We have rented a house in Tuscany for right after New Years for a week. It is in a very small town about halfway between Siena and Florence. We have a car. Since we already have accommodations, we would prefer to only do day trips from this area and return every evening. I'm just wondering how feasible it is to get to the places we want to visit and back in a day. We would like to visit Florence of course, and Siena, Pisa and Lucca, perhaps the Cinque Terre, and a couple of days in Rome. Any ideas would be appreciated. Ciao!
Posted by
US Pacific Northwest
10344 posts
Lucca and Pisa are good day trips, also Florence and Siena. The two places in Italy experienced travelers don't drive to are CT or Rome--a car is a negative in both those places. Florence is the 3rd no-no for driving a rental car inside of the city, you can drive there but find a day parking lot and don't drive into the center area of Florence inside the ring road, it is prohibited without prior permission, cameras will photo your plates and your rental company will get a big fine which they will put on your credit card a month after you get back. Park in big day parking lots on edges of historic centers of Lucca and Siena, parking in Pisa is near the Leaning Tower. Train from Florence to Rome is +/-2 hrs, the challenge is what to see in one day? but doable if you make 2 day trips (sounds like that's what you're doing). Train from Florence to CT is +/- 2.5 to 3 hrs, so it's a long day trip, most of time spent on train and in train stations--and weather in January in CT is iffy, don't know how much will be open--personally I'd skip CT this time of year, given the travel time for you.
Posted by
Portlandia
3313 posts
You could drive to Chiusi or Orvieto to take the train to Rome but, as Kent says, don't try to drive there. You can reach Lucca but I think the CT would be a long trip from the Chianti area. Doable, but most of the day would be traveling back and forth. With a car where you will be there are lots of places to go: San Gimignano, Montalcino, Monteriggione and the other small towns of Chianti.
Posted by
US Pacific Northwest
10344 posts
I like Doug's suggestions for some alternatives closer in to where you are, to add to Lucca, Pisa, Siena, and Florence. Rome maybe, if you gotta do it. CT not in January given your travel time to it.