Florence Day Trips - Advice wanted

On Day 1, Be sure to include a visit to Lucca, one of the beautiful towns in the Tuscany region. San Giminagno and Volterra are picturesque villages too.

On Day 2, You can do a combine day trip of Siena and Pisa.

I wouldn't try to combine Siena and Pisa. That would mean about 4 hours on the train, plus extra time getting to the stations early enough for safety, plus time walking between the train stations and the sights. Pisa pairs better with Lucca if Pisa is an absolute must.

I would suggest doing further research on whether all of your destinations require a rental car. The problem is that a number of Tuscany destinations aren't well served by public transportation (trains or buses)--however, having a rental car that you have to park nightly in Florence can be hugely problematical, if you're sleeping near or in the most atmospheric part of Florence, the historic center. If renting a car during your Florence stay, I would recommend staying at lodging located outside the historic center, one that offers reasonably priced parking.

Depending on your budget, you might consider hiring a driver. That way you wouldn't have to pay for parking or worry about finding a suitable place to park. You could take the train to Pisa on one day, and use the other day with your hired driver to visit the Tuscan towns that interest you.

Both Florence and the smaller towns and rural areas of Tuscany are wonderful, so you will certainly enjoy! I wonder if you might find a rental car more a pain than a necessity. Siena is an excellent day trip from Florence, best by direct 1-hour bus right into town, but alternatively by train, which drops you outside of Siena, requiring a bus or taxi into town. I encourage you to stay in Siena into the evening, as the town is more magical once the day trippers (like you) leave town and things quiet down. For the other day, do you like wine? If so, you might be better off either with a car and driver, or a winery tour, which allows you several stops including wineries, without worrying about a nasty DUI stop (or being a designated driver). Many people here on the forum have raved about the wine tours by Roberto of Siena, who I believe is recommended in Rick’s books, and appears In his video programs of Tuscany, and Umbria too I think. I have not yet had this pleasure. This plan would free you from picking up and returning a rental car, hassling with parking and driving, etc.

These day trips are the most popular:

SIENA: this day trip is best done by bus. A car is not needed in Siena.

CHIANTI HILLS ROAD: this day trip is for the wine enthusiast. Private car transportation is recommended since bus service is very scant in this rural part of Tuscany, one of the most famous wine regions in the world. Some people combine a morning spent in Siena with a drive back to Florence in the afternoon. If that is your plan, you need a very early start because it’s a lot to squeeze in a day.

SAN GIMIGNANO: one of the most famous medieval towns in the world. San Gimignano is doable easily by bus from Florence.

MONTERIGGIONI: If you have a car, you can visit both San Gimignano and Monteriggioni in the same trip. But if you use buses only, adding Monteriggioni might be a challenge as buses aren’t too frequent. Monteriggioni however has more frequent bus service from/to Siena therefore you could make a quick visit the day you go to Siena.

VOLTERRA: It’s a pretty town but it’s not easy to visit from Florence without a car, therefore I recommend it only with a car. If you do rent a car, you can also visit Monteriggioni or San Gimignano along the way (it’s only a slight detour). You could visit all three with a car (San Gimignano, Monteriggioni, Volterra) but that would be rushed. Whatever you do, visit Volterra first, then anything else on the way back. Near Volterra the highway is very curvy, so it’s best not to drive it in the evenings. Both San Gimignano and especially Monteriggioni are near the freeway, therefore easier to come back from even in the dark.

LUCCA+PISA: this is best done by train. Go to Lucca first and spend more time there. Pisa is nearby (20 min) but not much to see other than the Piazza dei Miracoli with Cathedral and Leaning bell tower. Leave Pisa for last. There are 60 trains a day from Pisa to Florence and the last one is late (10:30pm).

AREZZO and/or CORTONA: both are doable by train and they are in the same line. If you decide to visit both, start early. Visit Cortona first (the farther) then in the afternoon stop at Arezzo for the rest of the day/evening. All trains will stop at Arezzo coming back from Cortona. Arezzo is the provincial capital city of that part of Tuscany. The Cortona station (called CORTONA-CAMUCIA) is at the bottom of the hill in the town of Camucia. You’ll need a bus to go up to Cortona.

Thanks for the replies so far!

Some further information:

I am only planning on a car for one day driving through the countryside. We don’t drink, so a driver isn’t going to be required. If we go to Siena, that will most likely be by bus and not car.

I am not against Pisa, but it doesn’t hold the same attraction for me as many of the other places in Tuscany.

I can’t stay anywhere else for the night because my apartment is already booked for the full 4 nights. That said, if we go to Siena, I don’t mind staying until after dark and getting back to Florence late if the buses continue to run late.

What Roberto said! I have done many of his exact suggestions above.

If you rent a car use it to visit places that would be hard to visit by bus.
I would probably consider either of these two driving itineraries:

1. Florence - San Gimignano - Colle Val D’Elsa- Monteriggioni - Castellina in Chianti then back to Florence Via Chianti Road (SR 222).

2. Florence - Volterra - San Gimignano - Colle Val D’Elsa and/or Monteriggioni (last 2 are Optional if time allows)-back to Florence.

I think both can be done in a day if you rent early and return late.

I don’t know if your apartment is downtown, but I would pick up the rental car on Borgo Ognissanti, downtown. However if you return after 7:30pm, the only open location is the Florence airport (which is open till 11:30pm). But when you pick up ask if they have after hours drop key arrangements at Borgo Ognissanti because the airport is kind of out of the way.

Regarding driving in Italy I presume you know all the caveats, such as:

• International Driving Permit requirements
• Restricted Traffic Zones (Zona Traffico Limitato or ZTL)
• European Road Signage
• Car rental insurance

If not, use the search box above to educate yourself.

Thanks all!

Yes I am aware of the driving rules and regulations. Thanks!

I really appreciate the pointers on when and where to return the car!

Roberto is from Florence...I would trust his advice.

Noted! Thanks again everyone!!!

This is very helpful.