cms238

We are planning our first trip to Italy in October, but are going back and forth between 2 itineraries.
Option 1 - fly into Florence for 3 days, train to Bologna 2 days, end in Venice for 3 days.
Option 2 - is to base ourselves in Florence for the whole time but take day trips to Lucca, Siena, Liverno, San Gimignano or whatever we decide
My boyfriend really wants to explore Tuscany (and I do to) but he doesn't drive so if we were to rent a car I would spend the majority of my trip driving and I don't know exactly how fun that would be.
So, I guess my question is will I go nuts driving there if we decide to rent a car, and/or how are the buses/bus schedules? Or since it's our first time there should we just stick to the big cities as I'm sure there is more than enough to explore there.
So much to do, so little time!

chris1234

I would not do option two under any circumstance. spend some time in florence, but you can bus to pisa, bus to siena, bus to San G. and train to venice.

pisa is a day trip. the others in tuscany need atleast a night. i would not base myself in florence and spend my days on a bus. go to a town and stay for a bit.

by the way, exploring with a car is the best option even if you have to drive. you can go at your own pace and its worth it. the only way I would do tuscany.

dgruzew

If you want to stay in tusacny your whole trip you may want split your time
stay in some other towns.

Driving in tuscany is totally fine. It is easy, not much traffic. But driving in florence can be trying - you you plan to rent a car in florence try to stay on the south side of the river (the pitti palace side) - it will be much eaiser to get out of the city

cms238

Thank you! As I was typing it, option 2 sounded ridiculous even to me. What about renting a place from someone like the Parker Company in Tuscany? It seems cheaper than going from hotel to hotel, city to city. Has anyone had any experience with this?

jamikins

For renting a place visit www.slowtrav.com and check out their review section.

isabel

Why are you saying option two is ridiculous? Yes, driving around Tuscany is the preferred way to see it, and then it's easy to spend one night here and another there. But if you don't want to drive (and if you are the only driver I can see why you might not want to) then basing in Florence and doing day trips is a fine option. Bus to Siena one day, San Gimi another, train to Pisa and or Lucca. All are very easy and cheap (11-13€ round trip) and only take a little over an hour. Florence is a great base. I would not base in Florence and rent a car, if you do the car then base yourself in smaller towns, or go from one to the next. But if this is your first trip I think the day trip option is fine. If you have 8 nights why don't you do 5 in Florence with a couple of day trips, then train to Venice for the last three?

jabez

Please consider driving. Let him navigate and you drive. If you drive from Florence airport you won't have any problems.
You list only 8 days and if you want "to explore" Tuscany, that's easily the best way.
Driving gives you great flexibility and really is no problem.
Once you have made your decision concerning driving,it's easier to give advice.

wondering

ask ira- i think he did option 2

cms238

Thanks everyone! We've decided to rent a place in Tuscany as a base and drive around and I can't wait!