I am going to Italy this spring and spending the last week of the trip in an apartment in Florence. I know there is easily a week's worth of things to see in Florence (it's my first time), but I am wondering if there are any day trips that are absolute "musts"? If so, what is the best way, with no car.
Point of reference...the first part of the trip will be Rome, a week long walking tour in Umbria, then a couple days in Venice.
thanks for any advice - especially logistical

If you read all the posts on this site- you will see another month's worth of "musts."
Lucca and Siena are easy on the train, as is San Gim, and Greve easy by bus.

Pisa is a half hour away by train.

If you're going to go to Siena, take the bus. It's faster, cheaper, and easier. Make sure you get a direct bus, not one that makes a bunch of stops.

It - So many options -

Siena
San Gimignano
Pisa
Lucca
Bologna
Cortona
Arezzo
Orvieto
Montecatini
Chiantishire
Lake Trasimeno
Venice

... to name a few

Hope this helps ...

Steve

If you don't want to go too far but still have a great day get the no 7 bus from the train station (you are more likely to get a seat there)and go up to Fiesole. A spectacular ride up and lots to interest up there. A great place for lunch is this Villa/Farm Maiano http://www.fattoriadimaiano.com/english/eng_index.htm
which is just before you get to Fiesole and where they filmed some of "Room with a View". Good homemade food in a self-service area, you can eat outside on a big terrace with a wonderful view.

Hi It,

Are you sure you want to spend a week in Flornce and only "a couple days in Venice"?

From Florence, you can take the train to Orvieto, Montepulciano, Lucca and Pisa.

You can bus to Siena and San Gimignano.

See www.trenitalia.com
See http://tinyurl.com/b9mja
http://www.sangimignano.net/bus/

My husband and I did a day trip to Venice and even though it was a short day it was still well worth for it.
It's probably about 3 hours or so from Florence.

I would spend a week in Firenze over the same in Venice, just like some people would spend a week in NYC over San Francisco -- not that they can be accurately compared, but to recognize that people have different interests, and that the difference in art experiences, ambience and food are also dramatically different between the two cities. It's easy to find one more enjoyale than the other, depending on who you are.

Would tours be a good idea?

http://www.verbenabluviaggi.com/day_trips.htm

No doubt more expensive than taking the train or bus yourself. But looks like they have some tours which must hit the popular venues.

Thanks all, great list. I especially appreciate the transportation info.
Ira, I would stay longer in Venice, but can't afford it I have an apartment for a week in Florence that is costing only slightly more than 2 nights in Venice.
Sorry, no tours. Don't mind in certain circumstances, but an entire day would make me crazy.

Vinci is only about 30-40 minutes away. They have a wonderful museum full of Leonardo's inventions and the city itself is quite beautiful.

I have plans to do a cooking class on a Friday in May but was told by the company they may not be having a class that day so I'm also looking for another possible day trip. I'm considering Greve in Chianti, Pistoia, or an afternoon visit to Fiesole.

Has anyone been to Prato?

I'm also considering a 1-day Chianti Wine & Hill Towns Tour with tours-italy.com. It's approx $138 but covers several towns, some wine tasting, and of course wonderful views of the area.

Monica

The tours-italy.com site also has walking tours incorporating the Accademia and the Uffizi (two separate tours).

They cost 20-25 Euros for the guide and an additional 12.50 Euro each at the Accademia and the Uffizi to get in without queue.

Are these good deals? Is paying 35-40 Euros for 2.5 hours at the Uffizi worth it? Guess it would depend on how good the guide is.

Anyone try out these tours?

Yes their day tours look interesting but there are obviously a lot of choices.

wco81,

Tours-italy.com has some of the best prices around for tours. I've researched a lot of them! I have a friend that booked a walking tour - I could report back later and let you know how she liked it. When do you head to Italy? She'll be in Florence at the end of June.

Monica

End of May.

I will have to compare to viator and this other site, which hasn't responded with their day tour prices:

http://www.verbenabluviaggi.com/day_trips.htm

wco81,

Would you mind posting the prices when you get them?

Thanks!

Monica