Where should you stay in Tuscany without a car?
I'd stay in Florence for a first car-free Tuscany trip with several day trips, Siena for evenings in a smaller historic city, and Lucca for a slower stay with fewer destinations. A rural farmhouse is a different holiday: without a car, you need an explicit plan for meals and every journey beyond the property.
Florence is my default because you can combine the city with a selected wider day without changing accommodation. Siena is the choice when being there after the day-trip crowds leave matters more than connecting to several towns. I would not use either as a promise that all of Tuscany is easy to reach by public transport.
How do the three bases compare?
| Base | Choose it for | What becomes harder |
|---|---|---|
| Florence | A first visit mixing art and selected day trips | Quiet countryside at your doorstep |
| Siena | Historic streets and evenings in the city | A series of rail-led day trips |
| Lucca | A slower town stay and walks around the walls | A packed route across southern Tuscany |
| Rural accommodation | Time at the property itself | Unplanned dinners and independent excursions |
I would choose one base for a short stay. Moving from Florence to Siena and then Lucca uses time on packing, waiting and finding each room. If you want two bases, split the trip because the evenings differ, not because every town needs an overnight.
Does Siena require a car from Florence?
No. Autolinee Toscane's 131R route connects Florence and Siena. Its live page includes departure-stop and roadwork notices, so use the current boarding information rather than an old blog's bus-station description. I would compare the return you want before committing to dinner in Siena.
The Florence-to-Siena day-trip guide covers what to do once you arrive. Keep a city visit and a winery visit separate: reaching Siena by bus does not establish a public connection to a vineyard outside town.
What would I do with four nights?
I would use Florence as the base, give the city two full sightseeing days, and choose one wider excursion. Siena is the first comparison if its cathedral and medieval center interest you. Do not add Lucca simply to collect another town name; choose it instead of Siena if a less monument-heavy day sounds better.
For a Siena-based stay, keep most days in Siena and add one excursion only after the transport works in both directions. For Lucca, let the town be the point of the stay. These are different trips, not interchangeable hotel addresses for the same checklist.
Can you stay at an agriturismo without driving?
I would book one without a car only when the property explains how you will arrive, eat and leave. A station pickup solves the first journey; it does not solve dinner on a night when the kitchen is closed or an independent visit to another town.
Ask for the actual transfer service and meal arrangement in the booking terms. A pool, vineyard view and attractive room can justify staying at the property for several days, but that should be the holiday you want. For city evenings and freedom to change plans, use the Florence accommodation guide and keep the countryside as one arranged day.