First timer to Italy/Tuscany
 

Me, my boyfriend, and another couple are going to Italy for the first time this March. We plan to stay a week in Florence/Tuscany. Is it better stay in one place and make day trips to the other, or split our stay between the two?

Hi Kim,

Florence is in Tuscany.

With only a week, I suggest that you stay in Florence and take daytrips.

One day to Lucca and Pisa, One day to Siena, half day to Fiesole. You might want to visit Bologna for a day as well.

Excellent itinerary, Ira! I agree, Kim.

I totally disagree. We just spent a week in Tuscany. 2 nights FLorence, then rent a car and head S of Siena and stay near Montalcino for 3-4 nights so you can explore the southern hill towns and wineries. Then head Northwest for 1-2 Nights in San Gimignano or Lucca. It was our favorite part of our 2 wk honeymoon. www.tuscany.net
www.sangiapartments.com

Thank you Statia.

Hi e_roz,

I wonder if you are not expecting a bit much from someone who didn't know that Florence was in Tuscany. :)

Ok, Ok Ira, admittedly, my question sounded ignorant...I had not had my coffee yet, give me a break :) I should have phrased it differently. My intent was to find out if it was better to stay the whole week in the city, a villa in the smaller towns, or split my time between the two. Thanks for all of your advice everyone.

If you stay in Florence the whole time, you'll have to battle the traffic getting in and out of the city every day to do your day trips. I'd suggest staying in one of the hilltop towns near Florence for part of your visit for easier getting on the road each day for your day trips...
What do you think? Siena is good, as is Orvieto.

We stayed in a wonderful B&B villa 17km outside of Florence. It provided easy access to the highway for day trips to hilltowns. Siena was less than an hour away and Lucca was about 1 1/2. We went in a different direction every day. You could day trip into Florence, too...only a 20 min. drive or busride. We stayed at the villa for 4 nights and then moved to Florence but, to do it all over again, I would have stayed at the villa longer. Check out www.villailpoggiale.com. The staff is excellent.