florence remainder base in Siena.
Also Florence lodging can get quite pricey.
So as well as time lost in travel for daytrips u will save euros out of Florence.