Florence, Siena or Cinque Terre?

[Medicimama]

I secured some cheap flights for October half term to Pisa. DH is very keen to go back to Florence.
We have 4 nights, 5 days. I fear that’s too long in Florence for us with two teens/tweens. I love city breaks and art but DC will be less keen on museums and galleries.

Should we go and stay in Siena for a night?

Is there enough time to touch on the Cinque Terre? Is there any point going there if we aren’t hiking to each of the villages? Is October a bit ropey weather wise?

Grazie mille!

My dh also loves Florence, but me and my teens preferred Siena and Lucca.

Haven't been to Cinque Terra but heard its very picturesque (and touristy).

Not at all helpful im sorry but for some reason I saw your title and assumed it was in baby names and was thinking ooh no not Cinque Terre that's awful!

@julietteoubliette Ha ha ha brilliant! You prob thought my eldest was Medici!

Thanks @Meredusoleil . I went to Lucca years ago. It was lovely but feel I’ve done it. I’ve read Cinque Terre can be a tourist trap even in October! Not sure whether to split our time. Sounds like a day trip could be a nightmare and it’s worth spending at least a night there. Maybe it’s more of a couple’s thing though rather than family holiday.

We went to the Cinque Terra once during summer; no research at all was done, just went. And left very quickly due to the crowds, it felt like leaving Wembley after a World Cup final, were were just sort of carried along by the crowds unable to stop and look!
Tbf I’d like to go back out of season.
Florence was beautiful but check out what things your teens might be interested in; we went as 4 adults for a weekend and had a ball but mainly wandered the streets, climbed the duomo (really fun), went to the uffizi gallery, went to a football match and ate and drank. Perfect for us, not sure out teens would have been as enthralled but because we weren’t taking them we didn’t look at what would have been around for them.
We stopped at Siena for a day and it was gorgeous - our whole family would enjoy going back and spending time there.

DS1 (27) recently went hiking in Cinque Terre.
Oh
My
Goodness
It look utterly beautiful.

Envious of your cheap flights as we are also going during that time, but without the discount!

I personally don't love travelling a lot during my hols and we therefore will stay in Florence. We will be walking to Piazzale Michelangelo, visiting some markets, checking out Pitti Palace along with the things you listed.

I've never been to Florence or Sienna but I wouldn't go back to Cinque Terra frankly.

If I'm planning a longer city break with teenagers, I'd look for a hotel or accomodation that offered some options that were outside of the standard musuem/culture etc - either things like a pool in the hotel or near to am amusement park or something that we could spend a day at. If I ever get to Valencia I'm planning to try book me and DD into a flamenco dancing class!

From Florence you can get a train into Rome in about two hours .

Five days is hardly long enough to get through the choices in a basic Florence gelataria even if you double or triple them up.

If you go to Florence don’t forget the Santa Maria Pharmacy and if you have teen daughters do not take them to the black and white church ( can’t remember the name) because they will be mesmerised by the amazing looking students in the police academy next door, you know those hot priest calendars? These are hot coppers.

CT is worth the visit and you can easily go from town to town by train or boat (subject to weather). Great local food, not such a busy time of year. Maybe stay in La Spezia or Levanto to get a busier seaside resort feel for your dc.

I did exactly the same!

It's because there are lots of Siennas and Florences atm, and the day is definitely coming when someone posts they are thinking of Milan for their baby.

I think it can be a mistake to cram too much in op, and I think cinque terre might be doing that. You'd need at least two days to do that really, especially as once there its the coastal walks or boat trips round the coast that are much of the appeal.

A day trip to Siena is a reasonable suggestion.

I didn't like to mention that as on balance they already have plenty to do, but yes, you can!

I may have over egged the cheap thing @OrangeCrushes . Flights come to about £90 return with Easyjet. Our DCs are also off for two weeks so are going for the first weekend and half the first week when school breaks up, before some of the other schools near us are off.

Thanks for the advice @JadziaD . We went to Valencia years ago and I think it’s a perfect city break with a bit of beach thrown in should you want it. The park in the middle of the city is fabulous as are the modernist buildings at one end of it and the old town is charming. They do eat VERY late though - 10pm at the earliest we found!

So did I 😂

Thanks @Calliopespa . We might do Siena on the Monday when the main galleries are closed. Yes Rome is too much - One DC has been there on a school trip lucky lad. The other will probably go in the years ahead and I’ve been a few times and love it!

Any tips on accommodation? Budget around 250-300 max a night (though DH will have kittens as he’s tight). Want somewhere with two bedrooms, close enough to walk so DC don’t whinge too much. But pleasant-ish area. I did toy with staying further out as PP suggested in a place with a pool but I reckon it won’t be hot enough and the DC would never leave the hotel…

DD is only 11 @viques but as her mother, I will have to visit this police academy place just so it’s on my radar for future visits and I know what to look out for (coughs).

Yes, very responsible.

I am just back from Siena and would recommend it especially as you have teens.

It's small, stunning and just the right amount of things to do, not all of which are looking at art. It also feels like a real living city not just a tourist trap - which the Cinque Terre definitely are.

There's a high chance you will see some sort of contrada celebration- we saw 3 randomly in 4 days including a full on parade with flags, drummers and medieval costumes. The contradas are interesting, they all have a museum but you have to contact them for a tour.

Siena is also ideally placed for a truffle hunting trip, highlight of our trip seeing the dogs at work.

Me too! 😳😂