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The Perfect Tuscany Itinerary for 3 Days, 5 Days & One Week

Julie Last updated: March 1, 2024 Italy 8 Comments

Tuscany Italy Itinerary

If you are planning your Tuscany itinerary, there are a lot of things to consider. How long should you spend here? Where should you stay? Should you rent a car? What towns are worth visiting?

In this guide, we share with you the top experiences in Tuscany and then how to put them together to create your perfect Tuscany itinerary, whether you have 3 days, 5 days, or an entire week.

Table of Contents

About Our Experience

We have visited Tuscany twice. The first time was in July 2014. We spent a week in Tuscany, spending a few days in Florence followed by five days in Siena. Tyler and Kara were just kids at the time, so we learned what it was like to tour Tuscany with kids during the busy summer months.

Our second visit was September 2022. This time it was just me and Tim. On this visit we spent 10 days in Tuscany, staying in a villa, in Siena, and in Florence.

From these two visits, we learned a lot about this region, its hill towns, and how to piece together a wonderful Tuscany itinerary.

Let’s create your perfect Tuscan experience.

How to Use This Guide

First, we give a brief overview of Tuscany and a list of the top experiences.

After this brief summary, we list multiple ways to plan a Tuscany itinerary. These itineraries range from 3 days to a week or longer. Simply pick out your favorite itinerary that fits with your time frame.

You can follow these itineraries for any time of the year. However, the best time to visit Tuscany is in the spring and fall, when the weather is pleasant and crowds are lower than the busy summer months.

Overview of Tuscany

Tuscany (Toscana) is a region in central Italy. Florence is the capital of Tuscany and the largest city in the region.

Pisa, another very well-known city in Italy, sits near the coast.

In Tuscany, hill towns sit perched high above the vineyards. These smaller towns date back to Etruscan and medieval times. Strolling the picturesque streets, wine tasting, climbing the towers for breathtaking views, and getting a history lesson at the museums tops the list of things to do in these towns.

Some of the most popular hill towns to visit are Montepulciano , Siena , San Gimignano , Montalcino , Volterra , and Arezzo , but the list keeps going.

Tuscany is home to some of Italy’s most famous landmarks, including the Leaning Tower of Pisa, the Florence Cathedral, the towers of San Gimignano, and Piazza del Campo in Siena.

You can get around Tuscany by public transportation, but some small towns are harder to reach than others. If you are dependent on public transportation, some of the best towns to visit include Siena, San Gimignano, Lucca, and Pisa. For the best experience, rent a car, which gives you more freedom to explore this area.

Tuscany Map

Location of Tuscany in Italy

Best Things to Do in Tuscany

Here is a list of the best things to do in Tuscany. For the full list, and for more information about each activity, take a look at our article, Best Things to Do in Tuscany.

  • Visit the historic city center of Florence
  • Climb the towers at San Gimignano
  • Road trip through Val d’Orcia
  • Spend some time in Siena
  • See the Leaning Tower of Pisa
  • Go wine tasting in the Chianti wine region
  • Stay in a villa
  • Visit the wine cellars in Montepulciano
  • Take a cooking class
  • Visit Cortona, Volterra, Arezzo, Montalcino and/or Pienza

San Gimignano Italy | Tuscany Itinerary

San Gimignano

How Many Days Do You Need in Tuscany?

At a minimum, plan on spending three days in Tuscany. This gives you two days in Florence plus a day for a day trip to another town or two in Tuscany. Each additional day that you can add to your trip allows you to visit more hill towns in Tuscany, go wine tasting in Chianti, climb the Leaning Tower of Pisa, and take a cooking class.

How to Get Around Tuscany

The best way to get around Tuscany is by car. The smaller towns are not easily accessible by public transportation, so if you want to visit places like Volterra, Pienza, Montalcino, and the viewpoints in Val d’Orcia, the best way to do it is to rent a car for a few days.

If you plan to stay in a villa, you will also need to rent a car.

Some Tuscan towns are reachable by train. On this list are Pisa, Lucca, Florence, Siena, and Arezzo.

San Gimignano and Siena are easy to get to by bus.

Piazzale Michelangelo Daytime View | Tuscany Itinerary

The view of Florence from Piazzale Michelangelo

Tuscany Itinerary Suggestions

Below are several different Tuscany itineraries, ranging from 3 days to 10 days. Pick out the itinerary that best fits your time frame and travel style. If you need any help modifications, let us know in the comment section below and we’ll be happy to help you out.

All of these itineraries start with two days in Florence. It’s possible to spend one day in Florence , but since this small city is packed with amazing sights, we think it’s best to spend a minimum of two days here. If you have a lot of time in your itinerary, you can even add a third or fourth day to Florence.

3 Day Tuscany Itinerary

Florence & a Tuscany Day Trip

On this itinerary, spend two days in Florence followed by a day trip into Tuscany from Florence. You will stay in one place, Florence, for this itinerary. Here is a brief overview of what to do, but for the full itinerary in Florence, take a look at our 2 Days in Florence Itinerary.

  • Day 1: Florence: visit the Duomo, Michelangelo’s statue of David, Mercato Centrale, Palazzo Vecchio, and one or more rooftop bars.
  • Day 2: Florence: visit the Uffizi Gallery, Ponte Vecchio, Boboli and/or the Bardini Gardens, and Piazzale Michelangelo.
  • Day 3: Tuscany day trip: day trip into Tuscany from Florence, choosing one of the 5 options listed next.

Day Trips from Florence

We have an article that lists 15 day trips from Florence, but here are several of the best ones to consider:

1. Day Trip to Siena

Siena is cheap and easy to get to and it’s filled with amazing places to visit, including the Duomo, the main square (Il Campo), Torre del Mangia, and cobblestoned streets to explore. Learn more about how to visit Siena in our One Day in Siena itinerary.

2. Day Trip to Val d’Orcia

There is a wonderful trio of towns to visit in Val d’Orcia: Montepulciano, Pienza, and Montalcino. The best way to do this is to rent a car or take a tour, since public transportation is limited and time consuming to get to these towns.

3. Visit Pisa and Lucca

Pisa and Lucca are a breeze to link together. It’s easy to get to both of them by train from Florence. Climb the Leaning Tower of Pisa and walk the Lucca walls. Learn how to do this in our article One Day in Pisa and Lucca.

4. Visit San Gimignano and Volterra

San Gimignano is one of the most popular hill towns to visit in Tuscany. It’s famous for its medieval towers. You can get here by bus or train from Florence but it takes 1.5 to 2 hours one way.

If you rent a car for the day, you can also include Volterra , another great hill town to visit.

Or, visit San Gimignano and Volterra together on this highly rated tour.

5. Take a Tour of Tuscany

If you only have one day to day trip into Tuscany from Florence, the easiest way to do it is to take a tour. This takes out the hassle of figuring out public transportation or renting a car for the day.

This tour includes Siena, Monteriggioni, and San Gimignano, so you get to visit three Tuscan towns in one day. Another similar option is this tour of Siena, Montepulciano, and Cortona.

You can also Siena, Pisa, and San Gimigano with the option to add on lunch in a winery in Chianti, visit two wineries in the Chianti wine region , or take a guided tour of Val d’Orcia and visit Montepulciano, Pienza, and Montalcino.

Montepulciano Italy

Montepulciano | Tuscany Itinerary

4 Day Tuscany Itinerary

Florence + Day Trips OR Florence + Siena

With four days in Tuscany, there are two ways to plan your time.

#1 Florence + 2 Day Trips

The first option is to stay in Florence the entire time. Spend two days in Florence and spend 2 days day tripping into Tuscany from Florence. To do these day trips, you can either rent a car, visit towns that are easy to get to using public transportation (Pisa, Lucca, Siena, and San Gimignano fall into this category), or take tours both days.

Here is a sample itinerary:

Day 1: Florence Day 2: Florence Day 3: Day trip to Pisa and Lucca Day 4: Day trip to Siena or a guided tour of San Gimignano and Volterra

View of Lucca | Tuscany Itinerary

#2 Florence + Siena

Another option is to spend two days in Florence, then travel to and spend two nights in Siena. This allows you to have dinner in Siena and stroll the city streets in the morning when it is quiet and tranquil, before the day trippers arrive.

To get to Siena from Florence, you can take a bus or train. From Siena, it’s quick and easy to travel to Monteriggioni by bus.

Day 1: Florence, sleep in Florence Day 2: Florence, sleep in Florence Day 3: Travel to Siena in the morning, afternoon in Siena, sleep in Siena Day 4: Morning in Siena, afternoon in Monteriggioni, sleep in Siena

Piazza del Campo Siena | Tuscany Itinerary

Piazza del Campo, Siena

5 Day Tuscany Itinerary

Florence, San Gimignano, Siena & Val d’Orcia

With five days in Tuscany, you start to have more options for places to visit. And with that, there becomes a lot more ways to plan your time.

After spending two days in Florence, I recommend traveling into Tuscany to stay in either a hill town or a villa.

I recommend renting a car the morning you leave Florence. This allows you to travel through Tuscany at your own pace. Some hill towns are challenging to get to using public transportation and having a car will save you a lot of time.

There are a lot of ways to plan a 5-day Tuscany itinerary. Below is a great 5-day itinerary if it is your first time in Tuscany, since it includes some of Tuscany’s most popular and notable places.

Days 1 & 2: Florence

Follow our 2 days in Florence itinerary. Sleep in Florence both nights.

Day 3: San Gimignano

In the morning, pick up a rental car in Florence. Drive to San Gimignano and spend the day visiting San Gimignano (for things to do, read our Guide to San Gimignano ).

In the late afternoon, check into your hotel. Good places to stay are San Gimignano, Siena, or a Tuscan villa. Staying in Siena gives you the advantage of getting an early start to visit the Siena Duomo. You will stay in this location for three nights.

Duomo di Siena | Tuscany Itinerary

The Siena Duomo

Day 4: Siena

Spend one day in Siena. For recommendations on how to spend your time, take a look at our One Day in Siena Itinerary.

Day 5: Val d’Orcia

Spend the day road tripping to three lovely towns in Val d’Orcia: Montepulciano, Pienza, and Montalcino.

Start in Montepulciano at 10 am. Plan on spending about 3 hours here to stroll the streets and see the sights. At 1 pm, it’s a short drive to Pienza . Have lunch here, dining on Pecorino di Pienza cheese and other local Tuscan food. End the day with wine tasting in Montalcino.

Things to Do in Montalcino

Montalcino | Tuscany Itinerary

PRO TRAVEL TIP: Once finished in Tuscany, if you have a rental car to drop, you can return it in Florence or drive to your next destination and return the car there. Most cities in Italy are best visited using public transportation, since the railway network is efficient, cheap, and eco-friendly. But if you also have plans to visit an area that is challenging to get around using public transportation, such as the Dolomites or Puglia , then hold on to the rental car.

6 Day Tuscany Itinerary

Florence, Pisa, Lucca, San Gimignano, Siena & Val d’Orcia

This itinerary is identical to the 5 Day Tuscany Itinerary, with the addition of Pisa and Lucca.

Follow our 2 Days in Florence itinerary.

Day 3: Pisa and Lucca day trip from Florence

The easiest way to visit Pisa and Lucca is to travel here by train from Florence. So, before you rent a car to visit the Tuscan hill towns, day trip out to Pisa and Lucca.

For full details on how to do this, read our article One Day in Pisa and Lucca.

Leaning Tower of Pisa

Leaning Tower of Pisa

Day 4: San Gimignano

Day 5: siena, day 6: val d’orcia.

Pienza Italy | Tuscany Itinerary

Pienza | Tuscany Itinerary

7 Day Tuscany Itinerary

Adding on to the 6-day Tuscany itinerary, you now have an additional day to visit another hill town or two in Tuscany.

Follow the 6-day Tuscany itinerary above. Here are suggestions on places to visit with your seventh day. You will now stay in Siena, San Gimignano, or the villa for an additional night, for a total of 4 nights.

PRO TRAVEL TIP: Below we list five places to visit, so you can add on two or three of them, to create an 8 or 9-day Tuscany itinerary.

Pick one of these five options to add onto the 6-day itinerary to turn it into a 7-day itinerary.

#1 Arezzo & Cortona

These two towns are located relatively close to one another so they can be visited together in one day. Arezzo and Cortona can be visited in either order.

Arezzo is a hilltop town with wide piazzas, medieval streets to explore, and a fortress that offers stunning views over the town and Tuscany. Learn about jousting and shop for antiques in the monthly market. See it in photos and plan your visit with our Guide to Arezzo.

Cortona is a smaller town with a shorter to-do list. Stroll the medieval streets, enjoy the views over Tuscany, go wine tasting, and shop in the boutique shops. Learn more in our Guide to Cortona.

Arezzo Piazza Grande | Tuscany Itinerary

Piazza Grande in Arezzo

Cortona Italy

#2 Volterra

Volterra is similar to other Tuscan hill towns, with its medieval streets, boutique shops, palazzos, and piazzas, but it contains a longer list of museums and archaeological sites than you will find in places like Montepulciano and Pienza. For those with an interest in history, Volterra is one of the top Tuscan hill towns to visit. Volterra is the header photo for this guide.

There is a lot to do in Volterra, so it is best to spend a half to a full day here. For a list of things to do and how to plan your time, read our Guide to Volterra.

Volterra Tuscany Itinerary

Volterra | Tuscany Itinerary

Orvieto is located in Umbria, a region of Italy that sits just to the south of Tuscany. This town shares a lot of similarities to the Tuscan hill towns, with its hilltop location, medieval streets, and historical sights. Visit the Orvieto Cathedral, venture down a well, walk the fortress walls, and explore the ancient Etruscan sights.

If you are staying in Siena, it takes about an hour and a half to drive here. Learn how to plan your visit in our Guide to Orvieto.

Albornoz Fortress Orvieto | Tuscany Itinerary

Albornoz Fortress in Orvieto

St Patricks Well Orvieto

St. Patrick’s Well, Orvieto

Assisi is also located in Umbria. It is famous for being the birthplace of St. Francis.

This city is a delight to visit, with its streets that look like they belong on a postcard, to the long list of churches in and around the city center. It is worth it for those with an interest in the life and history of St. Francis and those who want to explore beyond Tuscany.

If you are staying in Siena, it takes about an hour and forty-five minutes to drive to Assisi. Learn how to plan your visit with our articles Things to Do in Assisi and our One Day Walking Tour of Assisi.

Things to Do in Assisi View

Assisi, Italy | Tuscany Itinerary

Assisi Sunset Umbria Italy | Tuscany Itinerary

St. Francis Basilica, Assisi

#5 Leisurely Day in Tuscany

Rather than filling each and every day with a visit to a new town, adding a day of downtime allows you to relax and recharge.

You can do something low-key, like take a cooking class or relaxing in the Cascate del Mulino hot spring, having a leisurely lunch at San Quirico d’Orcia followed by a scenic drive through the rolling hills of Val d’Orcia, or lounging at your villa (if you are staying in one) with an afternoon wine tasting in the vineyard.

Italy Travel Guide Florence

10 Day Tuscany Itinerary

If you have 10 days in Tuscany, here is how to put together an unforgettable 10-day Tuscany itinerary.

Day 1: Florence, sleep in Florence Day 2: Florence, sleep in Florence Day 3: Pisa and Lucca day trip from Florence Day 4: San Gimignano Day 5: Siena Day 6: Val d’Orcia: Montepulciano, Pienza & Montalcino Day 7: Volterra Day 8: Leisurely day Day 9: Arezzo and Cortona Day 10: Assisi or Orvieto

Sleep in Florence on days 1, 2, and 3. For the rest of the itinerary, stay in Siena, San Gimignano, or a villa in Tuscany.

San Gimignano Tuscany Italy

San Gimignano | Tuscany Itinerary

What We Did: Our Tuscany Itineraries

We have visited Tuscany twice. Here are our two itineraries, which give you more options on how to spend your time.

8 Days in Tuscany: Florence & Siena in July

Day 1: Arrive in Florence from the Amalfi Coast, afternoon in Florence Day 2: Florence Day 3: Florence Day 4: Morning bus to Siena, afternoon in Siena Day 5: Siena Day 6: Day trip to San Gimignano from Siena Day 7: Val d’Orcia towns (Montepulciano, Pienza and Montalcino) by rental car Day 8: Siena Day 9: Train from Siena to Pisa to the Cinque Terre

On this itinerary, we spent three nights in Florence and five nights in Siena.

10 Days in Tuscany: Tuscany in September

Day 1: Drive from Rome to Orvieto to Val d’Orcia, check into Villa Le Prata Day 2: Pienza and Montepulciano, sleep at Villa Le Prata Day 3: Montalcino and San Quirico d’Orcia, sleep at Villa Le Prata Day 4: Monteriggioni and Siena, sleep in Siena Day 5: Volterra, quick visit to San Gimignano, sleep in Siena Day 6: Florence, sleep in Florence Day 7: Florence, sleep in Florence Day 8: Florence, sleep in Florence Day 9: Day trip to Lucca from Florence Day 10: Visit Arezzo and Cortona, sleep in Assisi

On this itinerary, we spent three nights in Villa Le Prata, two nights in Siena, and four nights in Florence.

Palazzo Comunale Montepulciano

Where to Stay in Tuscany

For a quick visit to Tuscany (3 days or less) pick one location. Florence is your best option, since you will spend a day or two visiting the sites in Florence. The next best choice is Siena, a large town that is well connected to many places in Tuscany by public transportation.

With more time, I recommend spending two to three nights in Florence and then picking a location outside of Florence, either Siena, a Tuscan villa, or a centrally located Tuscan hill town.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the best time to visit Tuscany?

The best time to visit Tuscany is in the spring and fall. In May, the Tuscan hillside is lush and green and this is the best time visit Tuscany if you want to photograph Val d’Orcia. In June, visitation starts to pick up and peaks in July and August, which are the busiest, hottest months to visit Tuscany. In September, crowds begin to lessen but rain chances increase. October is a nice time to visit Tuscany, if you don’t mind the possibility of rain.

What are the most beautiful places to visit in Tuscany?

With its rolling hills, lines of cypress trees, and picture-perfect hill towns, Val d’Orcia is one of the prettiest places to visit in Tuscany. For breathtaking views of the countryside, climb the towers at San Gimignano, Montepulciano, and Volterra.

Do you need to rent a car to visit Tuscany?

Many of the larger towns, such as Siena, San Gimignano, Pisa, and Lucca, are very easy to get to using public transportation. But if you want to visit the smaller towns or spend time photographing the landscapes, you will need to rent a car, because some smaller towns are very difficult or time consuming to get to using public transportation.

More Information for Your Trip to Tuscany

FLORENCE: If you are planning your first visit to Florence, don’t miss our guide to the 10 Best Things to Do in Florence and how to spend two days in Florence. We also have guides about the best rooftop bars in Florence,  the best viewpoints in Florence, and how to visit the Florence Cathedral.

SIENA: Plan your visit to Siena with our articles Best Things to Do in Siena , One Perfect Day in Siena and How to Visit the Siena Cathedral.

TUSCAN HILL TOWNS: Check out our detailed guides to Montepulciano , Pienza , Montalcino , San Quirico d’Orcia , San Gimignano , Monteriggioni , Lucca , Volterra , Arezzo, and Cortona. For a full list of things to do, read our article Best Things to Do in Tuscany.

If you have any questions about this Tuscany itinerary, let us know in the comment section below and we’ll be happy to help!

More Information for Your Trip to Italy

ITALY ITINERARIES: If you are just beginning to plan your Italy itinerary, take a look at our 10 Days in Italy Itinerary for five different ways to spend 10 days in Italy. We also have a detailed 10 day itinerary that includes Rome, Florence, the Cinque Terre, and Venice. For those with more time, check out our 14 day Italy itinerary, which covers the highlights of Italy.

BEST OF ITALY: In our guide to the Best Places to Visit in Italy, we list 25 beautiful destinations to consider for your next trip to Italy.

ROME: For a list of the top experiences in Rome, read our article Best Things to Do in Rome. Learn how to put these together in our 2 Day Rome Itinerary and 3 day Rome Itinerary. And don’t miss our guides to the Best Views of Rome , best Rooftop Bars in Rome , and our Rome Restaurant Guide.

VENICE: Learn more about Venice in our article Best Things to Do in Venice. We also have guides about How to Visit St. Mark’s Basilica, where to get the Best Views of Venice, and how to spend Two Days in Venice.

CINQUE TERRE: One of the best experiences in the Cinque Terre is to hike between all five towns. If you are traveling on a budget, get our money saving tips for the Cinque Terre.

We have TONS more information about Italy in our Italy Travel Guide, including Rome, Florence, Venice, Tuscany, the Dolomites, the Amalfi Coast, the Cinque Terre, Basilicata, and Puglia.

Tuscany Italy Itinerary

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Thank you for sharing! Your site is my favorite, and I always look forward to your newsletter. I’m planning a trip to Italy for late May-early June and would appreciate any advice. Our group will be 8 adults and one 14 year old who is a great traveler and loves history. I’m looking at flying into Rome and staying 3-4 nights, renting a car and staying in a central located house in the Tuscan countryside for 4-5 nights, then returning the car in Florence for a 2-3 night stay, and finally taking a train to Venice for 2-3 nights (return flight from Venice). Does this seem reasonable and do you have a suggestion for the location to stay in the Tuscan countryside? I’m a little overwhelmed with the number of choices when I look at houses.

Avatar for Julie

Hello Natalie. Thanks for writing in! Your itinerary looks great!! The Val d’Orcia area is gorgeous and centrally located in Tuscany. We stayed at Villa le Prata which was very, very nice. I don’t have any other recommendations for houses to stay in in that area, but you could look at Booking.com. That’s what we use to find and book hotels when we travel. Let me know if you have any other questions. Cheers, Julie

Avatar for Jasmine

Many thanks for this detailed information! I have a question. Based on your suggestion I am spending 4 days in Florence and would like to spend 2 nights in Siene – will do day trip to San Gimignano, Assi and Orvieto from here by public transport

Do you recommend any places to stay in Siene – specially any vineyards or farmhouses close to the city center?

You’re welcome! In our Things to Do in Siena article, we have a list of recommended hotels, including where we stayed last year. They are all located in town, near the city center, and from where we stayed (Residenza D’Epoca Palazzo Piccolomini), you can walk to the train station. Cheers, Julie

Avatar for Steve Epps

Great information. I am looking at your suggestions for 3 days in Tuscany, 2 in Florence and one day going to 3 other towns in Tuscany. Do you have a tour company you would suggest to help put this together or do you that. We will need a place to stay, transportation, etc. This will be on the front end or back end of a cruise we have planned.

No, unfortunately I do not know of any tour companies that will do this for you, but a travel agent could help you make your travel arrangements. It’s relatively easy to do on your own. You will have to make a rental car reservation and then hotel bookings for Florence and 1 to 2 places in Tuscany. A few dinner reservations is a good idea as well. We give restaurant and hotel recommendations in our city/town guides so that should make your planning easier. Cheers, Julie

Avatar for Karen

Thank you so much for your thorough and comprehensive site. I am planning our first trip to Italy from Australia and have been searching and searching and searching the internet for information. Your site has definitely been the most helpful and I have saved all of your guides to refer back to. Cheers!

Hello Karen. I’m glad you like our site! Let us know if you have any questions as you plan your trip! Cheers, Julie

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Tuscany, like a fine wine, has been some time in the making...

From the Etruscans to the Romans to the Renaissance, Tuscany is possibly the greatest repository of art in the world, from extraordinary paintings and sculpture to frescoes and architectural masterpieces.

Visitors to Tuscany come for many reasons. Many come in search of fine art , others to explore the extraordinary countryside . Gourmets and wine buffs descend on Tuscany to enjoy the simple yet wonderful cuisine and wine . Walkers enjoy the mountain paths , cyclists the rolling hills , summer vacationers the sea coast and islands . Students come to learn the beautiful Italian language and culture .

There is a lot to see and do in Tuscany, the difficulty is really where to start. Certainly most should start with Florence , then continue on to  Siena and Pisa . The roll call of città di arte , cities of art, is daunting: Arezzo , Cortona ,  San Gimignano and  Lucca are all striking. The more you come to know the region, the more extraordinary Tuscany appears. Enjoy your visit!

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Val d'Orcia

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Viticcio: The Passion Behind a Chianti Classico Vineyard

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Exploring Monte Amiata

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Best Tuscan Guided Tours in Winter

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Accommodation in Tuscany

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Via Francigena

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Popular Q&A on our Forum: ASK us for Advice

  • Tuscany Tourist Info A wide variety of questions about traveling in Tuscany, answered by experts
  • Questions about Florence Visiting Museums, moving around, what to see in one day, where to eat.
  • Other Destinations in Tuscany Siena, Pisa, Lucca, San Gimignano and more..
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Love from Tuscany

About Love From Tuscany

We love Tuscany , and we want to share that love with everyone. That’s why we’ve started this website.

It’s a complete online travel guide to Tuscany , one of Italy’s most enchanting regions. The idea is to give useful and interesting information to independent travellers planning a holiday in Tuscany, Italy . But it’s also more than that. We like to think that by reading our guide you’ll get inspiration for your trip and discover unexpected destinations and hidden corners of this beautiful region.

Your free online Tuscany travel guide

There’s a lot to Tuscany. The ever-inspiring cities of Florence and Siena , unforgettable landscapes, sculptures by Michelangelo , paintings by Botticelli , and hilltop towns that seem to have jumped off a postcard. There’s inspiring architecture that can take you on a journey from the Gothic to the Renaissance down a single street. And some of the finest food and wine in the world. We try to reflect all this in our guide. We’ve taken all the things that we think are special about Tuscany and divided them into easy to navigate areas of interest.

It’s taken a lot of research. But we like to think of it as a labour of love.

The up-to-date information and useful tips  in this online travel guide to Tuscany will help you to better plan your trip. And get the most from each area. We also try to suggest places that you might not have thought of visiting. Our advice is to mix the most obvious sights, like the Leaning Tower of Pisa or the Uffizi Gallery , with some of the less visited attractions.

Of course, part of the pleasure of travelling to this part of the world is adapting to the slower rhythm of life, connected to the seasons. Tuscan people make time to enjoy life and invite the travellers to do the same.

Why travel to Tuscany, Italy?

Part of the beauty of a trip to this region is discovering some authentic and less well-known destinations along with the world-famous attractions . Tuscany has got 7 UNESCO sites , amongst them the delightful towns of Pienza and San Gimignano , some of the finest red wines in the world, like the famous Chianti and Brunello di Montalcino. And a dreamlike countryside that has featured in countless films and photographs.

There are world-class museums like the Uffizi and the Accademia Gallery where you can admire the statue of David . Not to mention architectural wonders like the Cathedrals of Florence and Siena, and the Square of Miracles in Pisa. It also has plenty of small hilltop towns , ancient churches, and countless hidden corners for you to explore.

If you love Tuscany as much as we do, we hope you’ll find this guide informative and inspirational.

Love from Tuscany.

Full Suitcase Travel Blog

Tuscany Itinerary: See the Best Places in One Week (+Map & Tips)

By Author Jurga

Posted on Last updated: July 4, 2023

Tuscany Itinerary: See the Best Places in One Week (+Map & Tips)

Planning a trip to Tuscany and not sure where to start and what’s the best Tuscany itinerary?

In our previous post, you could read about some of the most beautiful towns in Tuscany . In this article, you can read how to combine all those beautiful places (and some more) and create the perfect Tuscany trip itinerary that allows you to experience the very best of this picturesque region in one week.

How many days do you need in Tuscany

While you can see the main cities in 3-4 days, I recommend at least one week for Tuscany . This will allow you to see not just all the highlights of the best towns of Tuscany, but also to get a glimpse of the beautiful Tuscan countryside.

Below, you can find our suggested Tuscany itinerary that shows you where to go and what to see if you have one week in Tuscany. Read on!

How to see the best of Tuscany in one week

This Tuscany itinerary starts and ends in Florence. However, you can start and end in other towns and combine this trip with a visit to the other regions (e.g. Cinque Terre or Bologna ). This is really just meant to show you what’s possible and how to plan your time in Tuscany.

In order to see the very best of Tuscany and to experience some of its stunning landscapes, it’s best to visit the region by car. On the other hand, you don’t really need a car in the cities. Train connections between major towns in Italy are really good. So if you want to, you can visit some of the most beautiful towns using public transport only.

While this Tuscany itinerary is made assuming that you have a car, you can easily adapt it to your needs and your way of traveling. Just use this itinerary as a guide to the best places in Tuscany, how much time you need at each place, and how to best plan your trip.

At the bottom of the article, you can also find a map indicating all the places mentioned in this Tuscan itinerary. Read on!

Tuscany itinerary - how to see the best of Tuscany in one week

One Week Tuscany Itinerary

Day 1 – florence.

Florence is one of the most beautiful cities in Italy and is not to be missed in any Tuscany itinerary.

One full day is the minimum that you need in order to see the main highlights of Florence . You can find more information, tips, and advice for visiting Florence in some of the more detailed guides to the city on our blog.

Not to be missed in Florence is the Cathedral (you can climb the dome of the Duomo as well), Ponte Vecchio, Accademia Gallery, Uffizi Gallery, and Palazzo Vecchio. If you have just one day in Florence, stroll the old town, check out the market, and walk to Piazzale Michelangelo for the best sunset view in Florence. Alternatively, have a drink at one of the best rooftop bars in Florence .

Stay in Florence for at least one night, in order to take full advantage of your time here. If you are traveling by train, I recommend a hotel close to the railway station. We recently stayed at Hotel Croce di Malta , an excellent mid-budget 4*hotel with a lovely rooftop terrace. If traveling by car, keep in mind that parking in the city is very expensive.

TIP: If you only have limited time and want to see the best of Florence in one day, be sure to book priority tickets for ALL the places you absolutely want to visit inside.

LEARN MORE: One Day in Florence

Florence is a must in any Tuscany itinerary

Day 2 – Florence to Siena

Leave Florence early in the morning and drive to Siena. Via Chiantigiana road SR 222 from Florence to Siena is very scenic, so you may want to take this road rather than a highway.

Spend the rest of the day exploring the beautiful town of Siena. Must-see in Siena is Piazza del Campo with its Palazzo Pubblico and the Mangia Tower, Siena Duomo (Cathedral), and the picturesque streets of the Old Town. 

TIP: Stay in Siena for 1 or 2 nights. Albergo Chiusarelli is one of the best picks in towns in terms of price/location/quality.

LEARN MORE: Best Things to Do in Siena

Siena is one of the most beautiful towns in Tuscany

Day 3 – Val d’Orcia – Tuscan countryside

Here is a scenic road trip suggestion through the picture-perfect Tuscan countryside – Val d’Orcia – that you can take as a day trip from Siena.

If you have the time, you may want to spend a couple of days in this area, but one day is sufficient to drive through the scenic Tuscan countryside.

From Siena take the road SR2 to San Quirico d’Orcia. From here continue East along the SR146 in the direction of Montepulciano. This is the most scenic road in Tuscany – the one with the typical Tuscan landscapes you see in travel magazines and on postcards. 

Take your time to explore Val d’Orcia and visit at least a couple of charming little towns in the area: Pienza , Montepulciano , San Quirico d’Orcia , Monticchiello , Montalcino … Also the Abbey of Sant’Antimo is worth a visit.

With just one day in this region, I think I’d focus on Montepulciano, Pienza, and the countryside of Val d’Orcia.

TIP: If you are in Siena without a car, the best way to explore the Tuscan countryside is by taking an organized tour, e.g. this wine tour that brings you to Montalcino, Pienza, and Montepulciano from Siena .

READ ALSO: Best Things to Do in Montepulciano

Tuscany countryside - picturesque hilly Tuscan landscape

Day 4 – San Gimignano and Volterra

San Gimignano and Volterra are both relatively small towns and their proximity to each other means that you can easily visit them in one day. 

San Gimignano , famous for its fourteen medieval towers has a tiny but very picturesque Old Town. It can get extremely busy during the day, so I recommend going there first thing in the morning.

One of the main places to see is Piazza della Cisterna. You can also climb to the top of the Torre Grossa.

San Gimignano is one of the nicest small towns in Tuscany Italy

Volterra has a great atmosphere in the evening, so it’s best to visit it later in the day. It’s a charming medieval town and it’s nice to just stroll the streets, check out some souvenir shops, and have a nice Tuscan dinner.

In my previous post, you can read more about what to see and do in San Gimignano and in Volterra .

TIP: One of the nicest and good price/quality hotels in Volterra is Hotel La Locanda . If you are on a tighter budget but want something really special, stay in Chiostro Delle Monache Hostel Volterra . It’s located in the 15th-century Franciscan monastery, has a great location, and free parking.

