Siena vs Cinque Terra

I don't know where you will be during your 7 day itinerary, therefore it's hard for me to weigh in on whether the 5 terre makes sense. When I lived in Florence I used to do them Often as a day trip both with my car or by train. By car it would take me just over 1 and 1/2 hours to drive to Riomaggiore. By train you can reach Monterosso in 2 and 1/2 hours. If you are staying in Florence already, in your shoes I would stay an extra night there and do a day trip somewhere (Siena or 5Terre is up to you). I wouldn't change hotels to go to Siena or 5 Terre or anywhere else. Either one can be visited as a day trip from Florence and IMO the packing/unpacking checking out/checking in process takes longer than taking a train to those places and back.
PS: from Florence to Siena the Sita bus is a better choice than the train. The bus is faster and it takes you up the hill downtown Siena, whereas the station is down at the bottom of the hill and you need a taxi or city bus to reach the top of the hill. Sita is across the station in Florence.

If you want to see these two places, you will be relying on public transportation. Siena is 90 minutes from Florence by train. The CT is 3hrs away. Both are great places to visit. Train or bus is really the only reasonable way to get there.

Where do you plan to stay besides Florence?

Nights 1-2 in Milan for business. Then I had planned Florence 2 nights with night 5 in CT. Then back to Milan for the night before the flight home... So thinking to stay in Florence the 3rd night and day trip it.... I do like that idea. Thanks

Christy,
I'll give a different opinion, suggesting that you DO spend the night in the Cinque Terre. If you have room with a lovely view of the sea or better yet a balcony (Villa Steno is great/loved it, but there are many other wonderful places in which to stay in the other villages, too).......there is nothing like waking up very early in the morning and watching the sunrise. It also gives you a relaxing option to not have to worry about rushing back to your hotel in another city. If you hike between the villages, you can go back to your room, have a glass of wine, get dinner and relax instead of rushing back on the train.

If you are going back to Milan after the 5 terre, it might make sense to sleep there and go directly from 5 terre to Milan, rather than back tracking to Florence. From 5 terre to Milan is still over 2 hours though, there is no fast train option. But if you decide to skip 5 terre and do Siena instead, don't check out of your hotel in Florence to sleep in Siena. Just do Siena as a day trip from Florence. By Sita bus is about one hour one way. Siena is just over 40 miles from Florence, all freeway.

This is going to be a really tough decision... Thanks for the input... So much to see, no way to even barely scratch the surface!

Christy, With only a very short seven day Itinerary, my suggestion would be to spend an extra day in Florence and take a day trip to Siena. Plan to visit the Cinque Terre when you have a few more days and can spend some time hiking and enjoying the area. The main basis for my suggestion is the fact that you'll spend a minimum of three hours each way to visit the C.T., while Florence is only about an hour via SITA Bus. That's a more efficient use of your very limited travel time (IMO). As Roberto mentioned, the SITA Bus is the best way to get to Siena, as you'll be dropped in Piazza Gramsci in the centre of town, rather than at the bottom of the hill where the rail station is located. There are Corse Rapide and Corse Ordinarie Buses, but not a huge difference in the travel times. Be sure to validate your Bus ticket! As I recall, the Bus Terminal is fairly close to Firenze SMN station. Siena is great town with a beautiful Duomo and of course the iconic Piazza del Campo where the Palio is held each year. If you're going to be there during the Palio, expect HUGE crowds! There are some nice restaurants and of course awesome Gelato. What time of year will you be travelling there? Happy travels!

Ken, 1st week of April....

Christy, Thanks for the additional information. My recommendation would still be to visit Siena rather than the Cinque Terre on this short trip, as the travel times will be less. Siena will be very pleasant at that time of year (if the weather co-operates), and no Palio crowds to contend with. The Cinque Terre will just be opening for the new season at the beginning of April, so it's possible that not all businesses will be open. Cheers!

I concur. the first week of april is too early for the cinque terre.
Leave it for the next time you go to Italy when it's warmer and less likely to be rainy.

Christy, One more point to add..... If you decide to visit Siena and have a look at the Duomo, be aware that they have a strict dress code (ie: NO bare shoulders). On one of my previous visits there, a group of University students from Germany was also touring the Duomo, and one of them was wearing a sleeveless T-shirt. Officials at the Duomo would not let him enter until he had donned a blue paper "tablecloth" to cover his shoulders. Of course, his mates teased him mercilessly!

I vote Riomaggiore in Cinque Terre. Spent 4 fantastic days there last week in an apartment right on the reef. The waves crashing outside the window was music to our ears. The owner was spectacular and most accommodating. We cannot wait to return. PM me if you would like the web page. You would NOT be disappointed.

Suggestion: If you spend your time in Florence area and skip the C/T, why not fly open jawed out of Pisa?
Pisa is a one hour train ride from Florence, and there's another short train right into the Pisa Airport. We skipped the C/T when in Florence and Rome last April. It's just a little hard to get to and slightly off our beaten path. After all, after experiencing Italy, you'll be back.