15 Cutest Day Trips From Florence: How To & Local Tips!
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Looking for the Cutest Day Trips from Florence, Italy?
I’ve got you covered! I’ve been to Florence multiple times in the past couple of years, and I absolutely love the city’s food scene and famous places within the city, especially the Uffizi Museum and the Boboli Gardens (when it’s not blistering hot!)
But another reason I love Florence is because it’s within driving distance of the most beautiful parts of Tuscany, quaint villages along the Mediterranean Sea, and large cities like Bologna, Milan, Venice, Genoa, and Rome.
I’ve had the opportunity to take a bunch of day trips from Florence and honestly believe it’s the best home base in Italy, even better than Rome! So, in this post, I’ll share which best day trips and weekend breaks from Florance are actually worth doing. Any combination of these 15 different day trips from Florence will make your Italian holiday one to remember!
My Top 3 Favorites!
| Cutest Day Trips From Florence | Highlights | Duration | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| ➡️ Tuscany Day Trip from Florence: Siena, San Gimignano, & Pisa | Lunch & Wine Tasting Great for Bigger Groups! Visit UNESCO Tower of Pisa | 11 hrs | $100 |
| ➡️ Cinque Terre Day Trip from Florence | Get the Guided Tour! Swim Around Cinque Terre Lunch at Top Local Restaurants | 12 hrs | $70 |
| ➡️ Florence to Chianti Wine Tasting Escape | 2 Chianti Vineyard Visits Region’s History Great Honeymoon Tour! | 5 hrs | $55 |
Getting Around Florence
Italy has an established public transportation system, so there are multiple ways to get in and around Florence. People typically use the train for intercity travel, but guided tours are the most convenient option, and renting a car in Florence to explore Tuscany provides the most flexibility.
By Train
Italy’s train system is fast, efficient, and you can get almost anywhere in the country. High-speed trains connect Florence to large cities like Bologna, Rome, Venice, and Milan. But if you want to travel to smaller towns by train, you’ll need to use the slower regional trains.
👉 TRAIN TICKETS: You can see regional maps, check current timetables, and book tickets on Trainline.com.
The good news is almost every town near Florence has its own train station.
By Car
Renting a car is the most versatile way to explore the Tuscan region around Florence. It gives you complete freedom and flexibility to beat the crowds, stay at each destination as long as you’d like, and make spontaneous pit stops along the way!
➡️ The best company to use for renting a little Fiat in Italy is Discover Cars – it’s what I use!
They compare hundreds of agencies (both local and international) to find the best deals, and they even offer full coverage for just €5-7 euros per day!
If you are in Florence, the dream is to rent a little Fiat convertible and explore the winding roads of Tuscany on your own. Get out of the city limits and create a unique road trip through the vineyards! (obviously, drink responsibly if you’re the one driving).
By Guided Tour
If you don’t want to plan every step of your day trip, guided tours are the way to go! You just show up and enjoy the ride. The guides will take care of all transportation, tickets, and staying on schedule!
Guided tours are also helpful for visiting historic destinations. With a tour guide, you’ll gain even more appreciation for each destination by learning about the history and culture of the area!
15 Cutest Day Trips from Florence
These day trips from Florence are organized generally by their accessibility (shortest travel time at the top of the list). Then if they are similar distances, I’ll always put what I think is the cutest day trip from Florence first 🙂.
1. Pisa
➡️ BEST GUIDED TOUR: Tuscany Day trip from Florence: Siena, San Gimignano, Pisa, and Lunch at a Winery
📍 GETTING HERE: 1 hour by train / 1 hour 30 minutes by car
Pisa is the most popular day trip from Florence, partially because it’s an iconic landmark in Italy, but it’s also very easy to reach by train.
The famous Leaning Tower of Pisa is actually a bell tower dating back to the 12th century. It’s a beautiful piece of architecture, with six levels of intricate stone arches reaching 186 feet (56 m) into the sky.
