If the hotel offers private parking on-site, you can give them your license plate number and theyll be able to make arrangements for you. Weve driven from Portugal to Italy and/or France (and back) several times ourselves, so were very familiar with the breadth of the drive youre taking on. If you have not included Florence in your itinerary, then I recommend you spend this last day heading a little farther South and exploring the stunning area of Maremma, in the south of Tuscany. 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. Though you didnt really mention seaside areas I guess its because people dont tend to visit Tuscany region because of beaches, but still, there IS some seaside (judging from map sorry), and I would like to know more, either if you had any experience, or from locals or friends. Do not drive at night: while the roads are well kept, many of the roads on this itinerary are country roads and can be dangerous in the dark. If you want to pick up a car outside of Florence, Id recommend taking a look at Siena. Travel Adaptors for Italy If youre coming from outside of Europe, youll definitely need adaptors for your electronics. Start in Florence, the birthplace of the Renaissance, stroll around its medieval plazas and cathedrals and see for yourself the history that permeates the city. Bologna is the capital of Emilia-Romagna, the region that is home to so many of the things us foreigners tend to associate with Italian food: tagliatelle al ragu (aka spaghetti bolognese), mortadella (aka bologna), parmigiano-reggiano, traditional balsamic vinegar, and more. That being said, theres something very special about taking a Tuscany road trip, and by not driving, you will lose out on the charm of seeing some of the smaller towns at night, miss some of the prettiest vistas, and have a little less freedom in planning your trip. Please see our, 7 Phenomenal Italy Road Trip Ideas (+ Driving Tips! Weve created several guides to Florence based on our six weeks or so spent exploring the city, including a one-day itinerary and a two-day itinerary, so be sure to check those out for more detail. 3 days: Florence 5 days, add: Siena 8 days, add: Montepulciano, Pienza, and Montalcino 10 days, add: Lucca, Pisa, and Volterra 12 days, add: Elba 14 days, add: San Gimignano and Cortona, slow down Rick's Best Two-Week Tuscany Trip (by Car) Day 1: Arrive in Florence (sleep in Florence) Day 2: Florence (sleep in Florence) Road cycling (5) MTB (7) Difficulty Any grade. The distances in this road trip are also fairly short, so no extremely long car days to contend with. Such a great and helpful Itinerary, thank you! 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! We typically focus on travel in the USA and Europe (especially in our beloved Italy), but feature destinations across the world! I just came upon your site when doing a search for info on an upcoming trip. Your GPS can help you avoid the ZTL zones, but the biggest thing is paying very close attention to the signs, as theyll be marked there. Indeed, the cascate are wonderful and one of the best thermal spring destinations in Tuscany. Usually, theyre in parking garages built literally under the hilltop towns or on the outskirts of historical centers which means you often have to walk up steep hills in order to reach the center. The areas is blessed with pretty much anything a visitor can ask for. Hello again, We will only have about 4 (3 full) days and nights to explore Florence and Tuscany. 3.2 11 ANSEDONIA BEACH. In your case, Id contact the hotel and ask where they recommend you park, and then if you head to the garage inside the walls, look at the map to confirm the directions to access it. Wed love to head down to Aus and New Zealand one day! Travel style Self-guided. Some of the spa towns other than Saturnia can feel off the beaten path, such as Bagno Vignoni. 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. Not in my opinion. As for where to stay in the Val dOrcia, were partial to Montepulciano as a base. Thanks again! For city maps, your hotel will usually offer one, especially if you ask. Start in Florence, the birthplace of the Renaissance, stroll around its medieval plazas and cathedrals and see for yourself the history that permeates the city. If youre considering the option of driving yourselves, Id say theres no real reason not to. We do buy rental insurance, thoughfor us, its worth the peace of mind. How We Structured This Tuscany Road Trip Itinerary. If you choose to do this itinerary as a road trip, spend nights 1-3 in Florence, night 4 in Arezzo after exploring Cortona and Arezzo, nights 5-6 in Siena, doing the Val d'Orcia as a day trip from Siena, night 7 in Volterra after touring San Gimignano and Volterra, and night 8 in Lucca, after exploring Pisa and Lucca. Tuscany road trip. Overlooking the countryside, this small village (or rather castle) is a stunning little gem completely surrounded by an intact city wall. Some links in this post may be affiliate links. Bargello Guest House Located in the heart of Florence, this property is only a short (read: less than 5-minute) walk away from some of Florences highlights like the Palazzo Vecchio. Nalgene Youre definitely going to want to carry water with you as you explore Tuscany (especially during the hot summer). If youd rather take 2-3 days to do the journey and sightsee along the way, Orvieto and Siena are both stops to consider on the way. Thanks so much for your time and sharing your knowledge. Youre right, I didnt include seaside areas because typically, thats not what non-Italian travelers are looking for from the Tuscany region. . At least once during your trip, climb to the top of one of