Volterra town in Tuscany Italy

Day 5 – Pisa

Take your time to explore Pisa . Don’t limit your visit to the leaning tower of Pisa only! In fact, the leaning tower of Pisa is just one of the many monuments of Miracle’s Square. The Cathedral and the Baptistery are very impressive as well.

Pisa town center has no crowds and is very picturesque as well. Stroll the Arno River promenade and check out the Borgo Stretto, an old shopping arcade with many restaurants, cafés, and shops.

TIP: If you are touring around Tuscany by car, I’d advise not to stay in Pisa. Instead, drive to Lucca after you visited Pisa and stay there for two nights. Lucca has such a great atmosphere and several really nice hotels. They are located inside the city walls and so parking is not free (but possible). Check out  Hotel Palazzo Alexander or  Hotel Alla Corte degli Angeli .

The Miracle’s Square and the leaning tower of Pisa in Italy

Day 6 – Lucca

Lucca is our favorite town in Tuscany. You can see the main highlights in just one day, but you definitely won’t regret it if you choose to stay a bit longer. 

The main landmark is the city walls of Lucca which you can explore on foot or by bike. In fact, the best way to see Lucca is by taking a self-guided bike tour .

Piazza dell’Anfiteatro is another must-see in Lucca. Make sure also to climb at least one of the towers -Torre Guinigi or Torre Delle Ore for the best views in town. Here you can read more about what to see and do in Lucca .

TIP:  Take a food tour in Lucca – it’s a great way to explore the town and taste some of the typical local specialties.

Guinigi Tower as seen from Torre Delle Ore in Lucca - Tuscany, Italy

Day 7 – Collodi, Pistoia, Prato, or the outskirts of Florence

There are several nice towns that you could visit between Lucca and Florence. Collodi, Pistoia, and Prato are all worth a detour.

We liked exploring the outskirts of Florence as well. You’re hardly out of the city, but the scenery is amazing. Take a road from Florence to Fiesole for stunning views and a beautiful Tuscan landscape.

Alternatively, you could easily visit Bologna. It’s located in the nearby Emilia Romagna region (so not in Tuscany), but is more than worth a visit if you find yourself in this part of Italy.

READ ALSO: Florence to Bologna Travel Info & Itinerary + Best Things to Do in Bologna

Tuscany itinerary - Florence as seen from the road to Fiesole

Where to stay for this Tuscany itinerary

Many people ask what’s the best area to stay in Tuscany . The answer really depends on what kind of trip you are planning.

If you are thinking of making a road trip in Tuscany , you can find my suggestions for hotels in each town in the day-to-day Tuscany itinerary above.

If, however, you don’t like changing hotels and packing your bags every day, you can also stay at one central location in the Tuscan countryside and take day trips from there. Sometimes you’ll need to drive an hour, sometimes two, so it’s not perfect, but it might still be easier and more relaxing, especially if you are traveling with kids.

TIP: If you want to stay in just one place for sightseeing, the best place to stay for exploring Tuscany would be the area close to Volterra or San Gimignano. It is very centrally located in Tuscany and is therefore ideal if you are looking to stay at just one hotel and explore the region by taking day trips. Here you can find the best deals for accommodation in Volterra and hotels in the San Gimignano area .

In fact, a few years ago we did just that when we were visiting Tuscany with our kids. We stayed at just one hotel in the Montaione area for 12 days and combined relaxing days by the pool with sightseeing. It worked well for us. You can read more in our best of Tuscany – itinerary from one central location post.

On our most recent trip to Tuscany, we were focusing on the area around Siena and Val d’Orcia, plus a few other places in Umbria too. For that, we opted to stay at this beautiful country house in Bettole.

There’s really not one ‘best’ spot to stay- Tuscany is way too big for that. So it all depends on which places you decide to visit.

Without a car: If you are not renting a car, the best places to stay for exploring Tuscany are either Florence or Siena. They both have good railway connections to the bigger towns and also a big choice of organized tours to the smaller villages in the countryside.

Tuscan countryside in Montaione area - good central location to stay for exploring Tuscany

One week Tuscany trip itinerary map

Below, you can see an overview of this suggested Tuscany itinerary on the map.

Start in Florence, drive down to Siena, then on to San Gimignano and Volterra. Continue your trip towards Pisa and Lucca, and end in Florence.

Alternatively, continue to Cinque Terre, which is just a short ride from Pisa. Here you can find more information about how to see the best of Cinque Terre in one day .

Tuscany one week trip itinerary

Best Time to Visit Tuscany

Tuscany is a beautiful destination that has something to offer at any time of the year. That being said, the best time to visit Tuscany is in late spring or in early autumn. The very best months for sightseeing in Tuscany are May and September.

In the summer months, it’s very hot here. So if you are visiting in July or August, you may want to concentrate on the Tuscan countryside. A popular thing to do is rent a villa with a pool and make an occasional day trip to one of the smaller towns in the area.

Whereas the weather in late fall, in winter, and in early spring is more suitable for visiting the big cities rather than touring the countryside.

READ ALSO: Best Time to Visit Europe

So, this is our suggested Tuscany itinerary for up to one week. If you are planning a trip to Italy, make sure to check our Italy travel guide for more tips and travel advice for a big variety of popular destinations in Italy.

Alternatively, check our selection of articles below for more tips for a variety of destinations in Italy.

More tips for some of the most visited destinations in Italy:

  • Best Things to Do in Rome
  • Best Things to Do in Venice
  • Best Things to Do in Milan
  • Best Things to Do in Naples
  • 2 days in Rome
  • 1 day in Milan
  • 1 day in Venice
  • 1 day in Cinque Terre
  • Tips for Visiting Rome
  • Best Things to Do at Lake Como
  • Bellagio, Lake Como
  • Best of Lake Garda
  • Best of the Italian Dolomites
  • Emilia Romagna Region
  • Hiking in the Dolomites
  • Tips for Visiting Cinque Terre
  • Amalfi Coast Itinerary
  • Italian Riviera
  • Best Day Trips from Naples

READ ALSO: Best Places to Visit in Italy

If you found this Tuscany itinerary helpful, don’t forget to bookmark this post and share it with your friends. Are you on Pinterest? Pin this image!

Tuscany itinerary - see the best of Tuscany in one week

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Monday 26th of February 2024

What a fantastic blog! This has really inspired me! I am thinking to visit Florence and Tuscany for a week in mid-June.

After 2 nights in Florence, and having a car, what town would you recommend to stay as a base and then do day trips? In terms of day trips, a must visit for us are Sienna, Lucca and Volterra. And definitely a winery but without driving to it. Advice very welcome!

Tuesday 27th of February 2024

Hi Teddy, if you want to visit Sienna, Lucca, and Voltera, you could stay somewhere in the middle between all these towns and make sure there's a winery nearby. I quickly checked something for you in the San Gimignano area which is very central and fits your criteria. There are several wineries that you can visit in that region and many accommodations, so you can find places to stay within walking distance to one or the other winery if you like. For example, this agriturismo (Capanna 1826) is just near this vineayrd. From what I read in the reviews of this accommodation, they even include a visit to their vineyard for free if you stay there. But there are many more options. You just have to do a bit more research and see what's available for your travel dates. If you don't mind taking a taxi to one or the other vineyard, then it will be easier. Just pick a hotel you like and then see what wineries there are nearby. Also, the San Gimignano area is just one of the many, so it's just a suggestion based on the info you gave. If you are traveling in June, I'd book your accommodations asap.

Ann Marie Pugliese

Friday 6th of October 2023

Hello, this blog seems very helpful. I am traveling to Italy for the first time with 9 family members for 2 weeks in June. We were trying to fit in so much, but don't think it's feasible with so many people. Was hoping to visit Venice, Tuscany, Rome and The Amalfi Coast. Also, we are planning to stay in Air bnb's along the way. Just not sure if we should travel to each area and stay for 3 days or find 2 central hubs and take day trips? Any insight you can offer would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Monday 9th of October 2023

@Jurga, THANK YOU SO MUCH!! Greatly appreciate the information!!

Sunday 8th of October 2023

Hi Ann Marie, since these areas are located quite far from each other and each has so much to offer, I think that staying in each place for a few nights is indeed better than looking for two base locations. You could start with 4-5 days in Sorrento (from where you can easily visit Amalfi Coast, Capri Island, Naples, Pompeii, etc.), then move on to Rome for 3-4 days. From there, take a train to Florence which is a good base for Tuscany, Cinque Terre, and also Bologna. Depending on what you want to see, you could stay here for 4-5 days. And finally, take a train to Venice and stay there for 2-3 nights. You can find lots of information for all these destinations on our blog. See an overview of all articles on our Italy travel page. This 2-week Italy itinerary might also be helpful - just to see what's possible and how you could structure your time at some places. For Amalfi Coast, take a look at this guide. Good luck with the planning!

Sunday 18th of June 2023

Hi, I am considering a 3 night stay in Florence next Summer followed by a week in self catering accomodation somewhere on the coast (we will not be driving, therefore, will be making use of public transport when we transfer from Florence to our second destination). We love Sorrento, Taormina and the Lake Garda towns and are wondering where on the coast (quite manageable by train from Florence), would have a similar vibe / buzz (i.e lively atmosphere) to these places? We would obviously fly into Florence but would be happy to go home from a different airport.

My other option is to follow on from Florence with a week in self catering accomodation (definitely with a pool to cool off), within walking distance of one of the cities / towns in the region - but I'm having difficulty deciding between Siena. Lucca and San Gimignano (or somewhere else with a Sorrento type 'feel' to it!!).

Any suggestions / advice would be gratefully received

Many thanks, Becs

Tuesday 20th of June 2023

Hi Becs, as you can imagine, there are too many options for me to give you any kind of reasonable suggestion. :) Also, there are two coasts - with places like Rimini or Ravenna to the east or the Cinque Terre area, Ligurian towns, etc. to the west. I assume you mean west? Without a car, by the sea, you could split your stay between the Cinque Terre area and Italian Riviera (e.g. Portovenere or Monterosso al Mare for a few days followed by a few days in Rapallo or St Margherita Ligure. If you are looking for a bigger city - check out Genoa. If you rather stay in central Tuscany, then Siena is definitely a lot better than San Gimignano - in terms of transport, things to do, etc. San Gimignano is a tiny village. Lucca is also very nice but not as centrally located as Florence or Siena for all the most popular places. Bologna is amazing too, btw! You can also just stay in Florence the whole time and make day trips. It also depends so much on what exactly you want to see. Good luck! Whatever you choose, you can't really go wrong - the whole area has so much to offer.

Kim Hendrickx

Monday 17th of April 2023

We are a family of 5 and we will be going on a week trip to Tuscany at the end of this month, We will be staying in a country guesthouse in Montaione. This will be our base to see different places in Tuscany, as we have a car. Could you recommend which cities are best to visit to get a real feel of Tuscany. We also want to do some wine tasting in Chianti and Montepulciano, so any tips on nice wineries to visit would be much appreciated. Thank you.

Hi Kim, you can find all the suggestions in this article and you may also want to take a look at this guide to some of the best towns in Tuscany. This is by no means a complete list and there are dozens of amazing places. But if this is your first time, you'll probably not want to miss the main cities such as Florence or Siena, so you need at least 2-3 days for that. The rest really depends on your interest and preferences. Of the smaller ones, San Gimignano is really nice, also Volterra, Montepulciano, and Pienza. If you have even more time, you may want to check out Montalcino and Cortona, also San Quirico d'Orcia. A week will fly by! As for the wineries, we really enjoyed a very unique wine cave visit in Montepulciano last summer. You can find more details in our Montepulciano guide. And this is a really nice winery that you can visit in Chianti. The problem with winery visits is that it's not really something you can do (and enjoy wine) if you have to drive afterward. So ideally, you have a dedicated driver, find a winery close to your accommodation and take a taxi, or book a tour (but those are usually only available departing from big towns so not ideal unless you stay in Florence or Siena). But definitely check out the wine cellar in Montepulciano if you go there! You can also taste just a bit of wine and buy some to take with you to enjoy at your accommodation. Enjoy your trip!

Tuesday 21st of March 2023

Looking for some advice on my trip to Italy in Aug/Sept. Flying into Venice and staying for 3 days then headed to Florence/Tuscany region for 5 nights. We don't want to rent a car but want to go wine tasting and check out the countryside and maybe the hill towns. After the 5 nights we head to Sorrento for 4 nights and finish off in Rome. Looking for advice on where I should stay in Florence/Tuscany area. Should I stay a few nights in both places or stay in one place and do day trips by train? Where do I take the train from to end up in Amalfi? Any advise appreciated.

Hi Rosemary, some of the best places to stay in Tuscany when traveling by train are Florence and Siena. You can find plenty of Tuscan countryside/wine tours from any of these towns (see here for tours from Florence and here - from Siena). If you don't mind changing hotels, you can spend a few nights at each of these; otherwise, I would recommend staying in Florence. There are many nice hotels close to the station (just in the center too), and it's very easy to explore the city or plan day trips. At the bottom of this guide of the best places to see in Florence, you can find some hotel recommendations for this area. For the Amalfi Coast, you'll have to take a train to Naples (there are high-speed trains from Florence to Naples - see here for train schedules and to prebook your tickets). Here you can find our guide on how to get to the Amalfi Coast from Naples. Have a great trip!

The World Was Here First

The Ultimate 7 to 10 Days in Tuscany Itinerary

Last Updated on February 18, 2024

by Hope Brotherton

Disclaimer: This article contains affiliate links. That means if you click a link and make a purchase, we may make a small commission. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. For more information, see our privacy policy.

travel to tuscany

As one of the most alluring destinations in Italy, planning a 7 to 10 days in Tuscany itinerary is a wonderful way to truly get to know this incredible region. While many visitors concentrate solely on the capital of Florence and maybe take a day trip or two, spending a week or more exploring the region is something that a traveller will never regret.

Dotted across Tuscany are numerous cities, towns and wineries, each with its own story, that all vie for your attention. As a region, it is a dream destination for many holidaymakers thanks to its collection of renowned artwork, sumptuous wines, and spine-tingling views.

Table of Contents

How Many Days in Tuscany?

Most people are drawn to Tuscany because of its artistic splendours, but there are many more reasons to extend your trip to look beyond Leonardo da Vinci’s and Michelangelo’s greatest pieces. To dive in a little deeper, you’ll be wondering how long you need to spend in Tuscany.

If you’ve only got one week, 7 days in Tuscany will allow you to scratch the surface. A week gives you plenty of time to explore Florence, visit iconic cities like Pisa and also spend time in some smaller cities and gorgeous hill towns.

However, if you have the time, 10 days will give you a little more time to sample the region’s finest wineries, visit an island and explore some hidden gems.

Beautiful Lucca in Tuscany

Getting To & Around Tuscany

There are two international airports in the Tuscany region. Galileo Galilei International Airport in Pisa and Peretola in Florence offer the easiest arrival options for international travellers.

While there are other airports dotted around the region, these are mainly military airports and aren’t used for domestic flights, so it’s best to start and end your Tuscany trip in either Pisa or Florence.

Once you’ve touched down at your destination, you’ll want to know how easy it is to move through the region. The Italian railway network is extensive, and by and large, it is highly reliable – despite all the rumours. So, if you can’t drive or don’t feel comfortable driving in a foreign country, then you’ll be able to navigate through Tuscany on a train. You can check schedules here.

But if you want to head off the well-trodden path and give yourself a chance to explore life under the Tuscan sun, then we recommend hiring a car for the duration of your trip. The easiest places to hire cars are from airports and the centres of the larger cities like Pisa and Florence. A Tuscany road trip itinerary is truly the ideal way to experience this region on a trip to Italy.

If you do want to hire a car while in Tuscany, we suggest browsing through Rentalcars.com in order to find great deals across a number of major rental companies.

Siena Cathedral

7 to 10-Day Tuscany Itinerary

Now that you know a little bit about how to move through the region, you’ll want to map out the perfect itinerary. If you’re debating about whether to spend one week in Tuscany or 10 days, then read our guide to help make up your mind and see what some of the best places in Tuscany are to visit.

Day 1 – Florence

Florence is the perfect starting point for a Tuscan adventure because of its airport access and the wealth of attractions the city has to offer.

The capital of Tuscany, it is a city packed with history, art and culture. You’ll be hard-pushed to pack all of Florence’s famous sites into two days, so we’ve cherry-picked those must-see bits that Florence has to offer. Whether you’re visiting Florence in winter or summer, you’re sure to fall in love with the Tuscan capital.

Get up early and make a beeline for Santa Maria del Fiore – Florence’s famous cathedral.

Situated in Piazza del Duomo, this cathedral is quite simply, breathtaking. Its striking facade is adorned in pink and green marble, while its roof is covered with delicate brown tiles – you’ll be in awe.

Santa Maria del Fiore is a cathedral made of many interconnecting parts (Brunelleschi’s Dome, Giotto’s Bell Tower, Baptistery, Opera del Duomo Museum and Santa Reparata) and to explore all of them, it will take several hours.

If you’re short on time, make sure you climb Giotto’s Bell Tower for panoramic views of the city. If your budget allows, it is also possible to  organise a guided tour here.

After you’ve had your fill of the cathedral, head straight to the Uffizi Gallery. Tickets  can be purchased here in advance, so it’s not somewhere you want to rush.

As the sun is setting, head over to Florence’s famous bridge the Ponte Vecchio where you can watch the sun fall behind the horizon and mooch around the independent goldsmiths and jewellers that line either side of the bridge.

Brunelleschi’s Dome

Where to Stay in Florence

Hotel Bellavista – If you’re looking for a mid-range option in Florence, then this hotel is a great option. Located close to the central train station and within easy walking distance of the city’s top attractions, they have a range of different rooms available with the option to include breakfast in your nightly rate.

25hours Hotel – For those looking for a luxury stay in Tuscany, then this lovely hotel is a great choice for you. A perfect romantic spot for couples, they have a number of beautiful rooms to choose from and a great location for exploring Florence. Breakfast is also included in the nightly rate and there is a fitness centre, restaurant and bar on site.

Leonardo House – If you’re travelling on a tight budget, solo or simply want a great social environment, then this hotel is one of the best options in Florence. They have a great, central location, offer both dorm beds and private rooms and have solid common areas that make it easy to meet other travellers.

Not quite what you’re looking for? Click here to browse other options in Florence

Ponte Vecchio

Day 2 – Florence

Beat the crowds, and start your second day in Florence nice and early at the Accademia Gallery where you’ll be able to see Michelangelo’s famous sculpture, the David.

Entry tickets can be booked online here where they can be cheaper – unless you want to spend hours wasting time in a queue.

After you’ve enjoyed ogling the statues, walk on over to Palazzo Pitti. This vast palace is one of Florence’s largest architectural structures. Once the home of the city’s ruling families, it now houses several museums. It would take hours to go around all of the museums, so we recommend a long walk around the Boboli Gardens instead.

Often referred to as ‘Florence’s Green Lungs’ the Boboli Gardens is an open-air museum with towering structures and churches. The gardens offer a reprieve from the bustling city, but be warned they can get fairly busy too.

Palazzo Pitti

Day 3 – Lucca

The next stop on any 7-day Tuscany itinerary should is the charming town of Lucca . From Florence, Lucca is 90 minutes away by car or around 80 minutes on the train (depending on the type of service you book).

Lucca’s centre is hidden behind imposing Renaissance walls that hide thousands of years of history right from the Etruscans all the way up to Napoleon.

Beyond the walls, Lucca houses a charming Romanesque cathedral as well as a Romanesque church called Chiesa di San Michele. There are plenty of other churches to see too (Lucca is often referred to as the ‘city of a hundred churches’).

Other sites include climbing up Guinigi Tower for panoramic views, visiting Piazza dell’anfiteatro for a colourful snap or two, and shopping along Via Fillungo (a long, cobbled street packed with boutique shops and delicious restaurants).

It is also possible to book a walking tour here if you want a guided tour of the city.

Where to Stay in Lucca

Antica Corte dei Principi – Located in the heart of Lucca, this medieval-designed hotel offers a number of double rooms with breakfast included daily.

Palazzo Dipinto – This luxury hotel in Lucca offers a range of rooms and suites suitable for couples and families. Rooms are equipped with modern facilities and breakfast is included in the nightly rate.

Casa Paolina – These apartments are a great option in the heart of Lucca if you prefer self-catering accommodation. There are a variety of apartments including some that can accommodate larger families.

Not quite what you’re looking for? Click here to check other hotels in Lucca!

Chiesa di San Michele in Lucca

Day 4 – Pisa

For day four take the 30-minute train or make the short drive over to Pisa – a city that needs no proper introduction. Once you’ve arrived, make a beeline for the Leaning Tower of Pisa – you can book in advance here to save you time.

The centre of Pisa is minuscule, so make sure to wander around the Square of Miracles, the Battistero di San Giovanni, the Cathedral, Camposanto (a historical monument) and Piazza del Duomo.

Even though Pisa is very compact, there’s a lot to do in this town in Tuscany and deserves at least a day trip from Florence.

Day 5 – San Gimignano and Volterra

For day five of your Tuscan adventure, you’ll ideally need to rent a car to reach the small Italian town of San Gimignano and see some of the Tuscan countryside. It is also possible to book a guided tour from Siena if you prefer not to hire a car.

San Gimignano was originally an Etruscan village. Now, it’s a small, walled, village that lies halfway between Florence and Siena. As a recognised UNESCO World Heritage site, San Gimignano lets holidaymakers step back in time and is the perfect place to spend the morning.

Start by climbing the Torre Grossa for incredible views, then head over to La Rocca di Montestaffoli to take in the ruins of a 14th-century fortress. While there aren’t many tourist attractions to tick off your list, San Gimignano is the perfect place to unwind with a glass of Tuscan wine.

From San Gimignano, drive 40 minutes to Volterra. Famous for its peculiar layout, this charming walled town houses many Roman ruins including an acropolis that is home to buildings and the foundations of ancient temples.

While you’re wandering through Volterra, visit Piazza dei Priori – a stunning square that is home to Palazzo Pretoria. You’ll also be able to visit the cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta, the Etruscan Museum, and the Etruscan walls and gates.

Both San Gimignano and Volterra make for excellent stops during the day before reaching Siena , which is where you will be spending the next three nights of your itinerary.

San Gimignano

Where to Stay in Siena

B&B La Coperta Ricamata – A comfortable bed and breakfast in central Siena, they offer a couple of different rooms with air conditioning and breakfast served at a nearby bar.

Hotel Certosa Di Maggiano – A converted monastery located a bit outside the historic centre, this luxury hotel offers a range of rooms and suites with breakfast included and guests having access to a swimming pool and tennis court.

Porta Pispini Residence   – A modern aparthotel that offers a range of studios and apartments for people looking for self-catering accommodation during their stay in Siena.

Not quite what you’re looking for? Click here to check other hotels in Siena!

Day 6 – Siena

The first stop on any holidaymaker’s list should be Il Campo, Siena’s beating heart. Here, you can climb the Torre del Mangia, a tower standing 87m tall that gives stunning views of the entirety of the city.

From there, head over to Piazza del Duomo which houses Siena’s cathedral. While you’re here, make sure you explore Piccolomini Library where you’ll be able to view gorgeous alfresco paintings. You can pre-book tickets to the cathedral here or organise a walking tour with cathedral tickets included.

Finally, end your day back at the Piazza del Campo where you’ll be able to stop for a large glass of wine and watch the world go by from one of the many bars.

Medieval town of Siena

Day 7 – Chianti

If you only have 7 days for your Tuscany trip, you’ll want to spend your last day in the Chianti region of Tuscany. While its borders aren’t clearly defined, the area extends over the provinces of Florence and Siena.

Spend your last day at a Chianti wine tasting, there are plenty on offer in the region and some of our favourites include Vitticcio and Castello di Brolio.

You can actually book guided tours here to Catello di Brolio from Siena, so you don’t have to worry about a drive to and from the winery either. If these don’t take your fancy, we know there is a winery out there for everyone in Tuscany – you just need to find it! And if you want some atmospheric towns along with wine tasting, make sure to head to places like Montalcino or Montepulciano.

Vineyards in Chianti

Day 8 – Elba

For a 10-day itinerary, you’ll want to head off the mainland and visit the Tuscan Archipelago. Head to Elba, the largest island in the Archipelago.

From Siena, you’ll need to drive to the port town of Piombino where you’ll be able to catch a ferry to Portoferraio, Elba. The ferry journey will take one hour and ferries operate every two hours.

Capoliveri, a small village, is the perfect place to set up a base camp while you explore the island, but wherever you choose to set yourself up, you’ll never be too far from crystal-clear waters and pristine beaches.

After a long drive, head to Fetovaia – one of the island’s most beautiful beaches. Here, you can either spend the afternoon relaxing on the sand or taking part in one of the many water sports the beach has on offer.

Porto Azzurro in Elba Island

Where to Stay on Elba

Hotel Sardi   – Located two minutes walk from the beach in Pomonte, this mid-range hotel offers comfortable rooms with breakfast included and a restaurant on-site that specialises in cuisine from the island.

Hotel Plaza – A superb hotel located on the beach in Porto Azzurro, this hotel offers some luxury rooms with spa access as well as some economy rooms. Breakfast is included and you can arrange spa treatments.

Chez Nous – Situated in the town of Capoliveri, this aparthotel has several studios and apartments on offer that can suit all group sizes. It is also pet friendly, there are sea views and free parking is available.

Not quite what you’re looking for? Click here to check other hotels on Elba!

Day 9 – Elba

Start your second day on Elba by visiting Villa San Martino. The villa was formerly Napoleon’s summer residence, and members of the public can visit the villa. Here you’ll be able to tour rooms and galleries, but it’s the outside that is the most striking and worth the visit.

If you’re tired of visiting museums, palaces, villas or churches, then Elba is the perfect place for a stroll along the beach or a challenging hike along Mount Capanne.

View from Mount Capanne

Day 10 – Grosseto

The drive from Elba to Grosseto will take three hours (inclusive of the ferry to the mainland), so be sure to head off early. Grosseto is a town overlooked by many tourists, so it’s the perfect way to spend the final day of your 10-day stay.

In Grosseto, head to Dante Alighieri Square which is the heart of the city. Here, you’ll find the Cathedral of San Lorenzo, which you’ll be able to wander around. Other sites to visit in Grosseto include the church of San Francesco and the city walls.

Because Grosseto is off the beaten path, it is the perfect place to sit back and relax with an aperitivo before driving two hours back to the airport for a departure flight home.

Have More Time?

Tuscany has so much to offer for holidaymakers and even 10 days in Tuscany doesn’t begin to scratch the surface.

If you’re spending more time in the region, then you may want to go to Montepulciano, Arezzo, and Montecatini. You could even look further afield and jump on a ferry from Livorno to France’s island of Corsica – after all the world is your oyster.

Arezzo

You might’ve spent your week in Tuscany storming from city to city and gliding from one town to the next, but you’ll have spent your holiday right.

Tuscany has paintings and sculptures for art lovers, shops of anyone after bespoke gifts, and ancient structures for historical enthusiasts, so there will be something for everyone. Whichever towns and cities you visit, you’ll enjoy your time when you visit Tuscany.

Are you planning a trip to Tuscany? Have any questions about this itinerary? Let us know in the comments!

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About Hope Brotherton

Hope is a writer for The World Was Here First. Originally from Birmingham, England, she is passionate about budget-friendly travel and incorporating greener and more eco-friendly travel into her adventures. She keeps returning to Italy but loves to travel around any European country.

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tuscany TRAVEL GUIDE

Do picturesque Medieval towns, rolling green hills covered in vines, cypress lined roads, and some of the most delicious food in Italy sound like your idea of paradise? Then you need to visit Tuscany.

Home to the Renaissance capital, Florence, the region is renowned for its art history, Chianti wine, beautiful cities, and charming small towns that have inspired films like Under The Tuscan Sun and a whole suite of dreamy literature. Considered by many to be ‘quintessential Italy’, Tuscany is one of Italy’s biggest regions and it offers visitors many diverse experiences from city, to countryside as well as the seaside along the Mediterranean coast. 

Whether you’re dreaming about a trip to visit the Leaning Tower, sipping a glass or two at a Chianti winery, or eating the famous Florentine steak , travel in Tuscany is truly a dream come true for many. Keep reading to find out how to make the most of your time there with our Tuscany travel guide. 

Article contents

Where is Tuscany

Tuscany is nestled in the middle of Italy and on its western border are the Ligurian and Tyrrhenian seas. including an archipelago of 7 islands off the coast. The region borders Liguria, Emilia Romagna, Le Marche, Umbria and Lazio.

Florence is the capital of Tuscany and is easily reached from Rome in an hour and a half on the fast train; from Milan in two hours; and Venice in just over two hours. When visiting Tuscany by car, it is remarkably quick to enter into the countryside from Florence – the Chianti region is just 35km away. 

Map of Tuscany

Main cities and towns in tuscany.

Tuscany is the fifth largest region in Italy and is divided into different areas that each offer something new to discover from art and local traditions to wine, olive oil and the seaside. Some of our favorite Tuscan towns to visit include: 

  • Florence: A trip to Tuscany is not complete without passing through Florence considered to be the birthplace of the Renaissance. Art and history lovers will delight as they stroll the streets once home to Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, and Botticelli, and visit the Uffizi and Accademia Galleries as well as the Pitti Palace and Boboli Gardens. 
  • Lucca : Encircled by Renaissance-era walls, Lucca is one of the most charming towns to visit in Tuscany (and beyond!) A trip to this gorgeous small city could include a bike ride along the walls, visiting the Piazza dell’Anfiteatro (built over an ancient Roman amphitheater), stunning villas like Villa Garzoni and Palazzo Pfanner, as well as Casa di Puccini – home to the great opera composer. 

Chianti / Siena Area

  • Siena : Long time rival of Florence, this medieval city is stunning in her own rite. Siena is a place where traditions run deep, best embodied by the continuation of the Palio horse race that has been running since 1232! Explore the UNESCO Heritage listed old town, 12th century Cathedral, and of course the Piazza del Campo where the Palio is held every year. 
  • Greve in Chianti : In t he heart of the Chianti wine region, Greve is a gorgeous town famed for wine, extra virgin olive oil, and the truffles that grow in the surrounding countryside. Wine shopping is on the cards here, as well as a delicious lunch in one of the town’s many excellent restaurants. 
  • San Gimignano : Considered the ‘Medieval Manhattan’ thanks to its dozen towers still standing, San Gimignano is one of the most picturesque and atmospheric towns in Tuscany. Don’t miss climbing up one for a fabulous view! While you’re there, feast on their famous saffron, ham, with a glass of local wine – Vernaccia di San Gimignano.

Val D’Orcia

  • Pienza : Cheese lovers will want to visit Pienza to try their incredible Pecorino sheep’s milk cheese! Redesigned by Pope Pius II to be a ‘utopia’, the town is full of charming cobblestoned lanes, romantic street names, and the scent of fresh cheese wafting through the air at every turn. Enjoy breathtaking views of the Val D’Orcia countryside from the Piccolomini Palace gardens.
  • Montepulciano : In the heart of Tuscany’s southern wine country, Montepulciano is said to be o ne of the most beautiful Tuscan Medieval hilltop towns. Indulge in wine tasting of the Vino Nobile di Montepulciano and feasting of cheese, pork, thick hand-rolled pasta, honey, and lentils here. 
  • Montalcino : To enjoy some of the most stunning views over the Arbia, Asso, and Ombrone valleys, you can’t miss a stop in Montalcino. Covered with olive orchards and vineyards, Montalcino is known for its Brunello di Montalcino wine so plenty of tasting is recommended here.

READ: Our full guide to visiting the glorious Val d’Orcia .

Arezzo Province

  • Arezzo : The setting for Academy Award winning film La Vita e’ Bella (Life is Beautiful), Arezzo is a total gem. Settled by Etruscans, it is full of fascinating history and architecture that also spans across Roman, Medieval, Renaissance, and Romanesque periods. Visit to enjoy quiet piazzas, long lazy lunches and the monthly antiques fair.
  • Cortona : Made forever famous thanks to Frances Mayes’ Under the Tuscan Sun , Cortona is a sweet Medieval town with Etruscan roots and incredible hillside views across the Valdichiana valley and Lake Trasimeno. Wander its narrow streets, admire the Medieval architecture, and pay a visit to the Museo dell’Accademia Etrusca to learn more about its past.

