My husband and I will arrive in mid-September for a short week in Italy. We fly into Rome on a Tuesday AM and we're renting a car at the airport. The next day, after Rome Marriott stay, we'll leave for the Tuscan hills to explore. We want to fit in one day in Florence (I know, too short) and one day to hit the highlights of Cinque Terre. We have both an apartment and a hotel booked in Montepulciano as "home base" as well as a boutique hotel near Florence in Chianti region and a B&B near Castiglione Florentino. What place makes the most sense for us to stay, having not been to Italy before? I like the idea of having hotel personnel to talk to/ask questions, but the apartment my husband prefers in Montepulciano is beautiful! Also, does anyone have a recommended schedule for Rome for two half days?? I like Rick's "Rome in a Day" itinerary. Should we book a Vatican or Colosseum tour and when? As for Florence and Cinque Terre, we plan to take a train from our "home base". The other days, we'll use our car to explore various hill towns like Cortona, etc. Does anyone have a recommended itinerary for Florence in a day - book a tour or just get advance tickets? We need a lot of advice! Thanks so much in advance!
Posted by
Chicago
8229 posts
I would skip an inside Vatican museum tour (and maybe do the Colosseum/Forum because it is outside) since you only have two days. It is just too crowded at the Vatican Museum like being herded.
Rome is very enjoyable outside just walking from St Peters Square to the Castel Nuovo to the old town center, stopping eating taking pictures and so on.
For the Cinque Terre part you might drive from Tuscany to La Spezia park the car somewhere and just shuttle between the towns on the train. But check the travel time on Google maps to see if it is too far a day trip for your taste.
For Florence on a day trip I think Rick Steves has a self guided walking tour in his book; I would not buy a tour; and if you know you want to go to one of the museums book an advanced entry time.
Posted by
Boston
1814 posts
Save Cinque Terre for another trip. From your proposed bases, it's almost a 3 hour drive each way and passes by a major metro area. That is not most people's idea of a vacation. There are plenty of sites to fill the time. Longer in Rome or Florence, or add Orvieto.
Posted by
Boston, MA
1829 posts
It is not clear to me how many nights you are staying where?
Seems like definitely too short for Rome. And after that I am confused.
Posted by
Minnesota 🎒
16700 posts
Also, does anyone have a recommended schedule for Rome for two half
days??
The way I read your post, you only have two 1/2 days in Rome: the day you arrive and (possibly) the day you return to Rome from up north prior to a flight home from Fiumicino the next day. CeceH1, this is very, very little time for the Eternal City; arrival day could be a jet-lagged haze not much good for anything but some outdoor walking to stay awake. I also have a feeling that the Marriott you booked is at the airport, which is a ways outside the city, and you do not want to drive that rental car in.
Can you confirm your entire schedule with arrival/departure dates, if you are flying both in and out of Rome, and where you booked accommodations there? It looks to be that you're trying to cram way too much into a week that may not really be a FULL 7 days, and severely shorting Rome if you want to do the Colosseum and Vatican. There's a lot to see in that city, and I think you'll be miserable trying to manage it in a matter of hours versus days.
Also, the CT is too far from Castiglione Florentino to do as a day trip - over 4 hours by train each way - and just as bad from Montepulciano. The only location it would make sense from is Florence.
Editing to add: if you haven't done some homework on driving in Italy, now's the time. It's a different animal than driving in the U.S. due to restricted zones and whatnot.
Posted by
Seattle, WA & Bordeaux, France
347 posts
If you are staying 7 full nights, with three nights in Rome, that leaves two nights in Montepulciano and two nights in Chianti. There is SO much to do and see in Rome that I'm sure you already know that 2 1/2 days is not nearly enough time. So, list out your 'must sees' in order of preference. If you are staying in Montepulciano (a wonderful town!) you will realistically only be able to visit towns in Southern Tuscany. Cortona is about an hour away and really charming. Montalcino is close as well, though opposite direction of Cortona. If you are staying in Chianti, you could do Florence in one day. We did a day tour through Walks of Italy. It was great and worth the money to 'skip the lines' and see the highlights in a limited time.
With your limited time and locations you will be staying you will not have time to see Cinque Terre. It is too far of a drive from Chianti to see it in a day and definitely way too far from Montepulciano. You would spend most of your time driving (or on a train) and very little in any of the five towns themselves.
Posted by
OP
Virginia
4 posts
I should have clarified! We arrive about 10am on a Tuesday and we're staying at the Marriott near the center of the Rome that night and then off to Tuscany for four nights and back to Rome (airport Marriott this time) for Sunday night. My husband is looking forward to driving in Italy and we're aware we can't park much inside the hill towns. We always try to do too much so thank you for the great advice! Appreciate all you can provide!
Posted by
Rural Georgia
2213 posts
Almost without exception, You can’t park at all in hill towns. You have to park outside the walls. Study hard concerning driving in Italy. I love it, but you’ve got to know the rules.
Posted by
Minnesota 🎒
16700 posts
"We arrive about 10am on a Tuesday and we're staying at the Marriott
near the center of the Rome that night and then off to Tuscany for
four nights and back to Rome (airport Marriott this time) for Sunday
night."
So in reality you have 5.5 days on the ground in Italy, and only 1/2 day Tuesday and little-to-no time Sunday for Rome if dropping off the car and staying at the airport. You also need to subtract your travel time from Rome to wherever you end up staying in Tuscany (another partial day) plus transport time for your day trip(s). I'm not personally wild about the idea of driving your rental car into central Rome (Marriott Grand Hotel Flora?) on arrival day, which sounds like what you intend to do?
Tues: Arrive Rome 10:00 AM, rent car, stay Marriott in central Rome
Wed: drive to Tuscany, stay Tuscany
Thurs: Tuscany
Fri: day trip to Florence
Sat: Tuscany
Sunday: drive to Rome airport; drop car, stay at airport
Posted by
lexington, il
4105 posts
If you've never driven in Italy, please read and download their PDF.
https://www.italybeyondtheobvious.com/dont-mess-with-ztl-zones
For a lodging much more central, we have enjoyed our stays here.
Wonderful hosts who really take their time to make some fantastic day trip recommendations. They do rent for less than a week if they have availability. Property has been in the family for generations.