Four of us will be traveling to Italy and Switzerland for 2weeks. We are hoping to rent an apt in each area for a week to use as a home base. We have many questions regarding what location to rent in. Florence seems like a great area. We would like to visit Rome,Ct, Venice,Tuscany. I know all of this may not be possible in a week but would love suggestions on areas to rent as well as what and how to see the areas. Also would love to rent in an area that we can walk to and explore. All suggestions appreciated
Posted by
roswell, ga, usa
1501 posts
I have rented the same apartment in florence 3 times and love it -- perfect for two couples through the website VRBO.com (vacation rentals by owners) a well respected website for apartments worldwide. Go to VRBO florence, Italy, it is #68776. Within walking distance to all the sites, beautiful kitchen, two bedrooms, living room, little patio/garden out back.......nice restaurant almost across the street in a former old prison -- so charming.. local groceries. We liked it so much that we always had breakfast in, and even cooked dinner a few times...and drank wine in the outside patio. The owner Christina will give you all kinds of details re transportation and local sites.
Buy RS book on Italy, and read the Florence chapter. It's an easy bus trip to Sienna and other places and a nice place to land at the end of a busy day! Enjoy!!
Posted by
Forest Grove, OR
11357 posts
Rome,Ct, Venice,Tuscany. I know all of this may not be possible in a week It's not possible to see all of this in a week, whether you base in one place or move around. It's just too much territory and all you will see is countryside whizzing by and train stations. Rome alone can consume a week and deserves at least 3 full days to get a good taste. I like the idea of a base for a week. We did this for 4 weeks in December: 4 weeks, 4 bases. With only one week in Italy, why not pick Tuscany and base in either Florence or Siena and day-trip around that great area? There are so many venues in Tuscany, and the other 3 places are not good daytrip options from there. Otherwise split your time between Rome and Tuscany OR Rome and Venice. The CT is an outlier. Catch it another trip when you have more time.
Posted by
Tel Aviv
15597 posts
Venice to Florence is about 170 miles, and 2-3 hours by train. Florence to Rome is about 200 miles and 2 hours by fast train. The CT is a longer train journey, because of its remoteness. And train fares aren't cheap. Any money you save and any convenience you gain by a one-week rental won't nearly compensate for the time and money to see your destinations. Either limit yourselves to Tuscany and the hill towns, or base in Rome where there is a lot more variety of sights or split your week between 2 destinations.
Posted by
Long Beach, CA, USA
359 posts
Florence is a great city and good base for some day trips in Tuscany but no way are you going to be able to do Venice, CT, Rome and Tuscany in a week it really depends on how you want to route yourselves, are you doing Italy first? Where is you next connection?
You can do Florence-Venice, Florence-Rome, Florence-CT but it really depends where you need to end up for next travel connection. You could easily spend the whole week just about anywhere in Tuscany and never get to Venice, CT or Rome...