Despite its impressive design, the tower began tilting due to an unstable foundation. Luckily, city officials have taken measures to ensure the tower won’t fall, and visitors can even climb to the top for a bird’s eye view of the city.
On my first trip to Florence, I was really excited to visit the iconic leaning tower, but I didn’t anticipate everything else to see and do around Pisa!
Other notable attractions just a short walk from the leaning tower include the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta, The Baptistry, the Camposanto, and more architectural marvels.
If you have time, I highly recommend walking downtown and grabbing dinner or some gelato on the River Arno. It’s such a picturesque place to take a walk or have dinner as the sun goes down, especially near the Ponte Di Mezzo (Mezzo Bridge).
2. Bologna
➡️ BEST GUIDED TOUR: Bologna Food Experience: Factory Tours and Family Style Lunch
📍 GETTING HERE: 40 minutes by train / 1 hour 30 minutes by car
Bologna is home to nearly 400,000 residents and has an equally rich culture with tons of museums and architectural marvels to visit.
But the reason most people spend time in Bologna is for the food. It’s the gastronomical capital of Italy – and I’m sure most Italian towns would protest that title, but hey, who am I to judge?!
There are a lot of great dishes that come from Italy, and we have Bologna to thank for many of them. Bolognese Pasta Sauce, Mortadella, Tortellini in Brodo, and 7-layer sheet pasta (Lasagna) all originated in Bologna.
Here are the top-rated local restaurants to visit on a day trip from Florence
- All’Osteria Bottega – Traditional Bolognese-Style dishes, meats, and wines
- Trattoria Da Me – Tortellini, lasagna, and other traditional pasta dishes
- Drogheria della Rosa – homestyle Bolognese cooking, great desserts, and a long wine list
Once you’ve finished stuffing yourself, plan some time to enjoy the awesome non-foodie things to do in the city, from local markets to the Piazza Maggiore and the University of Bologna.
I’ve spent a long weekend in Bologna, and although the food was great, I felt it was a tad bit dirty and graffitied up. So I would recommend a day trip over spending a few nights in the city.
3. Chianti Hills
➡️ BEST GUIDED TOUR: Florence to Chianti Wine Region with 2 Wine Tastings & Vineyards
📍 GETTING HERE: 1 hour 15 minutes by train / 40 minutes by car
Chianti lies right in the heart of Tuscany, right between Florence and Siena. It’s one of the most notable wine regions in the world, and if you like red wine, you’ve probably seen a bottle or two at the grocery store from Chianti.
The Chianti Hills are full of small villages full of scenic vineyards. A few of the most popular spots include Greve, Radda, and Castellina. These towns have seemingly endless wine bars, tasting cellars, and gift shops where you can enjoy delicious red & white wine with a view of the Tuscan countryside.
If you like hiking, you can also take advantage of miles and miles of scenic trails through the vineyards!
The best way to see the region is by renting a car (preferably a little Fiat convertible) and cruising through the Chianti Hills on your own. It’s seriously straight out of a fairy tale, plus you’ll find small local wineries and vineyards that guided tours pass by.
But booking a guided day tour from Florence is still worthwhile. With a tour guide, you don’t have to worry about getting from one winery to the next or driving back to Florence after a few glasses. 🍷
4. Siena
➡️ BEST GUIDED TOUR: Tuscany Day trip from Florence: Siena, San Gimignano, Pisa, and Lunch at a Winery
📍 GETTING HERE: 1 hour 30 minutes by train / 1 hour 15 minutes by car
As the second largest city in Tuscany, Siena is a coveted place to visit and a convenient day trip from Florence.
Believe it or not, the city is known for fruitcakes! However, people also love to check out the Palio di Siena (a bi-annual horse race) and the Duomo di Siena, which is considered even more awe-inspiring than the Duomo of Florence.
