We land in Rome on a Tuesday morning but do not want to stay Rome for our 1st night. Our itinerary includes Cinque Terre (3days)/Florence & Lucca (2days)/Tuscanny-Siena & Orvieto (3days)and then back to Rome for 3 days. We will be in Italy for 13 days flying out on the 14th day. We are think about a car however Rick Steves likes the trains. Is this even doable? Trying to accomodate travel? Thank you Cindy
Posted by
USA
351 posts
If you land in Rome, you can pick up your leas car and be in CT that evening. I loved driving in the EU.
Posted by
Scottsdale, AZ, USA
1127 posts
After flying across the Atlantic I don't think it is a good idea to drive to Cinque Terre. You do not want/need a car in Cinque Terre or Florence. When you're done with these cities, from Florence take the train to Lucca and pick up a rental car there to explore Tuscany/Umbria. Return the car in Orvieto and train back to Rome.
Posted by
Ballston Lake, NY, USA
157 posts
If you rent the car at the airport in Rome you can easily hit the roads and find a place outside of Rome to stay for the night. You can get to CT in one day but that will make a long day (+) of travel for you - especially coming from CA. Keep in mind that gas/diesel and tolls are expensive in Italy. I prefer a rental car in much of Italy; for me the rental car outside of any major city is preferable. I like the freedom of the car and I do not like the random rail strikes. It is best to avoid driving in the big places (like Rome) as the driving there is not easy. You will not need the car in CT and be careful where you drive in Florence. (Search the helpline for driving in Florence posts) I advise that you park the car in those locations as soon as possible and use local transportation in bigger cities. Returning the car in Orvieto and taking the train to Rome is a good idea - it may even save you a rental day - but if you want the car to the last possible moment you can always return it back to the airport and then take the train into Rome from there. Check with the rental car compnay about drop off charges at a location other than where you picked it up.
Posted by
USA
351 posts
True, you dont need a car in CT, Florence or Rome.
If "We" is just two of you, then the train is close in cost.
Posted by
WPB, FL & Firenze
3112 posts
Why not take the train directly to Cinque Terre on Tuesday? You can be there in a little over 5 hours, either on the IC Plus trains that travel north along the coast or the high speed/regional trains that travel via Rome, Florence and Pisa. You won't want a car in Cinque Terre or Florence, so pick one up afterward to explore Tuscany and then return it in Orvieto. You could do most of you trip by train and bus, but a car in Tuscany gives you more options.
Posted by
In the Mountains, USA
689 posts
Check the fishing village of Porto San Stefano - near Orbetello.... just north of Rome. Beautiful - serene - and not that far from FCO...