Suggestions for home base for Tuscany
Nov 27th, 2017, 02:15 PM
#1
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Suggestions for home base for Tuscany
I just booked our airfare last night for 14 days in Italy this June. This will be my first trip to Europe and the fun of planning is just beginning! My plan is to spend 4 full days in Tuscany, 4 full days on the Almalfi Coast, then 4 days in Rome. My original thought was to home base in Tuscany in a town like Siena and take day trips from there. I spoke to a friend today who has been to Italy many times who suggested using Florence as our home base for Tuscany. He felt it was an easy city to get around in and a great place to be in the evenings after touring all day. I’m hoping to home base in a place that has some markets, shops, restaurants, cafes, places to get gelato, etc to enjoy in the evenings when we’re back from a day of exploring, yet not be the large, hectic environment of the big city that I know we’ll get in Rome. Enjoying the beauty of Tuscany is definitely my priority over Florence in this trip...but I’m sure there’s plenty to enjoy if we were basing in Florence as well. We’d prefer to not a get a car but are open to it if it that’s the best way to see Tuscany. I’ll be traveling with my husband and two kids, ages 11 and 14. I know this is rambling...hoping to get some opinions from those who have already been there to experience. Thanks for any advice!
Nov 27th, 2017, 02:28 PM
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<<I’m hoping to home base in a place that has some markets, shops, restaurants, cafes, places to get gelato, etc to enjoy in the evenings when we’re back from a day of exploring>>
That would describe many, many places in Tuscany apart from Firenze.
If exploring the beauty of Tuscany is your goal I would rent a car and see the countryside. You can do it by bus, but that's not really "exploring." Firenze is a great city, but busy, busy, busy, and you can get there for a daytrip if you like, from the country.
That would describe many, many places in Tuscany apart from Firenze.
If exploring the beauty of Tuscany is your goal I would rent a car and see the countryside. You can do it by bus, but that's not really "exploring." Firenze is a great city, but busy, busy, busy, and you can get there for a daytrip if you like, from the country.
Nov 27th, 2017, 05:35 PM
#3
You need to get a better idea of what you want to see in Tuscany. There isn't one place, even if you have a car, that will provide access to all of Tuscany.
Siena wouldn't be my first choice if you meant to stay in the historical center. Day trips by bus are possible in theory but not practical for tourists. If driving, there is rush hour traffic in the morning and late afternoon on the main roads leaving from and heading to Siena that's pretty hard to avoid.
Since you're going to the Amalfi Coast after Tuscany, I wouldn't stay north of Siena (unless you decide to stay in Florence) and I would probably stay in the Val d'Orcia (Montepulciano, Pienza, San Quirico, Montalcino area). Whether driving or going by public transportation, you'll lose a good part of the day getting to the Amalfi Coast, so 4 full days on the AC would require 5 nights.
Likewise, 4 full days in Tuscany requires 5 nights, and 4 full days in Rome requires 5 nights.
Siena wouldn't be my first choice if you meant to stay in the historical center. Day trips by bus are possible in theory but not practical for tourists. If driving, there is rush hour traffic in the morning and late afternoon on the main roads leaving from and heading to Siena that's pretty hard to avoid.
Since you're going to the Amalfi Coast after Tuscany, I wouldn't stay north of Siena (unless you decide to stay in Florence) and I would probably stay in the Val d'Orcia (Montepulciano, Pienza, San Quirico, Montalcino area). Whether driving or going by public transportation, you'll lose a good part of the day getting to the Amalfi Coast, so 4 full days on the AC would require 5 nights.
Likewise, 4 full days in Tuscany requires 5 nights, and 4 full days in Rome requires 5 nights.
Nov 30th, 2017, 11:01 AM
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Buonconvento has lots of direct trains to Siena, and at least one daily direct train to Florence; otherwise, you have to go to Siena and change trains there. Buonconvento is also a hub for buses to nearby towns, such as Montalcino, Montepulciano, and Pienza. People going to these places from Siena usually have to change buses in Buonconvento. If you really don't want to drive, Buonconvento is a good bases. The train station isn't far from the center of town. However, you can see a lot more with a car. Just be sure to familiarize yourself with the limited traffic zones (ZTL), reserved bus lanes, and the like, or you'll get a hefty fine in the mail after you return home, preceded by a hefty charge from the rental company for their effort in helping the police track you down.