Siena’s Duomo houses artwork from Donatello, Michelangelo, and other famous painters. If you visit in the summer, I would buy skip-the-line tickets to ensure you won’t wait hours to enter. These tickets will grant you access to the entire Siena Cathedral Complex.
If you are spending a full day in Siena, get there in time to walk through the narrow cobblestone streets and marvel at the medieval architecture around the city. Be sure to plan a route that passes by the Palazzo Pubblico Castle.
👉 Looking for a great view? Head to the top of the Torre del Mangia or Opera della Metropolitana to look over the green rolling hills sprawling beyond the city.
5. San Gimignano
➡️ BEST GUIDED TOUR: Pisa, Siena and San Gimignano Day Trip from Florence + Lunch
📍 GETTING HERE: 1.5 – 2 hours by train (requires transfer) / 1 hour by car
San Gimignano is a medieval hilltop town with historic buildings and 14 ‘ancient skyscrapers.’
Historically, the 13th-century walled city served as a pit stop for pilgrims and traders traveling from northern Italy to Rome. Today, thousands of visitors come each day to climb the towers and enjoy a scenic view of Tuscany.
Overall, I think it’s a fun place to sightsee, have an aperitivo, and browse local souvenir shops.
Be sure to grab dessert at the Gelateria Dondoli (a multiple-time Gelato World Champion!) They have tons of classic and unique flavors to try.
👉 PRO TIP: San Gimignano is one of the most touristy places to visit from Florence, so if you’re visiting without a tour, get there early (around 8 a.m.) to avoid heavy crowds.
6. Monteriggioni
➡️ BEST GUIDED TOUR: Tuscany Day: Siena, San Ginignano, & Monteriggioni Wine Tour
📍 GETTING HERE: 2 hours by train (must transfer in Siena) / 1 hour by car
Monteriggioni is a tiny walled town in the province of Siena, Italy. It was built in the 13th-14th century to defend against the Florentines and has become one of Tuscany’s most iconic attractions.
The fortress walls are still intact, and you can even walk along the walls to each watchtower and envision what it would have been like to live there over 700 years ago!
You only need about an hour to walk through the ancient walls and see the city, so most travelers combine their visit to Monteriggionini with Siena (25 minutes away) or San Gimignano (35 minutes away) to fill the rest of their Florence day trip itinerary.
If you’re planning a private day trip to Tuscany from Florence, Monteriggioni is one historical place you should not skip! In addition to walking the Cinta Muraria (city walls), be sure to see each city gate, visit the museum, and sample Tuscan cuisine at one of the local restaurants.
7. Lucca
➡️ BEST GUIDED TOUR: Pisa and Lucca Day trip from Florence
📍 GETTING HERE: 1 hour 30 minutes by train/bus / 1 hour 30 minutes by car
Lucca is a charming, laid-back city known as the ‘city for 100 churches.’ The Renaissance-era architecture and breathtaking views of Tuscany draw visitors here year after year.
Whether you’re looking to explore historical sites or indulge in some delicious Italian cuisine, there are plenty of things to do on a day trip from Florence to Lucca. You can climb the Guinigi Tower to see oak trees growing in the sky, grab a drink in the Piazza dell’Anfiteatro, or meander through the weekly markets selling handmade artisanal goods.
You can also rent bikes in Lucca and take a leisurely ride along the 16th-century walls that encircle the city.
The city of Lucca is also just 30 minutes from Pisa, so it’s easy to combine them into a single day if you’re up for putting a couple of stops on the itinerary.
8. Montepulciano
➡️ BEST GUIDED TOUR: Montalcino, Orcia Valley, Pienza, and Montepulciano: Wine & Cheese Tour from Florence
📍 GETTING HERE: 3 hours 40 minutes by train / 1 hour 30 minutes by car
Montepulciano is another famous medieval town near Florence. It’s situated on a hilltop in the Tuscan countryside and overlooks the beautiful Val d’Orcia valley.
