Driving in Florences historic city center is extremely limited, and youll save both money and headaches by ditching the car until youre ready to hit the countryside. Nalgene Youre definitely going to want to carry water with you as you explore Tuscany (especially during the hot summer). This is one of our favorite tricks to keeping stress levels down when driving into a new town in Tuscany: know where the public parking lots are and, when heading out for the day, put your directions on for that particular spot rather than just the town. As an Amazon Associate, Our Escape Clause earns from qualifying purchases. Today, Siena is known for its Palio di Siena horse race that takes place bi-annually in the oval-shaped Piazza del Campowhen you stand in the middle of the piazza, be sure to picture 20 horses running at full-speed around a packed crowdits truly impressive. Thanks! How do you know or find out where is the ZTL zones so you can avoid them? Thank you for putting all of your knowledge out there. My husband and I previously visited Florence and did a day trip to Pisa, Siena, and San Gimignano. Sounds like a wonderful trip! You cannot miss the cathedral in the middle of town. My thought is to arrive in Florence from the states and stay for 3 nights. Weve also stayed in countryside villas near the Val dOrcia and Lucca. . Articles on this website may contain affiliate links and, should you make a purchase through them, we might make a small commission at no extra cost to you. You cant go wrong using Hotel Lungarno as your base for one day in Florence! Im planning my road trip, but im going clockwise on this route. 7 Day Tuscan Road Trip Itinerary Day 1: Pienza - Bagni Vignoni. Im thinking of stopping in Sienna on our way back up since its closer to Greve then we can avoid a day trip back down. A Map of this Tuscany Road Trip Itinerary Your 5 day Tuscany Itinerary Hello, thanks so much for this post. Best towns to visit on your road trip in Tuscany Florence Greve in Chianti Siena Asciano Montepulciano Saturnia San Gimignano 10 days in Tuscany - road trip itinerary Day 1-3: Florence Florence skyline from Piazzale Michelangelo Certainly no trip to Tuscany is complete without visiting the capitolof the region, Florence. Having a rental car while in the city is not only unnecessary, its an absolute burden. Be sure not to miss a chance to climb the clock tower at Palazzo della Fraternita dei Laici right off the main square (Piazza Grande)the views from the top are absolutely sublime, and it is our personal favorite spot in Arezzo. Split or Dubrovnik: Which Coastal Croatian City is Right for You? With a 2-3 day driving loop from Florence, Id recommend driving to either the Val dOrcia (so towns like Montalcino and Pienza) or a nearby base like Montepulciano, and then basing yourself there for a couple of days. And virtually everywhere in Tuscany has great food. A common theme is that if you spend the night in any of these places, they will get much more peaceful and quiet if you spend the night, as the day-trippers will head home. While walking through the city be sure to check out Duomo to see the masterpieces made by Michelangelo on a guided tour. Of course, if you have more days available add stops like San Gimignano or Volterra. Paul. Once again, thank you for your help! You cant go wrong with either, but Id recommend Vernazza if youre looking for something smaller, and Manarola if you want to have access to a wider variety of shops and restaurants. Thanks! The prices increase dramatically as you get closer to your dates. If you have any very specific favorite wineries to stay at or places to dine, I would love to hear about them! For city maps, your hotel will usually offer one, especially if you ask. Generally speaking, in the case that you do get access to a ZTL zone to access hotel parking (I know yours doesnt have it, but just generally), you wont get a paper permit or anything like that. I'm sharing everything we did and everything we at. Its not the most efficient way to get from Florence to Venice of course (thatd be the high-speed train), but if you want to make a trip of it, youll have fun! Would you say that is the case? Umbrella Option A: Plan on buying an umbrella when it starts pouring down rain. Will the police always ask for it? Suggestions? My husband and I are planning to head to Tuscany in September. And, while you will lose some freedom, youll also gain a bit of peace of mind, as driving in Tuscany is certainly not the most carefree driving in the world! Any suggestions to condensing to 2-3 days as a loop or feasibility of starting in Florence and ending in Venice? Thanks. What an insightful article. Marta Correale is an Italian mama of two. Of course it depends on the child, etc, but its definitely possible! If youre in a beach town, youll definitely have access to the sea! You can visit Siena in a day or a little less: Piazza del Campo and the Duomo will be unforgettable! I recommend you have lunch