This will be my wife and I's first time in Florence, We will be there for 4 nights(+5 days in Rome) Is it worth it to plan a day trip? We want to see everything Florence has to offer and more importantly don't want to feel rushed. We figure maybe day trip to a place like San Giamangiano. We have friends who spend days in Siena and feel single day trip doesn't do it justice.
Posted by
US Pacific Northwest
10344 posts
"Is it worth it to plan a day trip?"
Certainly, Siena and San Gimignano are popular day trips from Florence. You can see a lot in a day trip to Siena. Some travelers like to sleep in Siena and do Florence as a day trip, but if you're seriously into art and architecture than Florence as a day trip would leave you a bit frustrated.
Posted by
Seattle, WA
1317 posts
I agree with Kent's advice. I love Florence and spent almost a week there in 2008, which was probably 2 or 3 days more than I needed. I think with your time frame you could do ONE day trip and still feel like you spent a comfortable amount of time exploring Florence.
I would suggest going to Lucca which is an interesting little town near Florence and, in my opinion, well-suited to a day trip.
Posted by
Everett, WA
1300 posts
I would plan a day trip from home (figuring out the where you would want to go, transportation, etc) and go prepared to take one day to see something outside of Florence. Once you get there, there is no law that says you have to take it. For me, I wear out in larger cities and a day spent out in the countryside would be a welcome change. If you want to see Siena, go for it. It is easy to get to and makes a nice day trip. My first time in Italy, I could only get to Rome for a day (I wasnt' suppose to go there at all, but I shifted things around since I had never been before and wanted to at least see it) I had everything scheduled on a timeline and had an absolute blast running around and seeing as much as I could. I did not "do it justice", but that day is one of my fondest memories of that trip. It also convinced me that I had to go back and spend more time there (which I did in 2008) Have a great trip.
Posted by
NJ, USA
61 posts
Hi- I would suggest planning a day trip during your time in Florence. Florence is easily managed in 3 days and completely walkable. We did Siena as a day trip by using the public bus (purchasing tickets on our own, etc.) and it was a bit of an undertaking (language barrier at bus station, crowded public bus, etc.). Many hotels or a tourist office may have a planned day trip to 1-3 surrounding towns, including a tour guide, or at the very least an English speaking employee to help you navigate where to "hop on/hop off", and that's the route I'd take if I were to go again. You'll love Florence...try the wild boar sauce with pasta when eating out...it's amazing!