Most people come to Montepulciano for the wine. There are numerous vineyards, wine cellars, and tasting rooms to check out around the city. But the town has much more than wine!
Montepulciano has beautiful Renaissance architecture and enchanting cobblestone streets that feel straight out of a fairytale.
👉 PRO TIP: If you’re interested in the most Instagrammable spots in Tuscany, I recommend visiting two cypress-lines zigzagging roads just a short drive from Montepulciano. You can find them at Cipressi di Monticchiello (southeast of Monticchiello) and Cypress Lined Road (near La Foce).
9. Verona
➡️ BEST GUIDED TOUR: Verona Highlights Walking Tour with Small Group
📍 GETTING HERE: 1 hour 45 minutes by train, 2 hours 45 minutes by car
Verona is a romantic city about 3 hours from Florence, and it’s absolutely worth visiting on a day trip to northern Italy. The city is full of authentic Italian culture, intricate architecture, and ancient Roman ruins.
But most people visit Verona because it’s the setting of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. Although Shakespeare never actually visited the city, there are still mythical landmarks to visit, like Juliet’s House, Juliet’s Tomb, and Juliet’s balcony.
👉 PRO TIP: If you’re a huge fan of Romeo and Juliet, then this walking tour will be more your speed!
Other things to see and do in Verona include Castelvecchio Bridge and Domes Mercatorun, or you can simply wander around the charming cobblestone streets filled with shops, cafes, and restaurants.
The city also hosts various festivals throughout the year. The most well-known is the Arena di Verona Opera Festival.
10. Cinque Terre
➡️ BEST GUIDED TOUR: Cinque Terre Day Trip with Transport from Florence
📍 GETTING HERE: 3 hours by train, 2 hours 30 minutes by car
Cinque Terre is a famous group of 5 colorful villages near La Spezia, Italy. If you’re reading this, you’ve undoubtedly seen a few photos of the cliffside villages. It’s a surreal place, and you will need a full day to see everything here!
The villages are all a part of Cinque Terre National Park, which has well-maintained trails that take you to breathtaking views of the Italian Riviera coast. The area was even declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1997 for its unique beauty and cultural significance.
Manarola and Vernazza have the most famous viewpoints of the five villages, but Monterossa is the most underrated. It’s the best place to spend time at the beach or have a seaside dinner. There are also lots of small artisan vendors where you can buy souvenirs!
Many people love to experience the beauty of Cinque Terre on foot – the hike through all five villages is just 20 kilometers. But if you only have one day, you should take the train to spend more time in each place.
11. Castiglione della Pescaia
➡️ BEST GUIDED TOUR: Castiglione della Pescaia: Walking Tour in an Ancient Village
📍 GETTING HERE: 3 hours 15 minutes by train, 2 hours 15 minutes by car
Castiglione della Pescaia is another coastal town near Florence with crystal clear water and a picturesque harbor overlooking the Tyrrhenian Sea.
There are some vacation resorts, but it’s an unassuming, quiet town that retains a lot of its roots as an old fishing village. The lush landscape is consistent with the rest of Tuscany, including olive groves, pinewoods forest, and farming.
The entire coastline is full of organized beaches with sunbeds, beach clubs, cafes, restaurants, and other beach activities like volleyball and parasailing.
👉 PRO TIP: If you’re looking for a weekend at the beach near Florence, this is a great option, and there are so many adorable guesthouses. My top pick would be Agriturismo La Luciana!
12. Venice
➡️ BEST GUIDED TOUR: Florence to Venice: The Floating City
📍 GETTING HERE: 2 hours by train / 3 hours by car
The Floating City of Venice is a bucket-list destination for nearly everyone traveling to Italy, and I agree it’s a place you must see at least once! Venice offers a unique blend of history, culture, and romance that you won’t find anywhere else – and it’s less than 3 hours from Florence!
