We will be renting a villa in Tuscany for 7 days. It is my husband's first time in Italy; it is my second time (altho I only went to Rome and near surrounding area). We are renting a car and I am looking for advise and/or suggestions about taking day-trips to Milan, Venice, Rome (I am told it is only 3 hrs away), and even Naples. Too ambitious?, or better to do overnight trips? Please help me with as much info as you can share. Thank you.

To me, the whole point of renting a villa in Tuscany for a week is to relax and enjoy seeing Tuscany, not driving for hours to distant cities to run around them and hop in the car and drive hours back to the villa. Milan and Naples are definitley too far for daytrips. Venice and Rome are closer but both deserve a lot more than just a few hours. You could do overnight trips, but with only seven days, which you've already paid for at the villa, it's not practical. Tuscany has more than enough to keep you very busy for seven days. You won't be able to see everything. You can even go to some places in Umbria like Assisi, Orvieto, Todi, Spello. The list goes on.

Milan is 4 hrs away, Venice 4 hrs. Rome is 3 hrs. You can't do any of these in a day trip. Florence & Siena would be options for a day trip. Just saw Grinisa's posting and I agree. 7 days is not even enough time to see Tuscany.

I agree with previous replies and would add that I wouldn't want to drive into Milan or Rome but rather park out of the city and take a train in. Once you add that logistical element (and having to train into Venice too), the whole idea sounds bad.

Thank you to Grinisa, Marycang, and Jean for your advice and suggestions.

I agree, spend your time in Tuscany. There's so much to do it would be a sin to spend so much time heading to big cities. Think about a cooking class, or maybe a hot air balloon ride.

Maybe spend a night on the front or back end of the city you fly in or out of.

Please enjoy my trip report and journal of my trip to Tuscany last year. Lots of photos.

http://www.travelswithdiane.homestea...13Tuscany.html

"Tuscany" is a pretty big area. Where exactly are you staying? Without knowing just where you're staying, I'm not sure where Marycang is getting those times. But I agree with her & Grinisa, daytrips to Venice and Rome are not really the best idea. If you want to visit those cities, you should stay in the cities. Naples is definitely way too far for a daytrip. Have you looked at a map of Italy? These places are not as close as you think, depending on where you're actually staying.

There are so many wonderful hill top towns in Tuscany and Umbria that deserve your attention. You should get out a map and see what's around where you are staying. Check www.mappy.com for distances and come back here with specific questions about those towns. You won't regret it.

Thank you luvtotravel, SusanP, and Sandi travelnut. I enjoyed the lovely photos.

Hi

I stayed in Tuscany for 6 days this summer with my wife and we drove around the Chianti area with a rental car. Here is my trip report with pictures and links: http://gardkarlsen.com/tuscany_italy_travelogue.htm . Maybe you can get an impression of what to expect from checking that out

Regards
Gard
http://gardkarlsen.com - trip reports and pictures

It sounds like the trip you want for a first time in Italy (or so) is a one way drive or train ride from Rome to Venice or Naples to Venice, with several stops, rather than a stationary vacation in a villa.

I would rethink you accommodations and itinerary in those terms. I agree with all above posters as to practicability of the day trips you listed. I also agree that 7 days is not enough for the areas you want to cover. Good luck! -e