We're returning to Venice after a cruise in Sept. and we'll have week to see more of Italy. My husband & I are thinking about taking the train to Tuscany and getting a room in the area, and do day trips from there. Any suggestions on places to stay. Is there a town that you could suggest as a base. We would like to be close to restaurants & shop!! Do we need to rent a car ??
Posted by
US Pacific Northwest
10344 posts
A rental car makes sense to see the Tuscany countryside. It's one of the few places in Italy not efficiently served by rail.
Posted by
dragit
113 posts
In '07 we picked up our car in La Spezia, after visiting Cinque Terra, and drove to Orvieto and stayed there 4 nights doing day trips from there. Plenty of shops and places to eat in Orvieto. You should be able to find the same in other Tuscany towns.
Posted by
Manhattan Beach, CA, USA
108 posts
We've done this twice, both times taking the train from Venice to Florence, rented a car once in Florence and once in Siena. We found having a car to get around in Tuscany to be crucial, just heed the warnings on this site about driving in the historic centers. I think the town you choose as your base should be dictated by which hill towns you want to visit. We loved staying in Siena at Hotel Villa Elda, elegant and a 10 minute walk from Il Campo, but have also stayed near Cortona/Arezzo to explore that area.
Posted by
Dallas, TX, USA
1170 posts
Florence would be an excellent base for restaurants and shopping, not to mention the historic aspects of the city. Renting a car and exploring the countryside is not difficult. You will not need a car to explore the city of Florence. However, two very important things about driving out of Florence. First, you will need a GPS with European maps. Garmin Nuvi products with preloaded European maps are your best bet. It is cheaper to buy one with maps already loaded. Don't forget to update your GPS and maps before you leave, and learn how to program and use it beforehand. Second, and by far the most important, is to not drive into or within the ZTL (Zona Traffico Limitato; limited traffic zone) in Florence or any other city with a historic center. The ZTL in Florence consists of five zones which are monitored electronically. If you drive into this zone or from one zone to the next, you will be fined HEAVILY. There are car rentals sprinkled near the train station and within the city center, but you don't want to rent from either location. Instead, take a taxi to the airport and rent from there. It is a very short distance to the entrance of the Autostrada, and you will avoid any entanglements with the ZTL. There are tons of posts on this helpline regarding the dreaded ZTL, so definitely look into this.