Planning a trip to Italy: practical questions about Rome, Tuscany, and guided tours

Hi there, I live in Quebec and I’m planning a trip to Italy. We’re thinking of visiting Rome, Florence, Venice, and Tuscany. Here are a few questions I haven’t been able to find clear answers to online. If anyone can help, I’d really appreciate it—thanks in advance!

- There are different City Passes for Rome. I’ve found the differences between them, but whenever I try to simulate a purchase, I’m always redirected to another site like Tiquet. Is there an official Tourism Office website for these?

- Is it easy to get around Tuscany by public transport, especially in the Chianti region?

- For guided tours (or not), which company do you prefer? Get Your Guide? Viator?

Looking forward to your recommendations—thanks again!

- Is it easy to travel by public transport in Tuscany? Mainly in the Chianti region.

Hi! In principle, yes—just double-check on Trenitalia again. For buses, check Rome2Rio.

Hi, I didn’t find getting around by public transport very practical. That said, it depends on where you want to go. I still think the best option is to rent a car to be more independent and reach places that aren’t served by public transport. As for excursions, I usually use Get Your Guide.

Have a great vacation!

I don’t know Tuscany very well, but after visiting Puglia a few years ago, I was advised on this site to rent a car because bus schedules aren’t always reliable there. It’s an extra cost, but it lets you visit more sites at your own pace and gives you more freedom. You can also get information from the Italian Tourism Office in Paris—they’ll give you details.

Hi there,

Not renting a car means sticking to the cities.

Goodbye countryside and small villages.

Personally, I don’t book any guided tours and buy my entry tickets on the official website of each monument.

Be careful—you often need to book them in advance to secure a spot for certain options (the Colosseum in Rome, Florence Cathedral, etc.).

You might find some ideas and tips for your trip in this travel journal (starting from step 7).

I’ll give you a partial answer: for traveling between cities, it’s easy with trains—just follow the advice from previous posters. But if you want to explore the Tuscan countryside, you’ll need a car to access the stunning landscapes of the Crete Senesi and Val d'Orcia. Chianti isn’t the prettiest area. I often visit this region by car, but last year I flew in and rented a car for a few days from Florence to Florence (the rental place near the train station was perfect). I know lots of gorgeous routes along the "white roads" that connect the hilltop villages. In this region, Siena is a must—you leave your car in a paid parking lot at the bottom of the city and take the escalators up to the historic center.



















There are also famous vineyards and wines in Montalcino (Brunello wine) and Montepulciano (Vino Nobile). Wheat fields are becoming rarer, replaced by vineyards. If you have 3 days to spend in this region, I can give you more tips. I often visit before summer—I’ll be there in early June. I also have addresses for agricultural cooperatives where you can buy excellent local products, especially cured meats. As a rule, I don’t do guided tours—I have guidebooks and take my time since I take lots of photos. But in Venice last October, I did a half-day tour with Danilo, a retired gondolier I found through an Airbnb Experience. We didn’t visit monuments; instead, we explored the city to learn about Venetian life. It was fascinating—we felt like we were touring with a friend sharing his stories. Visiting Rome, Florence, and Venice in one trip might be *too much* beauty—lucky me, living near Italy means I can go often! You didn’t mention what season you’re planning to travel, but summer’s best avoided due to the heat.

Thanks so much for your tips, it’s really appreciated. Our trip will be in September for 3 to 4 weeks. We want to take the time to enjoy it since we can’t go as often as you do. I’m a little envious, honestly! 🙂 If you have any great spots, I’d love to hear them. Thanks again, Ginette (Basimba)

Hi Ginette,

For Tuscany, Emilia-Romagna just above it, and Veneto, I did it in 2 weeks—check out my 2019 blog "Tuscany" in my signature (click this link: https://blogs.crespel.me/italie2019/).

Did it with a rental car.

- See the other section on Rome, and another on Florence/Venice.

See you!

Hi there, I got back from Tuscany (and Umbria, which I highly recommend) less than a month ago. The landscapes were stunning! We rented a car at Florence Airport—it’s the best way to visit all the little villages in Chianti and Val d'Orcia (UNESCO). There are parking lots at the entrance of the towns, often with escalators or elevators to get up to the center.

Be sure to book your tickets in advance for Florence, Siena, etc. If you can, I’d recommend getting the paper *Routard* guide or the *Michelin Green Guide*—they list the official sites for booking.

Otherwise, I used Get Your Guide quite often, and it was generally great.

Here’s the first batch of my photos: https://photos.app.goo.gl/tUGT13nnSmMbhEoA9 Happy planning! !

Thanks so much for the tips—I’ll read your blogs very carefully. Ginette (Basimba)

Wow, your travel journal is amazing and gives me a taste of what’s in store for us. Thanks!

Good evening, I’m responding about the Tuscany section by sharing the region’s railway network.

If you’re based in Firenze, you can easily reach the biggest art cities in the region: Pisa, Siena, as well as Arezzo, Lucca, Pistoia, and even some smaller towns that might be worth visiting. You won’t have to worry about parking, and the five cities mentioned above are all walkable from the train station (from what I remember). For Chianti, it’s a different story. The Firenze-Arezzo line (in red) follows the Arno Valley, while the Firenze-Empoli-Siena line (in yellow) runs through the Arno Valley and then the Elsa Valley. Chianti is a large hilly area between these valleys—trains don’t go there. There might be bus routes, but getting from one village to another is likely tricky (changing lines, schedules). That’s the challenge of the countryside and villages, as Gaura and Attila mentioned. In my opinion, it’s nearly impossible to explore these areas without a car. And it’d be a real shame to visit Tuscany without spending time in the countryside and villages (see the photos shared by previous posters). You might find some ideas in the travel journal I posted on this site a couple of months ago. (The Siena area starting from day 21; before that, it’s Arezzo and its province).

For ticket reservations, you only need to book for places affected by overtourism. It’s "mandatory" in peak season, for sure, but I’m not sure what to tell you since you’re going in September. Personally, I don’t like booking visits too far in advance (feels restrictive), and I try to avoid it, but it’s impossible in some spots. At the end of September 2022, I bought tickets for: Palazzo Pubblico in Siena, Siena Cathedral, Firenze Cathedral, and the Uffizi Gallery in Firenze, with no more than a 10-minute wait at the ticket counter. But things may have changed. In June 2022, I got a ticket in the morning for an afternoon climb up the Pisa Tower. That might have changed too. Finally, don’t miss Siena Cathedral— in September, the floor is uncovered, and it’s absolutely stunning. Have a great trip.

Hi, Personally, I hate waiting in line, so I prefer to book in advance—sometimes it’s even mandatory for certain sites since spots are limited. I went in April, and I can tell you I was glad I’d booked! For Siena Cathedral, I’d reserved through Get Your Guide because the official site seemed too complicated. I still had to pick up the paper tickets at the counter, but no line! We’d also booked for Arezzo Cathedral, where it said it was mandatory—only 30 people every 30 minutes... As for the landscapes, I loved Val d’Orcia—it’s absolutely stunning in April! !

To find official tickets for Rome, go to Roma.it

For Tuscany, I highly recommend having a car—the train is unreliable and doesn’t always serve the "hidden gems" of the region.

Finally, Get Your Guide is great for guided tours, but it depends on what you want to see in each place. Don’t hesitate to ask if you need advice!