Dec 2nd, 2017, 08:36 AM
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I agree you need to determine what part of Tuscany you want to explore as 4 days will limit your options. Having just returned from a trip to Tuscany if you are driving I would highly recommend staying away from the hill towns such as Siena and Montepucliano as bases; they are lovely but hard to get in and out of due to parking restrictions and traffic zones, not to mention the narrow lanes which were nerve racking. There are many nice places to stay in the countryside outside these towns which could work as bases, perhaps others can provide more suggestions.
Dec 2nd, 2017, 09:12 AM
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My daughter and I spend 2 weeks in Italy several years ago focused on:
Venice - 3 nights
Cinque Terre (Manarola) - 3 nights
Siena - 3 nights
Rome - 3 nights
We stayed in a lovely B&B, Frances Lodge, outside of Siena that overlooked the city with parking and easy access to driving throughout Tuscany. From there you can do day trips to both Pisa and Florence as well as San Gimignano, Crete Senese Drive (Montalcino with 14th century fort, abbey in Monte Oliveto Maggiore, then to S. Antimony Abbazia where we arrived in time to hear the monks coming in from farming to sing at 12:45 each day, then on to Pienza and Montepulciano). The highlight of our trip was the Cooking lesson that our innkeeper set up for us in advance at Scuola Cucina Cooking School. We definitely want to return to spend more time in Tuscany area and perhaps include N. Italy lake country.
In Rome, we recommend seeing the Vatican in the Friday evenings they are open. For a lovely small group waking tour of Ancient Rome - Rome Walks.
Venice - 3 nights
Cinque Terre (Manarola) - 3 nights
Siena - 3 nights
Rome - 3 nights
We stayed in a lovely B&B, Frances Lodge, outside of Siena that overlooked the city with parking and easy access to driving throughout Tuscany. From there you can do day trips to both Pisa and Florence as well as San Gimignano, Crete Senese Drive (Montalcino with 14th century fort, abbey in Monte Oliveto Maggiore, then to S. Antimony Abbazia where we arrived in time to hear the monks coming in from farming to sing at 12:45 each day, then on to Pienza and Montepulciano). The highlight of our trip was the Cooking lesson that our innkeeper set up for us in advance at Scuola Cucina Cooking School. We definitely want to return to spend more time in Tuscany area and perhaps include N. Italy lake country.
In Rome, we recommend seeing the Vatican in the Friday evenings they are open. For a lovely small group waking tour of Ancient Rome - Rome Walks.
Dec 2nd, 2017, 09:16 AM
#8
All of the towns, whether hilly or flat, have parking restrictions and traffic zones.
Montepulciano is my favorite town in the Val d'Orcia area, so I wouldn't recommend against staying there. There are lodging options with parking and easy access to the main roads.
Siena is less accessible IMO but not because of parking and traffic restrictions as much as the volume of traffic during the morning and late afternoon rush hours. Sitting in slowly moving traffic reminds me too much of my daily commute to work. But the Palazzo Ravizza in Siena has its own parking lot that is just a couple of turns from the main north-south road on the west side of Siena, so parking restrictions and traffic zones are non-issues.
Montepulciano is my favorite town in the Val d'Orcia area, so I wouldn't recommend against staying there. There are lodging options with parking and easy access to the main roads.
Siena is less accessible IMO but not because of parking and traffic restrictions as much as the volume of traffic during the morning and late afternoon rush hours. Sitting in slowly moving traffic reminds me too much of my daily commute to work. But the Palazzo Ravizza in Siena has its own parking lot that is just a couple of turns from the main north-south road on the west side of Siena, so parking restrictions and traffic zones are non-issues.
Dec 3rd, 2017, 05:32 PM
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Frances Lodge B&B outside of Siena with swimming pool, views of city, and easy access to bus into town and onsite free car parking for driving to other areas in Tuscany. The hosts there were excellent. I was delinquent on posting my trip report from several years ago - so just posted it if you want to click on my name above, Italy trip report.
