My daughter asked me to help them plan their first time trip to Italy. It has been a number of years since I was there, so I'm appealing to fodorites for help.

They are flying into Florence and flying out of Rome 13 days later. Should they split the time between Florence and Rome, taking a train between cities, or should they rent a car and spend a couple of days in Tuscany en route to Rome? Where is best place to pick up and return a car? What must-see stop between Florence and Rome?

Would it be simpler to rent a car in Florence, drive around the area for a couple of days, return the car to Florence, then take a train to Rome?

Is it possible to see some of Tuscany by train and not have a car at all? They are not really that keen on driving.

Thanks for all the help you've given me over the years. Will appreciate some help on this one.

K

hi crckwc,

in 13 days, i think that they do have time to explore a bit of the countryside between Florence and Rome.

I think that they could do this:
days 1,2,3 in florence.
Day 4, pick up car, tour tuscany[loads of threads about this]
day 5,6,7, - tour tuscany
day 8 - drive to Orvieto [my must see stop between Florence and Rome]. return car and stay o/night
Day 9, 10, 11, 12, - Rome.
Day 13 - Home.

Thanks annhig. Is it best to pick up a car in downtown Florence or go to the airport? Is there public transportation to/from the Florence airport?

There is public transportation to and from the Florence airport.

But if they aren't keen on a car, there are so many easy places for them to go to by train.

Arezzo and or Orvieto would be nice.

Perugia, or Assisi.

Siena by bus.

I would recommend any or all of these, and rush back to each of them, ASAP.

What are they interested in? Art, wine, churches, shopping? It does make a difference.

ooo, how about Bologna?

What - no Venice? Isn't there a law that a first-time visitor must include Venice?

Ann has a good plan. If they plan to see Siena anyway, I would bus to Siena and get the car as you leave town for rural Tuscany.

When is this trip?

zoecat, The trip is Sept 17 - Sept. 30. The first few days in Florence will be attending a conference with some sightseeing worked in. Flight out of Rome on Sept. 30.

Lots of good ideas. Thank you, all.

tuscanlifeedit - I think shopping would be at the bottom of the list. They like history, churches, scenery, maybe wine tours. They just want to see highlights. I think they will see plenty of museums in Florence and Rome, so probably no museums in Tuscany.

Ann has a good plan. If they plan to see Siena anyway, I would bus to Siena and get the car as you leave town for rural Tuscany.>>

thanks, bob - praise indeed from a real expert.

crckwk - what bob said. when you catch the bus to siena you will see why you wouldn't have wanted to pick up your car in Florence.

Hi cr,

Is there a reason not to visit Venice?

If you plan to stay the night in Orvieto look into CasaSelita. It is a charming B&B at the base of town.

ira -- After their conference in Florence, they want to see a little of Tuscany then to Rome. I guess they feel there isn't time on this trip for Venice too. I just learned that they definitely don't want to drive -- a mistake IMO, but oh well. How are train connections Florence-Venice-Rome?

To see a little of Tuscany, I think they are considering a tour out of Florence.

Thanks to Bob, Annhig, Anneeby,and all who have contributed good ideas that I'm passing along.

I personally don't like to drive either (have never rented a car myself) so I agree with them on that part!

I think Florence, Venice, Rome would make a perfect trip. Yes those three cities are easy to do all by trains, and fits nicely in a 13 day timeframe.

hi crckwc,

seeing Tuscany without a car is a bit more difficult, and venice-florence-rome is a classic and time-tested combination, with reasonably easy train connections.

the disadvantage, IMHO, is that they risk culture overload by the time they get to Rome, and won't care whether they're seeing titian or tiepollo. All of these places are fairly heavy on the galleries/museums, and Florence in particular is a bit short on anything else.

others may have ideas about touring tuscany without a car.

What do they want to do/see besides Florence and Rome?
I would not go all the way to Venice, but maybe that is the perfect thing for them. I am sure they could do without the rental car, but unless they are seeking total relaxation (a few days at a villa, for example), then they are going to have to do more legwork to figure out the details of bus and train schedules if they are not interested in staying put.
When I was making inquiries into Tuscany without a car, Siena was suggested to me.
I think they should go someplace small since they are visiting two cities are either end of the trip.

Rome has 10X the population of Florence, as well as 10X as many churches, 10X as many museums and 10X as many tourist sites, etc.

So, no, I don't think an equal split makes the most sense.

I don't think that Florence is "a bit short on anything else" at all. But then much of what we enjoy about Italy is the food, the wine, the passagiata in the evening, getting out into the beautiful countryside. Florence IMO is perfect for all of these things.

It really depends on what their interests are. If "10X as many churches, 10X as many museums and 10X as many tourist sites, etc." are what is important to them, then Rome deserves more time. But perhaps they will not be interested in seeing that many and would be interested in day trips to the areas near Florence which I find lovely.

I do not like driving in Italy and have made due with public transport for most of my 18 visits.

They do have the time to visit Venice if it is something they are interested in doing. I would begin there, spend 3 nights, head to Florence for 4 or 5 then spend the balance in Rome and fly home from there. Just personal preference.

They could take a wine tour out of Florence. They wouldn't have to drive themselves.

Florence, Venice, Roma.

How about this-

4 days Florence (with a side trip to Lucca if they feel like it)

3 days Siena (with side trips by bus options of Montalcino, San Gimignano, Volterra)

6 days Rome