Tuscany with no car

There are a number of tours out of Florence that will take you on a bus around to the different hilltowns. Some of thetours are specialized--like wine tasting, etc. Most can be found online easily. A private tour would be nice, but not for 600 Euros.

Stay in Florence and use WalkAboutFlorence for day trips == we did 2 of their tours -- BEST OF TUSCANY (that includes Siena) and CHIANTI WINE AND FOOD SAFARI. Check out their website. You can also see photos and read reviews on TripAdvisor = but it's best to book directly with them on their website.

I have visited Tuscany many times and only once with a car which was very expensive - especially when the almost inevitable citation arrived in the mail months later. Trains and buses go everywhere and are stress free. It will take longer to get around but what’s the rush?

ToursbyRoberto gets excellent reviews
I wouldn’t hesitate to book a tour with him if it suits your needs

A few years ago, I was in Certaldo (got a ride there). From there, I took a taxi to Greve in Chianti. There is a bus from Greve in Chianti to Florence. If you are willing to do some investigations into bus routes and willing to splurge on a pricy taxi, you could probably string together a visits to two separate towns in Tuscany.

The downside of relying on public (bus) transport, if you are considering that option, is the occasional "strikes" that the work force goes on, without notice. My daughter & I had bought tickets to take the bus from Siena to San G. a day ahead of time, then when we showed up at the terminal the next day SCIOPERO (strike)!
As long as you have a back up plan in case of strike, traveling to some of the hill towns by bus is an ideal alternative.

hey hey jggordon54
there is so many sites to check out, prices have gone up with everyone involved since the pandemic which i'm shocked but understand it.
gustowinetours.com
tuscanwinetours.com
check the small tours offered and if something you like for tuscany. so many people want to see tuscany and they charge what they want to make up for what they lost during pandemic.
stop at a kiosk in city center and see what they have for something you want. sometimes hire a private taxi/tour if you see something you like.
tuscantrails.com
getyourguide.com
check florence and tuscany. it is a 3rd party resellar but you can check them out.
while in florence look at:
educated-traveller.com/ wine windows of florence
tasteatlas.com/ florence
tasteatlas.com/ bomboloni
enjoy what the atmosphere gives you.
in rome you can walk thru the markets, marketsofrome.com
withlocals.com/ rome
beautiful countryside day trip: castelli romani
train to frascati and let guide take you for a tour through the villages near nemi and fracsati, get out of the hustle and bustle, take a cruise thru the pope's summer home and garden
lacucinaitaliana.com/ the buxom cookie of frascati. stop at ceralli.it bakery/pizza oven that makes the "best porchetta sandwich"
old frascati.com
look at headers and learn about the country side and makers of crisp white wines and classes
hope this gives you some info to help you decide and do research about these places.
italymagazine.com/ lake nemi and it's wild berry
hang loose & aloha

I'll agree that $600 for a private day tour (I am assuming that's per tour and not per person?) is not unreasonable at all. In fact, I was browsing through the "Tours by Locals" site for another poster, and full-day tours involving transport on that website are generally running much more than that. As well, lunch and entry fees to desired monuments are usually extra, and in some cases the guide drives YOUR rental car and not their own.

Just one example:
https://www.toursbylocals.com/Out-of-siena-Private-Tour

By the time you'd pay for the rental car, gas and lunch, you'd be well over the $600 mark.

Another 2 examples, this time with transport provided:
https://www.toursbylocals.com/outofSienawithtransportation
https://www.toursbylocals.com/sangimignano-chianti-private-winetour-tuscany-florence-siena

Sorry, I would NEVER pay that amount of money for a day tour.

Look for group tours, do your research that is what the internet is for.

You can take the train, for example do a day trip to Siena from Florence. You could do Pisa by rail and pay for a taxi to see the Leaning Tower, etc.

They're looking at basing in Siena. True, much can be done via public transit from Florence (and some from Siena as well) but if they want to ramble the countryside and not cities/towns, different deal.

It's also true that group tours are generally much less pricey. The tradeoff is, of course, spending your day with others, and following an established itinerary versus one that can be customized. No right or wrong to it. It's all up to what sort of experience you want and how much you're willing to spend for it?

jggordon54, I assume you looked at Roberto's more affordable, joinable small-group tours? I see that his "Heart of Tuscany" tour isn't currently bookable but might become so again closer to high season. If interested, you could enquire?

Thank you all, this is so helpful. I will print this all off and investigate everything. I feel very comfortable that we can do Tuscany without a car. I love public trains and buses. I always get them messed up, but that is part of the adventure I guess! I would rather take a taxi than rent a car. I do understand that 600E isn’t completely unreasonable, it is just out of our price range for 4 days. But, maybe a few group tours then a day of private if we feel we have missed something.

This is our 2nd visit to Italy and we are so looking forward to it. Such a neat country.

Pricing day tours of Tuscany from Florence
https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractions-g187895-Activities-c63-Florence_Tuscany.html

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