Good base location around Florence
Jan 26th, 2014, 02:51 AM
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Good base location around Florence
My husband and I will have 4 days to get a taste of Florence and surrounding areas at the end of May. This is our first time in Italy. We'll be coming from Rome on May 26 and need to return to Rome on May 30. I know it's not a lot of time so just want to get to some highlights. Would like to visit Florence for sure and cinque terre and if possible one other town that is close by. I would like some help with the following questions
Should we rent a car in Rome to drive to Tuscany or should we take the train? I'm thinking if we rent a car we might be able to enjoy the scenery better and perhaps drive by any interesting towns on the way up north and then back south. Concerned about driving in Rome although it would be minimal since we would be leaving town.
Would like a good recommendation for a base location / accommodation near Florence that is accessible via train or bus (if we decide not to rent a car). So we can take a day trip to other towns.
Should we stay in Florence for the 4 nights and do a day trip to cinque terre and Pisa using public transportation or should we stay outside of Florence and do a day trip to Florence or should we stay in the countryside and drive ourselves to where we want to go.
Undecided on the base location and the method of transportation. City or country? Rent a car or take buses or train? What would be the best use of our time for that area during such a short visit?
Should we give up cinque terre?
Your suggestions will be greatly appreciated!
Should we rent a car in Rome to drive to Tuscany or should we take the train? I'm thinking if we rent a car we might be able to enjoy the scenery better and perhaps drive by any interesting towns on the way up north and then back south. Concerned about driving in Rome although it would be minimal since we would be leaving town.
Would like a good recommendation for a base location / accommodation near Florence that is accessible via train or bus (if we decide not to rent a car). So we can take a day trip to other towns.
Should we stay in Florence for the 4 nights and do a day trip to cinque terre and Pisa using public transportation or should we stay outside of Florence and do a day trip to Florence or should we stay in the countryside and drive ourselves to where we want to go.
Undecided on the base location and the method of transportation. City or country? Rent a car or take buses or train? What would be the best use of our time for that area during such a short visit?
Should we give up cinque terre?
Your suggestions will be greatly appreciated!
Jan 26th, 2014, 03:38 AM
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Rome to Florence is about 90 minutes on the train so I would not rent a car as it will be expensive and take more time than the train. Plus you cannot drive in the historic center of Florence.
Florence is probably your best bet for taking day trips via public transportation (train or bus). If you stay outside Florence you'll probably have to go into Florence and transfer for your trips to Pisa and Cinque Terre. Plus staying in Florence gives access to restaurants and cafes in the evening thus no need to drive over dark and winding roads to return to your lodging. You can enjoy some wine with dinner and then stroll back to your hotel.
Cinque Terre is a long day trip from Florence - about 5 to 6 hours round trip. I would leave it for another time when you can stay over a few nights and explore all the surrounding towns.
Four nights is only three days in Florence and there is plenty to see and do in the three days.
Florence is probably your best bet for taking day trips via public transportation (train or bus). If you stay outside Florence you'll probably have to go into Florence and transfer for your trips to Pisa and Cinque Terre. Plus staying in Florence gives access to restaurants and cafes in the evening thus no need to drive over dark and winding roads to return to your lodging. You can enjoy some wine with dinner and then stroll back to your hotel.
Cinque Terre is a long day trip from Florence - about 5 to 6 hours round trip. I would leave it for another time when you can stay over a few nights and explore all the surrounding towns.
Four nights is only three days in Florence and there is plenty to see and do in the three days.
Jan 26th, 2014, 04:46 AM
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I'm probably not the best one to give advice as Florence is just about my favorite place in Europe but I would stay in Florence the entire time. You really only have 3 full days and there is enough in Florence to keep you busy for weeks.
We love Cinque Terre but it is not good as a day trip. Three days is better to allow you to hike and explore.
Explore Florence and, for a bit of the countryside, take the bus to Fiesole, a small town overlooking Florence. It is lovely to sit on a terrace for lunch and overlook the Duomo. The bus leaves from San Marco regularly.
Have a wonderful trip.
We love Cinque Terre but it is not good as a day trip. Three days is better to allow you to hike and explore.
Explore Florence and, for a bit of the countryside, take the bus to Fiesole, a small town overlooking Florence. It is lovely to sit on a terrace for lunch and overlook the Duomo. The bus leaves from San Marco regularly.
Have a wonderful trip.
Jan 26th, 2014, 05:21 AM
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Agree staying in Florence is the best idea unless you are determined to stay in the countryside and use a car to visit other towns and Florence (parking on the outskirts).
