Flying into Pisa. 10 days… where should we go?

[Chocbuttonsandredwine]

Early September, no kids. 💃🏽

10 days, have a car. Was thinking Florence/Bologna and a Tuscan farm stay but other that no real plan. Just want food and wine and chill. Bit of sight seeing and wandering around in the sunshine

any suggestions gratefully received!

Lucca is lovely and very chilled in comparison to Florence (which I love but is still very busy in Sept).

Take the train to the Cinque Terre - the most beautiful hilltop towns and an easy day trip from Pisa https://www.cinqueterre.eu.com/en/the-five-towns

We spent a few days staying at Artimino, handy for Florence. Fiesole north of Florence is recommended by friends to stay. Also have visited Montecatini, Siena, Vinci, Volterra, San Giminiano and have spent a weekend in Bologna.

Lucca and San Gimignano are lovely. Florence has lots of must sees.

This sounds like a wonderful trip!
My suggestions from a few visits to the area:
Lovely boutique hotel in Pisa www.palazzoferoci.com/en/index?adblast=7978612643&vbadw=7978612643&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIvKfM0dXJ_AIVAr_tCh3LhA2GEAAYASAAEgKsxfD_BwE

Yes to taking a trip to Cinque Terre 👍 We stayed in a small apartment for a few days, but I’m sure a day trip would be a good taster as well. We stayed in and adored Vernazza, but also visited Monterosso for the beach. Train is great, but you can also get a very reasonable boat between the villages, which is fun.

Longer trips by car: Siena, San Giminiano, Florence.

I wouldn’t bother going south down the coast from Pisa, it seemed pretty boring when we did it. Inland much more beautiful and interesting. Have a fantastic time!

Lucca! A wonderful place. 2-3 days there should be enough.

Siena
Orvieto
Spoleto
Assisi is pretty but really busy in the Summer

Lucca!

It’s in the other side of the albeit skinny country but if you’re interested in churches, mosaics or Byzantine art Ravenna is extraordinary.

Would you say 3 nights in Florence, 3 in Bologna and 4 somewhere else?

The more scenic part is east/west/south of Florence.

Maybe split the four between two places.

I wouldn't go to Bologna - too much to do close to Pisa!

I also wouldn't do Pisa. It's a great place to fly in/out of for Tuscany though.

Lucca/Siena/Florence for bigger towns, and then at least one of the iconic Tuscan villages (San Giminiano, Montepulciano etc (although the latter is quite a long way south of Florence, so quite far from Florence/Pisa)).

I'd start in Florence and do 3 nights there, then get a car and head south to somewhere near Siena for a farm stay for 3 nights, then maybe Lucca to explore that part of the region.

Florence, Lucca, Siena. Maybe up the coast to Cinque Terre although I don't know if the cliff path is still open.

Florence is fabulous but my favourite spot is Siena ..you cannot miss that as it's such a lovely little place

Have you ever been to Italy before? That might change people's advice on the must see/do?

Have been to Rome and Lake Como but that’s it

Make sure you include a stop at San Gimignano. Don't bother with Pisa itself unless you have an hour to kill on the way to the airport.

Everyone's experience is different, but while I was glad to see Florence I was glad to get out of it also! Far too crowded and massive queues for everything. But that's just me, I was part of the big crowds too I have to remember! One day or less is more than enough to see the main highlights, unless you want to queue for the Uffizi and all the other things you can queue for IMV,

I echo Lucca, a charming place, but a couple of days is enough. Siena is a lovely spot, but in the end I found a lot of the towns were very similar, same narrow streets, same architecture, similar churches, same food etc. Remember this is just MY experience but it is warts and all.

Then I got to Bologna..... what a mad place, I really liked it, a quite busy place, not sanitized too much for tourists, and is a total foodie heaven.

Moving on up, Padova (Padua) is delightful, a university town with plenty to see and do and great train connections. Direct train from there to Venice in less than half an hour and a great way to see Venice without paying through the nose for the overpriced accommodation there.

I could go on, but I won't. I did this over 12 days all by train. So easy in Italy. Flew into Pisa and out of Treviso.

If you are planning to go to Florence, try and pre-book tickets for the Uffizi. And anything else you want to visit as it will save you a lot of time www.florence-museum.com/it/?gclid=&msclkid=dec851a2507c18ed465c326675b5c991&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=S%20Florence%20IT&utm_term=florence%20museums&utm_content=Florence%20museum

There’s so many places I want to go now I feel like I need a month 😂

thankfully not that bothered about going into churches etc, quite happy to see from outside

Maybe some country stuff then like the little towns would be nice op? San Gimignano is lovely for a day, and a nice drive. If you do Florence I would definitely walk up to piazzale Michelangelo ( in the daytime!) for the amazing views and visit the Boboli Gardens in preference to the Uffizi but you may prefer the art museums?
Sienna is lovely as well. Pisa is a day max really, walking over to have a look at the tower.

Day trip (or longer) to Elba is lovely!

My highlights in Florence (which I love)

• Accademia and within that the collection of ancient musical instruments
• Basilica of Santa Croce: amazing collection of memorials to all sort of people
• San Marco convent with the frescos by Fra Angelico

Uffizi is impressive in a "large art collection" way. Ponte Vecchio better to look at than go on (touristy shops). Not been in cathedral or baptistry due to crowds, but some great other places to go.

I'd 2nd or 3rd Lucca. Lerici/Portovenere and the Golf of Poets and the Cinque Terre. All can be done by train/boat. We had a lovely week last September based in Sestri Levante.