I am planning my first visit to Italy - Rome, Florence, and Siena. My biggest concern is getting from one city to the next once there. My imagined itinerary:
Fly into Rome, spend a night
Take a train to Florence, spend 3 days there
Rent a car to drive (w/a 1-night stop over on the Chianti Road) to Siena (want very much to see the Palio). Stay in Siena for 2 days

And then ... drive to Rome or take a bus or train?

We would spend a couple of days in Rome before flying out. I've never rented a car in Europe before, so perhaps that's why I'm trying to decide if it's a good idea. Would appreciate any suggestions out there.

My wife and I traveled to Rome and then Florence.

My suggestion: Find a hotel near the Termini train station. You can take the train from the airport which runs every half hour and the cost is very reasonable.

If you are just looking to sleep there, there are many inexpensive hotels right across the street from the Termini Station. We paid $100 for a modern clean hotel with breakfast.

Then take the Eurostar train to Florence from the Termini train station. It takes an hour and a half and is a nice ride.

My suggestion is to rent a car in Florence and return it there, then take the train back to Rome. I teach auto racing and would hesitate to drive in Rome.

Bob T

Why not train to Florence on day one? It is only another 1:40 and saves a change of hotels. I would then bus to Siena after Florence and get the car as you leave Siena. Good luck!

If you want to see the Palio you need to make arrangements now. and youneed to be aware the city is so mobbed no one can move and prices are sky high.

Agree to take the train straight to Florence, do that and then do all of Rome at the end.

This is what we did for a very similar trip 3 years ago:

Flew into Rome, went directly from the airport to the train station by public transportation (very easy, even for 2 jet lagged, non-Italian speaking Americans). Train to Florence - 4 days there,with one day being a day trip to Siena by bus. Train back to Rome, 2 days there, then flew home. No need for a rental car anywhere, and certainly NOT IN ROME!

hi meghan

what lojo said. everytime you move you lose half a day of your precious holiday.

However, if you are determined to see the pallio, you may need to stay in Siena - I'm not sure whether a day trip on a pallio day is possible. there are a few reviews of the pallio on this forum - just put pallio siena in the search box.

regards, ann

Hi M,

I would go directly from Rome FCO to Florence via Rome. No need to pack and unpack for one night.

Why rent a car if you are only going to stay in Siena? Siena is 1:30 hr by SITA bus from Florence.

Second and third everyone's advice to go straight to Florence first night. You won't need a car at all for this trip. Really look into what you will encounter during Palio. It is something I would like to do also, but know I will need to plan way ahead.