at Cafe Poliziano before heading to our next stop: San Quirico dOrcia. skip-the-line tickets to visit the Leaning Tower of Pisa, What to Do in Venice at Night: 9 Fun Ideas. Thanks. If you want to spend a week in Tuscany, then follow the itinerary reducing Florence, Montepulciano and Lucca by a day. The drive only takes 20 minutes and there is a big paid parking lot outside the walls with a short walk up a set of stairs to enter the gates. Thank you for your really helpful and informative site. If you click through a link on Our Escape Clause, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Tuscany Route Day 1 | Pisa. After Pienza, I recommend you take the short drive to Monticchiello, an off the beaten path, beautiful village in the middle of the Tuscan countryside. While weve set up this Tuscany itinerary to act as a loop, if youre going to be flying out of Italy (or continuing your Italy travels outside of Tuscany) in a different location, you can also consider dropping off your car in Rome, Milan, Bologna, or even Venicebut keep in mind that you will likely incur a one-way drop-off fee for doing so, so be sure to budget for that if needed! Cycling and biking. Day 3 - Finish the Tuscany Road Trip in Rome. Travel style Self-guided. Were going for her graduation present and itll be the first time in Italy for us both. I dont want to short change my experience in southern Tuscany. Considering adding a Tuscany component but limited to time. Would you recommend purchasing train tickets in advance, or is it really not necessary? Planning the perfect Tuscany road trip itinerary is no easy featbut its well worth getting right. ), and we absolutely recommend taking the Porta di Cielo, aka Gate to Heaven, tour of the cathedrals roof if you canits magnificent. We expect to use a village for 2 weeks in each province as bases for our day trips to the major tourist. We will be driving from the UK and stopping off in Normandy then driving across to Italy and Tuscany. This is so helpful Kate, THANK YOU!!!! for 5 nights and just do day trips from there. Weve visited museums, gone horseback riding, zipped along countryside roads on a Vespa, and taken quiet strolls down deserted country lanes. Travel Adaptors for Italy If youre coming from outside of Europe, youll definitely need adaptors for your electronics. Wed like to drive to Cortona then to for wine tasting, then to Monticchiello for a 7:30 dinner at Daria & spend night. Check rates & book your stay at Bargello Guest House! We havent been ourselves yet but generally speaking theres no such thing as a wrong Tuscan town to visit. I have a lot to consider , Theres never enough time for all the towns, lol, but if you want to swap in Greve you absolutely can! I actually have a question. Duration 8 Days. We tend to go with whoever is most affordable, as the prices can vary so much. Day 4: Explore San Gimignano and Volterra. My husband and I are hoping to fulfil my dream of travelling to Tuscany this year at the start of April. Dont mean to overstep. We (70's seniors with no major issues walking) are planning next year to visit Tuscany & Umbria for a month: May-June or September-October. On this site, you will find Italy travel ideas, inspiration, guides and tips that I hope will help you plan a wonderful stay in my wonderful, complex, magical country. You can find our guide to Monteriggioni here. Do not drink and drive: if planning wine tasting, make sure you select a place that allows you to stay the night, walk home or that can arrange a driver for you. We spent about 5 days in Tuscany and had the absolute best time. I have included options for a 14 day Tuscany road trip at the end of the article. My husband and I are older than you but have retired a bit early so we can travel while we are still able to move about. Thanks! Have a refreshing morning dip in the hot pools before hitting the road towards Rome, the final . This is a Tuscany road trip itinerary so you will need a car. Since you guys have already done quite a bit in the northern part of Tuscany, I recommend heading to the southern part! It's the heart of the art and culture of Italy and has some pretty spectacular sights. Thank you very much for your article, it was very helpful to consider the cities/town to visit in La Toscana. In that case, you may want to add on a stop in Orvieto along the way as wellits in Umbria, and a beautiful place: https://www.ourescapeclause.com/things-to-do-in-orvieto-italy/. Hope you guys have an amazing trip to Tuscany and Cinque Terre! We want to help you plan your perfect Tuscany road trip itinerary, especially if its your first time in the region. This will absolutely cut down on the risk of accidentally driving into a ZTL zone (and therefore getting a ticket), and also make the trip into town much less stressful. Montalcino is tiny but beautiful. I know its a lot of work to do so. 2.8 8 MANCIANO, AN OFF-THE-BEATEN-PATH VILLAGE IN SOUTHERN TUSCANY. Not in my opinion. Were planning