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Visiting Italy (and Corsica) with children

Hi fellow travellers! We live in Europe (The Netherlands) and are hoping to drive to Italy next year. Time: month of July 2022. Yes, in the middle of the heat, but that's when we have the chance. I would love some input or ideas. Our kids are now 12, 11, 9 and 5 (but have done lots of travelling so no worries about the driving). Our plan is to stay in a little (airbnb) village close to Florence for a week. From this house we will visit Florence, another day Sienna, Volterra, Lucca (and maybe Montepulciano). We want to go horseback riding with the kids at Il Paretaio (got it from the forum and looks amazing!) and they also offer cooking lessons. So the plan is to do that too with the kids. We won't fill all our days but might skip one day and just hang out at the pool. These are just ideas right now. Here my question is: what do you recommend to see/do with kids in this area? (I mean Sienna, Volterra, Lucca etc) Do you recommend some other village that we must see? I really would love to see the "Tuscany picture", any tips where to go for that photographic scene?
Then we want to take a ferry to Corsica and stay 4 or 5 days. We are planning on all going windsurfing in Bonifacio. My question here, how much does the ferry cost? I tried checking the website but didn't get much wiser. Can we take the car? I havent planned Corsica much yet, only the windsurfing. Tips for Corsica? After that we go back and spend 2 more nights in the Cinque Terre region to then drive back home. I know, we are not doing Rome or Venice (although it looks amazing! but just not for this time) Thanks so much for al the help in advance! Samantha

Posted by
11052 posts

In Lucca you can rent bikes to ride in the park on top of the old city walls.It was a fun activity for us.

Posted by
100 posts

We have traveled from Livorno to Corsica (Bastia) in the past without a car although lots of other people had cars. I don’t know the rules, if any, about taking your car but this is the site where we got our information https://www.directferries.com/corsica.htm. Hope you have a great trip.

Posted by
7449 posts

No advice on towns or activities, only on logistics.

For Corsica, there are a number of variables for the ferry...car, no car; get a cabin or not, route, etc.; so you may need to simulate buying tickets to get a good number, but in my playing around, figure at the cheapest 150 euro each way without car, on up to 300 euro each way with car, maybe just over 200 euro with the car at the cheapest. Of course if you decide no car, then you need a safe place to park the car, likely at a cost. I am assuming you have a car and are not renting, if you rent, then there are restrictions for ferries to be concerned about.

For planning, while not focused on driving, Rome2rio website will show you possible ferry routes and companies. For example, it showed Corsica Ferries running from Livorno, IT to Bastia on Corsica, going to the website and using dates in October is how I got the numbers above. Probably no schedules for July yet, prices likely will be higher for summer season.

As for other driving tips, all over Tuscany, be very aware of speeds and restricted areas (ZTL's). All of the towns you mention have them, plan on parking on the outskirts and walking or taking buses into town, for Florence, find a small town and take the train in. Check also on insurance, technically you may need additional levels of liability insurance for Italy, since you have your own car and insurance it may not be an issue. There may also be countries (Switzerland, Austria, etc) that you pass through that require a sticker, a Vignette, that you need to purchase at the border.

Posted by
13 posts

Thanks for the link, Michael. I think I had another one. And thanks Paul for responding. We will not be renting as we are driving there with our own car (and yes we have insurance etc.) I was checking the website, and indeed there are some things to really look well into. Do we need a cabin? I want to go for the cheapest but also comfortable option, as long as we can sit. For 6 people with a car and cabin its 522 euros (going and coming). Can you do the trip without cabin? I thought that option was not available... Thanks for tip about speeding and restricted areas, we do not need fines. We did now about the vignettes, but thanks for mentioning that! Thanks so much for all the input.

Posted by
13 posts

Oh yes without cabin its 428. Do you think you should make reservations early? Or just do that when we are there?

Posted by
100 posts

This was our experience. Our route was Livorno to Bastia. The first time we made the trip we booked seats as this was our first ferry experience of this type and we didn't know what to expect. Our seats were below deck in a a big room with no windows. We appeared to be the only ones who booked a seat. As the weather was nice, everyone made for the seats outside. Those who couldn't get a deck chair spread out on the deck. Also, there was plenty of seating inside with big windows so you could see out and enjoy the view. The inside seating was at tables or couch type seating. We did not pay for a seat on our next journey the following year. Our trips were in May and September.

As far as tickets, if I remember correctly, the price goes up the closer to the departure date. Our last trip to Corsica was in 2018 so my memory could be foggy.

Posted by
13 posts

Hi Michael, thanks so much for all this information, it is really helpful. So you would recommend not buying seats as you can just stay outside or sit somewhere else? It did mention on the website that the prices will go up as the dates get closer, I was just wondering how much of a difference that would be. But thanks for all the information, I am very grateful. Ciao!