Byron1

We are flying from Heathrow to Rome. After 6 days, we plan on taking the high speed train to Florence and renting a car and staying in a nice b&b outside of Florence. We plan on spending 4 nights in that location and doing day trips etc. First question : any good suggestions for a b&b? We are good with spending a few extra dollars to experience a very nice Tuscan place. Second question: British Airways only flies direct to Heathrow from Rome, Milan, Venice and Bologna. We do not want to backtrack to Rome and we do not want to head to Venice on this trip. Any suggestions are appreciated! Thank you so much as you are always so helpful.

Holly_uncasdewar

If you're going to be near Florence, then the Bologna airport would be most convenient. It's a small airport, and very efficient the times I've flown through there. You might want to spend your last night in Bologna, which is a great small city to explore itself. And wonderful food. Sorry; can't help with the b&b request for outside of Florence.

danon

Bologna is a lovely place .It is only 40min by train from Florence.

Byron1

I have another question. How long is the train from Florence to Venice? Is it high speed? How far is the airport in Venice from Venice? How would someone get from the train station from Venice to the main core? Thanks so much again for your help.

Holly_uncasdewar

The train from Florence to Venice is high-speed, takes 2 hours and 5 minutes, and costs 45 E for a ticket in 2nd class. Reduced fares might be available for early ticket purchase. The airport in Venice is a few miles away from town, on the mainland, and can be reached by a number of ways, including water taxi, water bus, land taxi, and land bus. The train station in Venice is at the head of the Grand Canal, and most hotels can be reached by either walking, vaporetto down the GC, water taxi, or a combination of walking and vaporetto.

annw

Impruneta is about 9 miles outside Florence and there's a nice agriturismo called Relais Villa L'Olmo. Check it out! Bus into Florence picks up a block away, 35-40' pleasant ride into town. There's also parking at the villa if you have a car. (You'd want to park in a lot outside of the center when you go into town vs. driving in Florence.)

We found Impruneta a pleasant small town not overrun with tourism and the villa a convenient base for exploring the region.

I also like Bologna airport. You'd get a bus from there to Bologna Centrale train station. (Or a taxi of course.)

I'd recommend reservations if you take the fast train from Bologna to Venice.

kybourbon

Florence/Venice is 2 hours on the fast train.

Byron1

Excellent help everyone. Another question. What are the roads like around Florence? Are they very windy for driving? Thanks. Has anyone driven from outside of Florence to Cinque Terra or one of the small locations outside and taken the train? Is it too much travelling in one day?

jamikins

Doesn't BA fly from Pisa to London?

jamikins

Just checked BA flies direct from Pisa to Heathrow...Pisa is a very easy drive from Florence

kybourbon

>>>You'd get a bus from there to Bologna Centrale train station.<<<

There used to be a bus between Florence airport and Bologna airport.

Pisa would be easiest. You could take the train from Florence to Pisa airport or the Terravision bus (departs from the train station area).

annw

Can't help you with driving around Cinque Terre since we took the train from Milan, stayed in Monterosso, and took train/boat and walked between towns. That was just pre-flood.

There was just a NYT article on revisiting Cinque Terre recently - maybe have a look.

We found roads around Florence (once you are out of town) very good. In the parts of Tuscany we are familiar with, driving was a pleasure. Two lane, lots of twists and turns, but gorgeous, and well maintained. You'll want to get the hang of the roundabouts. Hubby considers the drive from Florence area to Siena through Chianti a highlight of our trip.