Help! Best Route-Venice>Tuscany hill town??
 

Husband and I fly into Venice and out of Florence but the flight out of Florence is super early at 7 AM on a Sunday morning. We have 2 nights in Venice, 3 nights in Florence and 3 nights in Tuscan hill town. The first 2 nights will be spent in Venice. Where to next?
1. Florence - spend 1 night there and then head to Tuscan area for 3 nights (either Chianti or Montalcino - still deciding) then back to Florence for last 2 nights
2. Straight to Tuscan area (Chianti or Montalcino) for 3 nights, then Florence for 3 nights

The only reason option 1 exists is because we're worried about arriving in either Chianti or Montalcino when it's dark. But if we plan on leaving Venice in the morning, would we run into this issue?

If we go with option 2, what is the best form of transportation to use to get from Venice to Chianti or Montalcino?

Thank you!

Buses roll constantly between Florence and Chianti so take the few-hour high-speed train from Venice to Florence - should not be more than four or five hours Venice to Chianti

If you'll have a rental car for your time in rural Tuscany, then consider picking it up as you leave Venice, driving to Chianti/Montalcino, then dropping it off before you enter Florence at the end of your trip.

I would definitely visit rural Tuscany in the middle of the trip; that way your time in Florence won't be broken up, and you won't have to change lodging so often.

Yes, if you leave Venice in the morning, or even mid-day, you will still arrive at your destination before it gets dark.

I agree---get the car in Venice and drive to Tuscany. Drop the car at the airport when you go to Florence and taxi that last morning for departure.

I drove from Venice to Lake Garda and Tuscany in 2007 here: http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...ay-25-2007.cfm

I had a garmi nuvi loaded with Italy maps which made driving VERY easy in Italy. Good luck!