Driving from Rome to Florence - What to see?
 

It's our 20th Anniversary and our first time to Italy. We arrive in Rome on 7/31 and depart from Florence on 8/8/04. Originally planned to take a train to Florence, but maybe renting a car and driving would be better. If we drive, is there more than one route? How many days should we take and where to stay? What to see? Or should we just take the train and do day trips from Florence. We are staying at the Hotel Lungarno in Florence.

We drove from Florence to Rome last year. We rented a car through Autoeurope and picked up the car at Avis at the train station in Rome. It was a very short drive (relatively easy) from the pick up location to the autostrada. We stopped in Orvieto and spent a few hours there. Then we continued the drive to Siena. We spent 2 nights in Siena. We spent one day driving the Chianti road and visiting wineries....(wonderful!!!). Then after our 2 night stay in Siena, we drove to Florence and dropped the car....(this was more challenging!!!). Try to research where the return rental location is prior to getting to Florence!!! This was the only stressful part of our trip! It was not fun driving in Florence..AT ALL!! Other than dropping the car in Florence, it was relaxing and wonderful. The drive from Rome to Orvieto is about 1 hour. I think the drive from Orvieto to Siena was 1 - 1 1/2 hours... The Chianti Road is close to Siena and Florence. I recommend it!! Good luck!

Last month we picked up a car in Florence and drove to Rome, after spending a few days in Tuscany. Having the car was wonderful; however, driving in Florence is not my idea of a vacation. It took us 15 minutes to walk from our hotel to pick up the car, and it took 40 minutes to drive back to the hotel to pickup our luggage. Our trip between Florence and Rome included, Lucca, Siena, San Gimignano, the designer outlets, and the wonderful countryside of Tuscany.

Hi bp,

Are you planning on visiting Rome and Florence or planning a motor trip through Tuscany?

If the former, I suggest you take the train between the two cities.

To CaboSL - I'm driving a similar route but don't know about the outlets. Please enlighten me.