Hi! We think we came up with our plan but need suggestions. We have 11 days in Italy. 2 nights in Venice 2 nights in cinque terre 1 night in florence take bus to siena 4-5 nights in Tuscany take bus back to florence
Fly home from Florence Our problem is this: we know we want to rent a car to explore Tuscany. I've done some research and this is what I believe would work : take the bus from florence to siena. Then rent a car in Siena. Is Siena a good base to travel to the different wine regions? We would only stay there for a night, then head to different bed and breakfasts in the various regions. What regions are in close proximity to siena? I hope I make sense and in need of some serious help! Thanks! :)
Posted by
Forest Grove, OR
11338 posts
Colleen: Have you read a good guidebook like Rick Steves' yet? He will tell you what you need to know about the various options in Tuscany, which towns offer what opportunities, etc. Also covers car rental. IMHO you are trying to cover too much ground. You will be exhausted! 2 nights in a location gives you one day to tour. 1 night doesn't even give you that. You will be packing and unpacking all the time, getting oriented to a new city every day or two. When you say "We would only stay there for a night, then head to different bed and breakfasts in the various regions" it makes me shudder. I think you should pick a base or two in Tuscany and take it a little easier. Skip the Cinque Terre this time. It's best to stay there 3 nights since it's quite a long trip to get there and back out. 3 nights Venice -- 2 days to tour this fabulous city 2 nights Siena, get a car, see hilltowns like San Gimignano and Volterra for a day and keep the car for the next few days 3 nights Tuscan hilltown of your choice -- Montalcino or Montepulciano for wine; tour other towns, take a hike, take a scenic drive
2 nights Florence before you fly out
Posted by
Alachua, FL, USA
238 posts
I agree you are trying to do way too much in 11 days. And since I love Rome even more than Florence, I'm bummed you won't make it there. We rented from Avis in Siena and they were great. You can stay outside of Siena and drive all over. We drove from Siena to Montalcino and Montepulciano and back to Siena in one day and had a great time. I would spend 3 nights in Venice, 2 nights in Florence, and the remainder outside Siena with a rental car.
Posted by
Vernon, Canada
32213 posts
Colleen, I definitely agree with the others! Your proposed Itinerary is far too "busy" for the time frame you're working with. Each time you change locations will require about half a day, so you'd be spending a large part of your short trip getting from one place to another. The Itinerary posted by Laurel is similar to what I was going to suggest. Buon Viaggio!
Posted by
Atlanta, Ga
211 posts
If this is first trip, I would add a day to Venice and Florence and drop CT.
Less travel and moving around. Siena is a perfect place to use as a base to spend traveling around Tuscany.
Posted by
Denver, CO, USA
35 posts
Whatever you do and whatever suggestions people make, don't drop CT!!! I was told to drop CT from my itinerary and in the end I wish I could have spent more time there. We spent 3 nights and 2 full days in Vernazza and hiked, and swam, and lounged around and it was amazing!! CT is awesome, so don't drop it. I would drop a day or two from Tuscany before I did from CT.
Posted by
Longview, Washington, USA
21 posts
from the itinerary I'm guessing that art isn't a big priority for this trip? If that's the case then I suggest skipping florence. It's a pretty town, but it's only unique draw is the amazing art. Venice is prettier, Florence is too congested to be really charming (I was just in florence and wasn't really impressed).
Posted by
Forest Grove, OR
11338 posts
As to the CT it depends a lot on what time of year you are going. November early April it's chancy on weather and many businesses close.