Yes, Venice is touristy. But when you’re sailing along the Grand Canal at sunset, you won’t care!
Of course, you should see famous sights like St. Mark’s Square, Rialto Bridge, and the Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute.
But make time to wander through the less visited districts of the city, too. For example, the sestiri (neighborhood) of Castello is often untouched by cruise passengers and day trippers!
Then head to T Fondaco Rooftop Terrace for an unobstructed view of the Grand Canal without the queue.
13. Orbetello
📍 GETTING HERE: 2 hours 30 minutes by car / 3 hours by train
There are very few tours from Florence to Orbetello, so you will need to create your own itinerary to visit this beautiful beach town.
Orbetollo is a coastal town in the Tuscany region of Italy with unique geography. The rural village sits in the middle of three isthmus, all over 5 kilometers long, connecting the Monte Argentario Peninsula to mainland Italy.
You’ll find long beaches, diverse nature reserves, and tranquil lagoons along each connecting piece of land.
Orbetollo is the perfect place to visit if you’re looking weekend beach trip from Florence. The two most accessible beaches are Feniglia Beach and Giannella Beach. Their sandy shores and mellow waves make it a favorite for families with small children!
People also enjoy camping, wetland tours, and birdwatching in Orbetello.
It’s farther away than the other day trips on this list, but the direct train route means it’s still close enough for a day or weekend trip from Florence.
14. Saturnia
➡️ BEST GUIDED TOUR: I highly recommend renting a car to visit the Saturnia Hot Springs!
📍 GETTING HERE: 3 hours by car / 6-7 hours by train + bus
Saturnia is a small town halfway between Florence and Rome, and comes highly recommended by my Italian friends. Tours from Florence to Saturnia are hard to find – so I highly recommend renting a car in Florence to visit the hot springs.
It’s about 3 hours each way, but many people still find it worth the journey to relax in the thermal baths and natural hot springs that have made the town famous.
The main attraction in Saturnia is the Terme di Saturnia, which includes three thermal pools with water temperatures ranging from 36-37°C (96-98ºF). The natural baths are open to the public year-round, and while they aren’t huge, you’ll still be able to find an open spot in the pools.
Some notes to help you make the most of your visit:
- Bring water shoes
- Don’t wear jewelry into the thermal baths
- There are no changing facilities at the hot springs. So, if you don’t love the idea of changing in the parking lot, make sure to wear your bathing suit!
Aside from relaxing in the thermal pools, Saturnia also has some great hikes and vineyards nearby.
15. Lake Como
➡️ BEST GUIDED TOUR: 1-Hour Private Boat Tour Lake Como (transportation not included)
📍 GETTING HERE: 3 hours 15 minutes by train / 4 hours 15 minutes by car
Lake Como is probably the farthest I’d go on a day trip from Florence, and it’s definitely better to take an entire weekend to visit.
While Florance is full of historical landmarks and great food, it lacks outdoor adventure. So when you’re craving a scenic hike or mountain views, Lake Como is one of the first places in Italy that come to mind!
Lake Como is about 30 minutes north of Milan, and it’s the start of the Italian Alps. From boat tours to hiking trails and plenty of delicious restaurants, it’s the perfect place to spend a weekend trip from Florence.
Here are some of the top hiking trails around Lake Como:
- Monte Caprino – 3.0 mi (4.8 km)
- Brunate – San Maurizio – Monti di Capovico – 6.0 mi (9.6 km)
- Greenway of Lake Como – 7.5km (12.0 km)
Don’t forget to plan a time to walk around lakeside villages, too.
Bellagio, Varenna, and Menaggio are known as the ‘Golden Triangle.’ Here, you can enjoy lakefront cafes and restaurants with a view of the mountains, plus tons of boutique shopping and dreamy cobblestone streets.
My Favorite Experiences Around Florence
While I love each of the places to go on a day trip from Florence, there are also some experiences I highly recommend that aren’t ‘geographically bound.’
