From Rome to Florence, Sienna & Pisa?

[proudadofthree]

What is the best way to visit Florence, Sienna & Pisa?The family and I would like to visit these places but don't know what is best. Is it better to travel from Rome to Florence back to Florence and from Rome to Sienna and back to Rome? Or should we go from Rome and visit Pisa then Sienna and stay in Florence? We are a bit confused on what to do. What is the best way to see these places? What are the best places to stay? How far is the airport. Thank you.

[crazy4cruzin]

Proudadofthree- How much time do you have for this? I've done this several time and what I think works best is to go from Rome to Florence (we did it by Eurostar train) and stay in Florence for a few days and do side trips. Florence to Pisa is super easy by train and about an hour travel time each way. Going to Siena from Florence would be easier by bus or you can do it by train (a little more complicated), or you can hire a private car/tour or rent a car if comfortable driving in Italy. There are even organized/escorted tours to Siena, you can book through the hotel concierge. Then return to Rome again by train from Florence. You also can do Siena from Rome (as you indicated) that's another option, but I've never done it that way.

[ab0si]

It really depends on what you mean by "visiting." Most people visit Pisa to see the Tower and glorious Catherdral complex. Period. I happen to like the town, but for most tourists, a day trip from Florence probably makes the msot sense. There are many trains -- some go through Lucca, a WONDERFUL walled town. Easy city bus from the Pisa train station to the Piazza and back. It's a nice walk, also, if the weather is nice.

 

Siena is a PITA via train. The station is not in the city and it is a spur line. Buses are better. As mentioned byt th eother poster, there are buses from Florence (lots of them). There are also buses from Rome (quite a few, actually). These are safe and comfortable (well, as comfortable as a bus ever is).

 

Some visit Siena as a day trip from Florence, but it is alvoely place to spend the evening. Again, it largely depends on what you meaning by "visiting" a city. If you hate packing and unpacking, simply stay in Florence and day trip by train to Pisa and by bus to Siena.

 

If you want to stay in Pisa, there are trains connecting it to Rome -- but they are slow. In fat, it is as fast to back track to Florence and transfer to the Eurostar (more expensive, though, to do it that way).

 

Paul

[proudadofthree]

Proudadofthree- How much time do you have for this? I've done this several time and what I think works best is to go from Rome to Florence (we did it by Eurostar train) and stay in Florence for a few days and do side trips. Florence to Pisa is super easy by train and about an hour travel time each way. Going to Siena from Florence would be easier by bus or you can do it by train (a little more complicated), or you can hire a private car/tour or rent a car if comfortable driving in Italy. There are even organized/escorted tours to Siena, you can book through the hotel concierge. Then return to Rome again by train from Florence. You also can do Siena from Rome (as you indicated) that's another option, but I've never done it that way.

 

I have three days. So it would be best at the end to fly out of Rome?

[X-ring]

So it would be best at the end to fly out of Rome?

 

I would think it probably increases your chances of being able to get a direct flight across the Atlantic, if that's of some value to you.

[proudadofthree]

Would it be easier to fly out of an airport in Florence?

[winewanderer]

For Paul,

 

Next year we will be in the Chianti area for a few days before a cruise. Do you know if we can catch a bus in Greve to Siena? How long is the bus ride? I'm guessing about an hour.

 

I've been to Siena, fell in love with it and want hubby to see it.

 

For proud of three, I think Paul has good advice to stay in Florence and day trip from there. We are doing something similar except staying around Greve-in-Chianti as our base.

[cberge]

Would it be easier to fly out of an airport in Florence?

 

Depends on how good your flights would be to go whereever you are returning to,how much more or less the ticket would be and the times.If all the above are better from Rome it is only an hour or so back by train on the ES.I would make your plans first as to what YOU want to see and do on paper...do some research to see what would work best for you and then if you have any other questions post them and I am sure you will get some help.