Best Day Trips from Florence - Ranked by a Local
2w ago (edited) · 143 views
Florence is an incredible base for exploring Tuscany and beyond. I grew up here and these are my honest rankings of the best day trips, from most to least recommended.
1. Siena — 1h15 by bus, 1h30 by train
Florence's historic rival. The shell-shaped Piazza del Campo is one of Italy's most beautiful squares. Visit the Duomo (the marble floor is breathtaking), climb the Torre del Mangia, and eat pici pasta. If you can time it for the Palio horse race (July 2 or August 16), it's one of the most intense cultural experiences in Italy.
2. San Gimignano — 1h15 by bus (change at Poggibonsi)
The "Manhattan of the Middle Ages" with its 14 surviving medieval towers. Tiny, gorgeous, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Try the world-champion gelato at Gelateria Dondoli in the main square. Best in the morning before tour buses arrive.
3. Lucca — 1h20 by train
The most underrated city in Tuscany. Rent bikes and ride along the top of the Renaissance city walls (4km loop). Beautiful churches, excellent food, a relaxed atmosphere that's very different from Florence. The oval piazza (Piazza dell'Anfiteatro) was built inside a Roman amphitheater.
4. Val d'Orcia — 2h by car (really needs a car)
The landscape you see on every Tuscan postcard. Rolling hills, lone cypress trees, golden fields. Visit Pienza (the "ideal city" with incredible pecorino cheese), Montalcino (home of Brunello wine), and Bagno Vignoni (a village built around a hot spring pool). This is a full-day trip.
5. Volterra — 2h by bus
Etruscan hilltop town with dramatic views. More authentic and less crowded than San Gimignano. Famous for alabaster craftwork. The Roman theater ruins are impressive and entry is cheap.
6. Pisa — 1h by train
Yes, the tower leans. It's worth seeing once, and the Piazza dei Miracoli is genuinely beautiful. But beyond the tower and baptistery, Pisa is a university town without much tourist appeal. Easy half-day trip — combine it with Lucca.
7. Cinque Terre — 2h30 by train
Technically in Liguria, not Tuscany, but doable as a long day trip. The five colorful fishing villages are stunning but very crowded in summer. Go in spring or fall. It's a long day — leave by 7am, back by 9pm.
8. Cortona — 1h30 by train
Made famous by "Under the Tuscan Sun." Charming hilltop town with incredible views over Lake Trasimeno. Lovely for a half-day but limited in things to do. Best combined with a drive through the Valdichiana.
My top tip: don't try to cram too many day trips in. Florence itself deserves your time. Pick 1-2 that call to you and give them a full, unhurried day.