We typically use a car and base in Florence - but we get a hotel with garage that arranges the correct permits to follows a specific route into the pedestrian section just to and from the hotel (very few hotels do thisdo but don;t; some suggest they do but actually follow through).
We typically use a car and base in Florence - but we get a hotel with garage that arranges the correct permits to follows a specific route into the pedestrian section just to and from the hotel (very few hotels do thisdo but don;t; some suggest they do but actually follow through).
Jan 26th, 2014, 05:43 AM
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Alternatively, you could pick up the car at Fiumicino Airport outside Rome or even at a town in Tuscany, such as Chiusi (having taken the train there). Somebody is sure to chime in and suggest Orvieto, technically in Umbria, but still an interesting place to visit -- with car rental offices.
If you want your emphasis to be on the Tuscan countryside, rent a car, base in a town, and do a day trip into Florence. Siena and Arezzo come to mind as having easy access into Florence by bus or train.
If you do drive, make note of the opening hours of the car rental office where you will pick up you car. Not a problem at Fiumicino, but in the smaller towns the offices are often closed in the afternoon and on Sundays.
Also, if you are not an EU citizen, to drive in Italy, you need an International Drivers Permit, a translation of your license. An IDP is easily and inexpensively obtainable at AAA/CAA offices; you don't need to be a member and they even take your photo.
If you want your emphasis to be on the Tuscan countryside, rent a car, base in a town, and do a day trip into Florence. Siena and Arezzo come to mind as having easy access into Florence by bus or train.
If you do drive, make note of the opening hours of the car rental office where you will pick up you car. Not a problem at Fiumicino, but in the smaller towns the offices are often closed in the afternoon and on Sundays.
Also, if you are not an EU citizen, to drive in Italy, you need an International Drivers Permit, a translation of your license. An IDP is easily and inexpensively obtainable at AAA/CAA offices; you don't need to be a member and they even take your photo.
Feb 9th, 2014, 08:25 AM
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jmq21- I agree with everyone here. If you had a week in Florence, I'd suggest sure renting a car to do some driving through the Tuscany countryside, but with only 3 days, why not enjoy the simplicity of taking the fabulous train system and enjoy all Florence has to offer without the hassle and being pressed for time.
I lived in Florence for a year, but before living there took a trip there for which we were there 3 full days. I left, wishing I"d had just one more day ,as there is SO much to see.
Michelangelo's David, The grand Duomo, Santa Croce Church and Piazza, Piazza Santissima Annunciata, Piazza San Marco, The Uffizi, The Pitti Palace and Boboli Gardens, Piazzale Michelangelo, etc etc. Minimum 2-3 days to do this stuff while actually enjoying it vs rushing through
With 1 day trip...
Siena is an easy day trip as is Pisa, and I'd choose Siena over Pisa as Pisa is literally just the tower (I'm sure someone might disagree but everyone I've taken to Pisa felt the same). Siena is a gorgeous city of winding little (easy to get lost on) streets.
However, if you want to see some countryside or small towns vs another city, a simple drive out of Florence through towns like Monteriggioni (quaint little Medieval walled town built in the 1200s), Greve in Chianti, etc etc will really satisfy you and you can stop in 3 or 4 in a day if you have a car, all with gorgeous views along the way...
While in Florence, I recommend not missing the Boboli Gardens and Palazzo Pitti. There are gorgeous views of Florence from the Vista
I lived in Florence for a year, but before living there took a trip there for which we were there 3 full days. I left, wishing I"d had just one more day ,as there is SO much to see.
Michelangelo's David, The grand Duomo, Santa Croce Church and Piazza, Piazza Santissima Annunciata, Piazza San Marco, The Uffizi, The Pitti Palace and Boboli Gardens, Piazzale Michelangelo, etc etc. Minimum 2-3 days to do this stuff while actually enjoying it vs rushing through
With 1 day trip...
Siena is an easy day trip as is Pisa, and I'd choose Siena over Pisa as Pisa is literally just the tower (I'm sure someone might disagree but everyone I've taken to Pisa felt the same). Siena is a gorgeous city of winding little (easy to get lost on) streets.
However, if you want to see some countryside or small towns vs another city, a simple drive out of Florence through towns like Monteriggioni (quaint little Medieval walled town built in the 1200s), Greve in Chianti, etc etc will really satisfy you and you can stop in 3 or 4 in a day if you have a car, all with gorgeous views along the way...
While in Florence, I recommend not missing the Boboli Gardens and Palazzo Pitti. There are gorgeous views of Florence from the Vista
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