My husband and I will be taking a late honeymoon trip to Italy in May for 8 days. We'll be taking the train from Rome to Florence. I've booked a hotel in Florence for 4 nights, and I'd like to take some day trips from there via train(suggestions welcome). I'd like to stay the last 2 nights in some of the smaller towns. Which are the "must-sees"? I'm thinking one night in San Gimignano. Is that a good choice? What about the last night? Any feedback would be appreciated! Also, please keep in mind we'll be taking public transportation unless I can convince my husband that renting a car wouldn't be so horrible!

Thank you!

Nornie,
With only 8 days you might want to shorten Florence hotel stay to 3 nights. Must-see places depends on the traveler. San Gimignano is a good choice, Siena another, Assisi another but there's alot of other great places to consider as well. Suggest you get a good guide book on Tuscany and Umbria and decide. For transportation, the countryside of Tuscany and Umbria the easiest is renting a car..driving is not a problem and is very pleasant. You don't say where you are flying out of for last night, I will assume Rome (FCO)...if so you have several options but the Hilton is right there at the airport, dump the car off and check in.

Hi Nornie,

I'm assuming that you will do 2 days in Rome, and then go to Florence for 4 days.

From where are you leaving?

From Florence you can visit Siena by bus for a day, Pisa and Lucca for a day.

You could also train from Florence to Orvieto for an overnight before going to Rome, if that is your departure point.

Hi Nornie,

I'm assuming that you will do 2 days in Rome, and then go to Florence for 4 days.

From where are you leaving?

From Florence you can visit Siena by bus for a day, Pisa and Lucca for a day.

You could also train from Florence to Orvieto for an overnight before going to Rome, if that is your departure point.

You might find the Florence part of my trip report helpful:
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34451044

thanks for your replies. We are flying into and out of Rome. We will stay our last somewhere near the airport. I'd like the last part of our trip to be leisurely. I think i should have only booked 3 nights in Florence; it appears there is a cancellation fee but maybe not if i only cancel the last night. If we do end up renting a car, does anyone know where i rent in Florence? Thanks again.

Ira, thanks so much for your trip report. It has great suggestions. I have a couple of questions. I noticed you took the shuttle from the airport to the train. Is this the best way? Do I need a reservation on this shuttle? We will not be spending time in Rome on this trip--just taking the train directly to Florence. Also, is the bus preferable to the train for the day trips you suggested? Thanks!

Hi nornie,

The LDV express train runs from FCO to Rome TE station every 1/2 hr on the :07 and the :37. It costs 9.5E. It takes 1/2 hr to get to the station.

You will have about a 10 min walk from where the train stops to the head of the tracks to get the train to Florence.

I prefer the SITA bus for the Florence/Siena trip because it drops you off in town.

The Siena train station is about 1.5 km from town.

If you are planning on going to SanGim, I think that you take the bus from Chiusi.

The train station in Lucca is just outside the walls. You walk into and through the wall to get into town.

Enjoy your trip.