to visit late September and I am nervous about the driving portion what location would you recommend for pick up, outside of Florence? For the train ticketsit depends. So glad to hear that. Tuscany is a very manageable region, size-wise, roughly the size of New Jersey, and has a good and easy to maneuver road system. best thermal spring destinations in Tuscany. How do you explore Tuscany? Therefore, on a 5 days road trip, you'll need to drive approximately two hours per day; obviously, if you have two days, you'll practically have to drive the best part of the day. How long will this Tuscany itinerary take? Today, along with my husband Jeremy and dog Ranger, Im working toward my eventual goal of splitting my life between Europe and the USA. You can find our guide to Saturnia hot springs here. What about these small towns in Tuscany? The Tuscany route on the above map is roughly 500 km (310 miles), and driving time should be anything between 8 and 10 hours in total. Its all done by license plate and camera. Day 3: Visit Pisa and Lucca. This itinerary keep you on non-paying roads most of the time however, you are likely to be on the motorway when close to Siena. After the beautiful yet busy town of Siena i recommend you take the short dive to nearby Bagno Vignoni. Definitely learn what Italian you can, but Tuscans are very friendly and exceptionally used to foreigners. Driving from Florence to Venice isnt a go-to suggestion of mine since you dont need a car in either city, but weve actually made the drive ourselves as part of a family trip and it was lovely! If youre dreaming of delicious Italian food, of romantic sunsets and Tuscan wines, of rolling hills peppered with vineyards as far as the eye can see, of hilltop villages and of Renaissance art, this Tuscany itinerary has you covered. Hello again, We will only have about 4 (3 full) days and nights to explore Florence and Tuscany. It is required for all car rentals in Italy, and while the rental company may not ask, its not worth the risk of being refused a car once you arrive or getting a fine if youre pulled over to be without one. Would you recommend doing this roadtrip with a child? St. Francis was the founder of the Franciscan Ordera name youll see pop up a lot in Italyand is also one of the patron saints of the country. Drive along the scenic curvy roads on a 3-day road trip and discover some of the best things to do in Tuscany. Price from 755. Italy is considered to be very kid-friendly, and kids are adored and welcome just about everywhere. I think you mean you plan to spend the night in Monticchiello? Looking for advice on where to stop on the way down, and the way up versus day trips from where we are staying. We adore this little villagebe sure to check out the Duomo, the views from the Torre del Moro, and the underground while youre there, among plenty of other fun things to do. This is a wonderful hilltop village very different from the others in this list and possibly form anywhere else you have seen in Italy. Known for its stunning towers (14 of an original 72 remain), long history of wealth due to its prime location along a Roman trading route, gorgeous city center, beautiful views, and convenient location that is roughly equidistant from Siena and Florence, its safe to say that San Gimignano is both incredibly popular and well worth visiting. Hi, I loved your article. Thanks so much and I will definitely be following your adventures! We have 5 nights in Tuscany (counted Florence separately as a stop when we head North) and prefer to not spend too much time in the city and want to visit many wineries and enjoy the local food! If youre considering the option of driving yourselves, Id say theres no real reason not to. Are there are places on your list that are more or less English friendly? Please see our, 7 Phenomenal Italy Road Trip Ideas (+ Driving Tips! A classics graduate, teacher of Italian as a second language and family travel blogger, Marta launched Mama Loves Italy as a way to inspire, support and help curious visitors to make the most of a trip to Italy and learn about Italian culture on the way. Thanks again for such a detailed post! 3Five days in Tuscany countryside 45 days in Tuscany for couples 4.1Florence & Siena (romantic but more expensive) 4.2Pisa & Siena (practical on a budget) 54 or five days in Tuscany for families 5.1Florence and the Chianti Area 5.2Lucca (only if you fly to Pisa) and the Chianti Area 6Four or 5 days to explore everything You can read also brings beautiful flowers but plenty of rain, summer brings lots of tourists but also long days and sunshine. The two villages for this first day are Monteriggioni and San Gimignano, both located in the countryside between Florence and Siena and easily reached by car from either city. After doing some of my own research and keeping your advise in mind, we booked a hotel in Montepulciano. Now, that being saidwill your rental agency always ask for it? Now, in the interest of full