Province of Pisa

  • Pisa : Made forever famous thanks to the Leaning Tower , you can’t miss the main attraction of this city. However, you should linger a little longer in Pisa. A trip to this university city will uncover beautiful historic churches, Medieval castles, and ancient bridges across the River Arno. Strolling through the beautiful old town pre or post ‘tower-selfie’ is something many visitors miss out on in their rush to see the main attraction.
  • Volterra : We think it’s impossible to visit too many pretty hilltop towns, and Volterra is a highlight. A walled town perched atop a mountain, Volterra has a long and fascinating history that dates back to before 8BC. Explore along the ancient walls and fortresses and go shopping at one of the many artisan shops in town.  

Tuscan Coast

  • Grosseto : The capital of Tuscany’s ‘ Maremma ’ coast, Grosetto is an interesting town rebuilt by the Medici family in the 16th century. Visit the Archeological Museum, Dante Alighieri square, and Cathedral of San Lorenzo. 
  • Porto Ercole : Don’t miss this  pretty seaside town in the Maremma along the Monte Argentario peninsula. Enjoy swimming and boat trips, exploring Spanish forts and indulging in the delicious seafood focused cuisine. 
  • Capalbio : A charming town on the border of Tuscany and Lazio, Capalbio is also known as the city of artists. Don’t miss the Tarot Garden full of gigantic, grotesque statues created by Franco-American artist Niki de Saint Phalle.  It’s also particularly famous for its wild boar sagra (food festival) in September.
  • Elba Island : Enjoy sparkling blue waters, and nature on this little piece of Tuscan paradise. Devoid of the crowds that flock to the more well known coastal areas of Italy, you can enjoy some tranquility and gorgeous beaches here. 

Top things to do in Tuscany

Whether you are a foodie, wine connoisseur, history buff, art lover, beach goer, or nature enthusiast, there is truly something for everyone in Tuscany. Here are some of the best things to do when traveling in Tuscany: 

Taste the celebrated local wines

Home to some of the best known wine in Italy, wine tasting is one of the best things to do in Tuscany. Visit the Chianti region to try the famous Chianti Classico wines made with Sangiovese grapes or head to the Val d’Orcia to try Brunello di Montalcino or Vino Nobile di Montepulciano.

Enjoy a stroll along the vines, and pay a visit to the cantina (cellar) to see how wine is made, before sampling the wine. Be sure to make an appointment to visit a winery in advance as you can generally not just turn up unannounced in Italy. An exception to this is Marchesi Antinori where you can drop in for a tasting at their futuristic wine room. Or, better yet, relax while everything is taken care of and consider joining this popular small group wine tour from Florence .

Explore Tuscany’s many Medieval towns

There are endless beautiful Medieval towns to visit in Tuscany so be sure to add some to your itinerary. Sweeping views over vineyards and olive groves are guaranteed, as is delightful meandering along cobblestoned paths, fantastic local food and popping into artisan workshops. If you’re not planning to drive, consider joining a day tour like this day trip from Florence to explore some of the top towns in Tuscany plus have lunch at a winery.

Relax at a thermal spa

Did you know Tuscany is famous for its healing thermal spas? The most famous to visit is Saturnia where thermal warm water cascades down the slope of a hill into gorgeous pools of 37°C water for you to bathe in. Besides the free baths, you can also visit many luxury thermal spa hotels in and close to the Val d’Orcia area like the Terme di Saturnia Resort .

Explore the best art galleries in Florence

If you’re a lover of art, then you really cannot miss a trip to Florence. Start with the world renowned Uffizi Gallery, home to Botticelli’s “Birth of Venus”, statues by Michelangelo and more. Next, you’ll want to visit the Galleria dell’Accademia where you’ll find Michelangelo’s original and magnificent statue of David. Get the most out of your trip with a guided tour with Liv Tours .

Go truffle hunting

Try your luck finding the elusive white or black truffle when in Tuscany! The best area in Tuscany for truffle hunting is near the town of San Miniato. Try this tour that includes a delicious truffle laden lunch after your hunt in the area.  In fact, the town hosts a spectacular truffle sagra (festival) every weekend in November which is well worth the trip. 

Bike around Lucca’s Renaissance city walls

Lucca is a jewel of the region and easily reached from Florence by car or train. Do as the locals do whilst there and hire a bike for the day to ride around the city walls and take in the gorgeous views with the wind in your hair. Try this bike tour that includes some stops to sample typical cuisine too!

What to eat and drink in Tuscany

Tuscany is home to many delicious specialties, but some favorites you can’t miss include: 

  • Bistecca alla Fiorentina: Perhaps the most famous food in Tuscany is Florentine steak. This cut of beef comes only from the white Chianina cows found in Val di Chiana, is served on the bone and is dry aged for between 15 to 20 days. Florentine steak must be served rare for the ultimate mouth watering experience.
  • Lampredotto : Florence’s favorite street food is a panino filled with the fourth stomach of a cow and a zesty salsa verde
  • Cinghiale pasta : wild boar pasta served with long pappardelle noodles.
  • Ribollita : a hearty Tuscan bread and vegetable soup, including locally grown cavolo nero (black kale)
  • Finocchiona Salami: Tuscany is known for its spectacular cured meats, but perhaps the best is the finocchiona – a pork salami flavored with fennel.  
  • Schiacciata di Uva: Look out for this treat during the harvest season (Sept-October). It’s a fluffy bread made with focaccia dough and small, sweet, black grapes called uva fragola . 
  • Castagnaccio : A Fall/Autumn favorite, this chestnut flour cake is made with new olive oil, raisins, and pine nuts and is both gluten-free and vegan friendly.
  • Extra Virgin Olive Oil: Peppery Tuscan EVOO is revered throughout Italy. If you are lucky enough to travel to Tuscany in Fall/Autumn, look out for ‘olio nuovo’ or new oil that has just been pressed for the best olive oil tasting of your life.
  • Chianti Classico: Tuscany is known for many wines, however Chianti Classico is the most quintessential. Don’t miss tasting some on your trip. 

Where to stay in Tuscany

There are many different accommodation options available in the region including hotels, apartments, B&Bs, and agriturismi (farmhouses). Tuscany is no stranger to tourism, which means that there are well-established facilities built up in the region to suit a range of group sizes, budgets, and accommodation needs. 

Florence makes for a great base to explore Renaissance art as well as day trips into the Chianti countryside. Whether you’re driving, going with a tour group, or taking public transport, you can also easily visit Siena, the Val d’Orcia, Pisa, Lucca, and Arezzo for the day from here.

We like the St Regis Hote l for 5 star luxury or try a more budget friendly option that’s extremely well located like Hotel Perseo . Take a read of our article on where to stay in Florence for more ideas.

If you’d like to immerse yourself in the countryside for a few days, then consider staying in the Chianti or Val d’Orcia areas. Castellina in Chianti, Pienza, and Montepulciano all make wonderful bases for exploring wineries, and hilltop towns. Consider staying at a winery like Querceto di Castellina or an agriturismo like Merigge Montepulciano for a more immersive experience. 

Lucca is another excellent base to escape the crowds with easy access on the train to Florence. From here, you can explore the Garfagnana area too with a car. Find our recommendations in our guide on Where to stay in Lucca .

Siena is perfectly placed for visiting the southern part of Tuscany, the Val d’Orcia, if you prefer to have city accommodation and are prepared to drive as this area is not well serviced by efficient public transportation.

For those looking to soak in what life in a real Tuscan town is like, consider basing yourself in beautiful Arezzo instead. It’s well connected by train and lacks the crowds of Florence and Siena. 

When to go to Tuscany

Spring is a wonderful time to visit Tuscany as the countryside turns green and temperatures are pleasant for exploring (46-66°F or 8-19°C). Enjoy new season artichokes, fresh fava beans, fresh cheese and plenty of food festivals like the cherry sagra or the frog festival.

Summer in Tuscany can get very hot with temperatures easily reaching 86F(30C) and beyond. Florence gets particularly hot and humid during this time, so staying outside the city and having access to a swimming pool or the beach is a good idea. 

Fall/Autumn is a wonderful time to visit as the region comes to life with the harvest season . If you’re a foodie, you’ll enjoy truffles, porcini mushrooms, saffron, new wine and extra virgin olive oil as well as a suite of sagre or food festivals. Look out for the sagre (food festivals) in Panzano and Greve where the towns are decorated with flags and colorful decorations, as well as the Pecorino di Pienza festival dedicated to the delicious sheep cheese. 

The wintertime in the region can get very cold and even snow with temperatures around 38-42°F (3.5°C – 5.5°C). During the festive season, there are wonderful Christmas markets held all over the region particularly in Florence, Sien a, and Arezzo. Prices are a little cheaper and crowds a little thinner too after the new year. 

How to get to Tuscany

It might surprise you to learn that the main airport in Tuscany is Pisa and not Florence. Florence is a very small airport that doesn’t have great connections so consider flying into Pisa instead from abroad or other major Italian cities. 

Traveling by train to Tuscany is easy from the major Italian cities. Take the high speed rail services and you can be in Florence in 90 minutes from Rome, 2.5 hours from Venice, under 2 hours from Milan and around 40 minutes from Bologna.

If you’re driving, you can reach Florence from Rome along the A1/E35. The average travel time ranges between 2 hours and 30 minutes and 3 hours and 15 minutes depending on traffic. From Milan, you’ll travel south along the A1 with travel time around 4 hours. From Venice, the trip is a little shorter around 3 hours along the A13.

How to get around Tuscany

Florence is best explored by foot and a car will only frustrate so it’s best to leave this parked during your stay in the Renaissance city.

There are reliable and fast regional train routes to Lucca, Arezzo, and Pisa. Florence to Lucca takes around 1 hour and 40 minutes, whilst Pisa and Arezzo are quicker and take less than an hour by train. Getting to Siena however takes about two hours so is much slower via train. Book your train tickets in advance online with Omio . 

It’s best to hire a car to explore the countryside including the Chianti, Val d’Orcia, and Maremma regions. We recommend renting your car with Autoeurope or Rentalcars.com from the airport (Pisa or Florence) to avoid navigating through sometimes stressful driving in the city centers. Read our driving tips for Italy for more information.

For those not wanting to drive, consider hiring a private driver or joining a tour to experience the best of the countryside. 

Let’s go to Tuscany!

Are you inspired to visit after reading our travel guide to Tuscany? If you would like to learn more about this gorgeous region of Italy, have a listen to our podcast episode about the Chianti region , or exploring Florence .

We have a wealth of further information available on our site to read including articles on best agriturismi in Tuscany , hidden gems in Florence , best museums in Florence , and Florence highlights . 

Want to discover Tuscany with us? For a deeper local connection, why not join one of our Tuscany small group tours . 

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With its lyrical landscapes, world-class art and a superb cucina contadina (farmer's kitchen), the Tuscan experience is perfectly in symbiosis with the land.

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Attractions

Must-see attractions.

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Galleria degli Uffizi

Duomo & Piazza della Signoria

Home to the world's greatest collection of Italian Renaissance art, Florence's premier gallery occupies the vast U-shaped Palazzo degli Uffizi (1560–80),…

Basilica of Santa Maria Novella, one of the most important Gothic churches in Tuscany.

Basilica di Santa Maria Novella

Santa Maria Novella

The striking green-and-white marble facade of 13th- to 15th-century Basilica di Santa Maria Novella fronts an entire monastical complex, comprising…

Siena Cathedral (Duomo di Siena) is a medieval church, now dedicated to the Assumption of Mary, completed between 1215 and 1263, Siena, Italy; Shutterstock ID 1027666891; Your name (First / Last): Anna Tyler; GL account no.: 65050; Netsuite department name: Online Editorial; Full Product or Project name including edition: destination-image-southern-europe

Consecrated on the former site of a Roman temple in 1179 and constructed over the 13th and 14th centuries, Siena's majestic duomo (cathedral) showcases…

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Museo Civico

Entered via the Palazzo Pubblico's Cortile del Podestà (Courtyard of the Chief Magistrate), this wonderful museum showcases rooms richly frescoed by…

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Palazzo Vecchio

This fortress palace, with its crenellations and 94m-high tower, was designed by Arnolfo di Cambio between 1298 and 1314 for the signoria (city government…

Museo di San Marco on the piazza di San Marco.

Museo di San Marco

San Lorenzo & San Marco

At the heart of Florence's university area sits Chiesa di San Marco and an adjoining 15th-century Dominican monastery where both gifted painter Fra'…

Italy Florence Santa Maria Del Fiore.

Florence's duomo is the city's most iconic landmark. Capped by Filippo Brunelleschi's red-tiled cupola, it's a staggering construction whose breathtaking…

MILAN, ITALY - NOVEMBER 04:  A statue is displayed during the opening exhibition of new Grande Museo del Duomo on November 4, 2013 in Milan, Italy.The opening of the new Grande Museo of Duomo in Palazzo Reale: 27 showrooms, 2000 square meters, 13 thematic areas where the most important treasures of Fabbrica del Duomo are preserved.  (Photo by Pier Marco Tacca/Getty Images)

Museo dell’Opera del Duomo

This awe-inspiring story of how the duomo and its cupola came to life is told in this well-executed museum. Among its sacred and liturgical treasures are…

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Tuscany and beyond

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Tuscany, Italy   Travel Guide

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Why Go To Tuscany, Italy

When the film adaptation of Frances Mayes' "Under the Tuscan Sun" came out in 2003, the idea that Tuscany was indeed a place of romance, chianti wine, olives, aromatic cooking and, of course, sunshine was deeply embedded in our brains. Today, many travelers visit this glorious region in northwest Italy to escape the hustle and bustle of Rome or Milan and instead take in the Italian countryside. The combination of castles-turned-wineries-turned-hotels, elegant cypress trees, cascading hills and sprawling vineyards is simply heavenly.

Time seems to slow in this effortlessly idyllic place. And what better way to unwind than by savoring a glass of vino or eating homemade gnocchi  under the Tuscan sun? 

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  • # 1 in Best Destination Wedding Spots in Europe
  • # 1 in Best Wine Vacations
  • # 4 in Best Honeymoons in Europe for 2024

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Best of Tuscany, Italy

Best hotels in tuscany, italy.

  • # 1 in Rosewood Castiglion Del Bosco
  • # 2 in Toscana Resort Castelfalfi
  • # 3 in Castello di Casole, A Belmond Hotel, Tuscany

Rosewood Castiglion Del Bosco

Best Things to Do in Tuscany, Italy

  • # 1 in Florence
  • # 2 in Siena
  • # 3 in Lucca

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Tuscany, Italy Travel Tips

Best months to visit.

The best times to visit Tuscany are between late September and October and between April and May. During these months, travelers will find comfortable temperatures and fewer crowds at the major sights. As expected, summer ushers in high temperatures and heavy crowds. If you want Tuscany all to yourself, visit during the winter low season, but expect the cold and lots of rain. 

What You Need to Know

  • Take a cooking class You can bring home some cooking skills if you take a class at traveler-recommended schools like Tuscana Saporita and Chef Paolo Monti's Cucina Italiana .
  • Take your time — the locals do  Tuscany, like the wines it produces, should be savored. Life moves at a very slow speed. Try and relax, and if you can, spend at least a week here.
  • Public transportation is rough Thanks to the rolling hills, getting around the Tuscan valley with public transportation is tough. The best way to get from winery to winery is with a car (hired cars are readily available). If you're feeling brave, you can always rent a Vespa — just be careful, roads are narrow and windy.
  • Learn Italian English isn't as widely spoken as it is in other Italian cities. Knowing a few key Italian phrases will help, plus the locals love when tourists try to speak Italian.

How to Save Money in Tuscany, Italy

  • Stay in an Agriculturismo  Instead of staying at a fancy (and expensive hotel), consider staying in an agriculturismo — or an authentic Italian farmhouse, villa or winery. Most offer all inclusive deals that are incredibly cheap.
  • Bike or walk Taxis and public transportation get expensive. Many of the towns in Tuscany are small and easily walkable.
  • Skip the menu touristico  Many restaurants — especially the touristy ones — will offer all fixed-price menus for tourists, except often times these are more expensive than ordering al la carte. Not to mention, you should probably just skip the restaurants offering menu touristicos altogether.

These are the types of sunsets you'll see in Tuscany. 

Explore More of Tuscany, Italy

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The Discoveries Of

22 Unmissable Places to Visit in Tuscany

Tuscany knows its charms and isn’t afraid to show them off. Teetering hilltop towns surrounded by rolling hills, dramatic religious buildings, museums filled with the wealth and excesses of days past – it’s everything you want from Italy and more. Here’s my pick of the best places to visit in Tuscany.

Italy’s most famous region, Tuscany’s main towns and cities are the definition of living history: Florence, Siena, Abrezzo, Lucca, Pisa, Cortona… each with its own delights and attractions. 

Safe to say that Tuscany is well-deserving of a spot on your Italy itinerary .

It’s hard to pinpoint the best of Tuscany. It’s an impossibly-beautiful hilltop town catching the warm glint of the morning light, a quiet bike ride along a dusty lane framed by tall cypress trees, a roll call of small cities, vying with each other for historical importance and cultural heritage – it’s almost too good to be true.

That’s without even mentioning the countryside – it really does look like the films; rolling vine-covered hills that turn from bright green in summer to tones of ochre as autumn takes hold.

Those hills provide the perfect backdrop for small farmhouses championing the slow food movement and agriturismos offering visitors the chance to immerse themselves in the true Tuscan way where the emphasis is on good food, friends and wine.

It’s not all wining and dining, of course. Tuscans love letting their hair down and have many opportunities to do just that, with a seemingly endless rotation of festivals that take place across the region.

Sporting contests dating back to medieval times, jazz festivals, crossbow competitions; the Tuscan summer is a constant celebration. Explore the region’s must-visit spots with this guide 

Best Places to Visit in Tuscany

Florence

Few cities can rival Florence for sheer beauty. It’s everything you think it should be – the thriving, buzzing heart of Tuscany with a palpable sense of history on every street corner.

Florence certainly deserves a spot at the top of any list of places to visit in Tuscany.

Touristy of course, particularly in the height of summer, but so enchanting that you don’t mind sharing the special moments it guarantees with others.

This city was the birthplace of the Italian Renaissance, and it’s filled with world-famous art museums and galleries. 

The Duomo is a must-see – this massive cathedral took 140 years to build! Other can’t-miss sights include the Uffizi Gallery, Ponte Vecchio, and Michelangelo’s famous statue of David.  

The Best Things to do in Florence 

Leaning Tower of Pisa, Pisa Tuscany-6

One of the best known Tuscan destinations, Pisa’s tower really does lean. 

The leaning tower is only one quarter of the centre’s impressive Piazza dei Miracoli, whose more successful architectural projects, the Duomo, Baptistery and Camposanto give justice to its name, which translates as the Field of Miracles.

Still, no trip to Pisa is complete without climbing to the top of the tower.Numbers are limited so book ahead to avoid disappointment on the day. It’s open until late during the summer.

For many who visit, Pisa starts and stops at the Piazza dei Miracoli, but venture further and you’ll find a buzzing student town with a gorgeous historical centre, high-quality local restaurants and small squares that are perfect for people-watching over a cup of coffee.

​​Stroll along the banks of the Arno River, marvel at the stunning architecture around the city, or visit one of the many museums and churches for a taste of local history.

Duomo Cathedral Siena Tuscany-5

Though its biggest claim to fame may be the world-famous Palio, the horse race that thunders around the central Piazza del Campo twice a year, Siena is the precious Tuscan gem that is always demanding another photograph. 

This is where to go in Tuscany to discover the region at its most enchanting. Not for nothing has Siena’s historic centre been declared a UNESCO world heritage site. With its sloping cobbled streets and atmospheric palazzi, Siena is one of the most beautiful places to go in Tuscany.

Duomo Cathedral Siena Tuscany-4

Away from the Piazza del Campo, Siena’s highlights include a huge range of art treasures in the city’s magnificent, 13th-century black and white striped Duomo and the Palazzzo Piccolomini, as well as a number of fascinating museums.

Siena is also the perfect base from which to explore some of Tuscany’s most stunning countryside, including the Chianti region and the area around Montalcino and Montepulciano.

Siena Travel Guide

Arezzo

Located in central Tuscany, Arezzo is a charming and historic town that attracts visitors from all over the world. Less busy than some of the other places in Tuscany I’ve featured in this guide, it’s the perfect place to dip into Italy’s history without the crowds. 

With its beautiful medieval buildings, bustling piazzas (don’t miss the stunning Piazza Grande), and vibrant culture, it’s easy to see why Arezzo is considered one of the best places to visit in Tuscany. 

There’s more yet. Timing is everything when you’re planning a visit to Arezzo.Though there’s plenty to see at any given time, the monthly antique fair is a captivating maze of treasures waiting to be found.

Go with a full purse, an empty bag and a discerning eye to barter with the affable sellers for your share of the loot.

Views from the City Walls Lucca Tuscany

Wondering where to go in Tuscany that’s a little bit different? Say hello to Lucca . 

As you walk through the streets of Lucca, it’s easy to feel as though you’ve stepped back in time. The walled city of Lucca offers a gentler and more relaxed take on Renaissance Italy.

The centre is small and relatively quiet, yet lively enough to be interesting.

Gardens Palazzo Pfanner Lucca Tuscany-5

The Lucchese are a fiercely proud bunch, striving hard to maintain the unique culture and atmosphere palpable within the city.

Lucca’s Romanesque Cattedrale di San Martino may stand resplendent in striped pearly white but it has fierce competition: Lucca is known as the “City of a Hundred Churches” dating from a particularly productive period of church-building in the 12th and 13th centuries as the city flaunted its wealth. 

Of them, the Chiesa di San Michele in Faro stands out for its unashamedly OTT wedding cake facade.

Circumnavigate the city via the wide walls, built and fortified to protect Lucca from its nearby rivals, Florence and Pisa. Afterwards, wind your way through its streets to find the elliptical Piazza dell’ Anfiteatro, shaped by the Roman amphitheatre that it was built on.

Look hard and you can still see some of the original bricks

What To See in Lucca

Chianti

Chianti, full of low-lying villas and fields of vines, is the romantic Tuscany you see in the films. Savour Chianti at a leisurely pace – grab a café table for a late afternoon aperitivo and wait for dusk to fall as the locals do.

Or flee to the cosseting surrounds of the nearby Essere Spa in ultra-luxe Castello di Casole for a spell of vacation pampering.

Visit one of Chianti’s many vineyards where independent winemakers will talk you through their treasured vintages of Chianti Classico, pouring generous measures as they share with you their passion for what they do – you show your appreciation by having just a touch more.

Nothing feels more Tuscan than sitting in the shade of a wisteria-covered arbour, a spread of antipasti on the table, a glass of wine in hand.

San Gimignano

San Gimignano

San Gimignano’ s historic centre is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and it’s easy to see why – the town is home to a number of well-preserved towers, churches and other buildings from its medieval heyday. This well-preserved medieval hill town is a must-see on any trip to Tuscany.

Locanda La Mandragola Restaurant San Gimignano, Tuscany-7

Stroll through the narrow streets, climb to the top of one of the towers for sweeping views of the Tuscan countryside, or enjoy a glass of the local white Vernaccia wine in one of the town’s many bustling wine bars.

No trip to San Gimignano would be complete without sampling one of its celebrated gelato (I recommend going to Gelateria Dondoli), so be sure to save some room for dessert! 

Volterra is one of the best towns to visit in Tuscany – not least because it’s one of the area’s best-kept secrets. This medieval hill town boasts Etruscan ruins, a well-preserved historical centre and some of the most breathtaking views in the region.

Perched high atop a hill, Volterra offers visitors sweeping panoramas of the Tuscan countryside.

Don’t miss the 13th-century Duomo, which is home to a beautiful sarcophagus by Michelangelo’s assistant Giovanni Angelo Montorsoli, or the Palazzo dei Priori, one of the most impressive (and oldest) civic buildings in Tuscany.

For something truly unique, visit the Alabaster Ecomuseum, where you can see artisans at work and learn about the town’s centuries-old tradition of alabaster craftsmanship.

Elba

Elba is the largest of the Tuscan islands, and is a popular destination for both Italians and foreigners alike.

The island is home to a number of stunning beaches, as well as a number of historical sites such as Napoleon’s residence, Villa San Martino. There are also plenty of places to enjoy the local cuisine,with fresh seafood being a specialty.

Whether you’re looking for a relaxing beach holiday or a chance to explore the island’s history and culture, Elba is sure to please.

Val d’Orcia

Cypress Trees Val D'Orcia

It feels like cheating to include a valley as one of the best places to visit in Tuscany, but anyone who ventures to The Val d’Orcia won’t quibble with its inclusion. 

Yet another of Tuscany’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites, this stunning valley is home to some of the most beautiful landscape in all of Italy, with its rolling hills, vineyards and picturesque villages.

There are plenty of things to do in the area, from wine tastings and cookin g classes to hikes and bike rides. If you’re looking for a truly unforgettable experience, consider staying in one of the area’s many agriturismo, where you can enjoy a taste of the traditional Tuscan lifestyle.

Isola del Giglio

Isola Giglio

Located just off the coast of Tuscany, Isola del Giglio is a hidden gem waiting to be discovered. This charming island is home to stunning beaches, medieval towns, and a rich history that will take you back in time. 

Stroll through the island’s narrow streets, marvel at the ancient ruins of Roman buildings, or enjoy a meal at one of the island’s many seaside cafés.  Whether you’re looking for a relaxing beach vacation or an exciting adventure, Isola del Giglio is the perfect destination for your next trip to Tuscany.

Monteriggioni

Monteriggioni

Monteriggioni is a small town located in the province of Siena.

This picturesque town is surrounded by medieval walls and is home to a number of historic buildings, including the medieval tower Castello di Monteriggioni.

Church of Santa Maria Assunta Monteriggioni Tuscany

Visitors can explore the town by walking along its narrow streets, or they can take a horse-drawn carriage ride around the walls.

No matter how you choose to spend your time in Monteriggioni, be sure to sample some of the local wines and cheeses, which are renowned throughout Tuscany.

Forte dei Marmi

Forte dei Marmi

Forte dei Marmi is a charming seaside town located on the western coast of Tuscany. With its beautiful beaches, quaint boutiques, and stunning views, Forte dei Marmi is the perfect destination for a relaxing vacation.

In addition to spending time at the beach, visitors can also enjoy tennis matches, windsurfing, and a number of other activities.

Grosseto Tuscany

Grosseto is one of the best cities that’s a little off-the-beaten-path in Tuscany. 

Home to a number of interesting sights, including the the Duomo di Grosseto (Grosseto Cathedral), and the Museo Archeologico e Etnografico della Maremma (Archaeological and Ethnographic Museum of Maremma), Grosseto is a worthy inclusion to any Tuscan travel itinerary.

Grosseto is also a great place to enjoy the local cuisine, with fresh seafood being a specialty.

Montepulciano 

Views from Torre in Palazzo Comunale Montepulciano Tuscany-3

Montepulciano is a beautiful medieval town located in the province of Siena.

With its charming architecture and stunning countryside views, Montepulciano is the perfect destination for anyone looking to experience all that Tuscany has to offer.

In addition to exploring the town’s historic streets, visitors can enjoy wine tastings (of course), cooking classes, and a number of other activities.

Read Next: The Insider’s Montepulciano Travel Guide 

Cortona, Tuscany-4

Still have time to spare? Drive further southeast to the small hilltop town of Cortona . Hills mean views and Cortona has plenty to go round. Made famous by the book (and subsequent film) of Under the Tuscan Sun , it’s a quaint town with strong traces of its Etruscan roots. 

Pleasantly dozy the rest of the year, Cortona bursts into revelry in the week surrounding Ascension Day, complete with a crossbow competition on the final day.

Bagni San Filippo

Bagni San Filippo Tuscany

Tuscany is famed for its natural hot springs , and one of the best can be found in the small mountain-side town of Bagni San Filippo.

While the natural outdoor springs, set among waterfalls and surrounded by woods, are unquestionably this beautiful town’s main attraction – and an unmissable one at that, the town itself is a great base for exploring some of Tuscany’s other natural wonders.

Chief among these is the dormant volcano, Monte Amiata, which is the highest point in Tuscany at 1,738 metres above sea level and which is well worth exploring, if you enjoy long uphill walks.

Of course, you can expect the usual Tuscan hospitality in the town, with great wines, olives, and local produce sure to satisfy all appetites.

Pienza

The birthplace of Pope Pius II, Pienza is a gorgeous small town in the Val d’Orcia, that combines gently undulating hills and stunning landscapes that is the epitome of Tuscan beauty.

If you’re able to visit in early September, you’ll be lucky enough to witness the Fiera del Cacio – a whole festival devoted to pecorino cheese. 

However, the real highlight of Pienza is the understated, but stunning Pieve di Corsignano, a delightful church with three naves. This Romanesque worship place still contains the font where Pius II and his nephew Pope Pius III were baptised. 

Most churches haven’t been lucky enough to host one pope, never mind two! That’s quite the claim to fame.

San Quirico D’Orcia

San Quirico D'Orcia Tuscany

If you want to experience the real Tuscany, stripped back and without the endless crowds of tourists, San Quirico D’Orcia is the place to visit.

While there’s fewer sights here than in other Tuscan towns, you don’t really visit here for sightseeing. That’s not to say there’s nothing to do, there’s plenty to see. Just that you’ll be able to do so at a much more leisurely pace than elsewhere.

Cuisine plays a massive part in San Quiricio D’Orcia’s appeal, with its streets lined by a myriad of top-class restaurants. Also, take in the Church of Santa Maria Assunta and the Leonini Gardens nearby, while the scenic viewpoint lined with the famous Tuscan Cypress trees is an excellent hike that’s well worth doing on a sunny day – something you’ll not be short of here.

Oh, and if you’re thinking some of the town looks familiar, it was one of the locations for the Oliver Stone epic Gladiator starring Russell Crowe and Joaquin Phoenix.

Explore San Quirico D’Orcia, Tuscany’s Hidden Gem

Montalcino

Another of Tuscany’s lesser-known gems, Montalcino was a total highlight of my most recent trip to Tuscany.

It’s best known for the famous Brunello di Montalcino wine, which you won’t be able to get enough of if you’re a fan of all things vino. 

Other things to see and do include the museum at the Temple of Brunello and the Montalcino Fortress, which has been the focal point of the town since the 14th century. It formed a huge part of the town’s defence against the Medici family in the 16th century when Montalcino was the final remaining stronghold of the Sienan Republic.

Of course, amazing views come as standard, as does great food, which you can learn to cook yourself at the Locanda Demetria & Montalcino Cooking School.

Pitigliano

The town of Pitigliano is in the southern tip of Tuscany and, believe it or not, is carved from volcanic stone. Flanked by two cliffs, Sovana and Sorano, Pitgliano stands out from the rest of Tuscany with remnants of the Bronze Age, Neolithic period and even the Copper Age on show in local museums.

Among the local ruins are that of a necropolis and Etruscan temple, while the Medici Aqueduct in the town centre dates back to the 17th century.

Not only that, the town has a rich Jewish history, having been home to a large Jewish community in the early 1600s, and playing a huge role in helping Jews escape persecution from Fascist laws across Europe during the 1940s.

Where to Visit in Tuscany: Map

Read More Tuscany Guides 

  • The Ultimate Tuscany Road Trip
  • Why You Need to Explore the Val D’Orcia
  • Beautiful Towns & Cities in Tuscany
  • Gorgeous Hot Springs in Tuscany
  • Spend 7 Perfect Days in Tuscany with this Itinerary
  • Unmissable Places to See in Italy

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Places to Visit in Tuscany

I’m Julianna Barnaby - a professional travel writer and geek extraordinaire. I started The Discoveries Of to help you to discover the best of new destinations from around the world.

Discovering new places is a thrill - whether it’s close to home, a new country or continent, I write to help you explore more and explore differently.

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10 comments.

Great sum up of Tuscany, I always think of Florence, but there are so many more great places 🙂 I love Italy ?

Me too! Can’t wait to head back!

It’s been too long since I’ve been to Italy and I have yet to really explore Tuscany. The best meal I’ve ever had in my life was in Florence. And I loved walking around the center of Siena – one of my favorite places in all of Italy. Thank you for taking me back!

It’s such a lovely part of the world isn’t it. Planning a return trip in a few months and very excited about it!

Brings back lovely memories. But why not more about Siena.My mother and I bought fat porcini mushrooms there, then took them back to our rented house just outside of the town and cooked thick slices of them like steak for dinner. My favorite and under appreciated place in Tuscany.

Thanks Ferne. I haven’t spent a huge amount of time in Siena but glad you had a good time there.

Tuscany is such a beautiful area. I’m taking my mom here in the fall and I can’t wait to go on some wine tasting tours!

