We are heading to Rome for 5 days then taking the train up to Florence. We have 5 days in this area . I am torn between staying in Florence and hiring a driver for a day or 2 to take us around Tuscany to visit vineyards/countryside between Florence and Sienna or rent a car from the Florence airport and drive to a hotel in Colle di Val d'elsa - which is between Florence and Siena and sight see from there. I have noticed quite a few vineyards/wineries are closed in January , so also wondering if it is even worth it to rent a car and drive around is a lot of things are closed. Last year when we went to the Amalfi Coast in November we didn't realize over half of the shops and restaurants are closed during the winter and wondering if this is similar in Tuscany . Any advice or knowledge is appreciated.
Posted by
Oregon
248 posts
Question for OP:
How much do you know about the "average" January weather in this region? Seems as if that information would be relevant to the question you ask.
If you haven't already, would be easy for you to get this information from the usual weather sites.
Posted by
Forest Grove, OR
11834 posts
January is definitely off-season in rural areas. Stay in Florence, day trip to Siena, and check with Tours by Roberto to see if a day trip to wineries is feasible. He can open doors for you,
Posted by
Gettysburg PA
7314 posts
No need to rent a car at airport- you will pay more from that location.
If you rent- pick a city location outside the ZTL
Hertz on Sansovino worked well for us- just south of the center outside of ZTL
You would also not want to drive while tasting wine at wineries.
Posted by
Huntsville, AL, USA
8359 posts
Wikipedia says that the average high temperature in Florence in January is 52 degrees. The average low temperature is 36 degrees.
January precipitation is received 8 days of the month, and it totals 2.4 inches.
They definitely feel 4 seasons in Tuscany. I think their big harvest season on the agriturismos is October.
Posted by
lexington, il
4105 posts
Tuscany requires that all cars have snow tires and chains from November 1st to spring. Those curvy, hilly roads do get icy as you go up in altitude.
Posted by
Portland, OR
1130 posts
We loved staying in Florence in mid December a couple of years ago. Yes, it’s very cold; just be sure to take a warm coat. (I actually wore my calf length down coat and water proof knee high merrel boots on the plane and was still easily able to pack a carry on for three weeks.) off season is actually so wonderful to explore the area because you don’t have to fight the crowds; but the days are also shorter. One day we took a day tour out to the countryside (check out tours by Roberto). Another day we took a taxi one way and the bus the other way to Fiesole, which is a small hill town about 20 minutes drive from Florence. There is an amphitheater and a couple of great restaurants. It’s a fun afternoon poking around town and eating lunch. And then Florence. That will take your whole time easily if you don’t want to do anything else. We took the nude and food day tour of Florence. I would also recommend eatwith.com for meals with locals in both Rome and Florence. And then the museums....
Don’t limit yourself. This time of the year is slow enough that if you want to change your mind mid trip and move to Siena or Assisi or?? Then go! ....in my opinion if you don’t limit your own mind with the weather during this time of year, it can be even better than warmer months.
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area (USA)
16196 posts
I don’t know where you are from but the weather in Tuscany is similar to southern Oregon, therefore not beach weather. Temperatures will be normally in the 30s F at night, while during the day maybe 50s F. January is not particularly rainy. Small rural towns will be as pretty as any other time but they will be largely ghost towns, especially if the weather is not amenable.
My suggestion is to base yourself in Florence, which is vibrant with lots of stuff to do and see with any weather. Florence itself could keep you busy for many days, but is you feel up to it, you could visit other smaller cities in Tuscany.
Siena, Lucca and Pisa, Arezzo, Pistoia, are within one hour from Florence and being small size cities, something is going on with any weather.
Posted by
Rural Georgia
2213 posts
We were in Tuscany two weeks before Christmas 2015. The weather was nice, it only rained one day. The rest of the time was partly cloudy to brilliant sunshine. Temps were low '30s at night and high '50s during the day.
Other than some of the wineries, I'm not sure what else will be closed. The towns of Tuscany are thriving communities that have restaurants, shopping and other services for those who live there.
Colle di Val d'elsa looks like a good base, although we didn't visit it. Like other hill towns, it has a large ZTL. If you choose to use it as a base, I would suggest finding lodging outside the ZTL to make it more convenient.
Personally I think a car is the best way to explore Tuscany. Here is a wine tasting guide, though it doesn't mention Castello di Verrazzano near Greve, which is our favorite. If you want to do a carefree day of wine tasting, I suggest doing a tour where you won't have to worry about driving. A glass of wine with lunch is OK, but Italy has a much lower legal BAL than the US.
Posted by
lexington, il
4105 posts
You might look at these tours,if you do stay in Florence, and want a taste of the countryside.
https://www.getyourguide.com/florence-l32/wine-tasting-winery-tours-tc104/