Florence or Tuscany as a base??
 

My boyfriend and I will be traveling to Italy in mid September. We are spending five days with friends in Turin before heading to Florence by train. We have 5 or 6 days to spend in this area. However we don't know whether to stay in Florence and make day trips by bus or train (or car?) to various Tuscan towns and villages, or base ourselves in somewhere like San Gimignano and hire a car for a few days, taking in Florence for a day or two. We don't want to have more than one base. I'm not keen on driving around Florence but if anyone wants to reassure me please do so! Otherwise I'd welcome any suggestions.

No reassurance on driving in Florence. Avoid it at all costs. I'd advise to rent a car and stay outside of Florence. The Tuscan countryside is incomparable and you really need a car to see it properly. Maybe someone else can advise you on what small city has train connections so you could train into Florence to see it without having car problems there.

While it may not be recommended, driving inbto Florence for a day trip is doable.

We spent a week in an apt in Montepulciano and drove to Florence for the day. We parked in a garage near the train station without any major problem. Many people prefer to park outside the city.

If you do drive into Florence, do not park on the street. Fines are high and they do tow. Park only in a garage.

Stay 1 night (2 max) when you first get to FLorence then rent a car and get out of there! Head through CHianti on S222. Stay just S of Siena near Montalcino and visit the Hill towns. You can easily get to Siena, Montepulciano, Pienza, etc. then hit San Gimignano on your way back to FLorence to turn your car in! (we just got back from our honeymoon there-you will love it. Travelled all over N and Central Italy and this area of Tuscany was our favorite!)

I suggest Sienna as a base. From there you can do Florence, Cortona, Montepulciano, San Gimignano, a wine route, Pienza, etc. If you're looking for interesting itineraries, check out the archives of www.wheretogonext.com. Their newsletter featured a couple of good ones about two weeks ago.

Just got back from Tuscany and found driving in Florence a total nightmare. Parking at the stadium or station is the recommendation. Good luck finding these places!!! We missed the Ufizzi cause we couldn't find parking.My rec is stay in Florence for one or two nights without car and then head for a base in Tuscany for the daytrips. we stayed outside of Castellina in Chianti and that was my favorite part. It is breathtakingly beautiful.

It is really easy to take the train into Florence. I'd stay outside of Florence (we stayed near San Gimignano a few weeks ago) and drive to a train station. We drove to a nearby train station, parked and took the train into Florence for a day. It worked perfectly and reduced the stress of driving in Florence. Your ticket won't specify which train you can take so you can leave Florence when you're ready. Trains are frequent. Tuscany is just gorgeous. You'll love it. Have fun.

leaving 10-2-03 for 21 days - Florence 4 days - Siena -6 days will travel to other locations from there via bus and train - no car. Not sure about last week but will depart from Florence for home... have found a perfect travel agent at last...she is Italian & lives in NC now and has great patience (many have none). I'll be glad to refer you if interested. was there last Oct. - perfect weather - only 2 rainy days. Have a wonderful trip.

We just got back from a trip that included stops in Rome, Pisa, Florence, Verona, Padua, and Venice, and we just fell in love with Verona. If we ever get a chance to go back to Italy, we decided that we'll make Verona our "home base" and from there take day trips to Florence, Venice, etc., by train if possible and if not by car. No, it's not Tuscany, but it's absolutely charming and there are plenty of great towns and cities close enough for day trips.

Thank you all so much for your advice. Can't wait to go now at this stage. We'll probably hire a car in Florence and head straight for some nice farmhouse in the hills, then use the train for coming back in to Florence. It seems the easiest.

What's all the fuss about driving in Firenze? It's much less stressful than many other cities (cf Roma!) Also we drove from Cortona twice during our 2 wks. Parked on the street without any problems (you have to know enough Italian to understand the signs, I suppose!)
Personally I'd stay in Firenze at the beginning of your trip (as you're arriving by train from Turin) for 3 days and then spend the rest of the time in San G or Siena (which does not have a double N!!)
Enjoy Italia

The point is that we don't want to have two bases in Tuscany, otherwise we would split our time. While in Turin we'll be staying in three different places in five days so I think it'll be time for a rest at that stage! I'll also be an expert packer...
Thanks for your suggestion anyway.

Trust me...just because driving in Florence is EASIER than driving in Rome that doesn't mean that driving in Florence is "easy." I think its easier to either get in and stay and then rent the car or take the train in from elsewhere as I think you are planning. Have a great trip.

We were on a tour several years ago in Sorrento then Tuscany. So this gave us two bases of operation. Loved the area, including Florence which we got to easily by train from Montecatini. This spa town was a lovely place to stay BTW.

Our son just returned from traveling with his Italian friend through the area...stayed in Naples with friends, also San Gimignano. They loved Siena and Capri as did we. But it was hot.

Ozarksbill

To Deblev: Where did you stay at outside of Castellina in Chianti? Would you recommend it? We loved that area too and I have been doing a search for somewhere to stay in that area.
Thanks.
K