My family has about 3 1/2 days in the Florence area. We are not renting a car. I would like to stay in more of a rural area opposed to Florence and have that location as a home base for bike/wine tour/trip to Sienna/ maybe Forte Dei Marmi. My 20 something children are looking for more casual than a totally planned trip. Any suggestions for a town to stay in with great train access! Also, any other excursions recomendations?
Rural setting with great train access? Those are mutually exclusive things. Maybe you can find a place in Montelupo. That’s the closest town I can think that has easy train access to Florence and also to Siena and the coast. Empoli, after Montelupo, would work too, but there is nothing rural about it, it’s a much larger town.
This place may meet your needs! We had considered staying here for an upcoming trip to Italy this summer but decided to stay in Florence instead.
Check this one too. Walking distance from the historical center.
Depending on how far out of Florence, Pistoia is under 30 minutes by train (some trains can take much longer depending on stops) ....that is where I stayed for 3 months in 2022 and staying there again this fall.... had good access to Florence and also the beach in the other direction in Viareggio. Also, Empoli is on the "fast Train" route which is about the same travel time into Florence.