One week in Tuscany - help

stay 6 nights in a hill town/country location with day trips if you do not want stay in a crowded museum city like Florence

Are you planning to rent a car for the rural part of your trip?

Yes, planning to rent a car for the rural part (not Florence)

I would choose two nights in Florence, and four in the Siena/villages area. I really liked Montepulciano & Pienza for the smaller villages last September, but there are many wonderful towns in that area. We’ve stayed several nights at Siena, and it has a beautiful duomo, baptistery, library and the Campo piazza - a great town!

Do not avoid Florence, it is wonderful. We loved the Hotel Balesteri, on the Arno. Siena is nice, but you can do it on a day trip from Florence, or if you wish to stay there, I recommend two nights.

The countryside is wonderful in Tuscany/Chianti, I would stay there and do day trips. When my family did this trip a few years ago we took the train into Florence for the day even though we had a car. It added to the adventure plus you really don't want a car in Florence. We visited at least two hill towns each day and bought wine while there. We had wonderful wine tastings each night. Probably the most relaxing vacation I have ever had, but I wasn't the one having to drive.

It's a wonderful conundrum to have ! You will get tons of suggestions !

You could stay several nights in Florence - the city is magical and definitely magical in the morning and evening !
You could do a one day wine tour from Florence - you get to drink withought driving - a definite plus !
You could also do a bus trip into Siena from Florence - the parking there can be a bit crazy so a bus trip is nice.

Then rent a car and stay in the Montepulciano region at Cretaiole - Isabella is a fabulous host - and you can visit this entire area from there, including up to Volterra. Isabella may want a week stay, however.

Or, rent a car and stay around Greve at Borgo Argenina - Elena cooks with all of her guests and the property is amazing. You are close to many delightful Tuscan and Umbrian treasures. And there is no minimum stay.

On our first trip to Tuscany we spent 4 nights at an agriturismo (favorite place I've ever stayed) with a car, and 2 nights in Florence (no car). When returning for another visit we spent 4 nights in Siena (not too far from the train station at a place with parking) and 4 nights at an agriturismo. The day we went to Florence from the agriturismo we took a train. We tend to do 2 hill towns each day. On occasion we were able to squeeze in a 3rd. On the drive from Siena to the agriturismo we drove through the Chianti area and stopped in a few towns. If you want an agriturismo experience be aware that what looks like a short distance on the map can take a long time to drive on narrow and windy roads. I would choose one near a town for access to food, etc.

We've stayed near Montepulciano and in San Quirico, two weeks in both. We enjoyed both of those towns and Pienza which is a very nice place. But be sure to drive the back roads, lots of interesting sights.

Where will you be coming from and going to before this bit in Florence/Tuscany?

We did 3 nights Florence
picked up car
2 nights Siena, 2 Montepulciano, 2 Assisi-
dropped car.
That was perfect for us. We enjoy being in diff towns for mornings and evenings, day tripping but moving forward as well.

I wouldn't want to stay IN Siena with a car unless you are sure of your parking and access. We think we will probably stay in Pienza when we return.