Absolutely love Florence! On my next visit to Italy, I’d love to visit other places in Tuscany.

Love, love. love Tuscany…. Returning to this enchanting area again next year, can’t wait to experience Florence, Lucca, Siena and the villages throughout the beautiful Tuscan hills. One of my favourite places in all my travels.

Me too Dianne – it’s magical isn’t it. It’s wonderful when you get to return to a place that you love – I hope you have a brilliant trip!

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How to plan your perfect tuscany itinerary: practical travel guide.

Tuscany val d'orcia hilltop house with cypress trees

All you need to know to plan a perfect Tuscany itinerary: best places in Tuscany, where to base yourself in Tuscany, practical tips for a perfect trip 

Tuscany is one of those places in Italy that seem to have a special power.

It envelopes visitors in all-around beauty, satisfies their taste buds with gratifying food and tickles their minds with centuries-old art and architecture.

I have a special connection with Tuscany, a personal one, and I am a victim of the charm of this incredible area.

Tuscany is where half of my family is from, the place that still affects the musical rhythm of my auntie’s accent, and the place I spent most of my childhood summers in.

I love it so much we even recently relocated to Florence with the kids for a summer and we spent several holidays in different parts of this region exploring its coast and countryside.

I recommend a trip to Tuscany to everyone and, in this guide, I will try and share all you need to know to plan a perfect Tuscany itinerary, no matter your party or time available.

Did you know? Tuscany has no less than 7 Unesco World Heritage sites! learn more abot them and find more fun facts about Tuscany here .

Please note: this post contains affiliate links and, should you make a purchase through them, we might make a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Table of Contents

How to plan a trip to Tuscany

Tuscany is a region in the central part of the Italian ‘boot’.

It is a large area, confining with Lazio (the region of Rome) to its South, Umbria and Marche to the East, Emilia Romagna and Liguria ( Cinque Terre ) to respectively its North and North East.

To its west lies the large expanse of the Mediterranean, which the Tuscany coast follows for the whole length of the region.

To give you an idea of its location and distances between its most famous sites, this is how long it takes by car between some of its main towns:

  • Florence to Lucca:  1h15 minutes
  • Florence to Pisa: 1h35 mins
  • Florence to Siena: 1h10 mins
  • Siena to Livorno: 2h
  • How to get to Tuscany

travel to tuscany

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Getting to Tuscany by plane

Tuscany is served by 2 main airports: Florence and Pisa, catering for national and international travelers.

The airports are both well located to visit the rest of Tuscany and both cities offer car rental options, bus and train connections with the rest of the country.

While not technically in Tuscany, the airport of Bologna is also a good option if you are thinking of reaching this area by plane.

Please be advised that since these airports are smaller and tourism- dependent, the availability of flights drastically diminishes in low season: make sure you check in advance when certain flights are available and on which days of the week.

Getting to Tuscany by train

Tuscany has a vast and efficient network of trains connecting many of its main towns and localities.

High-speed trains connect Florence with the rest of the country while smaller cities are served by intercity trains and regional ones, which are slower but efficient.

With the fast trains, you can reach Florence from Rome in less than 2 hours.

Getting to Tuscany by boat

Many tourists reach Tuscany as part of a Mediterranean cruise and, in that case, the port of choice is the one of Livorno.

Livorno is itself a lovely town and it is very well located to be used as a base to discover Tuscany with cruise tours or independently.

You can check prices of transfer from Livorno port to Pisa and Lucca for instance here 

How to get around Tuscany

Tuscany is a large enough region and figuring out how to get from one place to the other is usually what takes up most of the time and stress when planning a Tuscany itinerary.

The good news is that traveling and Tuscany is pretty straightforward and there are several options to suit most types of travelers.

view over Tuscan hills from Montepulciano Tuscany Italy

Getting around Tuscany by car

The best way to discover Tuscany is to drive your own car.

The car is a necessity if you want to stay in the countryside and it is also the easiest way to reach many of the villages around Tuscany, harder to get to if relying on local buses only.

If you are thinking of driving in Tuscany, a few things are useful to know:

Tuscany has both regional/national roads and highways.

The highways, like in the rest of Italy, have tolls: you collect a ticket when entering and pay at your exit. Having cash handy for this is useful.

Most cities in Tuscany have a ZTL, an area where traffic is limited to residents and permits holders.

If visiting cities, make sure you keep an eye out for ZTL signals as they are not always visible and yes, they fine you if you enter and park where you are not supposed to!

You can find tips and info on how to drive in Italy here

If driving in Tuscany with kids, remember that in Italy it is compulsory to have car seats.

You can find a selection of good car seats and booster seats for travel here 

As tempting and handy as it may be to drive to wineries in Tuscany, please stay safe and never drink and drive.

If you want to go wine tasting, get a designated driver or a private driver or winery tour instead (some recommendations at the end of this post)

Getting around Tuscany by train

If you prefer not to drive, you will be happy to hear Tuscany has a good train system.

The trains won’t bring you everywhere in Tuscany but towns such as Florence, Pisa, Lucca have good connections. If you intend not to drive, this is the area I recommend you focus on.

For short distances and regional rains, advance booking of tickets is usually not necessary although always advisable.

You can read how to use trains in Italy here  (it is geared to families with kids but not just!)

Getting around Tuscany by bus

Buses can be good way to get around Tuscany, especially to reach smaller towns that might not have a train station or only be served by erratic train service.

There are several bus companies in Tuscany and the bus timetables are usually available in Tourist offices or in tobacconists ( tabaccai ) which are also the type of shops selling tickets.

Advance booking is usually not necessary.

Where to base yourself in Tuscany

One of the most common questions about visiting Tuscany is what area or town or village is the best base for visiting the region.

The answer depends on your interests and time available but I do believe some areas are better than others and these are my top picks.

The best base to visit Tuscany for hilltop villages, food and art: Val D’Orcia / Val Di Chiana

If you are coming to Tuscany for the quintessential Tuscan experience, the one made of hilltop villages, cypress trees and amazing wineries, the best base in Tuscany is Val d’Orcia, in the province of Siena.

Val d'orcia Tuscany: hilltop house surrounded by cypress trees

In this area, will find:

Val d’Orcia , where the famous Tuscany shots of cypress trees and hilltop villas are photographed and where you find tuscany must-see sites such as San Quirico d’Orcia , Pienza , Bagno Vignoni , Monticchiello , Montepulciano and Montalcino.

Plenty of wineries to taste the local Rosso, Brunello, Vino Nobile and Morellino

Plenty of farms and local shops with specialties such as cured meats and cheese (cacio di Pienza is amazing!)

Thermal baths, free and spas, such as those in Bagno Vignoni, Chianciano Terme and Bagni San Filippo.

San Gimignano , gorgeous with its turreted hilltop position

Siena and its stunning Piazza del Campo and Duomo, out of this world beautiful.

Volterra and the glorious countryside of this area

This is area is famous for hilltop villages, wine and food and it is perfect if you imagine your Tuscany vacation spent sitting in a medieval piazza savoring a board of cured meat and red wine (this is the area of cacio di Pienza and Nobile di Montepulciano !)

Where to base yourself in Tuscany if you don’t want to drive

If you prefer not to drive, the best place to stay in Tuscany is Florence.

Florence is a great transport hub you can use as a base to take day trips by train and bus.

From here, you can easily visit:

  • San Gimignano ,
  • Monteriggioni ,
  • Chianti area and

by train or joining one of the many excellent available day tours.

This is an example of a wonderful day tour that covers some of the most beautiful areas of Tuscany

Best place to stay in Tuscany for thermal springs and wine

Tuscany has some gorgeous thermal springs and you want to experience them the best base for you would be in the South East of the region.

tuscany countryside view with glass of wine

The area of Bagno Vignoni is gorgeous and great for thermal relaxation and wine (Brunello and Morellino di Scansano come from here) and Saturni a is here too, now world-famous thanks to its scenic thermal waters.

Chianciano Terme, while not historical, is a great thermal town and a convenient base to explore Val D’Orcia and localities such as Montepulciano and Pienza, both worth seeing.

This is an area best discovered by car. You can find my full guide to the best thermal towns and hot springs in Tuscany here.

Where to base yourself in Tuscany with kids

Tuscany is all family-friendly and where to base yourself with children depends on the type of vacation you want.

For a sea and sun family vacation in Tuscany, I recommend the Etruscan Coast , a lovely area with sandy beaches and easy access to pretty hilltop villages, perfect to mix time on the sea and sightseeing.

For a holiday in the Tuscan hills, maybe in a villa with a pool or an agriturismo, I recommend Val d’Orcia and in particular the area of Chianciano Terme

Here you find many accommodation options and the town itself has children entertainment such as a nice park with mini-golf as well as a kid-friendly thermal spa.

Where to stay in Tuscany accommodation options

Tuscany is very well equipped to welcoming tourism and offers several accommodation options.

Staying in agriturismo

Agriturismo is a country home that has opened its doors to guests.

Tre usually in wonderful locations in the middle of the country, away from the hustle and bustle of the city and allowing you to be in close proximity to nature.

Agriturismi come in all shapes and sizes: some are small and rural and still operate as working farms (or may have a farm area, often open to kids yo visit) and some are very elegant, upscale and equipped with swimming pools and more.

The choice of agriturismo in Tuscany is endless: you can find all options on agruturismo.it or even on booking.com, selecting ‘country houses’.

To give you an idea of what is available, have a look at:

Campo di Carlo (Sassetta, near Bolgheri and the coast): you can read our full review here or check our prices on booking.com here

Fattoria di Maiano (Fiesole, just outside Florence): you can read our review here or check their prices and offering here 

Renting a Tuscan Villa

Many families opt for booking a Villa for their Italian stay and this is indeed an excellent option in Tuscany thanks to the vast variety of properties available.

A great site to find villas here, to suit all budgets is Homeaway Italia that you can check out here

Tuscany is a great area for camping too and this option is exceptionally popular with families with kids in particular.

Depending on what you are looking for and what you like, you can select small independent properties such as

Podere Pianetti , a small and perfectly kept caravan site with hot tubs and access to the beach

or all inclusive solutions like the Paradu Resort with pools, kids activities, restaurants onsite etc . The photo below is from our happy stay at Podere Pianetti and you can also check our Paradu review here

What to see in Tuscany: must see attractions and recommended itineraries

It is hard to go wrong when visiting Tuscany, everywhere is so beautiful, but if you are short on time, having an itinerary can be handy.

3 days in Tuscany itinerary

Piazza del Campo, Siena, Tuscany, Italy

If you only have 3 days in Tuscany I recommend you follow this itinerary:

Day 1 : spend one day in Florence , a good amount of time for a stroll in the city center and a visit to Florence main attractions.

Make sure you stay the night and pick a hotel in a central location, to make the most of your time. Find our guide to the best area to stay in Florence here .

Good to know : while Florence city center can be seen in a day, the city has stunning museums that deserve way more than that. If you prefer to stay in Florence longer, you can follow this 2 day Florence itinerary instead.

Day 2 : Take a day trip to the Chianti region, taste its beautiful wines and exolore gorgrous San Gimignano, one of the most beautiful and popular day trips from Florence

Day 3 : spend the day in Siena , one of the most beautiful and important cities in Tuscany, famous especially for its UNESCO Piazza del Campo and its incredible Duomo, two of the most beautiful landmarks in the whole of Italy.

4 Days in Tuscany itinerary

Child walking in Pienza, Tuscany, Italy

With 4 days in Tuscany, I recommend the following itinerary.

Day 1 : Florence and its treasures

Day 2 : Siena and its beautiful medieval center, and Bagno Vignoni for a relaxing thermal baths with views over Tuscany

Day 3 : San Quirico d’Orcia and Pienza for a full immersion in Medieval and Renaissance Tuscany

Day 4 : Moltepulicano (return to Florence ot Rome), its historical center and wine tradition

Itinerary for 5 days or more in Tuscany

San Quirico d'Orcia

If you have 5 days or more in Tuscany than you really are spoilt for choice on what to see Tuscany is reasonably compact and with 5 days I don’t want to say you will see the whole of it, but you can definitely cover a good bit of ground.

With 5 days I recommend you plan the following itinerary

Day 2 : Unesco treasure Siena and thermal heaven Bagno Vignoni

Day 3 : Pienza and San Quirico d’Orcia, gems of Renaissance and Medieval times

Day 4 : Montepulciano and Montalcino, wine loers paradise

Day 5 : Lucca, pretty walled town for music lovers

With additional days, you can also easily add a day in Arezzo/ Cortona or head back to the North of Tuscany and visit Pisa.

How to visit Tuscany with kids: kid-friendly attractions in Tuscany

Hilltop villages, art cities and vineyards may not conjure up the idea of Tuscany as a family friendly destination but things can be misleading.

Tuscany is a wonderful destination for families and it is a family destination for choice not just for foreigners but Italians too, who happily flock to its coastline as soon as school and work allow.

There are many reasons why going to Tuscany with kids.

Heading to Italy with the kids? Don’t miss our step by step guide to planning a family trip to Italy 

  • Child-friendly beaches: Tuscany has lovely family-friendly beaches especially in the area of Capalbio, Orbetello and San Vincenzo
  • Pinocchio Park (Pisa): small amusement park and garden decorated with statues from the famous Pinocchio story
  • Water parks such as Piccolo Mondo (Pisa) waterpark with slides, go karts and kids bouncers and Aqua Village, in the Cecina and Follonica area
  • Il Cavallino Matto, the largest amusement park in Tuscany with rides for all ages
  • Il Giardino dei Tarocchi, a wonderful sculpture gardens with artwork by Nikke di Saint Phalle
  • Zoos and animal encounter opportunities, such as Pistoia zoo and the European fauna park Poppi (wildlife sanctuary)

You can find all of these and more in our guide to visiting Tuscany with kids here.

Great organized activities and tours in Tuscany

  • Chianti half-day afternoon tour from Florence with wine tasting
  • Florence market to table cooking lesson
  • Tuscany by Vespa, full-day tour
  • Children cooking class in Florence
  • Florence walking tour for kids and families
  • Horses and Vineyards, horseback riding in Tuscany
  • Fiat 500 vintage Tuscany Tour

I hope you enjoyed this guide to planning your trip to Tuscany and it helped to answer your questions about planning your best Tuscany itinerary.

Safe travels!

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Marta Correale

Marta Correale is the creator, writer and creative mind behind Learning Escapes. A travel loving mama of two from Italy, Marta currently lives in Ireland with her husband and two kids, they take frequent trips to European destination, the US and beyond. A professional travel blogger for over a decade, Marta is passionate about traveling with kids and helping others to travel more and better as a family.

A Local’s Guide to Travel in Tuscany

An aerial view over a winding dirt road in the countryside of Tuscany, with gently sloping green hills all around, and a magnificent sunset

Tuscany, the most famed region in Italy and a place visited by millions of people every year, really needs no introduction. Featured in countless films and often used as the postcard image of quintessential Italy, Tuscany is squarely on the tourist map for just about everyone.

And that’s for good reason; because this is a truly spectacular region!

Tuscany has just about everything that you could ask for from a vacation destination: majestic UNESCO world heritage cities and towns, a to-die-for countryside, lovely mountains and fabulous beaches, and globally-renowned culinary and enological traditions. Simply put, we’ve got it all here!

And when it comes to culture, Tuscany is a fabulous part of Italy to discover. Tuscan, the region’s dialect, is very similar to Latin, and today’s standard Italian language was born from it. This is largely thanks to the writings of local artists like Dante Alighieri, Francesco Petrarca, and Niccolò Machiavelli.

On top of that, this was also the cradle of the Italian Renaissance, with Florence having been the epicenter. If you’re interested in art and history, few places in Italy can beat Tuscany.

So, if you’re looking to sample great food and wine, enjoy beautiful scenery, walk through history in medieval towns, and maybe even hit the beach for a bit, Tuscany has got you covered. No matter your tastes, travel style, or interests, Tuscany has something to offer.

More Tuscany travel info:

For more info on travel in Tuscany and Italy, check out our comprehensive Italy travel guide and our guide to the Chianti wine region .

If you could use some help planning your itinerary and finding out about unique activities and authentic places to visit, consider scheduling an Italy travel consultation .

Guide to the Val d’Orcia

City guide to Siena

City guide to Montepulciano

City guide to Lucca

City guide to Cortona

City guide to Pisa

Guide to wine in Tuscany

Day trip from Florence to Cinque Terre

Table of contents

Where is tuscany, best time to visit, how long to spend here, how to get to tuscany, where to stay in tuscany - best bases.

Transportation and how to get around

Is Tuscany expensive? Average travel costs

Paying for things and using credit cards, what to do in tuscany.

Best places to visit in Tuscany

Tuscany itineraries - from 5 days to 2 weeks

travel to tuscany

Tuscany is located in central Italy, about a 2-hour drive north of Rome at its southernmost point, and an hour south of Bologna in the region’s north. It is bordered to the northwest by Liguria, to the north by Emilia-Romagna, to the east by Marche and Umbria, and to the south by Lazio (where Rome is).

The western edge of Tuscany, runs all along the coast, from the Tyrrhenian Sea in the south to the Ligurian Sea in the north. Along much of the region’s northern border, you will find the Tuscan-Emilian Apennine Mountains, along with the Apuan Alps in the northeast.

Tuscany is a fairly big region for Italy (about 8,900 square miles), which means that there is a lot to see and do, and there is much more to it than just its (beautiful) countryside and the (magnificent) city of Florence.

Scattered all throughout Tuscany you will find fortified hilltop towns, mid-sized cities, beaches and coves, mountains, parks, and hot springs. Ready to start discovering it? Then keep reading!

Lush and verdant hills in Tuscany, seen during the springtime, with red flowers in bloom

The best time to visit Tuscany is indisputably late spring or early fall, especially the months of May and September. These are the periods when traveling in Italy is most enjoyable, and Tuscany is no exception.

Visiting in late spring and early fall

In late spring, the temperatures are already warm but not excessively hot, so it’s perfect for visiting historic towns, the countryside, and also the coast.

Besides Florence, which is crowded all year round, late spring isn’t packed with tourists, so you will surely enjoy your time there. Italians are still at work/school, so prices for accommodation and other attractions haven’t yet skyrocketed. Plus, most restaurants on the coast and less touristy areas/towns will already be open since they usually open up right after Easter (which is in late March or until mid-April).

Similarly, September also has great weather, lower prices, and less crowds. On top of that, seasonal venues (beach clubs, for instance) are still open and going full swing, before things die down toward the end of the season and everyone closes up shop for the winter.

If you can swing it, there’s no question that late spring or early fall are the perfect times to travel in Tuscany.

Visiting in summer

In summer, the weather is roasting hot in the cities and towns, while the coast overflows with vacationing Italians and foreign tourists. This is especially true from mid-July to the end of August.

Prices are incredibly high and availability is limited pretty much everywhere, so you need to reserve way in advance for hotels, rental cars, restaurants, and even entrance tickets to popular museums and historical sites.

Now, if summer is the only time you can come to Tuscany, don’t despair! While it’s not the ideal time to visit, it’s not as if every town, beach, or vineyard is going to be permanently packed.

You can always find hidden places that the masses have yet to discover, and if you visit popular locations early in the day or later in the evening (before the day trippers have arrived or after they’ve left), you can still enjoy beautiful places in Tuscany without being constantly shoulder to shoulder with others.

If visiting in summer, you just need to plan ahead, make reservations in advance, and visit the right places at the right time.

Visiting in winter

Visiting Tuscany in winter isn’t an outright bad idea either. While entrance tickets for museums and monuments are the same all year long, hotels and car rentals are much more affordable than at other times of year. If you’re looking to save money, this is the ideal time to travel in Tuscany.

November, January, and February are the least busy times to visit the region, which all makes it the ideal time to travel through the beautiful hilltop and art towns, which are packed throughout much of the rest of the year.

However, just be aware that it’s pretty chilly at this time of year, the weather is unpredictable and can often be grey and rainy, and trips out to the countryside or coast aren’t especially pleasant.

There is much more to see in Tuscany than just Florence and the Chianti hills. Tuscany is rather big, and it’s home to many historic sites and art towns (which are towns of great artistic/historic importance). The Tuscan coast is also stunning, with not one but two beautiful islands that you can travel to.

For the most part, it’s also quite easy to get from one place to another since the distances are pretty manageable by train or car, and there are good public transit connections for major destinations. Thankfully, you will never have to sacrifice entire days to travel, and will instead be on the road for at most a few hours before reaching your intended destination.

Even so, to appreciate Tuscany properly and to really get a feel for the region, you will need to slow down and take your time. This is especially true if your itinerary includes Florence, as that will take up a minimum of two days.

5 days - for a decent introduction

You need at least 5 days in Tuscany in order to appreciate the region and see a bit of what it has to offer. Remember, this is a region filled with beautiful hilltop towns, renaissance cities, coastline, mountains, and world-renowned wine country, so it has a lot to offer you.

While many people come in to Florence for 2 days, and then tack on a day trip out to the Val d’Orcia or Chianti area and call it a day, that’s not recommended - you’d simply be missing too much of what makes this region special.

To do things the right way, dedicate 5 days to Tuscany, and spend 2 of them discovering the renaissance jewel of Florence, then venture out to the Chianti countryside to visit wineries, thermal baths, or the coast, and give yourself a day or two to road trip between a few of the region’s beautiful hilltop towns.

Doing all of that in 5 days won’t be especially relaxing, but it will allow you to actually see Tuscany and begin to understand what the region is all about. 7 days would be better, as that would give you time to slow down and enjoy yourself a bit more, while having an extra day for Tuscany’s natural areas and another one to visit more of the historic towns dotting the entire region.

10 days - the ideal visit

With 10 days in Tuscany, you can fully experience the region and see it in all its glory. This is the perfect amount of time to spend here. With a week and a half, you can do everything mentioned above, visiting art towns to your heart’s delight, making a trip to the gorgeous city of Siena, spending plenty of time in Florence, and then heading out into the countryside for a few days discovering the hills and wineries of the Chianti or Val d’Orcia regions.

You’ll likely even have time to spend a coupe of days beach hopping along the Tuscan coast, visiting seaside cities like Livorno, and quiet coves lined with pine trees.

To really mix things up, you could shorten your time visiting the hilltop towns or cities of the region, and add on visits to the islands of Elba or Giglio.

With 10 days, you can thoroughly discover this region. There are countless ways to spend a week and a half in Tuscany, and the beauty of this is that you will never run short of things to do and places to visit. Your only challenge will be deciding where you want to spend most of your time!

travel to tuscany

Connect with a Tuscany travel expert for help perfecting your itinerary, answers to all your travel questions, and fabulous local tips for a better visit!

travel to tuscany

Tuscany has two cities with international airports: Florence and Pisa.

Florence’s airport is called “Amerigo Vespucci Airport” (FLR), and it’s located about 10 kilometers northwest of the city. This airport is small but efficient and hosts flights from cities around Italy and Europe. If you are traveling from the US or elsewhere in the world, you will probably need to fly into Rome or Milan instead.

From Florence’'s airport, you can take a tram into the city, and then from the central Santa Maria Novella train station you can transfer to virtually anywhere in Italy, with high-speed connections to Milan, Rome, Bologna, Naples, La Spezia, and other destinations.

Pisa International Airport’s (PSA) official name is Galileo Galilei Airport, and its distance is only 6 kilometers from the town center. Flights here depart to/from other Italian cities and some European destinations.

From the Pisa airport, you can easily arrive into the city center with the Pisa Mover, a high-speed monorail train that gets you into the city in just 5 minutes. Then, from the Pisa train station, you can catch trains to many other destinations in Tuscany, including Florence.

Arriving by train

Tuscany’s major towns are incredibly well-connected by trains with other parts of the country. You can easily arrive into many different cities and towns in Tuscany from Rome, Bologna, Milan, Turin, La Spezia, etc. Many of these routes are served by high-speed trains. You can also travel to and throughout the region by Intercity and Regional trains, which are slower but cheaper.

Of course, the central hub for all of Tuscany is the city of Florence , which has high-speed train connections with almost every other major city in Italy. In many cases, if you’re traveling to Tuscany from elsewhere in Italy, you will probably first arrive to Florence’s central Santa Maria Novella train station, and then catch a connecting train on to your final destination in the region.

You’ll usually find multiple daily departures from Florence to many other Tuscan cities and towns. For information on trains and timetables, check the Trenitalia and ItaloTreno websites. 

Taking a ferry

For those of you who are coming from Sardinia, Sicily, or Corsica, you can also arrive to Tuscany by ferry, into Livorno, the largest port in the region. From Livorno, it’s an easy train ride on to other destinations in Tuscany.

Florence

If you’re planning to stay in Tuscany for anything more than 3 days, you should split your time between a few different bases, so that you can see different areas of the region and minimize time spent driving or taking the train out to places of interest.

For stays of 3 days or less, however, and especially if this is your first time in Tuscany, you should almost certainly base yourself in Florence. More on that below.

Florence, the birthplace of the renaissance, is a gorgeous city and a must-visit for anyone traveling to Tuscany. Florence is iconic, and the city is filled with more world-class museums, galleries, churches, gardens, and gorgeous buildings than you could possibly visit in a single trip.

Is it touristy? Yes. Is it still worth visiting? Absolutely yes! As long as you know what to expect and have a good plan for your visit, you will have a great time in Florence. Millions of people come here for a reason!

Florence is also an ideal base because being Tuscany’s biggest city, it offers a huge selection in terms of accommodation, restaurants, tours/experiences, nightlife, and cultural offerings.

From a purely practical standpoint, Florence is centrally located within the region, it’s extremely accessible without a car, and it’s the central train hub for all of Tuscany, meaning that you can get almost anywhere else you want to go quickly and easily from there.

One quick transport note: if you plan to rent a car for your trip, wait to get it until you’re done visiting Florence, or drop it off before you arrive in the city (if you’ll visit Florence at the end of your trip) as parking in the city is an absolute nightmare.

Staying in Siena is a great idea if you want to be in a city, but close enough to the Chianti and Val d’Orcia regions to easily visit them as day trips. Siena is also a beautiful city in its own right, and is well worth a full day’s exploration. A bustling university town, it’s got plenty of great restaurants and bars where you can enjoy a fun night out.

Siena is also known for its many antique shops and a weekly market, the Mercato delle Merci, which is one of the largest in Tuscany.

The city isn’t especially big (only about 50,000 residents), so you won’t find quite as many hotel options as in Florence, but there should still be plenty of places to choose from at all price levels.

One important thing to know is that the towns and countryside outside of Siena (Val d’Orcia, Chianti, etc.) are not very well served by public transportation, so you will really need to have a car if you choose to stay here and want to visit the surrounding area.

Monteriggioni/the province of Siena

Now, if you’re interested in staying in the countryside amongst the smalls towns of rural Tuscany, the province of Siena is your best option. This area is gorgeous, it’s got tons of wineries, and is bursting with “agriturismi” (elegant farmhouses converted into hotels, many with pools and excellent on-site restaurants), which are wonderful accommodation options.

The town of Monteriggioni is one excellent countryside base. Here, you can visit the local castle, admire stunning views, do all sorts of outdoor activities (from horseback riding to e-biking), and quickly travel to Siena and other points of interest.

The Maremma Coast

On the Maremma coast, which begins a bit south of the city of Livorno and continues down into the region of Lazio, you can stay in charming towns like Grosseto, Orbetello, Follonica, or Porto Santo Stefano.

Porto Santo Stefano is a particularly beautiful town, beloved by the rich and famous, which boasts a bubbly atmosphere in a Mediterranean setting. The town doesn’t offer cultural attractions, but it has stunning beaches and coves. The surrounding area is especially verdant, so it’s also a great place to enjoy scenic walks in nature.

Since the main attractions in this area are the beautiful beaches, many of which are not served by public transporation, you will need to have your own car in order to really experience what makes the Maremma Coast so special.

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Transportation and how to get around in Tuscany

A regionale train stopped at a platform at a station somewhere in Italy

A “Regionale” train. Photo: CAPTAIN RAJU , CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

When it comes to traveling within Tuscany, you can easily bounce between the major cities of the region by train. If you intend to only visit big cities like Florence, Siena, and Pisa, there’s no need to have a car, and it would actually probably be inconvenient to get one.

However, if you plan to visit the countryside, the coast, or smaller towns, you will very likely find that having a car is the most convenient option. Public transportation does not cover rural areas and it’s very slow and indirect for many art/hilltop towns, so unless you want to spend a lot of time waiting around on buses, you’re really better off renting a car.

Driving in Tuscany & renting a car

Renting a car in Tuscany is extremely straightforward. You will find rental car offices in major cities like Florence, Siena, and Pisa, as well as at the airports. All of the major international rental car companies can be found here, along with a few local options, and you can pre-book your car online and pick it up when you arrive.

The price per-day for renting a manual-transmission compact car is usually €30.

Now, regarding driving in Tuscany, Italy is somewhat infamously known for having aggressive drivers, so you might be intimidated by the thought of driving here.

However, Tuscany's peaceful landscapes (which is where you’ll likely be doing most of your driving) are lightly trafficked and the locals in those rural areas usually drive quite reasonably. Driving in the Val d'Orcia or Chianti hills is largely a stress-free experience.

If you are visiting the Argentario Coast during the peak of summer, you will certainly find traffic, but drivers will be mostly laid-back and in no rush, as the area is heavily frequented by people on vacation.

Driving within the cities or in the narrow winding roads of the hill towns can be a bit more stressful, but there’s really no need to use your car within a city or town, so once you park it, you won’t have to worry about repeated trips into heavy, impatient traffic.

There are a couple of things you should be aware of when renting a car in Tuscany:

Road conditions

Most secondary roads in the region are two-lane country roads, and they might not always be perfectly paved.

Medieval towns and villages have tiny and tight roads inside the centers. Mostly uphill, these streets are challenging to navigate. They are usually one-way roads, but this isn’t always true, so you might have to stop, pull over, and let the a passing car go by before you can drive on.

Manual transmission cars

In Italy, it is still popular to drive manual transmissions cars, so if you are not used to it, make sure to select a car with an automatic transmission when booking your rental car (just note that the price might be higher).

ZTLs - traffic limited areas

Some town centers, especially historic ones, have ZTL (Limited Traffic Zone) areas that only residents can drive through. If you drive into a ZTL area, you will almost certainly receive a fine, so always be on the lookout for the signs alerting you to them.

You will see a “no traffic” or ZTL sign at the entrance(s) to the town, so you will know when you can’t proceed with the car.

Finding parking in small towns is often quite difficult, so it’s can be more convenient to leave the car outside the center of Medieval towns and then walk in.

Usually, there will be municipal parking lots right outside of the medieval walls. Many of these are metered, so you’ll need to pay a small fee.

When parking on the street , you will see different strip colors on the curb. White strips mean that the park is free (unless differently specified on street signs), blue strips mean you have to pay, and yellow strips mean you can’t park there.

To pay for parking, you will need to look for parking meters along the curb.

International Driving Permit

An International Driving Permit (IDP) is legally mandated in Italy. Online sources will tell you that it’s not necessary and that you won’t be asked for it when renting a car.

While they are right that rental agencies rarely request to see it, some do, and the police can fine you if you don’t have it.

Train travel in Tuscany

Tuscany is overall well-connected by public transit. Trains and buses operate all over the region, but trains mainly link art cities and the centers along the coast.

In the countryside, you will need to take public buses or taxis to get around if you don't have a car.

Train travel in Tuscany is affordable and efficient, and the major cities and towns are quite well connected. The biggest downside is that many small towns that you may be interested in (like San Gimignano), don't have train stations. Instead, they will need to be reached by bus, or a combination of bus and train.

While most of the main cities/towns have a train station directly in the city center, the hill towns represent an exception to this: they usually don’t have train stations at all, but even when they do have a dedicated station, it will often be located a couple of kilometers outside of the town center.

This is because you can’t run train tracks up hills that steep! In these cases, you’ll have to catch a local bus or get a taxi to take you into the center of town from the train station.

Schedules and frequency of train departures

For routes between popular destinations and big cities, trains depart more or less every hour, with more frequent departures during the peak hours. The frequency of departures varies significantly from one destination to the next, but generally speaking, trains depart as early as 7 am and as late as 11 pm.

Types of trains

In Italy, there are three types of trains:

Trenitalia Frecce fleet - these are high-speed trains that make very few stops between their starting and ending destinations

Intercity , which travel between the country's major cities and towns, making more stops than the high-speed trains, but still not too many

Regionale - slower trains that make a high number of stops within a region

Intercity and Frecce trains assign a specific seat with your ticket, and for popular journeys and/or during busy periods, it’s not uncommon for them to sell out. So, you should always reserve tickets in advance if possible. This will also usually be cheaper than buying at the last minute.

