My husband & I will have 4 nights to ourselves after a bike tour of Tuscany. Our tour will end in early October. We fly in and out of Pisa. We need some suggestions on where to spend our free time once the tour is over. This is our first trip to Italy and want to make the most of our time there. Rome, Venice, Florence are on our short list, but won't have enough time to do all of them. We will be traveling via train from Pisa to our destination. Any suggestions?

Of course, you're quite close to Florence, and that would be the easiest. Perhaps you'd want to consider 2 or 3 nights in Florence and at least a night in Siena (unless you're going there on your bike tour). Rome is another 2 hours or so from Florence, and I don't know what the connections are like or whether there's a direct train from Pisa. Venice is farther away, of course, but if you're pining to see it, you'd have to come back and spend another night in Pisa before your flight, which on a short trip is a strike against.

I'd say pick any two from your shortlist:
Florence + Rome OR
Florence + Venice.

Logistically you could even do all three if you wanted.
The best way to do that would be to stay in Florence and day-trip to Rome (95 mins) and Venice (approx 3 hours).

I wouldn't normally suggest that. But you could see the highlights of all three if you're determined ...

Hope this helps ...

Steve

Hi,

I suggest that you continue your Tuscan vacation and spend the 4 nights in Florence.

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

PS,

You will be in Tucany when the Porcini mushrooms are in season. Lucky you.