Tuscany - 9 days itinerary help (October)

Posted by AggiesinItaly on 02/23/26 02:27 AM

Hi,

We are two couples (young 50s) headed to Florence for 9 days mid-October and looking for some ideas to build an itinerary. We have done most of the big things in Florence and would like to visit a few nearby towns. Open to trains or drivers, not really sure about renting a car altough we do have an international drivers license from last Italy trip, but didnt use it. Would love to stay at a winery a few days or bounce between a few. Cinque Terre, Bologna, or Portofino? We are open to changing hotels every few days too.

Thanks!!

Posted by NickB

Maryland

02/23/26 02:47 AM

1113 posts

Have you considered staying at one or more agriturimos out of the main towns and convenient to wineries and other sights. They can be very simple, or offer classes or other amenities. They are relatively common in Tuscany.

For example: https://blog.ricksteves.com/cameron/2019/07/tuscany-agriturismo

Posted by ChristineH

Gettysburg PA

02/23/26 03:00 AM

9013 posts

IDP does have an expiration, typically good for 1 year
If you think you may drive be sure to get a new one

Agriturismo stays usually require a car

Posted by Chani

Tel Aviv

02/23/26 08:48 AM

15972 posts

Most day trips using public transportation are single destinations. Siena, best by bus, is well worth a full day. I havne't been to San Gimignano - yet - which is also a one-town visit by bus. Others here have said you can visit Pisa and Lucca in one day by train. I believe that's if you just want to visit the cathedral campus. Besides the tower, the cathedral is beautiful and the baptistry is exquisite. There's certainly enough to see for a full day in Bologna, by train. Those are the main day trips.

The Cinque Terre are too far to make a reasonable day trip and Portofino is even farther.

If you want to see other towns, consider a few nights in Bologna. It's a rail hub, so Parma, Modena, Ferrara, Padua and even Ravenna with its marvelous mosaics are good day trips.

Christine has noted that you'd want a car for an agritourism stay. That's good if you want to visit wineries, but note that the legal alcohol limit for driving is only .05% while in the US it's .08%. Hill town visits are problematic because parking is very limited and driving in Tuscany can be challenging on back roads.

Posted by islandfam2008

Orlando FL

02/23/26 03:23 PM

257 posts

We loved our overnight stays in both Lucca and Siena. While we did have a car you can get to Lucca from Florence via bus or train. It could also easily be a day trip from Florence. Siena by bus from Florence. I would probably choose not to stay in Florence all nine nights. There would be day trip possibilities from both Florence or Siena into the Tuscan countryside but I would probably opt to do them from Siena if I was spending time there. Hire a guide for Siena. We hired Anna Piperato and she is fantastic for a day. We did a few day trips from there via our own car but I know there are plenty of tour operators that can take you out of the city. One of my favorite lunches was at MadonnaBella Winery & Farm. I think with some careful planning you can easily have a great trip without needing to rent a car if you don’t want to drive. If it were me I would consider splitting my time between Florence and Siena with one day trip from each if you are avoiding a car rental. I would not want to drive in Florence but did rent a car from the airport. Renting a car would be required for a Agriturismo stay.