Rick's book outlines how to get to and from each hilltown's City Center by bus or train, but how would I get to an agriturismo a mile outside of the City Center without a car? A car sounds like a pain and I'd like to try to avoid renting one if possible. Hilltowns in consideration include: Volterra and San Gimigiano.
Thanks for your help!
You should ask the individual agriturismos that you're considering. Some are on a local bus line. Others might be accessible via taxi.
Without a car why not stay in the city center? You'll be taking a bus or taxi each time you want to go someplace outside of the agritourismo.
Tuscany is best with a car.
Staying in agriturisimos without a car is just not a good idea. And in fact most hill towns are not connected by train and bus schedules tend to be designed for local school kids and workers not for the needs of tourists.
It does not sound like a convenient combination. You can get to Volterra and San Gimignano with fairly frequent bus connections and can stay at hotels within those towns. If you don't need or want a car for more hilltowns and exploring, then I would not choose a rural agritourismo.
Thanks for responding, friends! If I did rent a car, in what major city could I pick it up and drop it off at?
Where will you be coming from? That will affect where you would pick up a rental car. On the other hand, if you truly will be staying only a mile out of town, that's walkable once you get there.
Great question, Michael. We will be coming from Rome and hitting up Florence after that. Would it be easiest to pick up and drop off in Siena and take the train to Florence? Or drop off in Florence?
Are you visiting Florence for a few days immediately after Rome and then to an agriturismo?
Or are you doing the Agriturismo after Rome but before Florence?
If no. 1, then when you leave Florence, pick up a car in Florence.
If no. 2, then I would pick up in Rome (or Orvieto)
Return your car to the location you go next. If you go back to Rome to catch your flight home, then return it in Rome (or nearby Orvieto)
IF it is only a mile. Walk it !! Walking a mile is nothing in Europe. We sometimes will walk a mile within the town to get to a hotel.
The first time with your bag(s) take a taxi. After that, walk or see if they have a bike you can use.
First, neither Volterra or San G. has a train station. You get there by bus. And, usually more than one bus. Once at the train station, you can always take a taxi. My wife and daughter did this last fall from the Siena train station to their Agriturismo just outside Siena. Plus, they took a taxi to and from Siena for two days. It worked great. The taxi fares are just not that bad.
Second, if you want to see more of Tuscany, you will need a rental car. Buses are fine but they they aren't as frequent in Tuscany and they run to and from a few main hubs. Thus, you have to return to a hub to go somewhere else. Lastly, bus schedules on Sundays in Tuscany are very limited.