Here are some of my favorite experiences you can do anywhere around Florance.
✅ Tuscany In A Day
Florance is the capital of Tuscany, one of the most beautiful regions in the world. Taking a day to tour the best sights and vineyards throughout the region is something everyone should do when traveling to Italy.
Some of the best stops on a tour of the region are Sieno, San Gimignano, Monteriggoni, Pisa, Lucca, and Montepulciano.
➡️ Book a Tour of Tuscany: Siena, San Gimignano, Pisa & Lunch at a Winery
✅ Florence Vespa Tour
One of the best things to do in and around Florence is book a Vespa Tour. I love putting this at the front of my itinerary because it lets me get a feel for the city and glimpse each neighborhood. Then I can decide which places I want to return to and spend more time later in the trip!
You can do this on a hop-on-hop-off bus tour, but seeing the city on a Vespa scooter is much more exhilarating!
➡️ Book a Vespa Tour in Florence
✅ Tuscan Cooking Class
Italy is one of the food capitals of the world, and learning how to cook authentic Tuscan cruising will give you a new appreciation for each meal and Italy and equip you with skills to impress your friends and family back home!
You can book a pasta-making cooking class or a more contemporary Pizza and Gelato Cooking Class in Florence.
➡️ Book a Cooking Class in Florence
✅ Horseback Riding
Another one of the top experiences to book around Florence is a horseback riding tour through the Tuscan countryside.
Typically, this kind of tour is a full-day excursion. It includes a couple of hours of exploring the countryside on horseback, lunch, wine tasting, and free time in a scenic village.
➡️ Go Horseback Riding in San Gimignano
✅ Wine Tour
For an authentic Tuscan experience, I highly recommend visiting a couple of vineyards in Tuscany to see how they produce wine and taste it at the source. There are plenty of wine-tasting tours around Florence.
No matter where you go, it will be worth your time and money. You’ll get to learn about the history of Tuscan wine, the wine-making process, and the price of drinks are included in the tour!
➡️ Book a Wine Tour in Florence
How many days do you need in Florence?
You need at least 3 days in Florence to see the city’s main attractions, like the Basilica of Santa Maria Novella, Piazzale Michelangelo, the Uffizi Gallery, and take a few day trips to nearby destinations.
I usually spend 2-3 days in Florence each time I visit, and after multiple trips, I still don’t feel like I’ve seen everything.
But there is enough to see and do in Florence to keep you entertained for weeks! So if you have extra time to spare, I encourage you to spend a week in Florence to fully immerse yourself in the culture and find hidden gems around the city.
What I’ve learned is that planning is key. If you have your transportation and day trips reserved ahead of time, you’ll set yourself up to make the most of each day in Florence.
Can you do a day trip to Lake Como from Florence?
Yes, you can do a day trip from Florence to Lake Como, but you should prepare for a long day!
Whether you travel by train or car, the journey will take over six hours round trip. Instead, you should visit Lake Como on a weekend trip from Florence.
If you go on a day trip, book a boat tour beforehand. You can schedule a boat tour for around 11 am, after which you’ll still have time for a short hike or a walk through the village of Bellagio.
Final Thoughts: Day Trips from Florence
Florence is one of my favorite cities in Italy, and there are endless places to visit nearby, but seeing them all in a single holiday is a little unrealistic.
👉 PRO TIP: If I had only had time for a couple of day trips in Florence, I would prioritize a visit to Cinque Terre, and then I’d book the Tuscany Combination Tour to Siena, San Gimignano, & Pisa.
The nice part is that no matter where you choose, there are guided tours to each destination, or you can travel by train (here’s a complete map of every route in Italy). And for those who want complete freedom over their schedule, you can hire a rental car and visit at your own pace!
Also, don’t forget about the food scene in Florence. There are TONS of Michelin restaurants, which are only one-star (i.e., affordable), and delicious street food stalls everywhere!
