My husband and I are traveling to Italy for the 1st time in mid September. We fly into Florence renting a car to San Gimignano Toscana for 3 days, then Rome 3 days, Canova Toscano 3 days and 1 final night in Florence. I'm planning on driving all. Hotel in rome has parking. The more i read I'm wondering if there are any different suggestions for transportation. Do we drop car at a train station for the 3 days while in Rome and re rent it when taking train out of rome? Also, for last day in Florence should we stay in Florence or at airport area? Or take car to turn in at airport and then take transport back to Florence to enjot day? Thank you!
Posted by
Northamptonshire, England
34234 posts
What time is flight from Florence?
Posted by
Ontario, Canada
5653 posts
Where exactly is this Canova Toscano?
Posted by
OP
3 posts
Fly in at 1pm. Canova Toscana is about 45 60 min SE of Florence
Posted by
OP
3 posts
We fly out of florence 8am to US
Posted by
Fort Myers, FL
1922 posts
It sounds as if your itinerary is set in stone. If so, I would not have a car in Rome regardless as it isn't needed. If you have flexibility between your arrival and departure from Italy, you may wish to think about leaving Florence, exploring Tuscany for 6 days Canova and San Gimignano, drop the car back in Florence and be done with it. Take a train to Rome and after Rome train back to Florence the day before your flight and enjoy your last evening in Florence. Just a thought.
Posted by
Fort Myers, FL
1922 posts
Just curious, would you share why you picked 3 days in Canova? People on this forum are always looking for hidden gems to visit. I couldn't find anything about it on the internet. Thanks.
Posted by
Midwest
2768 posts
Assuming your itinerary is set and you can’t change it (if you can, leave Rome for last, return car in Rome area, see Rome, then either fly home from Rome or train to Florence to fly home)
Where in Rome is your hotel? If it is central I would not drive to it. If it is not central and you want to see the main sights of Rome then I’d find a hotel in the historic Center with or without parking. Leave your car at an outer garage and take a train or cab in. I don’t know of a specific garage, but I’m sure another poster here can help with that.
I have done this in other cities - sometimes scheduling is such that I need a car before and after a major city but it is best to stay central in such cities, so parking can be difficult. I don’t mind driving in big cities but Rome is different than, say, Barcelona or NY or Paris where I will drive if I have a hotel with parking.m. I also drive in smaller towns - all over Sicily including the Palermo outskirts - but not Rome, Naples, or Palermo.
Posted by
Sunriver
1321 posts
We are car people and supplement with trains once and awhile. I have been know to park the car for three days and pay to park since the trains/bus schedules would have taken me twice as long to get the next destination. I'm on vacation and want to move at my pace. I might not rent a train in Switzerland since their system seems much more extensive but in Italy (even with having to watch out for ZTL zones) we find having a car just makes it easier to get from place to place.