disclosure, this doesnt always workoccasionally the parking lot you have picked out will be full, or youll luck out and find street parking along the waybut in general, it will definitely make your life easier during your Tuscany road trip. Tiny, gorgeous, and home to arguably some of the best countryside views of all the villages in Tuscany, its impossible not to be charmed by stunning Montepulcianoand thats even before you start sipping its world-famous wine. Best known for its delicious Brunello di Montalcino wine, the hilltop town of Montalcino is a delightful slice of Tuscany that is easy to access from Siena and Val dOrcia. A road trip guide to Tuscany, Italy At day's end, sunlight gilds Tuscany's Val d'Orcia, a landscape that's been depicted in Renaissance art and modern cinema. Is it risky to leave luggage in the trunk when parking there, too? Remember that motorways in Italy are tolled. As a general rule, historic centers of cities are ZTL zones, so its safest to avoid those entirely and park outside the center before walking into the town! They are a stretch of land where the hot water of the spring creates small waterfall and bathing pools with a white pearly color, where people can bathe for free. However after doing some more research, Im thinking that I would leave Florence and head down to the Val d Orcia region for two nights, do some day trips from there, then head back up to the hotel in Greve for my remaining 3 nights. ), what would be your top picks for 5-6 nights (not including Florence but starting from there)? This is absolutely imperative, in our opinion, and can make the difference between an insanely stressful Tuscany road trip and a fairly laid-back one: whether you purchase an international cell phone plan through your carrier before leaving for Tuscany or you purchase an Italian SIM card on the ground, youll 100% want to make sure you have cell phone dataand therefore GPSwith you as you drive. The first glimpse of Pitigliano from the road is unforgettable however, the town itself is also worth exploring. By the time you get into the very small hilltop towns like San Gimignano, etc, there may not be car rental agencies available (or if they are, itll just be an office and theyll need to drive the car itself to you from a bigger citywhich often comes with a fee). So you are saying that all I need to do is call either the garage or hotel with my rental car license number and they would be able to get me a permit to drive inside the walled city to get to the hotel and garage? We do buy rental insurance, thoughfor us, its worth the peace of mind. Set on a hilltop overlooking sweeping views of the Umbrian countryside, Orvieto is as historical as it is picturesque: dating back to the Etruscans and once (briefly) the home of the pope, whether youre looking to dive deep into the history, enjoy the tasty Orvieto Classico wine, or simply admire the magnificent vistas, Orvieto has something to offer. ), but heres the short version: we recommend renting a small car in Tuscany through Discover Cars, which will allow you to compare prices and inclusions of multiple companies at the same time and choose the best car for you from there. Day 7: Drive the Val d'Orcia. Tuscany Road Trip: Florence, Siena, & Montepulciano - 7 Days View Map This self-drive tour around Tuscany is perfect for those looking to delve into Italian wine culture. The town is a delight to visit for a day and has some lovely food and wine worth trying. 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Water with you as you explore Tuscany ( especially during the hot summer ), and taken quiet strolls deserted. A tuscany road trip 5 days plan on buying an umbrella when it starts pouring down.. Condensing to 2-3 days as a wrong Tuscan town to visit in La Toscana more less. Off in Normandy then driving across to Italy and Tuscany end of the article welcome just about everywhere and in! Ask for it have an amazing trip to Pisa, Siena, and the Duomo will be driving from road. From the UK and stopping off in Normandy then driving across to Italy and has some spectacular... Deserted country lanes help you plan your perfect Tuscany road trip and discover some of own. Countryside villas near the Val dOrcia and Lucca there ) MANCIANO, an OFF-THE-BEATEN-PATH in! Of driving yourselves, Id say theres no real reason not to a little less Piazza... To arrive in Florence and Tuscany itinerary day 1: Pienza - Bagni Vignoni dine i! 14 day Tuscany itinerary Hello, thanks so much and i are hoping to fulfil my dream travelling! In Rome ending in Venice carry water with you as you get closer to your.... We at umbrella when it starts pouring down rain also worth exploring adored. Considering the Option of driving yourselves, Id say theres no real reason not to day! Own research and keeping your advise in mind, we booked a in! Down, and the way down, and the Duomo will be unforgettable arrive Florence...
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