Traveling to Italy in early October - first Rome for 3 days and then considering train north to rent a car and then drive Tuscany area. Have found many recommendations about places to stay - my concern is train/car/bus transition. Also plan on Cinque Terra (by train), Florence and finally Venice and fly home. Any help appreciated. Thanks!
Posted by
US Pacific Northwest
10344 posts
You'll only need the car for the Tuscany hill towns/countryside. Strongly suggest you return the car before Florence and Venice, which are best reached by train. Realistically, you will not get a good selection of accommodation recommendations for 5 destinations on one thread here. Rick Steves has written a book (Italy) giving sleep picks for each of those 5 destinations.
Posted by
OP
Springfield, VA, USA
3 posts
Thanks - Any thoughts on train from Rome to Siena, Orvieto or another destination to pick up car for Tuscany area only?
Posted by
Elk Grove, CA, USA
6898 posts
The trains from Rome to Siena will all be Regionale trains. They will route from Rome to Chiusi where most runs will require a train change to get to Siena. As for where to rent a car, you can do this in either Orvietto or Siena. If you rent at Orvietto, you get to see a very scenic hilltown as a bonus. Plus, with a slight detour on the way to Siena, you can drive to Montepulciano or Montalcino. Wonderful Tuscany.
Posted by
US Pacific Northwest
10344 posts
Larry is one of our esteemed Europe rail gurus, and we welcome him back to the Helpline, after his time in China. Tim of Minot has been laboring mightily to take up the slack while Larry has been gone. We're lucky to have both of them.
Posted by
OP
Springfield, VA, USA
3 posts
thank you! I am a train and travel novice so this is so helpful. Sounds like Orvietto (sp?) is the place.
Posted by
Sacramento, California U.S.A.
10228 posts
Valerie, we are doing this very thing in a couple of weeks. We arrive in Rome and stay for 3 nights. We will then train to Orvieto and get our rental car. We plan to stick our bags in the car and spend a few hours checking out Orvieto before heading to our Agriturismo outside of Siena. We will drop our car at the Florence airport before we go into Florence to spend 2 nights. You need to be careful to stay out of the ZTL's. Also, to drive in Italy you will need an International Drivers Permit. I just got mine yesterday at AAA. It only took about 15 minutes. Have a great trip!