Regionale trains, on the other hand, don’t assign you a specific seat with their ticket (which means you can sit where you prefer or find an empty seat), and as such, never sell out. The certainly can get packed though!

For traveling between the cities and towns within Tuscany, you will likely mostly be relying on Regionale trains, and since they don’t sell out, you can always buy those tickets directly at the train station shortly before your train’s departure. Tickets are also available on the official Trenitalia website/app though.

Validating tickets

If you purchase a physical ticket at the train station, you will need to validate it before boarding the train. There are dedicated machines where you can do this at the station and along the platforms, but if you can’t find them, ask the personnel at the ticket office. If you don’t validate your ticket, you may get a hefty fine.

There is no need to validate website-purchased tickets; just show the ticket on your phone to the “capotreno” (train conductor) when asked and you will be all set.

Cost of tickets and booking in advance

Trenitalia train tickets can cost as little as 3€ for local travel, and 50€+ for longer-distance, high-speed train rides. Keep in mind that if you book your long-distance train tickets well in advance, they will be cheaper.

For short routes, there really isn’t a need to buy in advance as the price doesn’t change much. On holidays or at exceptionally busy times of year, you should reserve in advance though just to make sure you get a seat.

In Tuscany, public buses fill the gap that the trains don’t cover, connecting the cities to smaller towns and rural villages. Buses are even cheaper than trains, with tickets costing as little as 1,20€. Bus tickets can be purchased in local kiosks/shops (called "tabacchi" in Italian), inside train stations, and directly onboard from the driver (although they don't always have tickets up for sale).

To validate your ticket, there is a dedicated machine inside the bus, usually in the front, where the driver is.

Bus companies and schedules

The main bus companies in Tuscany are Autolinee Toscane, Sitabus, and Tiemme.

Bus schedules change throughout the year, and it might be challenging to find the updated one, so if you can’t find good information online, it’s best to go to Tourist Infopoints or ask at the "tabacchi" where you are purchasing the ticket. Google Maps is usually quite accurate with bus schedules as well.

In general, the first bus ride from any regularly-serviced destination usually departs around 6 am, and the last trip will be between 10 pm and midnight (depending on how frequented that bus line is, of course). Buses travel between towns on many different frequencies, and you can find them as often as every 10 minutes, or only every couple of hours.

Taking ferries on the coast

To reach the islands of Giglio and Elba, you’ll need to take a ferry. Elba's ferries depart daily from the towns of Piombino and Livorno. The companies that operate the route are Toremar and Moby. Tickets cost around 20€ one-way and without a vehicle on board.

The ferries to Giglio Island depart daily from the town of Porto Santo Stefano. This route is operated by the Toremar and Maregiglio companies, and a one-way ticket costs around 15€, again, without a car.

Speaking of cars, non-residents cannot bring theirs onto the island during high season, so be aware of this if you’re considering taking your car with you.

Taxis and ride-sharing apps

Ride-sharing apps are illegal in Italy, so these are never an option here. As such, taxis are your only choice. You will find taxis lined up in dedicated locations at airports and train stations, and will usually need to wait in line to take one.

Otherwise, you can google "taxi" followed by the city/town you are in to find the local taxi company that services that town/area. To book a ride, you will usually need to call the company directly.

travel to tuscany

Compared to other regions in Italy, Tuscany is rather pricey. This shouldn’t be a much of a surprise though, as this is a premier tourist destination that welcomes millions of visitors every year.

Here are some rough prices for typical expenses:

A night at a hotel: 80€ to 150€  

An average meal: 15€ for daily lunch specials (typically a main dish, a drink, and coffee or dessert), and 20 to 50 euros for dinner, depending on how fancy the place is and whether you want wine and multiple courses.

A glass of wine: 5€ to 10€

A coffee: 1-2 euros for an espresso or cappuccino at a non-touristy bar/cafe

Renting a car: 30€ per day (potentially much more in the high-season, or if you need an automatic)

A taxi ride within a city/town: 10€ to 25€

Short-distance bus/train ticket: 3€ to 10€

Long distance bus/train ticket (but still within the region): 10€ to 25€

Entrance tickets: 0€ to 25€

There is a wide range of costs here. Local museums or lesser monuments and attractions will usually not cost more than 10 euros, while visiting places like the Accademia Gallery, Uffizi, Siena Duomo Complex, and other premier destinations can cost around 20 euros.

Wine tastings at a winery: 10-20 euros (this usually includes multiple tastings and some light snacks)

Bike/E-bike rental in the countryside: 50 to 100 euros for the day

Guided tours (private and group):

Half-day private guided tour: approximately 250 euros

Full-day private tour: 400-600 euros.

Small group tours: 40-80 euros per person.

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Credit cards

When in Italy, you can pay with both debit/credit card and cash. You can use your card to pay in most places in Tuscany. Just note that some smaller bars can ask you to pay cash if you are consuming a meal that costs less than 5€.

So it is advisable always to have some euros in your wallet. You will find ATMs in every town, but the withdrawal of money might apply some fee. 

Tipping is not customary in Italy. However, it is sort of expected by foreigners (and especially from North Americans), and it is appreciated by those working in hospitality.

You can only tip in cash, and how much to tip really depends on you. In general, you should tip a few euros for a short and/or undemanding service (like a drink at a bar). In this case, you usually leave the change if you pay cash. You should tip more for ongoing services (like a week-long cleaning service).

Tuscany is best known for Florence, wineries, and its lovely Renaissance towns where famous artists and scientists lived, from Leonardo Da Vinci to Michelangelo. This is a big region though, and there’s much more to it than just that, so there’s a lot to see and do here!

Here, architectural wonders and artistic masterpieces mingle with beautiful landscapes made up of green hills, cypress trees, vineyards, and olive groves.

An agricultural powerhouse, Tuscany produces excellent-quality olive oil and wines, both which are key-ingredients of the many delicious local dishes made here. As such, food and wine tasting are very popular here.

For scenic drives, rolling hills, and bucolic countryside, the Chianti region and the Val D’Orcia (a UNESCO heritage site) are simply unbeatable.

Heading toward the coast, idyllic beaches with crystal-clear waters backed by coastal plains, such as in the Maremma region, are perfect for snorkeling, boat tours, and other water sports.

And last but not least, Tuscany has two incredible islands that should be on everyone’s bucket list: Elba and Giglio.

For some more ideas, here’s a quick list of some interesting things to see and do when visiting the region:

Visit charming hilltop towns like Cortona , San Gimignano, Montepulciano , and Lucca  

Hit the beach - the Argentario area is the best one, also for snorkeling

Go for a wine or olive oil tastings in the Chianti region

Hike in the Apennines, Monte Capanne, or Monte Capanne

Explore the heart of the renaissance: Florence, Pisa , and Siena are the best places to do it

Go truffle hunting in San Miniato

Ride e-bikes through the hills in the Val d’Orcia

Tour Fortezza delle Verrucole (a scenic castle in Garfagnana)

Relax in nature in Parco Naturale della Maremma

Join a food tour in Florence

Take a pasta cooking class. Everyone does it for a reason - it’s good fun!

Ride a Vespa through the countryside - Toursity? Yes. A blast? Also yes.

Learn about marble in Carrara

Go bird-watching at the Laguna di Orbetello

Best Places to Visit in Tuscany

Tuscany is truly blessed with an abundance of wonderful places to visit and things to do. With an incredible number of beautiful towns, great beaches, lovely countryside, and pristine nature, you could spend weeks here and still not see everything.

So, we could easily list 100 “best places to visit”, without exaggerating. However, no one has unlimited vacation time (or money), so you probably won’t be able to see all those places. As such, below is a list of 20 destinations that we think are well-worth visiting whether this is your first time in the region or your tenth.

1. Florence

An aerial view of Florence, with the Arno river splitting the city in two

One of the most visited cities in the world, Florence is packed with astonishing artworks and architecture dating back to the Renaissance. Lying on the Arno River, Florence was home to incredible artists of the likes of Da Vinci, Michelangelo, and Botticelli, who worked to make the city a renowned art capital.

Elegant palaces, incredible museums, and centuries-old churches are not all you will find in Florence. The city is also popular for its culinary traditions and cutting-edge shopping opportunities.

The enormous Basilica Cateriniana di San Domenico in Siena, Itlay, seen from a nearby street towering over the city

This picturesque town, founded by the Etruscans over two millennia ago, lies 70 km south of Florence. Siena might be small but is full of cultural landmarks and architectural marvels.

From the famous shell-shaped Piazza del Campo to the black-and-white-marbled Duomo, Siena is mainly known for the horse race called “Palio di Siena”, which is held twice a year (in June and August).

The Cathedral of Pisa, with the Leaning Tower of Pisa behind it, seen from across the Piazza del Duomo Square

Worldwide known for the iconic Leaning Tower, Pisa boasts many other artistic and architectural treasures. One of the richest cities during the Middle Ages, here you can marvel at Romanesque buildings, Gothic churches, and Renaissance squares - with Piazza dei Miracoli being particularly beautiful.

Pisa is also a university town, so it has a lively vibe and hosts great bars, cafes, and cultural events.

An aerial view over the red roofs of the city of Lucca, with tree-covered hills in the distant background

Lying very close to Pisa, Lucca has among the best-preserved city walls in Italy. Surrounded by green hills, the walls have been turned into a pedestrian promenade that you can walk to circle this enchanting Tuscan town.

Besides the city walls, Lucca is home to elegant squares, centuries-old churches, and a couple of still-standing lofty towers.

The town is popular in Italy for hosting the Lucca Comics & Games, the country’s biggest comic event held annually between October and November.

5. San Gimignano

The town of San Gimignano in Italy, with a few of its famous stone towers in view

You will spot San Gimignano from a distance: the hilltop town is characterized by 14 tall medieval towers that create a unique skyline. Once in number 72, the towers were commissioned by powerful families to show off their wealth.

Climb the towers for breathtaking views of Tuscany hills. The “Town of Fine Towers”, as San Gimignano is called, also has a couple of excellent museums and Gothic and Romanesque buildings lining the streets and main square.

6. Val d’Orcia

Bucolic countryside in the Val d'Orcia region of Tuscany, with a dirt road winding through lush green fields

Tuscany is beloved for its rolling hills, and the Val d’Orcia is quintessentially Tuscan in this sense. This fertile area extends from the hills south of Siena to Mount Amiata.

Visiting pretty medieval towns like Pienza, Montalcino, and Castiglione d’Orcia are just a few things you can do in the valley. And of course, visiting the wineries is an ever-popular activity.

Relaxing walks among olive groves, tall cypresses, and vines make the area perfect for discovering Tuscan nature.

The dreamy landscapes of the Val d’Orcia have been used for shooting scenes in many movies (like “Gladiator” and “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”, just to name a few).

Tourist crowd

Sitting on a sloping hillside, Arezzo was once one of the 12 towns of the Etruscan League. With a long and rich history, the city delights visitors with many churches and archeological museums.

Among the city’s highlights is the central Piazza Grande with the Vasari Loggia, the Palazzo della Fraternita dei Laici, Arezzo Cathedral, and Corso Italia, lined with boutiques and shops selling antiques.

Many scenes of the award-winning movie “La Vita è Bella” were shot in Arezzo’s historic center.

8. Parco Naturale Migliarino San Rossore Massaciuccoli

A marshy inlet on Lake Massciuccoli in Tuscany

A little inlet on Lake Massaciuccoli. Photo: Albarubescens , CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

The Migliarino Nature Park is a protected area that stretches from Pisa to Lucca. It covers 230 square kilometers and encompasses many habitats, including pine forests, wetlands, and coastal dunes.

The Migliarino Nature Park is perfect for discovering Tuscany’s natural beauty and biodiversity. The area also boasts the lovely Lake Massaciuccoli, which can be explored by bike or walking.

A pedestrian-only street and square in the city of Cortona, with a covered arcade on the right among other surrounding buildings

Located in the Province of Arezzo, Cortona is set atop a hill full of Medieval and Renaissance buildings. Cortona’s main draw is the surrounding countryside, where the popular movie “Under the Tuscan Sun” was shot. 

Besides the stunning landscape, Cortona has a rich history and heritage that can be discovered by visiting the Museum of the Etruscan Academy, as the town was once part of the Etruscan League.

10. Hot Springs

The cascading falls and hot spring pools filled with people in the Terme di Saturnia

The Terme di Saturnia

Tuscany has many natural hot springs, some of which are pretty popular (and busy), while others are still under-the-radars. You will find both hot springs enclosed in spa centers and beautiful outdoor hot springs, which are free to visit.

The most famous hot spring in the region is the Terme di Saturnia, which has become pretty busy. If you prefer a less-frequented but just as scenic, head to the Bagni San Filippo, in the namesake village. Here, the small thermal pool is hidden within the forest, and it is characterized by candid-white rocks that create a snow-like covered landscape.

A cove on the island of Elba with a small beach packed with beach goers

A gorgeous beach on the island

The waterfront of the town of Portoferraio, lined with buildings rising up the surrounding hill, seen from the water

The town of Portoferraio in Elba.

Elba is an island surrounded by the sparkling Tyrrhenian Sea. Famed for being the place of Napoleon’s exile, the island is much more than sun-kissed shores, beautiful beaches, and coves for a beach getaway.

Elba’s coastline is dotted with lovely towns where you can delve into the island’s cultural heritage, such as Portoferraio and Porto Azzurro.

The inner part of the island is home to fertile vineyards, and Monte Capanne, with a height of 1,018 meters, makes for an ideal hiking spot.

12. San Miniato

An aerial view of the town of San Miniato, with its medieval buildings clustered around one another, and green fields all around

Photo: I, Sailko , CC BY-SA 3.0 , via Wikimedia Commons. Cropped from original

A quaint village in the province of Pisa, San Miniato is the place to be to taste one of the food products you can find in Tuscany: the rare white truffle. To this incredible food is dedicated a whole cultural event, the “Mostra Mercato di Tartufi”, hosted every November. In San Miniato, you can do truffle tastings and also participate in truffle hunting.

The village is also lovely to explore by foot, and its most stand-out feature is the medieval Piazza del Seminario.

But there’s more: San Miniato is one of the stops of the historic Via Francigena.

13. Chianti Region

A hillside vineyard in Radda in Chianti, with endless rows of grape vines

Gorgeous scenery in Radda in Chianti

Another unmissable area of Tuscany for any food lover is the Chianti region . Kilometers of rolling hills with fertile vineyards create not just a wonderful landscape to discover by bike or motorbike, but it is also where the world-famous Chianti wine comes from.

Having a wine tasting in the Chianti hills while sampling local foods and meeting local winemakers is a must-do experience in the area.

14. Porto Santo Stefano

The waterfront of the town of Porto Santo Stefano, with buildings running along the main street on the right, and the sea on the left

Located in the Argentario Peninsula, Porto Santo Stefano is a semi-island tied to the mainland. All around Porto Santo Stefano are striking coves that will be the joy of beach dwellers. Some coves are private, while others can only be reached by boat or with a short hike. One of the best coves is Cala Gesso, which is a perfect snorkeling spot.

The town is also one of the main seaports of the area, with a bubbly atmosphere and daily transfers to reach Giglio Island.

15. Giglio Island

A tree-lined cove on the island of Giglio, with crystal clear, turquoise water

Giglio Island lies within the Arcipelago Toscano National Park, just 16 km from Porto Santo Stefano.

This Mediterranean island offers visitors natural beauty and rich history. The narrow streets of the main town of Giglio Porto are lined with artisan stores and outdoor restaurants.

The island is home to stunning beaches for swimming and snorkeling - don't miss Campese Beach and Cannelle Beach.

Another highlight of Giglio Island is the town of Giglio Castello, on the island's highest point, where you can visit the medieval fortress Rocca Aldobrandesca to marvel at 360-degree landscape views.

16. Volterra

Looking out over stone buildings and their red roofs in the town of Volterra in Tuscany

Volterra is one of the larger hill towns in Tuscany. Located between the Era and Cecina valleys, Volterra is enclosed by double walls of Etruscan and Medieval times. If you like narrow streets, ancient walls, and a towering fortress, you will surely love this town.

Volterra is particularly known for the craftsmanship of alabaster, and you can purchase decorative objects in the many artisan shops in town or visit the interesting Ecomuseum of Alabaster.

17. Monteriggioni

An aerial view of the town of Monteriggioni, with its medieval walls encircling the town's buildings, and surrounded by trees and fields of grapes around it

Photo: Maurizio Moro5153 , CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons. Cropped from original

Another walled town in Tuscany, Monteriggioni's main feature is the 13th-century castle that overlooks the entire landscape. You can walk on the medieval walls that are part of the castle to have a bird's eye view of the Chianti countryside. The town also has 15 still-standing medieval towers, two impressive doorways, and charming little streets. 

Monteriggioni is located along the pilgrimage route known as Via Francigena, and it was featured in two famous movies, "The English Patient" and "The Gladiator".

18. Orbetello

A stone windmill sitting in the middle of the Laguna di Orbetello in the town of Orbetello

Orbetello is a seaside town in the Argentario, with a lovely center with shops, restaurants, and a lively weekly market selling local food products. But Orbetello is much more: the town boasts a lagoon, which makes the area geographically unique. The Laguna di Orbetello is rich in fauna of all kinds, which is protected by the WWF.  

The lagoon is surrounded by a cycle-pedestrian path that you can go through to admire pink flamingos, white herons, and flocks of coots.

19. Livorno

A canal in Livorno, with boats docked in the water and buildings stretching along either side of the waterfront

Livorno is an important port town in Italy, where ferries depart for many other parts of Italy, including the Elba Island in Tuscany.

Embellished during the Renaissance by the Medici family, in Livorno, you can visit many attractions like a castle (the Fortezza Nuova), the beautiful Terrazza Mascagni (a sea view terrace), and the Nuova Venezia (the streets surrounding the castle, which are lined with canals).

20. The Tarot Garden

Tuscany has an unusual attraction, The Tarot Garden. This artistic garden is located right outside the village of Capalbio, and it was created by the mind of artist Niki de Saint Phalle.

The park houses installations representing the 22 major arcana of the divinatory tarot, which are made of iridescent mosaic tiles and metal. The artist took almost 20 years to complete this project, and this magical attraction is open from the beginning of April through mid-October.

travel to tuscany

5-day itinerary - Art towns

Days 1-2: Florence

Day 3: Pisa and Lucca (day trip from Florence)

Day 4: Siena

Day 5: San Gimignano, Monteriggioni, Colle di Val d’Elsa (day trip from Siena)

7-day itinerary - Art towns and the Chianti area

Day 6: Chianti region

Day 7: Arezzo and/or Cortona

10-day itinerary - Art towns, the countryside (Chianti and Val d’Orcia), and the coast (Argentario and Giglio Island)

Day 5: Chianti region

Day 6: Val d’Orcia with Montepulciano

Day 8: Terme di Saturnia

Day 9: Argentario (Porto Santo Stefano and Porto Ercole)

Day 10: Giglio Island

2-week itinerary - The best of Tuscany (art towns, islands, Argentario, hot springs, and the countryside)

Day 4: San Miniato

Day 5: Elba Island (ferry from Livorno)

Days 5-6: Porto Santo Stefano & Porto Ercole

Day 7: Giglio Island

Day 8: Bagni San Filippo

Days 9-10: Val d’Orcia with Montepulciano

Day 11: Cortona or Arezzo

Day 12: Siena

Days 13-14: Chianti region

travel to tuscany

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A local’s guide to travel in madeira.

Getting To Know Italy

BEST TIMES TO VISIT TUSCANY: Month-by-Month

When is the best time to visit Tuscany? Here’s my month to month guide to help you decide which month matches your interests and priorities.

There are highlights for each month, important events, and general weather guidelines.

I’ve included all the public Italian holidays , so you won’t be caught off guard by closed stores and restaurants.

You’ll also find my top 3 places in Tuscany to visit every month.

You may also be interested in the Best Times to Visit Italy: Month-by-Month and Months in Italian .

Table of Contents

JANUARY IN TUSCANY: GENNAIO 

Public holidays in january to watch out for.

January 1: Capodanno ( New Year’s Day ) January 6: Befana ( Epiphany )

January in a Nutshell

The Christmas holiday season in Italy doesn’t end until after the Epiphany , or Befana , on January 6. That means kids are still on winter vacation through the first week of the month. In January, Tuscans are recovering from weeks of feasting and hanging out with their relatives . Relative calm returns to the cities.

January Weather

Even though Tuscany is not very big, its diverse topography (mountains, coast, valleys) means that the weather varies throughout the region. That said, January is Tuscany’s coldest month. 

At night the temperature dips quite a bit. Low temperatures are about 3.5°C to 5.5°C inland (that translates to 38 to 42°F). Temperatures along the Tuscan coast are usually a few degrees Celsius warmer. Head for the mountains for snow and skiing. Despite the colder temperatures, there are usually a good number of sunny days to enjoy.

The weather in Tuscany and all over Italy has become much more unpredictable in recent years. There have also been more extreme weather events, like heat waves, droughts, and flooding.

Top 3 Places to Visit in January

Abetone for skiing Florence Arezzo

Empty Piazza Pitti looking toward buildings of Florence. There are a few people sitting and standing.

FEBRUARY IN TUSCANY: FEBBRAIO

February 14: Valentine’s Day (not a public holiday) Carnival period

February in a Nutshell

February is Carnival time. The major Carnival celebration in Tuscany is in Viareggio, on the sea. However, carnival is celebrated everywhere, mostly by children wearing costumes and throwing paper confetti. 

My favorite part of Carnival is the incredible sweets. You can only taste them at this time of year! Not only that, different cities and towns have their own traditional carnival sweets that you can only find there. In Florence, make sure you try the schiacciata alla Fiorentina , a spiced yellow cake topped with powdered sugar. 

Tuscans who work in tourist destinations like the beach or the Chianti countryside, where summer is high season, often have to take their vacation during this “dead” time of year. Double check if you’re set on going to a certain restaurant or small town. For example, islands like the Giglio and Elba empty out. Many of my favorite restaurants close for a few weeks in January or February.

February Weather

In February the weather is generally on par with January.

Top 3 Places to Visit in February

Viareggio for Carnival Florence San Gimignano to take advantage of low season

MARCH IN TUSCANY: MARZO

March 8: International Women’s Day March 19: San Giuseppe : Father’s Day in Italy

March in a Nutshell

Some trees are starting to flower, and you’ll notice yellow mimosas (the Italian flower of choice for Women’s Day) blooming. Foreign tourists start invading the major cities like Florence and Siena.

March is marked by Lent, but it is also the month of Italian Father’s Day ( San Giuseppe ) on March 19, when Italians enjoy delicious regional fried sweets. In Tuscany, there are frittelle di San Giuseppe , delicious, sweet fried rice balls– and the best ones are at a small stand in Siena’s Piazza del Campo. You can also find fresh fava beans and wild asparagus on Tuscan menus. 

March Weather

March is the start of the transition out of winter to spring, and in most of Tuscany it’s light jacket weather by the end of the month. Be prepared for rain, however. March can be fickle, flipflopping between rain and gorgeous sunny days.

Top 3 Places to Visit in March

Montelupo Fiorentino for hand painted ceramics Siena to eat frittelle di San Giuseppe up until March 19 Montepulciano and Montalcino

View of buildings of Siena in Tuscany at dusk.

APRIL IN TUSCANY: APRILE

Public holidays in april to watch out for.

Between March 22 and April 25: Easter Sunday (falls on the Sunday following the first full moon after the spring equinox) The day after Easter Sunday: Easter Monday   April 25: Festa della Liberazione ( Liberation Day )

April at a Glance

April is host to many lovely spring holidays in Italy, and flowers are in bloom. School children have about a week of spring holidays around Easter , and parents panic every year when they realize how many days off their children have.

April is a time for picnics in the countryside and day trips to the beach, which are a tradition on Easter Monday and April 25: if you’re on the road look out for traffic heading back into Florence on the evening after these holidays, and on Sundays.

April Weather

The weather is highly variable, with showers and clouds, as well as bright sunny days. 

Top 3 Places to Visit in April

Florence for the scoppio del carro on Easter Monte Oliveto Maggiore monastery and the Val d’Orcia Lucca

MAY IN TUSCANY: MAGGIO

Public holidays in may to watch out for.

May 1: Festa del Lavoro ( Labor Day )

May at a Glance

May is the time of blooming flowers, street fairs and food festivals, called sagre . It’s a great time to head to the countryside and explore small country towns.

May Weather

May is technically spring, but in Tuscany it’s usually already quite hot . . . when the sun shines. Don’t count on May to be sunny every day though: rain often comes along. 

Top 3 Places to Visit in May

Pitigliano and Saturnia Volterra Chianti countryside between Florence and Siena

Tuscany countryside with trees, olive trees, and vineyards on a sunny day.

JUNE IN TUSCANY: GIUGNO

Public holidays in june to watch out for.

June 2: Festa della Repubblica ( Republic Day )

June at a Glance

June counts as summer in Italy: school gets out about 10 ten days into the month. It’s a great time to go to the beach, because it’s hot but there aren’t crowds or high season prices yet. June is also host to important local events like the calcio storico , Florence’s own high contact sport, with the final match on San Giovanni , or Saint John’s patron saint day , June 24.

June Weather

June is generally nice and hot, with little rainfall. 

Top 3 Places to Visit in June

Florence , for the calcio storico and San Giovanni celebrations Giglio Island Elba Island

View of Castiglioncello beach from above. You can see beach umbrellas, rocks in the sea, and trees and buildings.

JULY IN TUSCANY: LUGLIO

July at a glance.

In July, the Tuscan summer is in full swing. If you like the heat, this is a good time to visit, but don’t say we didn’t warn you! There are a lot of people, and did I mention it’s hot? Places where you can cool off, like the beach and countryside, are your best bet in July. The cities are swelteringly hot and Italians don’t use air conditioning to the extent that Americans do. 

There are also wonderful local festivals, like the Palio di Siena horse race on July 2, and the Mercantia street arts festival in Certaldo.

July Weather

Hot. Hot. Hot. and Dry. The average high temperature is 30 °C.

Top 3 Places to Visit in July

Siena for the Palio on July 2 Certaldo for the Mercantia street arts festival in July Poppi and the Casentino

AUGUST IN TUSCANY: AGOSTO

Public holidays in august to watch out for.

August 15: Ferragosto ( Assumption Day )

August Summary

August is the highpoint of the Tuscan summer. Not only that, most Italians take their summer vacation in August, taking off the entire week, if not two or three, around Ferragosto . Cities clear out because it’s so hot, and it’s not unusual for small towns to shut down too. Tuscans head to the beach or the mountains, which are crowded and abuzz. Only come to Tuscany in August if you like very hot weather. 

August Weather

So hot. The average high temperature is still 30 °C. 

Top 3 Places to Visit in August

Siena for the Palio on August 16  Poppi and the Casentino, Tuscany If you like the beach and crowds: Cecina , Forte dei Marmi , Castiglioncello

View of tower and Castello di Poppi in Tuscany on a sunny day.

SEPTEMBER IN TUSCANY: SETTEMBRE

September summary.

The summer isn’t officially over yet for Italian school children until about September 15, when schools open again. September is a wonderful time to visit if you’re interested in wine, since it’s time for the grape harvest , or vendemmia . Since it’s still hot, it’s a great time to visit beach destinations now that the summer hordes have gone home.

September Weather

It’s usually still quite hot and dry for most of the month. The average high and low temps are 2-3 degrees Celsius cooler than August. 

Top 3 Places to Visit in September

Elba Island Giglio Island Chianti countryside between Florence and Siena

Sailboats sitting on calm water in the Mediterranean Sea.

OCTOBER IN TUSCANY: OTTOBRE

October summary.

October is a lovely time to visit Tuscany, especially if you like chestnuts ( castagne ) and mushrooms ( funghi ), which are in season. Parts of Tuscany have already started harvesting their olives for olive oil, so keep an eye out for freshly milled extra virgin oil ( olio nuovo ), which is exquisite. 

Though Halloween is not as widely celebrated as it is in the US and England, it has become more and more popular in recent years. 

October Weather

Temperatures are cooling off (the average high temperature is 22 °C, with the average lows at 11 °C) but it’s still very comfortable and warm in much of Tuscany. 

Even with the weather so unpredictable in recent years, we have noticed a trend: October seems to be getting hotter. So hot that my father-in-law was able to take an October swim in the sea last year (2022). My kids almost never have to wear a jacket on Halloween.

Top 3 Places to Visit in October

Chianti between Florence and Siena Val d’Orcia San Galgano

NOVEMBER IN TUSCANY: NOVEMBRE

Public holidays in november to watch out for.

November 1: All Saint’s Day

November in a Nutshell

November means three things to me: truffles ( tartufi ), chestnuts ( castagne ) and olive oil ( olio di olive ). It’s an incredible month for eating. Tasting freshly pressed olive oil ( olio nuovo ) is a must: when it is fresh it is the extraordinary color of ectoplasm. 

November Weather

November is Tuscany’s rainiest month. Though the weather is colder and rainer, but there are usually plenty of warm, clear days. 

Top 3 Places to Visit in November

San Miniato , Tuscany for the White Truffle Market Fair Pisa and Lucca Val d’Orcia

Bagno Vignoni thermal bath in the autumn. You can see a few buildings around the large bath.

DECEMBER IN TUSCANY: DICEMBRE

Public holidays in december to watch out for.

December 8: Immacolata ( Feast of the Immaculate Conception ) December 25: Natale ( Christmas ) December 26: Santo Stefano ( St. Stephen’s Day ) December 31, New Year’s Eve, is not a public holiday but most shops close early.

December in a Nutshell

The festive mood of the Italian Christmas holiday season ( le feste ) livens up most of December. Cities set up elaborate light displays and decorations, and churches put up nativity scenes ( presepi ). Italian schools close for the Christmas holidays for two weeks starting at Christmas. The closer to Christmas, the more crowded cities become, with holiday shoppers and local Italians admiring the dazzling Christmas decorations. 

December Weather

Average temperatures range from a low of 4° C to a high of 12 ° C in December. Not exactly cold compared to what a lot of Americans are used to in the winter!

Top 3 Places to Visit in December

Florence Siena Abetone for skiing

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The Solo Traveller’s Guide to Tuscany

Tuscany offers dreamy landscapes and majestic cities that are easy to explore as a solo traveller

This dreamy region of central Italy is prime postcard material. Those iconic images of medieval hilltop villages ringed by misty cypress trees? You’ll find them here, along with some of the most magical cities in Europe, from Florence with its world-class art collection to honey-hued Siena, famed for its daredevil Palio horse race.

What’s the vibe.

You’ll find travelling solo in Italy is a breeze, with a great transport system, friendly locals and English widely spoken. Foodies will be in heaven: eating is a serious pastime here, with Tuscany championing the slow food movement with seasonal, local dishes and some of Italy’s finest wines.

Tuscany solo: a trip overview

The Giardino Bardini offers panoramic Florence views and is an idyllic spot for a little solo time

Less frenetic than Florence, but just as soul-stirring, Siena is a must-see with its sweeping Piazza del Campo, home of the high-octane Palio horse race . Next, it’s time to explore the picture-perfect Sienese hill towns. Here’s where a hire car comes in handy – follow snaking lanes through classic Tuscan countryside, playing join-the-dots with castellated villages and stopping off for pistachio gelato. San Gimignano is perhaps the prettiest, but swamped with visitors in summer – try less-crowded Volterra or Massa Marittima.

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Make a stop at the picturesque Piazza dell’Anfiteatro while strolling around Lucca

Need a break from sightseeing? Pause at Bagno Vignoni for a soak in its natural hot springs, or spend a lazy afternoon wine-tasting at one of Montepulciano’s famous vineyards. If you’ve still got energy, marvel at Pisa’s leaning tower, or spend an afternoon strolling around the cobbled streets of graceful Lucca. The best time to visit is April to June, or September to October – expect warm, sunny days without the summer crowds.

Where to stay in Tuscany as a solo traveller

From converted castles to rustic-chic farmhouses, Tuscany has characterful places to suit all pockets. You can really splash out here, with luxe retreats ranging from grand fresco-filled palazzos in central Florence to fine thermal resorts to sweeping country estates with sleek infinity pools, spas and Michelin-star dining – not to mention luxury villas . If your budget is more modest, agriturismi are an excellent option. These are working farms or vineyards, usually set in beautiful countryside, with accommodation ranging from simple to stylish. You’ll often get a pool and authentic home cooking, too.

