Venice/Florence/Tuscany in 10 days
 

I am trying to plan a spring trip including these 3 destinations.Is it doable?..How much time to each? Transportation from one to another? I would appreciate any suggestions.
Thanks

Very doable. It would help us to know your interests. Why are you choosing these locations? With this knowledge we could suggest timing better.

Yes, it's definitely doable, especially if you fly 'open jaw' so you don't have to waste time backtracking to the same airport. Into Venice, out of Florence, etc. Spend 3 nights in Venice, 3 in Florence, 3 in Tuscany.

I recently posted trip reports from three night stays in Venice, Florence, and Santa Margherita Ligure (Ligurian coast, near the Cinque Terre). You can find them by clicking on my screen name above.

Have fun planning!
:)>-

This is doable. FLorence is in Tuscany. I would say about 3 nights each but if you want to spend more time in the 'country', and maybe exploring smaller town, than add to Tuscany and take a day from FLorence. On the other hand, if you are very interested in art (museums, architecture, etc) add to FLornece and take from Tuscany. I would keep Venice at 3 nights, regardless of how you split the remainder.

I've never used trains, but many people here do. You may need a car to more easily explore Tuscany. Driving into the bigger cities can be tough, and parking very difficult. Some of the smaller towns, are easier, but it does vary.

Most people consider Florence to be in Tuscany, so you really have only two destinations. You could easily stay in Florence and day trip once or twice. This would eliminate the need to change locations in Tuscany.

This will be our 1st trip there...Everything I have heard makes them sound just beautiful..So I guess our interests would be as typical 1st time tourists, museums, churches, etc..We most likely will not return, so want to do and see as much as possible in that time....And we will have to rely on public transportation.

Fly to Venice & spend 4 nights there (including some time to recover from jet lag). Take the train to Florence & spend 2-3 nights. Rent car & spend 3-4 nights in the Tuscany countryide near Pienza. You could depart from Florence, or Rome. Perhaps do Venice, Tuscany countryside, & Florence if you want city, countryside, city. Venice & Florence back-to-back can become a little intense.

Ten days is adequate to enjoy these places - just don't let anyone talk you into adding Rome to the picture.

Stu Dudley

The Tuscany part will be more difficult via public transport. Siena seems to have the best transport connections to smaller towns in Tuscany. I would suggest Venice 3, Florence 3, Siena 3. From Siena you could take a daytrip or two via bus or train to other smaller towns. Or you might hire a driver for a day. Luca of hillsandroads.com is an excellent driver and guide. He would follow your instructions or create an itinerary for you based on your interests. He's from Siena and he is well worth the money. In our nine-hour day with him, we visited two towns, a castle, had a a great lunch, visited another town, had a wine tasting, all driving on empty back roads--some of them dirt and not on the map!

BTW...........we are a young 70 year old couple. Would you advise renting a car to drive in the country? Tuscany area? It seems public transportation is limited.
Thanks again!

The countryside around Pienza is breathtaking. A car would allow you to stay in a small village (Pienza, San Quirico, Montalcino) and explore the countryside & hill villages at your leisure.

Stu Dudley

Tight but doable !
Stu has some good input but I would fly into Pisa or Florence and depart from Venice. Yes, you need a car if you hope to see much of Tuscany. If one day will do then hire a driver like Luca above. Have fun !
BTW, we are the same age.