Rome excursions

Do you have a good guide book to reference? I find guide books invaluable to my planning because “We don’t know what we don’t know.” These questions are very broad and a guidebook is the best way, IMO, to narrow down options and gain a bit of knowledge.

Rick Steves’ book on Italy will be your best friend in figuring our how to do day trips or quick overnights like your propose and to figure out what to do in each place, adding to your knowledge enormously.

Yes, Siena and Firenze can be combined. Stay in one and visit the other and easy to do by public transportation. San Gimignano and Volterra are more difficult via public trans, so get the book and read up on connections.

If you want to see all four places, it would be easy to stay 3 or 4 nights in Siena and day trip to the others, but you’d need a car for at least a day to see San Gimignano and Volterra.

Hi Mal -
Based on your post from 2016 it looks like you've been to Rome before and probably took a train to Venice from there? You may also have taken a train to Naples+ Pompeii? I'm asking because it would be helpful to know if you've previous experience with Italian rail systems and are familiar with the websites (Trenitalia and Italo.)

https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/italy/rome-advice-needed

Websites:
Trenitalia: https://www.trenitalia.com/en.html
Italo ("Fast" rail primarily between larger cities): https://www.italotreno.com/en

i'll leave the San Gimignano or Volterra to others with experience with those two (although I wouldn't consider either as day trips from Rome) but a combo of Florence and Siena is possible for sure either all by rail, or by a combo of rail (to/from Rome to/from either city + bus (from Florence to Siena). Rapid buses from Florence travel to Siena's city center, at the top of its hill, whereas the train station is at the bottom. "Fast" trains from Roma Termini arrive in central Florence's S.M Novella in 90 minutes; no changes. Trains from Siena to Rome take abt. 3.5 hours and require at least one change. So, the getting there and back is pretty straightforward.

Your bigger issue may be time to allot to this trip. As people advised in that previous thread, Florence deserves at least a couple of days - there's a LOT to see there if interested if what's available - and Siena probably does too. So, realistically you could eat the better part of a week combining the two. You also have to be cautious to plan around the days some of the bigger attractions are closed, such as the National Museums (usually Mondays: Uffizi, Accademia, etc.)

Editing to add: Laurel's idea to day-trip Siena from Florence is also a good idea if 1 day will do ya: could probably get the plan down to 3 nights/2.5 days (1.5 in Florence and 1 in Siena, although that's pretty rushed, IMHO.)

What can you tell us about your previous travels in Italy that might help us best to help you? And you have a guidebook so you know what's on offer to see/do in both cities?

Closer to Rome you have Orvieto, a lovely--but not undiscovered--Umbrian hill town with train service from Rome. The historic town is uphill from the train station; one takes either a funicular or bus up the hill. I'm a big fan of Orvieto because it's not just a pretty place to walk around; it has quite a lot of interesting sights, including a fabulous cathedral and multiple good museums. Orvieto is worth spending the night (or more than one night), but many people treat it as a day trip from Rome.

Florence deserved at least three days and Siena at least a full day. A day trip from Rome would not be very practical, due to the distance.

Ostia Antiqua would be a good day trip, also Orvieto.

We were in Ostia Antica yesterday. Slightly underwhelmed.

Spent four-plus hours roundtrip getting there and back from near Borghese!!! First, 83 bus was jammed in traffic and then stopped altogether and made all get off, due, we learn to Rome half Marathon. Then a 40 minute walk to Pyramide station and waited for delayed train to Ostia. Back at Pyramide on return, we waited more than an hour for the 83 bus - overcrowded, hot and just crawling along. Ugh!

Ostia was way crowded, poorly signed and the cafe was a mess. Call us disappointed.

The usual directions for Ostia Antica are to take Metro B line from Termini (or another "B" metro station if staying closer to one) to Piramide, then walk just next door to Porta San Paolo station. Take the Roma Lido urban commuter train from there to Ostia Antica station: the entrance to the scavi is a 10 minute-walk from there. One can also use the A line to Termini and then switch to B line on the same ticket if an A station is close by your starting point. Anyway, using the metro eliminates the possibility of being stuck on a bus in Rome's heavy traffic or waiting a long time for one.

Besides normal heavy traffic, a half marathon plus all sorts of unusual closings and construction happening as the city readies for Jubilee could have exacerbated the transport issues you experienced, Sam. So sorry you didn't have a good day! :O(

On our previous visit, we felt overwhelmed and decided to take a group guided tour which only included Venice and Rome. This visit we prefer to travel independently. Thus Rome should be comfortable based on prior experience. Learning directly from other independent travelers is the most valuable help with a good book as a supplement.

My thanks to each of you for your replies. The information and suggestions are much appreciated. I feel that I have a better understanding of the options for Florence and Siena.