What to do in Tuscany as a solo traveller

Track down a truffle

Tuscany is one of the best places to find truffles

They’re gastronomic gold – and they sell for eye-watering prices worldwide. Tuscany is one of the best places to find truffles – head into the woods on a hunt with an expert tracker (accompanied by a trusty dog to sniff out the prize), then sample your finds over a bowl of local pasta.

Spend an afternoon wine-tasting

Tuscany boasts some of the best wines in Italy

Sniff, sip and swirl your way through some of Italy’s most famous wines. Tuscan wineries range from renovated 12th-century castles to slick, modern affairs. You’ll buff up on wine-making history before putting your tastebuds to the test.

Get to savour fine wines – and learn about the production process – when you travel with Culture Trip on its 10-day adventure, The Italian Job .

Join the party at a festival

The wine barrel race during the Bravio delle Botti in Montepulciano is one of many local Tuscan festivals

You’ve probably heard of Siena’s spectacular Palio, a bareback horse race that’s being going strong since medieval times. But Tuscany is awash with colourful less-visited festivals – try Pienza for its Pecorino-cheese contest, or Montepulciano for its Bravio delle Botti, involving a wine barrel race.

Eating and drinking in Tuscany as a solo traveller

The natural environment in Tuscany is the source of local culinary specialties

Unfussy but out-of-this-world tasty, Tuscan cooking is all about humble, seasonal dishes using top-quality ingredients. The rolling hills provide a natural larder, with wild game, foraged truffles and some of Italy’s sweetest tomatoes used to create hearty dishes such as fagioli con salsiccia (beans with sausage) or bistecca alla fiorentina , the celebrated thick-cut T-bone steak made for sharing. Sweet tooth? Try cantuccini , almond-flavoured biscuits dipped in a glass of Vin Santo, an amber-coloured dessert wine. Oenophiles will be spoiled, with some of Italy’s finest wines produced here – treat yourself to a rich Chianti Classico or bold Brunello di Montalcino.

Getting around Tuscany as a solo traveller

Travelling by car is the best way to explore the Tuscan countryside

Train travel is efficient and inexpensive, linking all the major cities – you can easily hop between Florence, Pisa, Siena and Lucca without needing a car. But if you want to get a real feel for the Tuscan countryside, it’s well worth hiring a motor to explore some of the beautiful back routes. The roads are generally well-maintained, and you’ll be able to pause along the way to snap those Insta-worthy viewpoints. Avoid driving into Florence, though – the city centre is banned for non-resident drivers, and parking is very expensive.

Stay safe, stay happy in Tuscany

Be sure to watch out for whizzy scooters in the bigger cities – believe us, they can be quite dangerous when they’re travelling at speed.

Cultural need-to-knows

Italians are welcoming and easy-going, so you won’t find it hard to make friends and fit in. Do be aware, however, that when visiting churches, bare shoulders and knees should be covered – a light shawl or scarf should do the trick.

Fancy joining up with a group of like-minded travellers rather than going it alone? Sign up for Culture Trip’s 10-day small-group adventure The Italian Job: See the Highlights of Northern Italy in One Go – you’ll get to see highlights including Rome (by bicycle), Lake Como (sailing) and Milan (on a gastronomic tour).

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Travel Guide to Tuscany Italy (2024)

By: Author Milijana

Posted on Published: May 5, 2022  - Last updated: January 3, 2024

Categories ITALY

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Travel to Tuscany Italy is in your mind? Researching the ideas of travel to Tuscany Italy? Great! A trip to Tuscany is one of the most spectacular trips in the world. And here’s the ultimate travel guide to Tuscany Italy!

THIS POST MAY CONTAIN COMPENSATED LINKS. PLEASE READ MY  DISCLAIMER  FOR MORE INFO. 

WHAT IS TUSCANY 

Travel to tuscany italy is a must-do in a lifetime

Tuscany, or Toscana in Italian, is one of the most beautiful regions in Italy. Stunning Tuscany is a world-renowned region in Italy, best known for the breathtaking landscapes and stunning cities of Florence, Siena, and Pisa. Therefore, the region of Tuscany in Italy is one of the top vacation destinations in the world.

WHAT IS TUSCANY FAMOUS FOR 

San Gimignano is a must-see in Tuscany Italy

Tuscany is famous for its rich historical, artistic, and architectural heritage , spectacular landscapes (rolling hills, vast vineyards, olive groves, sunflower fields, cypress avenues), historical cities of Florence, Siena, and Pisa , charming medieval hilltop towns , and world-class wine (Chianti wine).

WHERE IS TUSCANY 

Travel to Tuscany Italy is a must do in a liftime

Tuscany is in central Italy. The capital of Tuscany is the magnificent city of Florence (or Firenze in Italian). Tuscany is a neighboring region to the regions of Liguria, Emilia Romagna, Marche, Umbria , and Lazio. For instance, Florence in Tuscany is easily reachable from Rome. Visiting Tuscany is among the best day trips from Rome . It takes only 1 hour and a half by high-speed train from Rome to Florence. It also takes about 3 hours by car from Rome to Florence. Pisa in Tuscany is about 2 hours and 10 min by direct high-speed train from Rome. Stunning Tuscany is enjoyed the best by car. A road trip to Tuscany is a must-have in a lifetime. Fly to Florence, hire a car in Florence and explore beautiful Tuscany on your own. Find a flight to Florence: Skyscanner Rent a car in Florence: DiscoverCarHire or, Find a flight to Rome: Skyscanner Rent a car in Rome:   DiscoverCarHire at Rome Airport  

WHERE TO GO IN TUSCANY ITALY

Travel To Italy Tuscany

Best places to visit in Tuscany Italy

1. FLORENCE, THE CAPITAL OF TUSCANY 

Florence is a must see if planning to travel to tuscany italy

Florence is the capital of Tuscany. The beautiful capital city of Tuscany is known as the cradle of the Italian Renaissance. The historic center of Florence is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Uffizi Gallery, Accademia Gallery, Ponte Vecchio, Arno river, and Boboli Gardens in Florence are must-sees in Tuscany. Florence, Tuscany is one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Marvelous Florence is an excellent place for a lavish vacation. Some of the most magnificent Tuscan villas for rent are in Florence. How to get to Florence: Amerigo Vespucci International Airport serves Florence. Florence is also less than 2 hours by high-speed train from Rome and 3 hours by train from Venice in Italy .

Siena is a msu see if planning to travel to Tuscany Italy

Siena, Tuscany is one of the most beautiful medieval towns in Italy. Siena is best known for the Piazza del Campo and Il Palio horse race, museums, art, Siennese cuisine, and Siena Cathedral. The historic center of Siena is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The historical republic of Siena was a powerful medieval republic and a rival republic to the Republic of Florence and the Republic of Pisa.  The art and architecture show the rich historical legacy of Siena. How to get to Siena: There is no Siena airport. The nearest airport to Siena is Florence Airport. Siena is one hour drive from Florence. Pisa Aiport is also close to Siena. Siena is one hour and 45 min by train from Pisa.

Pisa is a must see if planning to travel to Tuscany Italy

Pisa is a lovely historic city in Tuscany, Italy. Pisa is best known for the Leaning Tower, a landmark of Italy.  Pisa Square of the Miracles with the Leaning Tower, the cathedral, baptistery and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.  Pisa and the Square of the Miracles are must-sees in Tuscany. The medieval Republic of Pisa was a powerful maritime republic and a rival to the Republic of Florence and the Republic of Siena. The Square of the Miracles showcases the rich historical heritage of Pisa. How to get to Pisa: Pisa International Airport serves Pisa. Florence Airport is also close to Pisa. Pisa is only one hour by car from Florence and one hour and 45 min by train from Florence. Pisa is 2 hour and 30 min by train from Rome as well.

4. SAN GIMIGNANO

san gmignano is a msu see if planning to travel to tuscany italy

San Gimignano is one of the most picturesque medieval hilltop towns in Tuscany. It is nicknamed ‘ Manhattan of the Middle Ages . This beautiful Tuscan town is famous for its 14 medieval towers, great wines, and the best gelateria in Italy (the world champion in gelato making). San Gimignano is near Siena in Tuscany.  How to get to San Gimignano: Florence Airport is the nearest airport to San Gimignano. San Gimignano is only one hour drive from Florence. Touring San Gimignano is a popular day trip from Florence .

5. LUCCA 

Road Trip to Tuscany

Lucca is one of the most charming towns in Tuscany and Italy overall. The city of Lucca is a walled medieval Tuscan town. The historic center of Lucca is on the tentative list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Italy. Lucca is called ‘the City of Art’ (‘Città d’arte’ in Italian) in Italy. Lucca is one of the loveliest cities in Tuscany, Italy. How to get to Lucca: Pisa International Airport is the nearest airport to Lucca. Lucca is a one-hour drive from Pisa and one hour and a half by bus from Pisa.

6. CORTONA 

Cortona is a must see if planning to travel to Tuscany Italy

Cortona is one of the prettiest hilltop towns in Tuscany, Italy.  Beautiful Cortona was the filming location of the famous ‘Under Tuscan Sun’ movie. Cortona is a popular Tuscan destination well worth visiting. How to get to Cortona: Perugia International Airport is the nearest airport to Cortona. Cortona is less than a one-hour drive from Perugia. Cortona is also 1 hour and 20 min by train from Perugia.

7. PIENZA 

Val d'Orcia is a must-see if planning to travel to Tuscany Italy

Pienza is one of the most beautiful small towns in Tuscany.  The town of Pienza lies in the picturesque Val d’Orcia valley in southern Tuscany. Gorgeous Pienza is a World Heritage Site in Italy. And, Val d’Orcia Valley is one of the most idyllic places in Tuscany. Pienza is near Siena in southern Tuscany, Italy.  How to get to Pienza: Perugia International Airport is the closest airport to Pienza. Pienza in Tuscany is about 1 hour and 20 min drive from Perugia in Umbria.

 8. VOLTERRA

volterra is a must see if planning to travel to Tuscany Italy

Volterra is a scenic medieval hilltop town known for its Etruscan origins and fictional Volturi vampires from the Twilight series. Volterra is one of the most popular stops on any Tuscan trip. This lovely town is near Pisa in Tuscany. How to get to Volterra: Voleterra is about 1-hour drive from Florence and about the same from Pisa. Fly to Pisa International Airport or Florence International Airport and head to Volterra.

9. MONTERIGGIONI 

Monteriggioni is a must see  in Tuscany Italy

Monteriggioni is an impressive medival hilltop village. It is one of the oldest villages in all of Italy. The walls of Monteriggioni are some of the best preserved in Italy. Tiny Monteriggioni looks like a perfect medieval movie set. Monteriggioni is near Siena, Tuscany.  How to get to Monteriggioni: Florence International Airport is the nearest airport to Monteriggioni. Monteriggioniis less than one hour drive from Florence

10. COLLE VAL D’ELSA

Colle Val d’Elsa IS A MUST-SEE in tuscany Italy

Colle Val d’Elsa is a cliff-standing medieval town in Tuscany. This charming town stands on the hills of the Chianti Senesi. Colle Val d’Elsa is one of the most popular day trips from Siena. The town of Cole Val D’Elsa is near Siena, and between San Gimignano and Monteriggioni. How to get to Colle Val d’Elsa: Florence International Airport is the nearest airport to Colle Val d’Elsa. Colle Val d’Elsa is 50-min drive from Florence.

11. SATURNIA 

Saturnia thermal baths are a must-see if planning to travel to Tuscany Italy

Saturnia is a spa town in Tuscany famous for its spring waters. Saturnia Hot Springs ( Terme di Saturnia in Italian) is one of the most popular places in Tuscany. Saturnia thermal baths are free.  Saturnia is in southern Tuscany. It is about a 2-hour drive from Rome.  How to get to Saturnia: There is no bus or train station in Saturnia. Rome International Airport is the closest airport to Saturnia. Saturnia is about 2-hour drive from Rome. Saturnia is also less than a 3-hour drive from Florence.

12. PITIGLIANO 

Pitigliano is a must-see if planning to travel to Tuscany Italy

Pitigliano is one of the prettiest small towns in Italy.  The town spectacularly sits atop a red volcanic tufa ridge.  It is nicknamed ‘Little Jerusalem’ ( La Piccola Gerusalemme in Italian). Jews escaped to Pitigliano from Rome after the decree of the Pope in 1555. This lovely small Tuscan town is halfway between Florence and Rome. 

How to get to Pitiglano: Rome International Airport is the closest airport to Pitiglano. Pitiglano is 2 hours and 15 min by car from Rome.

Arezzo is a must see in Tuscany Italy

Arezzo is a beautiful historical town in Tuscany. Arezzo was an Etruscan capital. It is a culturally rich medieval town best known for the stunning Piero Della Francesca frescoes in a chapel of the Basilica of S. Francesco. Arezzo is near Florence in Tuscany.  How to get to Arezzo: Florence International Airport is the nearest airport to Arezzo. Arezzo is a one-hour drive from Florence. It also one hour and 20 min by train from Florence.

14. ELBA 

Elba island is a must-see in Tuscany Italy

Elba is a beautiful volcanic island in the Tyrrhenian Sea near Livorno in western Tuscany.  Elba is best known for Napoleon. Emperor Napoleon was expelled from France to Elba in 1814.  Elba has some of the most beautiful beaches in Tuscany.  Ferries to Elba run from the port of Piombino in the Livorno province. How to get to Elba: Marina di Campo Airport on the island of Elba serves Elba. There are also direct buses from Florence and Milan to the Piombino port, where ferries to Elba depart from.

15. MONTEPULCIANO  

Montepulciano is a must see if planning to travel to tuscany italy

Montepulciano is a medieval and Renaissance hilltop town with magnificent panoramas of Val d’Orcia near Siena in Tuscany. The Montepulciano is famous for some of the finest wines in the world. Vino Nobile di Montepulciano is one of the most famous wines from Italy.  How to get to Montepulciano: Florence International Airport is the closest airport to Montepulciano. Montepulciano is a one-hour and 30 min drive from Florence. Montepulciano is about 2 hours and 20 min by car from Rome.

16. CHIANTI COUNTRYSIDE AND VINEYARDS 

Chianti is a msut-see if planning to travel to Tuscany Italy

Chianti is a famous wine area in central Tuscany.  It is one of the most beautiful parts of Tuscany with postcard-perfect rolling hills, olive groves, and vineyards. It is one of the most photographed areas of Tuscany and Italy overall. Chianti is a synonym for great wines.  How to get to Chianti: Greve in Chianti is only a 50-minute drive from Florence. Touring Chianti wineries is a popular day trip from Florence . Chianti is also 50 min from Siena. Chianti and Castles Tour with Wine Tastings is one of the most popular tours from Siena. Greve in Chianti is also one hour and 30 min by car from Pisa.

17. LA VERNA SANCTUARY

La verna is a must-see in Tuscany Italy

St Francis is the patron saint of Italy. St Francis lived in La Verna in Mount Penna and got his stigmata in the Chapel of the Stigmata in La Verna sanctuary. La Verna Sanctuary is one of the most famous pilgrimage sites in Italy. La Verna Sanctuary is 4 km away from Chiusi Della Verna, a small town in the Arezzo province in Tuscany.  How to get to La Verna Sanctuary: Florence International Airport is the closest airport to La Verna Sanctuary. La Verna Sanctuary is 2 hours by car from Florence. It is possible also to visit La Verna Sanctuary on a private day tour .

18. MONTECATINI TERME 

Montecatini is a must see if planning to travel to Tuscany Italy

Montecatini Terme is the largest spa town in Tuscany. It is known as ‘the biggest spa town in Italy’. The thermal waters of Montecatini Terme are near Pistoia and between Florence and Lucca in the heart of Tuscany.  How to get to Montecatini Terme: Florence International Airport is the closest airport to Montecatini Terme. Montecatini Terme is 50 minute sby car from Florence. Montecatini Terme is also 1 hour and 15 min by train from Florence.

19. VIAREGGIO

Viareggio beach is a must see if planning to travel to Tuscany italy

Viareggio is a famous seaside resort town in Tuscany with lovely examples of the Art Nouveau architecture in Italy. It is one of the most charming beach towns in Tuscany. Viareggio is near Lucca in western Tuscany.  How to get to Viareggio: Viareggio. Viareggio is only 20 min by train from Pisa. It is also a 30-minute drive from Pisa.

  20. LIVORNO

Livorno is a must see if planning to travel to Tuscany Italy

Livorno is a seaport town with fabulous seafood-based local cuisine and great beaches. It is on the Ligurian Sea near Lucca in western Tuscany.  How to get to Livorno: Pisa International Airport is the closest airport to Livorno. Livorno is only 15 minutes by train from Pisa. Livorno is 40 minutes by car from Pisa too.

21. MONTAIONE  

Montaione is a serene village in the Chianti near Florence, Pisa and Siena. Montaione is among the most idyllic places in Tuscany. It is  i n the middle of the Florence-Pisa-Siena triangle in Tuscany. Montaione is an excellent base for exploring Tuscany by car. How to get to Montaione: Florence International Airport and Pisa International Airport are the closest airports to Monatioane. Montaione is a one-hour drive from Florence and an hour drive from Pisa.

WHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO VISIT TUSCANY 

Italy Tuscany countryside is a must-see

The best time to visit Tuscany is from May to October.  The peak of the tourist season is summer (and the summer months of July and August). But be aware, summer daily temperatures go above 30°C degrees in Tuscany. The best months for visiting Tuscany are May and September to escape tourist crowds and enjoy sightseeing in Tuscany with pleasant temperatures. 

HOW TO GET TO TUSCANY

Tuscany has two international airports: one in Florence and one in Pisa. The two main international airports in Tuscany are Amerigo Vespucci Airport (FLR) in Florence and Galileo Galilei International Airport (PSA) in Pisa. Tuscany is about 125 mi (200 km) away from Rome. It takes about 2 hours and 20 min from Rome to Tuscany by car. Find your flight to Rome: Skyscanner Find your flight to Florence: Skyscanner Find your flight to Pisa: Skyscanner

THE BEST WAY TO TRAVEL TO TUSCANY ITALY

Travel to Tuscany Italy

The best is to fly to one of the airports in Tuscany, hire a car at the airport and take a Tuscany road trip. Since Tuscany is about 125 mi (200 km) away from Rome, you can also start your Tuscany road trip by hiring a car at  Leonardo da Vinci – Fiumicino Airport . READ MORE: Road trip to Tuscany Hire a car at : Florence Amerigo Vespucci Airport . Pisa Airport Leonardo da Vinci – Fiumicino Airport

So, if you are looking for some ideas for road trips , the ultimate Tuscany road trip is one of the top road trips everyone should take once in their lifetime. YOU MIGHT ALSO ENJOY TO READ : Best Tuscan villas in Tuscany to rent

WHAT TO SEE IN TUSCANY

David by Michelangelo is a must-see in Tuscany Italy

Best sites to see in Tuscany

Travel to Tuscany Italy is unimaginable without seeing the following sites in Tuscany:

  • Uffizi Gallery in Florence – The gallery holds a superb collection of masterpiece paintings and sculptures from the Middle Ages to Modernism. Some of the most famous masterpiece works of art in Uffizi are the Birth of Venus by Botticelli, Venus of Urbino by Titian, Doni Tondo by Michelangelo, Madonna of the Goldfinch by Raphael, La Primavera by Botticelli, and the Ognissanti Madonna by Giotto. Viator: Skip the Line: Florence Uffizi Gallery Tickets GetYourGuide: Florence: Skip-the-Line Uffizi Gallery
  • Ponte Vecchio in Florence – Ponte Vecchio literally means the Old Bridge. Ponte Vecchio in Florence is a medieval stone bridge over the River Arno. It is one of the most famous bridges in the world. Viator: Florence Full Day Tour with David, Duomo, Uffizi, Ponte Vecchio and More GetYourGuide: Florence Ponte Vecchio Bridge and City Sights Rafting Cruise
  • Palazzo Vecchio in Florence  – is the most impressive medieval town hall in Tuscany. Today it is home to the Museo dei Ragazzi. Viator: Palazzo Vecchio – Skip the Line Priority Ticket GetYourGuide: Palazzo Vecchio Tour
  • Accademia Gallery in Florence – the gallery is home to Michelangelo’s David which is most likely the most famous sculpture in the world. This former art school, but today’s gallery holds a large collection of extraordinary statues, paintings, religious prints, and icons. Viator: Skip the Line: Florence Accademia Gallery Tickets GetYourGuide: Florence: Timed Entrance Ticket To Michelangelo’s David
  • Giotto’s bell tower in Florence  – is a part of the Florence Cathedral complex. It is the finest example of wonderful Florentine Gothic architecture. Viator: Florence “Duomo Complex” Guided Tour with Cathedral direct access – small group GetYourGuide: Brunelleschi’s Dome: Tour
  • Pitti Palace and Boboli Gardens in Florence  – The Palace was the official residence of the Medici family (the Grand Duke and his family. Pitti family originally built it but sold it to the Medici. Today the lavish Palace is one of the most popular museums in Florence. Boboli Gardens of the Pitti Palace are the largest green area in Florence. Viator: Pitti Palace, Boboli and Bardini gardens tour GetYourGuide: Pitti Palace, Boboli Gardens and Palatina Gallery Tour  
  • The Square of Miracles in Pisa  – The Square of Miracles complex in Pisa includes the Cathedral, bell tower (Leaning Tower), baptistery, and cemetery. The complex is a must-see in Tuscany, Italy. Viator: Pisa all inclusive: Baptistery, Cathedral and Leaning Tower guided tour GetYourGuide: Reserved Entrance to Leaning Tower of Pisa & Cathedral
  • Siena Cathedral  – The Duomo in Siena is one of the prettiest churches in Italy. It holds the artwork of Pisano, Donatello, and Michelangelo, and frescoes by Pinturicchio. Viator: Skip-the-Line Siena Cathedral Duomo Complex Entrance Ticket GetYourGuide: Skip-the-Line Siena Cathedral Duomo Complex Entrance Ticket
  • Piccolomini Library in Siena  – The Library is one of the most impressive libraries in the world. It is a part of the Cathedral. The library is decorated with breathtakingly colorful Pinturicchio frescos.
  • Piazza del Campo in Siena  – is the main square in Siena. Il Campo Square in Siena is one of the most famous squares in the world, known for its beauty and architectural unity. It hosts the famous Il Palio Horse Race in July and August every year. Viator: Siena Historic City Walking Tour with Cathedral Option GetYourGuide: Historic Siena: Guided Walking Tour
  • The Walls of Lucca – The intact historic walls of Lucca are some of the best-preserved city walls in Europe. Lucca Walls are 2,8 mi (4 km) long and 6,3 mi (10 m) high. Viator: Your Lucca Walking Tour GetYourGuide: Lucca: Renaissance City Walls Walking Tour
  • The Guining Tower in Lucca  – The Torre Guinigi in Lucca is the finest example of Romanesque Gothic architecture. The tower provides the best views of Lucca.
  • The Towers in San Gimignano  – San Gimignano is a UNESCO World Hertiage Site. The 14 preserved towers out of the 72 medieval towers of San Gimignano make the most unique landscape in Tuscany. Towers were a symbol of power in the Middle Ages. Medieval noble families built them to show their wealth and influence.
  • The historical center of Pienza   – is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It represents an ideal Renaissance town.
  • Montecatini Terme  – The Thermal Baths of Montecatini in Tuscany, Italy are known as the healthiest thermal baths in Europe. Viator: Montecatini Terme cycle and wine tasting visit GetYourGuide: Montecatini Terme: Thermal Pool Entrance Ticket
  • Chinati vineyards – Castellina di Chianti , Panzano in Chianti, and Greve di Chiant i are some of the best places in Chianti with the most impressive Chianti vineyards. Viator: Greve in Chianti Wine Tasting and Winery Tour

WHAT TO DO IN TUSCANY 

Vespa Tuscany Italy

Best things to do in Tuscany

  • Visit the Uffizi in Florence
  • Climb the Leaning Tower in Pisa 
  • Tour Tuscan countryside by Vespa from Florence
  • Truffle hunting in San Miniato – Tuscany is a top place to go truffle hunting in Italy. READ MORE: Best Truffle Hunting in Italy
  • Have a hot-air balloon ride over Tuscany 
  • Have the best gelato in the world at Gelateria Dondoli in San Gimignano 
  • Explore the filming locations of the ‘Under the Tuscan Sun’ in Cortona 
  • Visit La Verna sanctuary (the hermitage where St. Frances lived) 
  • Have a spa time in Terme
  • Have horseback ride in San Gimignano 
  • Have wine tasting in Chianti : sample Classico, Chianti Rufina, Chianti Colli Fiorentini 
  • Explore historical wine cellars in Montepulciano 
  • Tour the historical streets of Siena

FESTIVALS IN TUSCANY 

  • The Feast of Saint John`s Day in Florence on June 24: St John is the patron saint of Florence. A spectacular public celebration with processions and fireworks in Florence
  • Festival of the Lanterns ( Festa Della Rificolona ) in Florence on September 7: a lantern parade, boat parade, and a fair.
  • Luminara festival in Pisa on June 16 with Regatta San Ranieri on June 17: San Ranieri is the patron saint of Pisa. The entire Pisa is illuminated by candles 
  • Saracen Tournament ( Giostra del Saracino ) in Arezzo on the third Saturday in June and the second on the first Sunday in September 
  • The Palio horse race in Siena on July 2 and on August 16
  • The Pistoia Blues Festival in July 
  • Viarregio Carneval in February 
  • San Miniato Truffle Fair ( La Sagra del Tartufo Bianco)  in November 
  • White Truffles Festival ( Tarufesta) in Montaione on the last weekend in October
  • Puccini Festival in Lucca in July – August 
  • Lucca Summer Festival in June – July 

WHAT TO EAT IN TUSCANY

Pecorino Toscano is one of th emost famous traditional Tuscan foods in Tuscany

Travel to Tuscany Italy is incomplete without sampling traditional Tuscan foods (traditional Tuscan dishes, traditional Tuscan cheese, and sausages, traditional Tuscan cakes …)

Best traditional Tuscan foods to try in Tuscany 

  • Bistecca alla Fiorentina
  • Ribollita soup 
  • Crostini Toscani 
  • Pappardelle alla Lepre
  • Trippa in Florence 
  • Finocchiona salami
  • Pecorino Toscano cheese
  • Panzanella salad
  • Tuscan Ricciarelli almond cookies 
  • Biscotti di Prato cookies
  • Tuscan Castagnaccio chesnat cake
  • Truffles 

READ: Must-Try Traditional Foods in Tuscany RELATED: Famous Italian Foods Best Italian Desserts in Italy

RECOMMENDED FOOD TOURS IN TUSCANY

From Florence: Chianti Wine Tasting Day Trip with Food

From Florence: Cooking Class & Lunch at Tuscan Farmhouse

From Siena: Dinner in the Chianti Vineyards

San Gimignano: Tuscany Truffle Hunting with Wine and Lunch

Wine Tasting and Dinner in the Vineyards of Chianti

Pizza and Gelato Cooking Class at a Farmhouse in Tuscany

WHAT TO DRINK IN TUSCANY 

Sampling wine is a must in Tuscany Italy

Best wines in Tuscany to try

  • Chianti wines
  • Vino Nobile di Montepulciano 
  • Vernaccia di San Gimignano 
  • Vinsanto sweet dessert wine

RELATED: Most Popular Italian Drinks

TUSCANY ITALY MAP

Best places to see in Tuscany Italy

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Exploring the Tuscan Countryside – How to Get From Florence to Tuscany ’s Top Destinations

If you’re searching for ways to go from Florence to Tuscany, it likely means you want to get outside of the capital city and explore the surrounding region. Let this guide help you understand the top options, both in terms of beautiful cities, towns, and countryside to visit, as well as how to get there.

Florence is world-famous for art and the birthplace of the Renaissance. But Tuscany offers more beyond the city. A short day trip away are rolling vineyards, old medieval towns, forests, winding alleys with flowers, and great wine and typical food.

Getting into the Tuscan countryside lets you experience the best of Italy. You’ll find awesome views, locals drinking espresso at cafes, and historic piazzas to explore. Use this guide to choose destinations you’ll like and plan how to reach them easily. Whether you love cities, hiking, food, or history, Tuscany’s treasures will enchant you.

Table of Contents

Florence to tuscany’s most popular destinations and how to reach them.

Florence is the capital of Tuscany – the latter being one of the twenty regions of Italy. As one of Italy’s most popular tourist destinations, millions flock to Florence every year to admire its history, art, architecture, and cuisine. However, there is much more to discover in Tuscany beyond its famous capital.

Here are some of the most popular cities and towns to visit in Tuscany along with the easiest ways to reach them from Florence:

Florence to Siena

Siena is one of Tuscany’s most enchanting medieval towns. Famous for its Palio horse race, Gothic architecture, and the iconic shell-shaped main square Piazza del Campo, Siena is a must-see on any Tuscan itinerary.

To get to Siena from Florence, the quickest and easiest option is to take the direct train which takes just 1.5 hours. Trains run regularly throughout the day from Florence’s Santa Maria Novella station. The drive from Florence to Siena takes around 1 hour and 15 minutes via the RA3 and S2 highways.

Staying in Lucca outside Florence

Enclosed within impressively intact 16th-century Renaissance walls, Lucca is known for its cobbled streets, Romanesque churches, cafes, and atmospheric piazzas. Walking or cycling atop the tree-lined walls offers spectacular views over the terracotta rooftops and surrounding countryside.

Reaching Lucca from Florence is straightforward. There are direct trains every hour taking 1.5 hours. You can also drive which takes around 1 hour 20 minutes via the FI-PI-LI or A11 highways.

Fun Activity in Lucca If you opt for a day trip to Lucca, I suggest you rent a quadricycle and take a ride across the beautiful Park. It’s a fun activity for families with kids but also couples, and it helps you rest your feet while still enjoying those lovely surroundings on the move. We rented ours for €15/hr at 43 Via Veneto Lucca. There are plenty more spots you can rent these from throughout the city, especially along the walls.

For lunch or an early dinner, before heading back to Firenze, consider Ristorante San Colombano Lucca – located right on the famous walls.

San Gimignano

San Gimignano is famous for its historic medieval “towers” that dominate the Tuscan skyline. A UNESCO World Heritage site, it offers visitors the chance to step back in time and stroll cobbled lanes dotted with enchanting artisan boutiques, cafes, and wine-tasting rooms.

To get to San Gimignano, take the direct train from Florence to Poggibonsi, and then a 25-minute bus ride to Piazzale Montemaggio, for a total 1.5-hour journey time from the main city . Alternatively, the drive takes just over 1 hour via the FI-RA highway. Guided day tours are also available which take the hassle out of travel.

Florence to San Gimignano

Montepulciano

Perched atop a hill and surrounded by vineyards, Montepulciano is the jewel of southern Tuscany. Wander narrow Renaissance streets, sample the famous Vino Nobile wine, and take in panoramic views over the Val d’Orcia countryside.

It takes between 2.5 and 3 hours to reach Montepulciano from Florence by train, changing at Chiusi. By car, it’s around 1 hour 20 minutes via the A1 and E35 highways. Many visitors choose to visit Montepulciano on a guided tour from Florence. This one of those destinations best reached by car.

Stop in Chiusi If you want to take a break in between trains or driving on your way to Montepulciano, consider stopping at Chiusi. You could walk from the charming Piazza to the emerald-green Lake Chiusi, and then enjoy the underground museum after a tasty lunch at Osteria La Solita Zuppa. The crostini Toscani and Pici al ragu d’anatra sound delicious.

Florence to Tuscany Pisa

While more than just its famous Leaning Tower, Pisa’s Campo dei Miracoli is certainly an unmissable highlight to photograph. The city itself is lively with vibrant street life, markets, and history including its roots as a former maritime power.

Direct trains from Florence to Pisa take only 1 hour making it an easy and one of the most popular Tuscany day trip. By car, the drive takes just under 1 hour 30 minutes using the FI-PI-LI and A12 highways.

Volterra is an ancient hilltop settlement rich in Etruscan history and artifacts. Today, it offers incredible views over the countryside and Tuscan hot springs, alabaster workshops, museums, and medieval ruins to explore. Don’t miss a visit to its impressive Roman amphitheater dating back to the 1st century BCE.

Reaching Volterra independently takes around 2.5 hours by train with a stop in Pontedera, where you will need to change to a bus.

If you opt for the train + bus.. Once you get off the bus you just need to walk 3 minutes to Pontedera Bus Station. Go to Corsia 4 and take the bus 500 towards Volterra. By car, the drive takes just under 1.5 hours via the FI-RA highway.