Sienas monuments for an epic viewthe Torre del Mangia in Piazza del Campo is a popular choice, but personally, we love that the view from the top of the Opera della Metropolitana includes stunning views of the Piazza del Campo from a bit of a distance. I was nervous about driving but you laid it all out perfectly, thank you. Option C: Hope you get lucky with the weather (but fair warning, weve never been to Italy and avoided rain entirely!). Monteriggioni is a castle in the sense that it is a fortified village with a central piazza still entirely surrounded by mighty walls. I know its a lot of work to do so. Weve never hired a private driver in Tuscany, so I cant speak to that personally! Having an international driving permit is required for non-EU drivers in Italy. The reviews are mediocre and I was wondering if you had any experience with them. Italy is our favourite country, but we havent been to Tuscany or Cinque Terre, so I really appreciate the wealth of information on your website! 2.8 8 MANCIANO, AN OFF-THE-BEATEN-PATH VILLAGE IN SOUTHERN TUSCANY. I recommend you start your thirds day in Tuscany visiting Pienza, a stunning hilltop village often refereed to as the ideal city. Take care. I liked your insights very much, I hope to go visit Tuscany soon with my family. Tuscany is a very manageable region, size-wise, roughly the size of New Jersey, and has a good and easy to maneuver road system. Lucca is not too big, not too small, and parking is fairly easy to find right outside the city walls. I know that some private drivers and tours advertise through Get Your Guide. If youre just going to relax, Lucca is a great choice! Im assuming youre planning a couple of days in Florence on days 5-6. 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. The public parking within the walls should have a way to access it without passing through a ZTL zone, the concern is taking a wrong turn, etc. 3.1 10 CAPALBIO TOWN AND BEACH. Very helpful for our upcoming visit! Thank you for such a insightful article, it has definitely helped to make a road trip through Tuscany feel less daunting! If you stay in Siena for a few days, Monteriggioni makes up for a great day trip or a nice stop during your Tuscany road trip. For sure, I want to rent a car and do all by car. Dont mean to overstep. ), One day in Lucca: why you will love this unique walled town in the heart of Tuscany. We also love Lucca, its much quieter in many ways than Florence or Siena. Day 4: Explore San Gimignano and Volterra. Once again, thank you for your help! I dont think weve ever used them in particular, but in general, weve never had any issues with a car rental in Italy and have zero brand loyalty with rental cars there. Thank you so much for this wonderful site it is so informative!! You can find our guide to Monteriggioni here. Is it a cop-out to say that this Tuscany road trip will take as long as you have? Ilene. You can visit Siena in a day or a little less: Piazza del Campo and the Duomo will be unforgettable! You can definitely structure this trip as a road trip from Rome to Florence, touring Tuscany by road trip along the way instead if you prefer. Visit the historic city of Siena and check out the Piazza del Campo. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. 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. We have 7 days in Italy but we thought a circular road trip would be great made up of countryside, wine, food and wandering around towns and markets. Thats essentially down to your personal risk tolerance. Hi Kate, Do you have any recommendations for accommodations on the Tuscan itinerary? How do you know or find out where is the ZTL zones so you can avoid them? After Pitigliano, I recommend you go visit one of the most photographed places in the whole of Tuscany: Saturnia! We absolutely do not recommend driving into the villages, howeverinstead, drive to the train station at La Spezia or Levanto, park your car, and then take the train into the villages from there. Personally, wed rent the car in Rome wherever we could find the best dealwere not particularly loyal to any one car rental company. . Wed like to spend at least one night in the city, and at least one in the country. While youre there, be sure to stop by the beautiful Piazza Grande, admire views of the nearby Church of San Biagio that is located just outside of town, and to taste the local wine. Of course it depends on the child, etc, but its definitely possible! As you can see, everywhere is pretty close together, and driving from one city to the next doesn't make more than two hours at most (that is, so long as the road isn't under construction!) We tend to go with whoever is most affordable, as the prices can vary so much. Hello, thanks so much for this post. Those places arent in Tuscany but are wonderful, and depending on your itinerary might make fun additions. You can technically get to Montepulciano by train, but the station is outside of town and youll need to catch a bus or taxi to get all the way there. Thanks. A few popular beach towns in Tuscany include Viareggio and Forte dei Marmi. Check rates & book your rental car with Discover Cars today! However, if your goal is to travel between Rome and Florence, you could also easily take the train. Its not often asked for, so you can choose to take the risk, but your rental company can refuse to rent to you and of course, you can have issues if you get into an accident, etc, if you dont have one as well. I would love to make a stop at Saturnia if time allowed. Speak to that personally Phenomenal Italy road trip through Tuscany feel less daunting hilltop village often to! 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