The train + bus route is fairly straightforward but you must time your bus carefully, as there aren’t many ones departing. In Summer, the bus departing Pontedera at 9:25 is a good option but you’ll need to take the train from Florence at 7:00 am which arrives at Pontedera Station at 7:36 am. 

You can download the  Summer bus schedule here, and the Winter one  here . Make sure you look at the direction (it must end with Volterra for your way there, and going towards Pontedera as you return to Florence).

That route is early enough to enjoy half a day in Volterra and give you plenty of time to have breakfast in Pontedera, buy tickets, and make it on time for the bus. You should be able to purchase the bus tickets from the nearest Tabaccheria, in Corso G. Matteotti. That one is open from 8 am, Monday to Saturday.

Other Larger Cities in Tuscany for a Day Trip From Florence + Way to Travel There

Arezzo is famous for the Piero della Francesca frescoes inside the Basilica of San Francesco and the Cimabue crucifix inside the Church of San Domenico. It’s also known for the important Giostra del Saracino horse race, which divides the city into 4 districts.

To get to Arezzo, direct trains from Florence take around 1 hour 10 minutes. Driving takes just over an hour via the RA highway.

Top attractions include Piazza Grande, the medieval Eremo Le Celle hermitage, La Verna Franciscan Sanctuary, Poppi Castle, the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Donatus, and the Church of San Francesco. Visitors love Arezzo for its medieval character , Renaissance art treasures, and exciting twice-yearly jousting competition.

Make sure to try the local specialty Scottiglia , a hearty stew with mixed meats like beef, pheasant, chicken, rabbit, duck, lamb, and pigeon.

Florence to Livorno

With its canals and walls, Livorno is a classic example of an ideal Renaissance city. The symbol of Livorno is cacciucco , a seafood stew originating from the fish market. As Tuscany’s prime seaside city, Livorno transformed from a fishing village to a strategic port under the Medicis.

To reach Livorno, direct trains from Florence take around 1.5 hours. Driving takes just over 1.5 hours via highways.

Top attractions include Terrazza Mascagni, Montenero Sanctuary, Livorno Aquarium, Calafuria Coastline, Mercato Centrale, Venezia Nuova district, Scogli Piatti rocks, and the Giovanni Fattori Civic Museum. Visitors adore Livorno for its canals, seafood, and ambiance as an authentic historic port city.

Prato is Tuscany’s second-largest city by population after Florence. Top sights include Piazza del Comune, Fontana del Bacchino, Palazzo Pretorio, Prato Cathedral, Church and Convent of San Domenico, San Vincenzo Monastery, and the contemporary art museum Centro Pecci.

As the historic textile capital of Italy, Prato is known for its factory outlet shopping, a great way to pick up quality Italian pieces at a bargain. It’s also where the famous biscotti di Prato or cantucci originated, so make sure to buy some.  

Visitors enjoy strolling its charming medieval streets and sampling local specialties like sedani ripieni , stuffed pasta with minced meat, mortadella, egg, and parmesan. The Regional trains from Florence take just 20 minutes to reach the city, while driving there will take you about 50 minutes.

Florence to Pistoia

According to local lore, Pistoia got its name from those who kneaded bread dough (from the Latin pistores, meaning miller).

Top attractions include the Pistoia Zoo, Piazza del Duomo, Ospedale del Ceppo, Cathedral of San Zeno, Pieve Sant’Andrea Apostolo, Piazza della Sala, Baptistery of San Giovanni in Corte, and San Giovanni Fuoricivitas.

Pistoia charms visitors with its quaint medieval ambiance, Roman ruins, and relatively untouristed authentic Italian charm. The city comes alive during its Blues Festival each July.

For a unique local taste, try the soup Carcerato made with veal offal and stale bread, originally made and served in the old city prison. If you love your outdoor decor, make sure to pick up one of the local artisan copper pots. Pistoia is the top producer in Europe.

PS: Many call Pistoia the small Florence. It could be because of the resembling Battistero di San Giovanni in Corte to the famous St. John Baptistery in Florence’s Duomo.

Day Trips by Car

Having your transport opens up the most possibilities for exploring lesser-known gems, so consider hiring a car to explore the Tuscany region and get outside Florence. While roads are winding, driving times are generally an hour to two hours allowing you to reach most places within Tuscany for day adventures. For navigating the region of Tuscany, notable highways include the A1/E35, the FI-PI-LI, and the SGC. Don’t miss spectacular countryside routes like the Chiantigiana Road (SS222) between Florence and Siena.

Day Trips by Train

Italy’s rail network is extensive, reliable, and fast. From Florence’s main Santa Maria Novella station there are regular direct connections south to Arezzo, Siena, and Volterra as well as west to Pisa, Livorno, and Lucca. While certain destinations like Montepulciano and Volterra might require a longer journey, with the tips in this guide you should be able to easily plan your travel itinerary. Keep in mind that journey times average 1-3 hours making day returns easy. Book tickets via Trenitalia ahead of time for the best fares and seat reservations where possible.

PS: In lower peak seasons like Spring and Fall, you’ll be able to purchase the tickets at the train station right before your departure. However, you should allow an extra 20 minutes before the departing time to wait in line. That’s what I did when I visited both Lucca and Certaldo last October.

Lesser-Known Towns in the Tuscan Countryside & Sea Worth a Visit

While icons like Florence and Pisa are on most itineraries, some lesser-known towns also offer authentic charm and fewer tourists. Here are the best-kept secrets worth adding to your itinerary .

Certaldo, writer Boccaccio’s birthplace, offers wine tastings, museums, and pretty medieval lanes for wandering in the afternoon. It’s just 50 minutes from Florence by train. It reminds me of the fortified city of Mdina in Malta, although smaller and with rolling countryside around.

While we spent as much time traveling to and back from Certaldo as we spent visiting the town, both my husband and I enjoyed getting out of the city and exploring a new place. This was easy and relaxing. The town was quiet, and the cable car ride to the top was very scenic. For half of the time, it felt like we were the only ones in town. The weather was warm but comfortable (it was the second week of October just after 3 pm), the sun was preparing to go down, and the inner parts were nicely shaded.

Honestly, I wasn’t expecting such a gorgeous little Borgo on top. I can see this spot being perfect for people who want to wind down, and maybe work on a creative project , whether it’s just for a day or an entire week. I couldn’t stop taking pictures, and that means the place must be a good one.

If you go around lunchtime and dinner, you’ll find three to four options where to have a snack or a bigger meal. Most of them have a gorgeous view.

Florence to Tuscany little village

Steal My Itinerary

Morning in Florence

  • Breakfast at Ditta Artigianale & Hario Cafe ( more breakfast spots here )
  • Visit to Palazzo Pitti + Boboli Gardens
  • Refreshing & Snacks at Airbnb

Afternoon in Certaldo

  • Bus to Santa Maria Novella Station
  • Train to Certaldo
  • Cable car to Certaldo Alto
  • Exploring Certaldo for 2 hours

Relaxed Evening around Ponte Vecchio

  • Back to Florence for a light dinner & ice cream by Ponte Vecchio

Please keep in mind that except for Massa, the towns and cities that will follow are best reached by car from Florence. Another option could be taking a bus or train from a nearby city/town, rather than Florence.

Montefioralle

Montefioralle was the first religious-administrative site the Etruscans had in Valdigreve. Its origins are truly ancient and the town could represent the oldest settlement in Chianti, even before the Etruscans. 

For lovers of historical remains and medieval buildings, Montefioralle is one of the most beautiful villages in Chianti with some gorgeous churches, like the famous Pieve di San Cresci nearby. Larger than Certaldo, it’s perfect for wandering the countryside, sipping local wine, and getting lost in this charming village. For a fairytale lunch, head to Il Desio. 

Montefioralle is located just 9 km from Greve in Chianti. Reach it by car via the Chiantigiana Road (SS222) in around 15 minutes, or take a 30-minute bus from Greve.

Florence to Barga

Barga is one of the most historic and art-dense villages in the whole Serchio Valley. Top sights include the Romanesque Cathedral, the Church of Cristo Risorto, and the fresco-filled Church of San Francesco. 

Visitors adore Barga for its mountain views, medieval ambiance, and local crafts. Make time for lunch on the terrace at La Loggia Del Capretz Bistrot.

You can easily reach it by car in under 2 hours via the A11/E76 highway.

Pienza is a small village in southern Tuscany, in the famous Val d’Orcia, absolutely worth a visit. It’s about 20 km east of Montalcino and a few km west of Montepulciano in the beautiful Val d’Orcia region south of Siena, among soft, poetic hills and fabulous views.

Known as the “ideal” Renaissance city, thanks to Pope Pius II , who transformed his birth village of Corsignano into his version of an ideal city, which still communicates Renaissance ideals today. Don’t miss a taste of the local bread and pecorino salad. Enjoy an aperitif at La Taverna di Re Artù.

Pienza is located just off the A1 highway between Montepulciano and Montalcino in southern Tuscany. By car, it’s around 1.5 hours from Florence via the A1 and SP146. 

Pitigliano 

Pitigliano is a village carved into the tufa rock of southern Maremma. It sits on a 313-meter-high promontory surrounded by deep green valleys and the Lente and Meleta rivers. 

Known as Little Jerusalem for its historic Jewish community and synagogue , it’s one of the most characteristic monuments in the historic center. Try the local stew tegamata if you can find it, or dine at Trattoria Il Grillo.

Driving to Pitigliano from Florence will require a 2.5-hour road trip via the AI/E35 motorways.

Florence to Cortona

Cortona is a small, welcoming town in the Valdichiana valley in Arezzo province. The town sits on a hill reaching around 600 meters high, surrounded by Etruscan and Roman walls still visible today.

Top sights include Piazza della Repubblica, the Etruscan Academy Museum, San Francesco Convent, the Cathedral of Cortona, Basilica of Santa Margherita, the Church of San Benedetto, and the Sodo archaeological site. Visitors love Cortona for its charm, art, Tuscan cuisine, and stunning valley views. Try pappa al pomodoro or ribollita soup, and dine at Taverna Il Gozzoviglio or Osteria Le Rughe.

Cortona is located in southern Tuscany off the A1 highway. Reach it by direct train from Florence in under 2 hours. By car, Cortona is just over a 1-hour drive from Florence via the A1.

Chianciano Terme

The thermal baths of Chianciano Terme are renowned for their beneficial effects on liver and intestinal health. Mix visiting the historic center with time at the local spas. 

The traditional dish is pici, a handmade fresh thick pasta similar to spaghetti, served with various ragu and pesto sauces. Enjoy pici at La Torretta or L’Assassino restaurants.

By car, you can reach it in about 1.5 hours via the AI/E35 motorways.

Florence to Massa

Don’t miss Massa’s fairy tale atmosphere of sea and marble. Massa is a city rich in history and culture on the border between Liguria and Tuscany, nestled between the Apuan Alps and the sea. Beautiful squares, churches, fountains, castles, and ancient stele statues represent an ancient civilization. And if you like me, love marble, you’ll appreciate a guided tour of the famous Carrara Caves nearby.

The rice cake torta di riso is the symbol of Massa cuisine, once made at Easter and for San Vitale on April 28. Also try testaroli pasta served with pesto , and frittini di Lunigiana made with cornmeal , beans, kale, and olive oil. For a lighter and very typical meal, enjoy an aperitivo at Crudi e Bollicine Marina di Massa.

From Florence, take the direct train to Massa Centro station in around 2 hours. Massa is also located just north of Pisa, about a 1.5-hour drive from Florence via highways.

Giglio Porto

Giglio Porto’s harbor is protected by two jetties enclosing the dock where ferries and boats moor. Top attractions include Caletta del Saraceno, Torre del Saraceno, and Spiaggia Dello Scalettino beach. No Giglio vacation is complete without trying Cacciucco, a flavorful Tuscan seafood soup. Enjoy lunch at L’Archetto overlooking the sea.

Reach Giglio Porto by ferry from Porto Santo Stefano on the Tuscan coast, a 2.5-hour drive from Florence. The ferry crossing takes around 1 hour. Book ahead in peak season.

PS: Considering that getting there will take at least 3.5 hours, I suggest you spend the night or take the day trip from Grosseto rather than Florence.

Isola d’Elba

The largest island in the Tuscan Archipelago (223.5 km2), Elba is 10 km from the mainland, separated by the Piombino Channel. It has a mountainous terrain (Monte Capanne, 1018 m), with a very jagged coastline (stretching 118 km), rich in gulfs and headlands.

Elba is beloved for its wild, pristine nature, crystal clear sea, and gorgeous beaches. Napoleon specifically chose it for exile because of its good weather and defenses. He resided in a Medici villa with harbor views. Sample the local stew Gurguglione with eggplant and peppers , and dine at Bitta 20.

Elba Island is accessible by ferry from Piombino on the Tuscan coast but will require a 4-hour drive from Florence. The ferry crossing takes around 1 hour. Arrive early to park and line up in peak season. Limited flights also connect Pisa or Florence Airport to Elba. However, prices are on the higher end. The easiest and most affordable way to get here is to drive from Pisa.

wine tasting in Tuscany countryside

Wine Tour Destinations in Tuscany other than Chianti

In addition to its iconic capital Florence, Tuscany is equally famous as one of the world’s great wine regions. From full-bodied reds to crisp whites and sweet dessert wines, tasting your way through vineyards makes a delicious accompaniment to your explorations. Here are some key regions and cellars to visit beyond the classic Chianti zone .

Greve in Chianti for the Classic Chianti DOCG & Vin Santo DOC

Head to the heart of the original Chianti Classico area around Greve for tastings of these famous Tuscan wines. Top picks include:

  • Wine Trekking & Tasting at Torraccia di Presura
  • Light Lunch at Savignola Paolina
  • Wine Tasting at Tenuta degli Dei
  • Wine Tasting & Relax by the pool at Corte di Valle

Montalcino for its Brunello di Montalcino DOCG

The prestigious red Brunello di Montalcino DOCG is a Tuscan icon. Head to wineries like Tiezzi, Il Poggione, or Donatella Cinelli Colombini for sensational cellar tours and tastings.

Vino Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG

The handsome town of Montepulciano produces the elegant Vino Nobile using the Prugnolo Gentile grape. Le Berne – voted the best in the region, and Tenuta Sant’Agnese both offer wonderful vineyard visits and wine-tasting experiences.

wine tasting in Tuscany countryside

San Gimignano and its Vernaccia DOCG

San Gimignano is renowned for its white Vernaccia di San Gimignano DOCG. Since it happens to also be a popular destination for many other reasons, if you opt to visit consider one of these wine tasting spots.

  • Cesani Wine & Oil Tour + Wine Tasting on the Terrace with snacks after exploring the vineyards and olive groves
  • Panizzi with its spectacular location – wine & oil tasting
  • Wine Tasting Lunch at San Quirico

Pitigliano for its White DOC

The picturesque cliffside town of Pitigliano is surrounded by vineyards producing its refreshing DOC-designated white wines. Consider Cantina Roccaccia – voted among the best 100 Italian wines in 2019 , and Cantina di Pitigliano for tastings and lunch.

Montecarlo di Toscana DOC

Overlooked by tourists, the Montecarlo di Lucca wine region crafts noteworthy reds and whites. Book visits to small wineries like Tenuta del Buonamico and Tenuta San Beda.

Florence to Tuscany wine towns

Castagneto Carducci for the Bolgheri Sassicaia DOC

The village of Castagneto Carducci lies within the Bolgheri appellation known for Sassicaia, one of Italy’s most prestigious reds. I have two perfect spots, each with a wonderful plan, for you to spend your time here.

  • Afternoon wine Tour plus dinner on the spectacular terrace at Tenuta Guarda al Tasso
  • Estate Visit + Picnica at Tenuta L’Ornellaia

Carmignano DOCG near Prato

The small winemaking area of Carmignano lies just northwest of Prato in Tuscany. Historically it was the first region in the world to obtain DOC designation in 1980. Today it produces notable reds from Sangiovese and Cabernet Sauvignon grapes.

Top wineries to visit include Tenuta di Capezzana , an elegant estate offering tastings and vineyard tours since the 1920s. For a more rural, family-style experience, visit Fattoria di Bacchereto set amidst olive groves and oak woods. The charming village of Carmignano itself also rewards exploration with its hilltop medieval castle.

Wherever you go, booking tasting tours ahead of time ensures a spot. For couples and groups, private wine tours with a dedicated driver/guide are a fantastic option for hassle-free travel between vineyards and towns.

where to stay in Tuscany

Where to Stay in Tuscany Other Than Florence & Why You Should

While Florence boasts many excellent hotel and Airbnb options, basing yourself elsewhere allows you to fully immerse in Tuscan life and easier access to its countryside. Here are some top alternatives for accommodations along with the benefits.

Siena has a wide variety of lodging from boutique hotels to budget options. Staying here allows easy exploration on foot and puts you steps from sights like the Campo, Palazzo Pubblico, and the Duomo. Come evening, soak up the local ambiance in neighborhood osterias. The famous and breathtaking Crete Senesi is easily reachable by car from here.

This compact city is perfect for walking and cycling. Stay in the heart of the action within the historic walls where you can roll out of bed and directly into the city’s idyllic maze of stone streets.

Immerse yourself in history, views, and village life by staying in San Gimignano itself. Spend the days having breakfast overlooking the countryside, taking hikes and wine tours, and in the afternoons sit back, relax and take in those magic sunsets. Accommodations range from plush villa escapes to cozy B&Bs with options for every budget.

Base yourself among Volterra’s winding medieval alleys to enjoy car-free access to the city’s top sights and restaurants. You’ll also appreciate not having to drive back after indulging in wine tastings at local cellars.

Staying in Montepulciano allows you to soak up the romantic ambiance of the narrow stone streets and the lively local culture of this quintessential Tuscan village. 

From here it’s easy to explore the Val d’Orcia region and visit neighboring Pienza, Montalcino, and others by car. Accommodation options range from converted palaces to cozy apartments dotted around town. Spend evenings sampling the famous local wine and indulging in regional cuisine at candlelit restaurants.

Wherever you stay, booking accommodations with parking is wise if you have a rental car. If arriving from Florence by train, shuttle transfers from the station are often included with stays outside the bigger cities.

Final Thoughts

Tuscany offers endless possibilities for exploration and discovery beyond its famous capital Florence. Whether you have your transport or rely on trains to get around, it’s surprisingly easy to reach iconic sights as well as hidden gems across the region.

Focus your efforts on seeing a handful of destinations well rather than trying to cram in too much. Spend time wandering enchanting small towns, indulging in the local food and wine, and soaking up the ambiance of la dolce vita beneath Tuscany’s golden rolling hills.

Wherever you choose to visit – be it Lucca, Siena, Pisa, the town of San Gimignano, or lesser-known alternatives – pairing the convenience of Florence with day trips into the Tuscan countryside will let you experience the best of this captivating region . Also, don’t discard the idea of spending a few days outside Florence.  With plenty of ideas for things to do in Tuscany you are now in a better position to plan your perfect Florence and Tuscany itinerary. Enjoy your travels!

Need help planning your Florence & Tuscany Itinerary? Get inspired by my How many days in Florence Guide, and feel free to use my 4-day Florence Itinerary .

Frequently Asked Questions about Getting from Florence to Tuscany

Can you visit tuscany from florence .

Absolutely. Florence is a very convenient base for exploring the main sights of Tuscany. The city has quick train connections and highway access to beautiful cities like Siena, Pisa, and Lucca. With your car, by train or on guided tours you can visit charming hill towns like San Gimignano and classic countryside like Chianti. Florence puts Tuscany’s treasures within easy reach.

Is Florence a good base to explore Tuscany?

Yes, Florence is an excellent base for exploring Tuscany. As the region’s largest city, it has great transportation links via rail, bus, and car to popular destinations like Siena, Pisa, Lucca, and Cinque Terre. Its central location puts it within 1-2 hours of most major sights, and day trips are very feasible. Using Florence as a Tuscany base allows flexibility.

How long is it from Florence to Tuscany? 

Florence is located within the Tuscany region, so it doesn’t take long to reach other Tuscan sights. By train or car you can reach Siena in 1-1.5 hours, Pisa in 1 hour, Lucca in 1.5 hours, and farther afield hill towns in 2 hours or under. Even smaller countryside sights are easily accessible as day trips. Florence is a perfect launch point for exploring Tuscany.

Are Florence and Tuscany close to each other?

Yes, Florence and Tuscany are very close – or more exactly Florence is in Tuscany! As the capital, Florence is centrally located within the region and has quick access to popular destinations like Siena, Pisa, Lucca, and Chianti. With Florence as your base, the rest of the magnificent Tuscany region is right at your doorstep ready to explore.

Is Tuscany a day trip from Florence?

Tuscany is the region and Florence is the capital city of that region. So, yes, many destinations in Tuscany make for excellent day trips from Florence. Popular options are reachable within 1-2 hours each way by train or car including Siena, Lucca, Pisa, San Gimignano, Arezzo, and Cinque Terre. Having your transportation allows you to reach even more hill towns and wine regions for day trips.

What is the easiest way to get from Florence to other cities in Tuscany?

The easiest and quickest way to reach most places is by train. Florence’s main station, Santa Maria Novella, has regular direct high-speed connections to Lucca, Pisa, Siena, and other popular destinations in just 1-2 hours. Driving is also convenient with main highways like the A1, FI-PI-LI, and RA providing access.

What are the best day trips from Florence by train?

Some top day trips reachable by direct train from Florence include Siena, Lucca, Arezzo, Pisa, Livorno, and Prato. Journey times average 1-2 hours each way making day returns perfectly feasible. Purchase tickets in advance online for the best fares, if you plan to take a Frecciarossa. For regional trains, tickets prices stay low till the last minute.

What are the best towns in Tuscany to visit outside of Florence?

Top picks for bases include medieval Siena, walled Lucca, hilltop San Gimignano, and wine country Montepulciano. Lesser known gems to consider include Certaldo, Barga, Pitigliano, and Montecarlo. Pick based on your interests such as history, architecture, hiking, or wine tasting.

How much time do you need to explore Tuscany?

At a minimum, allow 5-7 full days to make the most of your Tuscan break. This will give you time to visit 2-3 towns, explore Florence, plus enjoy countryside activities like wine tasting. With a week or more, you can dive deeper into the region at a relaxed pace.

What’s the best way to travel around Tuscany without a car?

The rail network provides easy connections between major hubs like Florence, Pisa, and Siena. For smaller towns, consider booking organized day trips where transport is included or simply hire a car. Public buses also run to many locations although the train is generally more convenient.

Should I stay in Florence or elsewhere in Tuscany?

Florence offers unrivaled art and culture. However, basing yourself in charming towns like Siena, Lucca, or San Gimignano for part of your trip allows you to fully immerse yourself in quintessential Tuscan life. Make your decision based on the pace and experience you desire, as well as the duration of your trip.

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Tuscany Tours & Trips

Discover Tuscany's rolling hills and delicious wines. Walk the paved streets of Florence while enjoying an adventure that will take you through all of the hidden gems of this magnificent region or visit San Gimignano, Siena or Lucca and see what this region is all about.

172 Tuscany tour packages with 517 reviews

Bike Across Tuscany - Guided Tour

Bike Across Tuscany - Guided

We enjoyed excellent bikes, accommodations, and an informative guidebook as we biked routes with little traffic through gorgeous country. The regional architecture, art, agriculture and food was extraordinary, as was communication with our Cycle Europe contact, Sarah. She went out of her way to ease the planning and execution of our trip, including Rome Covid testing-related logistics.

Italian Expresso - 5 days Tour

  • In-depth Cultural
  • Coach / Bus

Italian Expresso - 5 days

Great way to make the most of your time in Italy, we had 5 days and on this tour we were able to cram in lots of great sights from Rome to Venice and back. Thank you to our guide Lucy who was very helpful and knowledgeable. Would recommend this tour.

Italy By High-Speed Train Tour

  • Train & Rail
  • Christmas & New Year

Italy By High-Speed Train

Great intro if you've never been to these cities. Takes the headache away from finding places and making bookings. Tour guides were great, but some of the hotels weren't the best and quite small. Hotel in Rome is quite far from the central part. Knowing how easy the train system is in Italy now, I'd definitely do it on my own. A lot of sites aren't included in this tour, so be prepared to plan other things while there on your spare days.
  • $50 deposit on some dates Some departure dates offer you the chance to book this tour with a lower deposit.

Rome and Tuscan Highlights (9 Days) Tour

Rome and Tuscan Highlights (9 Days)

It was a wonderful tour, the organization was excellent as the visits flowed into the itinerary. The tour guide was excellent in her presentations and care displaying her competency, professional and customer service.

Cycle Tuscany Tour

Cycle Tuscany

The bikes were good,routes good however a few involved heavy traffic. Heavy rain requires some rescheduling

Essential Italy Tour

Essential Italy

The Best of Tuscany - 4Days/3Nights Tour

  • Local Living
  • Wine tasting

The Best of Tuscany - 4Days/3Nights

My friends and I signed up for a tour of Florence by night, Tuscany, Pisa and Cinque Terre in March 2019. Lorenzo was our guide and he did a great job advising us what to see and do. The tour kept us well hydrated with wine and Lorenzo shared with us stories of his life and his love of Tuscany. It was overall a fantastic experience and I would highly recommend this tour.
  • $100 deposit on some dates Some departure dates offer you the chance to book this tour with a lower deposit.

Italian Sojourn with Leaning Tower of Pisa Tour

Italian Sojourn with Leaning Tower of Pisa

The trip was great with a good balance of tours and free time. Communication was excellent and any questions I had were answered right away! Accommodations were comfortable and very conveniently located.

Tuscan Treats Tour

  • Food & Culinary

Tuscan Treats

Very good tour. Good value for the money. Loved all the sights and off the beaten path adventures.

La Dolce Vita - 11 days Tour

La Dolce Vita - 11 days

The first 7 days were excellent with Clara, our tour guide. She was knowledgeable, coordinated the schedule to make sure everything was on time and everyone was included. She was also fun and interesting with a good sense of humor. The tour guide for the last three day, Ludovica, was not communicative or very friendly. On the day we arrived in Sorrento we were dropped off at a street corner and told our hotel was just up the road. It turns out the hotel was over a mile uphill and Ludovica never mentioned that the hotel would provide a shuttle. We ended up climbing up the hill with our luggage in very hot weather. It is very disappointing that the tour guide did not communicate this.

Tuscany to Cinque Terre: Wines, Villages & Unforgettable Walks Tour

Tuscany to Cinque Terre: Wines, Villages & Unforgettable Walks

Italian Triple Centre with a world wonder Tour

  • Educational

Italian Triple Centre with a world wonder

Tuscany Walks & Chianti Wines Tour

  • Hiking & Trekking

Tuscany Walks & Chianti Wines

The lodging was great and the guide, Liz was very competent both driving and guiding .

Gourmet Tuscany Tour

Gourmet Tuscany

Excellent choice of locations and selection of food and wine venues. The tour achieves a great balance between guided travelling and personal time and autonomy. Choosing to focus on small, family run businesses not only supports the locals but also brings authenticity to the experiences. Roberto was a caring, knowledgeable tour leader who brought an infectious enthusiasm to each day’s plans. Being able to stay in one setting and have experiences that radiated out from that was excellent. Great value for money.

Private Gourmet Wine Tour in Tuscany, Italy Tour

Private Gourmet Wine Tour in Tuscany, Italy

While this was a "busy" tour it was terrific especially for the first time to Tuscany. We enjoyed touring so many vineyards and their "cantinas". We were able to modify some parts of the tour with no problem at all. Omar at Soleto Tours was always available and everything worked as advertised. Great for those Tuscany first timers.

Reviews of Tuscany Tours

This was an amazing tour. The itinerary, tour guides, and hotels were all up to the mark; definitely suggest.
Basically a tour that consisted of hotels, transport by train and a couple of short walking tours. We knew that before we went and so was fine. The addition of an extra night in Rome is needed with tickets for Colleseum and Palatine Hill on one day. We did this by ourselves although it was a lot of hassle trying to get tickets for the Colleseum and got ripped off.

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EuropeUpClose

Best Places to Visit in Tuscany

J oin EuropeUpClose as we take a journey to some of the best places to visit in Tuscany. We will begin in Florence, then drive to San Gimignano with a stop at the fabulous Antinori nel Chianti Classico Winery. From San Gimignano we venture to the compelling town of Siena with its fantastic cathedral and famous horse races in the Palio. Another hour south and we’ll stop at Caparzo Winery near Montalcino before heading east to the beautiful hilltop walled city of Montepulciano.

Also read these articles on Tuscany:

  • Best Tuscany Wine Tours
  • Where to Stay in Tuscany
  • Tuscany Holiday Planning
  • Tuscany Itinerary

Visit Florence

Florence is a natural starting point to begin your journey to the best places to visit in Tuscany. Known for the imposing red-roofed Duomo and Michelangelo’s David in the Accademia, Florence is a mecca for art, food, architecture, and history. You don’t want to miss the Uffizi Museum, the Central Market, and Ponte Vecchio, the bridge across the Arno River filled with shops displaying jewelry, crafts, and other fun products.

Also, read these articles on Florence:

  • Where to stay in Florence
  • Best Florence Walking Tours
  • Best things to do in Florence
  • Best Day Trips from Florence

Florentine Bisteca

And, of course, if you are in Florence, you must try the famous Florentine Bisteca. It is often referred to as some of the best steak in the world. We were lucky to have reservations at Trattoria dall’Oste Chianineria on  Via dei Cerchi. Just a few minutes south of the Duomo, this iconic restaurant is well known for their Bisteca and other fine cuts of meat.

Florentines do like their steak rare, so be aware. You can order yours medium or medium rare, and it will most likely still come out very pink. One thing I liked about Trattoria dall’Oste Chianineria is that they brought out a hot plate along with the steak. That way, anyone who wanted their steak more done could cook it a bit more right at the table. Most of us ate it like it came, but there were a few in our party who preferred their steak more done. Sides included roasted potatoes, pasta with thinly sliced truffles, and some tasty bruschetta. For dessert, we completed our meal with a glass of Vin Santo served with tasty biscotti.

Wine Tasting and Lunch at Antinori Winery

With options of several great Antinori locations, we chose to tour the Antinori nel Chianti Classico vineyards just 20 minutes south of Florence. In a country where wine is a way of life, for twenty-six generations, the name Antinori has stood out.

We booked the special CRU Tour. This included a tour of the winery, a wine tasting of seven great wines, followed by a delicious lunch. This fully immersive experience featuring the wine-making philosophy of Marchesi Antinori following years of family tradition. Led by our outstanding sommelier, our tasting was held inside the fabulous wine cellar. Then we enjoyed lunch on the outdoor patio at the Rinuccio 1180 restaurant. This modernistic rooftop restaurant overlooks the gently rolling hills of the scenic Tuscan countryside.

Some of our favorite wines included a crisp Cervaro Della Sala Blend of Chardonnay and Grechetto and a Tignanello red blend of Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Cabernet Franc. The crowd favorite was the outstanding Brunello di Montalcino Pian Dellevigne Sangiovese. The following lunch on the beautiful outside terrance at Rinuccio made for a most pleasant day. This special vineyard among special vineyards in Tuscany is certainly worth a visit.

Explore the Hilltop Walled-Town of San Gimignano

After being totally wowed by Antinori nel Chianti Classico, we headed south to nearby San Gimignano. This was our third visit to this iconic Tuscan town – and we will be back again. No article about best places to visit in Tuscany would be complete without this idyllic town.

We stayed at the cozy Orto di Emma at Piazza delle erbe 4 . The location is conveniently in the middle of this walled city. Restaurants, spectacular views, and attractions are just a few steps away. Without any train station in town, most visitors come via personal car or with a tour group. There is a bus that comes from the closest train station (~ five miles away), but check the schedules.

Eat at Fuoriluogo Ristorante

Fuoriluogo Ristorante is a wonderful family restaurant just a two-minute walk outside the walls. In addition to having wonderful food, the service, the artwork, and the friendliness of Mauro, Davide, Enrica, Christian, and the rest of the staff are all top-notch. It’s no wonder Fuoriluogo is one of the highest-rated restaurants in San Gimignano.

Mauro was gone for important meetings with Barolo. He continues to work on the fine wines the restaurant offers to diners. In his absence, the rest of the staff did a superb job of welcoming us and making us feel so special. Our outstanding waiter, Rafael, kindly suggested a recommended menu along with wine pairings, and we were so glad we agreed to take his advice. Julie and I enjoyed a fantastic meal with just the right wines paired with each dish.

Favorites included the Wild Boar Ravioli with citrus fruits in a saffron cream sauce, and a delectable Soft Organic Egg with sausage, red peppers, and gorgovino mousse. We also both loved the pizza, some of the best I’ve ever tasted. The light, tender crust had just the right flavors to complement the fresh tomatoes, cheeses, and fresh herbs. For dessert, we could not resist the tempting tiramisu.  

In addition to the fantastic food and service, the artwork and ambiance of Fuoriluogo is superb. Davide is a wonderful artist and painted much of the beautiful artwork in the restaurant. The friendly staff, elegant but comfortable ambiance and outstanding food and drink make Fuoriluogo one of the top restaurants in San Gimignano.

Check Out Intriguing Siena

It was hard to leave San Gimignano, but we had Siena waiting for us. The charming walled city of Siena is famous for its beautiful cathedral and for the exciting Palio di Siena Horse Races held twice a year in the large central Piazza del Campo. We unfortunately just missed this exciting event. It normally takes place twice a year on July 2 and August 16 every year. Preliminary events take place the three days before the official race. Since this is a very popular event, plan early if you want to attend during the races.

Following lunch on the lovely outdoor terrace at ViVace Ristorante and Wine Bar , we walked the short 10 minutes to the beautiful gothic Siena Cathedral. This impressive structure was built between 1215 and 1267 and features artwork from artists like Michelangelo, Donatello, and Pisano. With its iconic greenish-black and white stripes, this historic icon is striking inside and out. Other great attractions in and around the cathedral include the Piccolomini Library, the Museo dell ‘Opera, Baptistery, Crypt, Oratory of San Bernardino, and Diocesan Museum of Sacred Art.

Drink Brunello Wines at Caparzo Winery in Montalcino 

With so many outstanding wineries around Montalcino, we picked Caparzo Winery to have a tasting and to explore. My new daughter-in-law became acquainted with Caparzo while watching the fun Letters to Juliet movie from 2010. There are some scenes in the movie from one of the many Caparzo winery locations in Tuscany. We thoroughly enjoyed our tour and tasting at Caparzo Winery, especially their world-famous Brunello di Montalcino. An added bonus was the spectacular scenery on our road trip from Montepulciano to Caparzo. Located in the picturesque hills of Montalcino, with fields of red poppies next to golden fields of wheat blowing in the breeze. 

Eat and Drink your Way through Montepulciano

So, after visiting the walled cities of San Gimignano and Siena, we had another walled hilltop city on our itinerary: Montepulciano. Our return to this fantastic village was equally full of great food, wines, views, history, and special people of the town. This very walkable small town is anchored by the Grand Piazza, and is famous for its Vino Nobile red wines . Another notable landmark includes the Torre di Pulcinella. This clock tower is topped by the whimsical figure of the Pulcinella, a classical comedic character. 

We also found the “underground city” of this hill town fascinating. Miles of tunnels, rooms, and cellars have been carved into the rock underneath Montepulciano, making for a fun and educational tour. We went to the popular Cantina Ercolani for a tour and wine tasting. Other popular wineries in Montepulciano include Cantucci Winery and Cantina de‘Ricci. 

Eat at L’Altro Cantuccio Ristorante

L’Altro Cantuccio Ristorante is a fabulous family-run restaurant just a few minutes’ walk from where we stayed at the lovely Montepulciano Bed & Breakfast at Via Di Gracciano. Chef Mattia Putzulu and his lovely wife, Monica, a Sommelier, have created one of the best dining experiences in Montepulciano. L’Altro Cantuccio exudes old-world charm. Modern appointments along with the historic stone, wood, and brick is the perfect blend of old and new. 

Mattia and Monica graciously hosted us for an extremely memorable evening. For starters, we enjoyed an outstanding Tuscan and Cinta Senese salami, Pecorino cheese of Pienza, and a selection of homemade fruit mostarda. Our server also brought a stuffed golden tomato held by a sculpted hand along with an excellent 100% Sangiovese wine. 

For my main course, I had the Cheek of Chianani Beef cooked for 50 hours, with spicy vegetables, citrus fruits, and dill. The beef cheek was extremely tender and flavorful. It was one of my favorite dishes during our three-week visit to Europe. My wife had the equally excellent grilled Chianani flank steak. Other enticing mains on the menu included the Lamb with ember, coconut, mint, and radish, and a crispy salt cod with artichokes and burrata cheese.

Dessert was the amazing Underworld, an artistic and decadent concoction of chocolate mushrooms, acorns, and undergrowth – a true masterpiece! Each bite brought out the intense flavors of chocolate, cream, and nuts. I would loved to have brought one back to the states to share with family and friends, but I don’t think it would travel well (plus, I would probably eat it all before our return!).

L’Altro Cantuccio has deservedly earned its reputation as one of the top restaurants in Montepulciano. Do yourself a favor, and let Mattia and Monica treat you to a fantastic dining experience in their lovely hilltop restaurant.

Discover Top Places in Tuscany For Yourself

Obviously, there are so many great places to visit in Tuscany that no one article can capture them all. Many are relatively unknown and just waiting for you to discover them. We hope by introducing you to just a few of the many options you will be inspired to come visit for yourself. Tuscany is indeed one of Italy’s treasures and should not be missed on any Italy itinerary .

Best Places to visit in Tuscany was written and photographed by Scott Kendall for EuropeUpClose. Thanks to our gracious hosts, including Fuoriluogo Ristorante and L’Altro Cantuccio. All opinions are those of the author.

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Let's take a journey to some of the best places to visit in Tuscany. A helpful resource to plan your trip to Tuscany!

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How to Get to Tuscany

How to Get to Tuscany – The Smart Traveler’s Guide

Coming from the United States, I was looking for the simplest and most hassle-free way on how to get to Tuscany. Several airlines run non-stop direct routes from select US cities, and you can get there with more than one method.

If you wish to arrive in Tuscany, most people from the US will take a direct flight to Leonardo da Vinci-Fiumicino Airport in Rome due to the greater number of direct flights. Some of the cities that offer direct flights include Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, New Jersey and New York. Once there, you can take a train, plane or rent a car to get to Tuscany.

If you’d like to learn more in-depth information about how to get to Tuscany, keep reading. We’ll cover which ones for getting to Tuscany are the easiest and how long the duration for each one is.

Getting to Tuscany by Air

First, I would say that the best airport to fly into from the US would be the Leonardo da Vinci-Fiumicino Airport in Rome. The biggest reason behind that is that you can buy tickets for direct flights from those cities to cut down on your flight time.

Important to note that you can get direct flights into Pisa or Florence, depending on where you live, but you must do this in the summer season , or the airlines don’t offer a direct flight. During the summer season, check Chicago, Washington, or New York City for a direct flight into those cities. That’s one of the most direct ways to get to Tuscany, but it’s only available during the summer months.

The other downside about direct flights into Florence is the higher cost than if you fly into Rome. However, Florence tends to cost more than flying into Pisa. You can buy a train ticket from Pisa to Florence for $10, and it takes about 49 minutes.

At the same time, you could fly into Rome to see a bit of the city and all it has to offer. It’s one of the finest in Europe and was once the cradle of the Holy Roman Empire.

You could also take a flight to Milan and ride a high-speed train to Florence. Now, Milan does sit farther away from Florence than Rome , but it tends to cost less because of multiple low-cost carriers that fly into Milan. Traveling to Tuscany from here will take longer, but you can travel more on a budget.

The Main Airports in Tuscany

A tourist has taken a photo from the plane that is flying over the Tuscan coast

The main airports in Tuscany include the Amerigo Vespucci Airport in Florence and the Gallileo Galilei Airport in Pisa. They sit 49 miles apart, but the Pisa airport is larger with two terminals, which is why you can get cheaper flights there. Florence only has one terminal and 10 gates, and they can’t build more terminals because of the proximity of the mountain. The proximity to the coast in Pisa, however, still makes Florence the more convenient airport. The budget airline Ryanair is one of the airlines that serve Pisa.

For anyone flying in from Europe, Pisa handles most European scheduled flights, so it may make more sense to fly into Pisa than Rome.

International and Domestic Airports in and Near Tuscany

Now, if you want to know how to get to Tuscany from an international level, Pisa and Florence offer the only two international airports in Tuscany. Other nearby airports would include Bologna (73 miles away) and Perugia (72 miles away).

Italy is well connected by trains , but in some cases, you can save time with a domestic flight. For those seeking cheap domestic flights into Tuscany, you have several carriers available, but none of them will give you a direct flight to Florence or Pisa.

You can also fly to the Tuscan island of Elba via the airline Silver Air, which was once the island where Napoleon Buonaparte had a brief 10-month exile from France. You would fly into the Marina Di Campo Airport, Elba. From there, you could take a ferry into mainland Tuscany.

This is also a great choice if you’d like to see the Tuscan island, but don’t want to take the ferry. However, this airport only has connections with Pisa and Florence, so you couldn’t fly in from outside of Tuscany. Mostly private airplanes and helicopters use it.

Airline Options and Average Flight Times from Various Locations

The ITA Airways pilot is directing the aircraft towards Florence airport in Tuscany

If you want to know how to get to Tuscany from the United States, I will show you a few different options with direct flights and the average flight time of each one. I’ll use Rome because it’s the most common flight path next to Milan. 

  • Atlanta: The nonstop flight from Atlanta to Rome takes 9 hours and 50 minutes. You can take seven direct flights between Atlanta and Rome every week.
  • Boston: It requires an average of 8 hours and 10 minutes of flight time to get from Boston to Rome. Delta Airlines and Alitalia both offer flights from Boston to Rome.
  • Chicago: The average flight time from Chicago to Rome is 10 hours and 5 minutes, and two different airlines offer the service.
  • Los Angeles: Taking a direct flight from Los Angeles to Rome takes 12 hours and 50 minutes.
  • Miami: Getting on the plane from Miami to Rome takes 10 hours and 5 minutes.
  • Newark, New Jersey: The average flight time from Newark to Rome is 8 hours and 10 minutes.
  • New York City: The average flight time from New York City to Rome is 8 hours and 35 minutes.

Arriving in Tuscany by Train

Tourists have just arrived at Santa Maria Novella train station and are heading to the center of Florence

The main train stations in Tuscany include:

  • Florence (Firenze Santa Maria Novella)
  • Siena (Piazza Carlo Rosselli)
  • Pisa (Pisa Centrale)
  • Lucca (Lucca Railway Station)

You may struggle to reach the smaller villages due to the lack of train, but you could opt for the bus . 

This highlights how to get to Tuscany via the train station. Most of Italy is well connected by trains. If you want the main terminal of the region, choose Firenze Santa Maria Novella since it sits along the route between Rome and Milan. You can also take high-speed trains from Naples, Bologna, Rome, and Milan to this station.

Taking a regionale train (slower but serving the region) will get you to all parts of Tuscany. Pisa is another one of the important railway stations. It has served an important role in the region since 1871, and it takes the train coming from Florence and the coastal train route. The coastal railway lines in Tuscany will connect you to some of the most beautiful beach resorts in Italy including seaside resorts in Carrara, Massa, Viareggio, and Pietrasanta.

Reaching Tuscany by Car

A tourist has rented a car to enjoy the views of the Tuscan countryside and move independently

Keep in mind that in some locations of Italy, a car can be difficult because you struggle to find parking. A rental car, however, is a valid way of getting to Tuscany, and generally speaking, the roads throughout Tuscany are good. You can also reach the smaller towns more easily with a car.

Tuscany offers two main driving routes that you would go through. You can either drive through Via Cassia or Via Chiantigiana. If you want to know how to get to Tuscany in style, Via Chiantigiana is known for its winding road, extensive landscape views , and vineyards . This is one of the most beautiful routes in the whole country.

Via Cassia connects Florence and Siena to Rome through the Val d’Orcia . This road offers you some of the most beautiful landscapes in Tuscany with its wheat fields, isolated cypress trees, and deserted landscapes.

Ferry Services to Tuscany

The top view of Porto Santo Stefano

Ideally, you would use the ferry services after you had already flown in from the US for traveling to Tuscany. The main ferry ports in Tuscany include:

  • Porto Santo Stefano

Livorno is the largest port, and you can sail from a variety of destinations here including Olbia and Golfo Aranci. You can also sail from Palermo, the capital of Sicily to Livorno. You can also sail from Portoferraio to Piombino.

As a side note, Portoferraio is located on the island of Elba, so you could fly to Elba and take a ferry across into the main part of Tuscany.

Porto Santo Stefano can take you to two other islands in the same archipelago. You can either visit Giglio or Giannutri. Giglio is the larger of the two islands.

Getting around Tuscany

For exploring the Val d’Orcia, I would recommend a car because of how it gives you the freedom to explore the region at your will. You could also reach most major cities in Tuscany through the train system. For the smaller towns , I would recommend you travel via bus since it’s a cheap way of getting around. If you’d like to create a more intimate experience with a great deal of background about the region, I would recommend that you book a day tour since it will let you explore specific areas of Tuscany for the day. Hopefully, this shows you how to get to Tuscany.

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' class=

would this be a good time to visit in terms of weather and less busy then the summer months ?

Can anyone recommend a good small apartment for 2 adults or a good b an d b

where we can walk to all the usual highlights to see?

Any advice welcome our first visit

3 replies to this topic

travel to tuscany

Have a look at www.airbnb.com, www.booking.com, then put in your travel dates. Use the map function on the website and choose a property in the city center. Any properties within a radius of the Duomo will allow you walking distance to all the sites.

Thanks Ricardo ba

Mid-November onwards (especially mid-week) is a great time to visit for fewer crowds. I was there myself last November (13th to 16th) and walked straight in late afternoon at the Uffizi and Accademia.

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travel to tuscany

More Americans are moving to Tuscany, where their money goes further, the pace is slower, and the wine flows freely

  • More Americans are moving to Tuscany, a part of Italy known for medieval walled cities and wine.
  • They're drawn by greater affordability, the charm of the local culture, and its relative safety.
  • Some locals say it's keeping their economy alive, but others are starting to grumble.

Insider Today

Leanne Davis has always had a taste for wine.

The California native runs her own winery, Via Romano Vineyards, outside Sacramento. So it's perhaps little surprise that her love of the grape is leading her to her next home: Tuscany, the lush enclave in central Italy famed for its vine-covered hills and bushy olive trees.

A decade ago, Davis and her husband, Jon Chewning, fell in love with the region when they were married by the mayor of Montepulciano, a romantic hilltop town about an hour and a half from Florence, the regional capital.

Over the years, the couple returned, leading clients of their wine club on tours. Davis and Chewning were so enchanted that, in 2022, they spent $32,000 on a home in Boccheggiano, a medieval town about two hours northeast of Florence.

Davis and Chewning were already repeat customers in Boccheggiano, having co-purchased a $28,000 vacation home with friends there three years earlier. Now, they're planning to be fully settled in Tuscany by next year.

"It's got everything," Davis told Business Insider. "It's beautiful. It has fantastic wines, the landscape is just unbeatable. It almost looks like a painting." Most importantly, she added, "the people are so friendly."

The couple is part of a growing wave of Americans relocating to Tuscany for part or all of the year, trading their Bud Lights, hamburgers, and white picket fences for free-flowing local wine, platters of charcuterie and cheese, and stately villas that date back centuries.

Some, like Davis and Chewning, are moving because they prefer a slower-paced lifestyle full of food and beautiful vistas. Others are motivated by Tuscany's relative affordability, made even cheaper by a strong dollar — especially as the cost of living and retiring in the US has skyrocketed. It's also historic, art-filled, and objectively gorgeous.

"It just felt like it was basically living in a museum, an outdoor museum where everything has a story — every street, every bridge, every arch," said Georgette Jupe, a 39-year-old American communications consultant who moved back to Florence in September.

While Florence has long been the main port of call for American expats, real-estate agents and locals say more newcomers are pouring into smaller towns . On par with Boccheggiano or Montepulciano, where Davis and Chewning have ties, are the walled cities of Lucca and Siena.

The influx of Americans, locals said, can be at once a booster of fortunes and an irritating imposition. They bolster the property market: Home prices in Lucca went up 6% from 2021 to 2022, in part due to foreign investment, according to real-estate consulting firm Knight Frank. Americans hire property managers and caretakers; they spend money in stores, at bars, and in restaurants.

But some Italians worry about the outsize role Americans play, especially in Florence. Dozens of American universities have outposts in the city, attracting roughly 15,000 college students each year. American tourists love Florence, but their presence has consequences — like a sharp increase in the number of Airbnbs that the Associated Press reported makes it hard for local doctors to afford to live near the city center.

Other downsides to the region's popularity, some residents added, include being priced out by the deeper-pocketed newcomers, and more mundane concerns like traffic and crowds.

For many Americans, though, Tuscany remains a dream.

Davis said locals often assume she's on vacation. When she tells them that she owns a home in Boccheggiano, they're confused.

"They're like, 'Why would an American want to come and live in such a tiny town?'" she said. "When we tell them it's the quality of life or it's the slow pace or the people — or whatever — they just say, 'Oh, we've always dreamed of moving to California.'"

American interest in Tuscany is on the rise

Throughout the pandemic years, Americans have flocked to Europe , seeking more affordable lifestyles with more manageable paces .

Tuscany has its own charm. Relatively sequestered from the hustle and bustle of Rome or the crowded canals and alleyways of Venice, Tuscany's rise in 21st-century popular culture is often tied to Frances Mayer's 1996 memoir " Under the Tuscan Sun : At Home in Italy," about a woman who moves to Italy after a divorce, buys a dilapidated farmhouse, and finds love again.

Almost 30 years later, it's easy to see the region's continuing allure. Numbeo, a data provider that uses self-reported stats to track the cost of living worldwide, says it's nearly 20% cheaper to live in Italy than in the US, on average. Inflation has also risen at a slower clip , and average life expectancy is a few years longer .

Michele Capecchi, a lawyer in Florence who helps Americans secure Italian citizenship, opens his inbox every Monday morning to find about 150 new emails — roughly a third of which are from Americans seeking help in relocating to Italy.

"You read about Italy, and the sun, the culture. Of course, the bureaucracy doesn't help," Capecchi said. "But the standard of living , the cost of living — there are multiple factors that make Italy very attractive for a lot of people."

Americans can stay in Italy visa-free for up to 90 days. After that, non-residents need to obtain a permit of stay, according to the US Department of State .

Erin Lewis, an American yoga instructor who has lived in Italy full-time since 2015, currently lives near the Tuscan city of Chiusi. Lewis, 43, and her partner, whom she met in Italy, bought land and broke ground on a house in 2020.

"I had no Italian blood, but I just felt like somewhere deep down, maybe I was an Etruscan in a past life or something," said Lewis, referring to an ancient people who inhabited the area millennia ago. "I just felt totally at home and wanted to find a way back."

In recent years, more American friends of Lewis' have sought her advice about making the move to Italy themselves. Many are hoping to get away from America's tenuous political landscape and the plague of gun violence, she said.

The number of Americans registering to live in Italy is indeed rising, data show. It jumped from 3,951 in 2019 up to 6,813 in 2022 (the most recent year for which data is available) — a 42% increase in just four years, according to the Italian National Institute of Statistics. The number of Americans specifically calling the region of Tuscany home increased by 6% between 2019 and 2023, growing from 2,193 four years ago to 2,323 now, according to the institute's foreign census data.

Italian home-listing website Gate-away.com told BI that 29% of its inquiries in 2023 came from Americans. And 20% of those inquiries — the most of any region — were for properties in Tuscany.

Danilo Romolini, a specialist in Italian luxury home sales at Christie's International Real Estate, said that 40% of new requests he fields come from the US — a figure that's been on the rise during the pandemic years.

Emboldened by the dollar's recent strength, he added, some buyers are even confident enough to pull the trigger, sight-unseen. Recently, he sold a more than 4,000-square foot farmhouse with sweeping views of the Val di Chiana and a listing price of 1.6 million euros ($1.7 million) to an automobile-industry professional from Austin, Texas.

Locals' response to the influx of Americans is mixed

Luca Tudor runs AJ Tuscany, an upscale jewelry boutique on Montepulciano's steep main artery, Via di Gracciano nel Corso.

Tudor, who's called the region home since he was 12, says the arrival of so many Americans —  a phenomenon that's become "bigger and bigger in the last two, three years" — is helping keep the ancient cities that dot the landscape from turning into ghost towns.

"A lot of people love what is called 'piazza life,'" Tudor, 33, explained, "which means getting into your own apartment and never taking the car again."

Sam D'Avanzo, a 29-year-old Florence native who owns a nightclub and concierge travel service in the city, said the influx of American residents has buoyed local lifestyle and entertainment businesses.

Americans may eat out as often as two or three times a week, he said, whereas Tuscans might only dine out a few times a month. In a typical meal, he added, Americans tend to spend 30% to 40% more on food and drink than Italian diners do.

Some family friends of D'Avanzo's from Houston, Texas, recently bought a five-bedroom apartment in Florence's historic center, he said. Now they live there year-round.

Not all locals seem so enthused.

"For everyone who will say that international investors or people deciding to move their life here is a good thing for our economy, you will find someone there that says they are actually depriving Tuscany or local citizens of entire pieces of their city," Capecchi, the Italian lawyer, said.

One area where tensions appear to be running high is in schools, which have become so inundated with inquiries from foreign families that some have been relegated to waiting lists, Capecchi added.

In years past, many American families would come for a year or two to soak up Italian culture before moving home, but now some are staying longer.

At the International School of Florence, which has served Florence's English-speaking community since 1952, 27% of this year's class is made up of American students, versus 23% last year and fewer than 20% during pre-COVID times, according to the school's admissions office. In conversations with administrators, the admissions office added, parents often cite quality of life and alarm over US school safety as reasons they've made the move.

"We are reached by a lot of families who say, 'We're sick and tired of having our kids having to do shooting drills in the school,'" Capecchi said, adding that some families have likened attending US elementary schools with metal detectors to going to the airport.

In private Facebook groups for Italians, some locals vent about more cumbersome summertime traffic getting in pedestrians' way. "A lot of locals say that a place like Montepulciano cannot handle all those tourists because it's a small city," said Tudor, the jeweler.

Tourism alone, though, doesn't seem to account for the increase in Americans since pandemic lockdowns started to subside. In fact, tourism numbers haven't quite rebounded to pre-COVID levels, according to data from Federalberghi, an Italian hospitality industry trade association. In 2019, before the pandemic, Tuscany received 1.05 million tourists. In 2022, it welcomed 956,000 visitors.

Some American residents who are staying for the long term seem aware of the effect they've having.

"A lot of locals have seen themselves priced out of rentals," said Jupe, who returned to Florence in 2023 after a three-year stint in Switzerland. She conceded that some locals struggle to find affordable properties to rent or buy: "There are so many people that want to live here. And so, of course, that can cause a bit of resentment."

Newcomers also bring new opportunities

Bendetta Ercolani, 31, lives in an apartment block in Montepulciano where she's the only Italian. One other resident is Albanian, she said, while the remaining two units are home to American families.

Her family owns a winery that has used traditional methods to produce their vintages for generations. But newcomers from the States have even local stalwarts like the Ercolanis contemplating new opportunities.

In 2021, Cantina Ercolani debuted its first sparkling wine. It was a decision partly influenced by Americans, Ercolani said, who were seeking a thirst quencher to cool off during sweltering Tuscan summers.

The sparkler is made entirely from Sangiovese grapes harvested on the family's land. At first, she said, Cantina Ercolani tested a production of about 3,000 bottles, and now it's scaling up, with another 5,000 on the way.

Americans, Ercolani said, "spend money and they appreciate the quality of the food and the wine that we have."

"Tuscany," she added, is "like a brand."

travel to tuscany

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  1. Tuscany Bucket List: 22 Best Things to Do in Tuscany

    Best Things to Do in Tuscany. 1. Visit the Historic Center of Florence. Home to the Uffizi Gallery and Michelangelo's David, famous piazzas and bridges, the amazing Duomo, as well as palaces, gardens, and spectacular viewpoints, Florence is not to be missed on a visit to Tuscany.

  2. The Perfect Tuscany Itinerary for 3 Days, 5 Days & One Week

    If you have 10 days in Tuscany, here is how to put together an unforgettable 10-day Tuscany itinerary. Day 1: Florence, sleep in Florence. Day 2: Florence, sleep in Florence. Day 3: Pisa and Lucca day trip from Florence. Day 4: San Gimignano.

  3. Tuscany Travel Guide by Rick Steves

    Tuscany. With its manicured fields, rustic farms, cypress-lined driveways, and towns clinging to nearly every hill, Tuscany is our romantic image of village Italy. Venture beyond the fringes of Florence and you'll find a series of sun- and wine-soaked villages, each with its own appeal. Stretching from the Umbrian border to the Ligurian Sea ...

  4. Tuscany Official Tourism Website

    Daydreaming in Tuscany. An extraordinary journey that fulfill your wishes. Tuscany. See for yourself.

  5. Experience the best of Tuscany with this regional guide

    The Apuan Alps. The Parco Naturale delle Alpi Apuane stretches across two areas of northeastern Tuscany that few people take the time to visit, Lunigiana and Garfagnana. The rugged Apuan Alps take their name from their resemblance to the actual Alps, although they are much smaller in size with peaks under 2,000 meters.

  6. Tuscany,Italy 2024: Travel Guide to Holidays in Tuscany/Toscana

    From the Etruscans to the Romans to the Renaissance, Tuscany is possibly the greatest repository of art in the world, from extraordinary paintings and sculpture to frescoes and architectural masterpieces. Visitors to Tuscany come for many reasons. Many come in search of fine art, others to explore the extraordinary countryside.Gourmets and wine buffs descend on Tuscany to enjoy the simple yet ...

  7. Love from Tuscany

    Your free online Tuscany travel guide. There's a lot to Tuscany. The ever-inspiring cities of Florence and Siena, unforgettable landscapes, sculptures by Michelangelo, paintings by Botticelli, and hilltop towns that seem to have jumped off a postcard. There's inspiring architecture that can take you on a journey from the Gothic to the ...

  8. Tuscany Itinerary: See the Best Places in One Week (+Map & Tips)

    One Week Tuscany Itinerary Day 1 - Florence. Florence is one of the most beautiful cities in Italy and is not to be missed in any Tuscany itinerary.. One full day is the minimum that you need in order to see the main highlights of Florence.You can find more information, tips, and advice for visiting Florence in some of the more detailed guides to the city on our blog.

  9. The Ultimate 7 to 10 Days in Tuscany Itinerary

    Day 8 - Elba. For a 10-day itinerary, you'll want to head off the mainland and visit the Tuscan Archipelago. Head to Elba, the largest island in the Archipelago. From Siena, you'll need to drive to the port town of Piombino where you'll be able to catch a ferry to Portoferraio, Elba.

  10. Tuscany Travel Guide

    Traveling by train to Tuscany is easy from the major Italian cities. Take the high speed rail services and you can be in Florence in 90 minutes from Rome, 2.5 hours from Venice, under 2 hours from Milan and around 40 minutes from Bologna. If you're driving, you can reach Florence from Rome along the A1/E35.

  11. Tuscany travel

    Aug 4, 2023 • 11 min read. Follow our local advice on the best ways to really experience this classic region of Italy. Art. The Uffizi Gallery's hidden treasures are on a tour across Tuscany. Jul 15, 2021 • 2 min read. Hotels. You could win a Tuscan holiday home for the price of a $32 raffle ticket.

  12. Tuscany, Italy Travel Guide

    Best Months to Visit. The best times to visit Tuscany are between late September and October and between April and May. During these months, travelers will find comfortable temperatures and fewer ...

  13. 8 Steps For Planning an Epic Trip to Tuscany

    Step 1: How Long To Go For. There are three options for visiting Tuscany, really. You can do a day trip, spend a few days there (four days of your 10-day Italy trip, for example), or spend your entire trip in Tuscany. Don't worry, I will make deciding easy.

  14. 22 Unmissable Places to Visit in Tuscany

    Here's my pick of the best places to visit in Tuscany. Italy's most famous region, Tuscany's main towns and cities are the definition of living history: Florence, Siena, Abrezzo, Lucca, Pisa, Cortona… each with its own delights and attractions. Safe to say that Tuscany is well-deserving of a spot on your Italy itinerary.

  15. Best of Tuscany in 11 Days Tour

    Starting in Florence, the capital of Tuscany, you'll discover the incredible Renaissance art treasures of the Bargello and Accademia, followed by a deep dive into the Tuscan countryside. Roll your way through the Chianti hills sipping wine and strolling through Siena. Breathe in the fresh air of the Val d'Orcia, where vineyards and cypress trees go on forever. Meet local family farmers and ...

  16. How to plan your perfect Tuscany itinerary: practical travel guide

    How to plan a trip to Tuscany. Tuscany is a region in the central part of the Italian 'boot'. It is a large area, confining with Lazio (the region of Rome) to its South, Umbria and Marche to the East, Emilia Romagna and Liguria (Cinque Terre) to respectively its North and North East.To its west lies the large expanse of the Mediterranean, which the Tuscany coast follows for the whole ...

  17. A Local's Guide to Travel in Tuscany

    Tuscany is located in central Italy, about a 2-hour drive north of Rome at its southernmost point, and an hour south of Bologna in the region's north. It is bordered to the northwest by Liguria, to the north by Emilia-Romagna, to the east by Marche and Umbria, and to the south by Lazio (where Rome is).

  18. BEST TIMES TO VISIT TUSCANY: Month-by-Month

    October Summary. October is a lovely time to visit Tuscany, especially if you like chestnuts ( castagne) and mushrooms ( funghi ), which are in season. Parts of Tuscany have already started harvesting their olives for olive oil, so keep an eye out for freshly milled extra virgin oil ( olio nuovo ), which is exquisite.

  19. The Solo Travellers Guide To Tuscany

    Tuscany solo: a trip overview. Less frenetic than Florence, but just as soul-stirring, Siena is a must-see with its sweeping Piazza del Campo, home of the high-octane Palio horse race. Next, it's time to explore the picture-perfect Sienese hill towns. Here's where a hire car comes in handy - follow snaking lanes through classic Tuscan ...

  20. Travel Guide to Tuscany Italy (2024)

    San Gimignano is one of the most picturesque medieval hilltop towns in Tuscany. It is nicknamed ' Manhattan of the Middle Ages. This beautiful Tuscan town is famous for its 14 medieval towers, great wines, and the best gelateria in Italy (the world champion in gelato making). San Gimignano is near Siena in Tuscany.

  21. Your Florence To Tuscany Guide: Day Trips & Places To Stay

    Here are some of the most popular cities and towns to visit in Tuscany along with the easiest ways to reach them from Florence: Crete Senesi. Siena. Siena is one of Tuscany's most enchanting medieval towns. Famous for its Palio horse race, Gothic architecture, and the iconic shell-shaped main square Piazza del Campo, Siena is a must-see on ...

  22. 10 Best Tuscany Tours & Trips 2024/2025

    Tuscany Walks & Chianti Wines. Almost everything was very good or excellent. In particular: (1) Our guide Liz (superb - went way beyond our expectations), (2) The group & group dynamic, (3) two of the three main walks, (4) Sienna trip, (5) the evening meals, greatly enhanced by the group dynamic.

  23. Best Places to Visit in Tuscany

    Visit Florence. Florence is a natural starting point to begin your journey to the best places to visit in Tuscany. Known for the imposing red-roofed Duomo and Michelangelo's David in the ...

  24. How to Get to Tuscany

    Atlanta: The nonstop flight from Atlanta to Rome takes 9 hours and 50 minutes. You can take seven direct flights between Atlanta and Rome every week. Boston: It requires an average of 8 hours and 10 minutes of flight time to get from Boston to Rome. Delta Airlines and Alitalia both offer flights from Boston to Rome.

  25. advice re date of travel and accommodation

    would this be a good time to visit in terms of weather and less busy then the summer months ? Can anyone recommend a good small apartment for 2 adults or a good b an d b. ... for Tuscany. Level Contributor . 21,035 posts. 21 reviews. 30 helpful votes. 3. Re: advice re date of travel and accommodation . Mar 6, 2024, 1:11 PM.

  26. Amazon.com: FLORENCE AND TUSCANY TRAVEL GUIDE 2024: Your Ultimate Guide

    From renowned art masterpieces to hidden gems, historical marvels to culinary delights, this guide is your passport to unlocking the treasures of Tuscany, ensuring a memorable and enriching travel experience. Embark on a captivating journey through Tuscany with this guide, offering not just a glimpse but a detailed roadmap to the region's gems.

  27. Americans Are Moving to Tuscany for Cheaper, Slower Italian Lives

    The number of Americans specifically calling the region of Tuscany home increased by 6% between 2019 and 2023, growing from 2,193 four years ago to 2,323 now, according to the institute's foreign ...