11 Brilliant Day Trips From Florence

Centrally located in northern Italy with great transport links, Florence is the perfect base to explore the rest of Tuscany. Here is our pick of the best day trips from Florence.

One of the most beautiful cities in Europe, there are plenty of wonderful things to do in Florence.

You can easily spend three or four days exploring its treasure chest of art, enthralling Renaissance architecture and vibrant culture.

But it’s also excellently located for lots of excellent day trips.

To the south lies the picture-postcard scenery of Tuscany, with grand villas lined with boulevards of cypresses overlooking world-famous vineyards. Medieval hill towns with tightly packed laneways constricted by ancient walls hark back to another age.  

To the west are the grand cities of Pisa and Lucca, whose mighty cathedrals and leaning towers offer fantastic views and a taste of Italian wanderlust. Further on, the colourful fishing villages of Cinque Terre, tucked into the rugged coastline, make a great day out.

Finally, Venice, Rome and Bologna are all a direct train ride away, making Florence an excellent base for not only nearby Tuscany but many of Northern Italy’s most iconic cities.

Below is a list of all our favourite day trips from Florence with tips on getting there by train, car or tour.

MAP / DAY TRIPS FROM FLORENCE

As a centrally located city in northern Italy, Florence is a perfect base to explore Tuscany and the northern cities. To help get you to plot your day trip, we have included all the locations listed in this guide on the below map.

USING OUR MAPS. Click on the top right corner to open in the Google Maps app. Click on the star to save to your Google account.  

OUR FLORENCE DAY TRIP SUMMARY:

DAY TRIPS BY TRAIN

Italy has an excellent train network, so a day trip from Florence is a great way to see more of the surrounding area. The best cities to visit from Florence by train on a day trip are:

• Siena – 1 hour, 15 minutes
• Lucca – 1 hour, 20 minutes
• Bologna – 35 minutes
• Pisa – 45 minutes

However, if you are using Florence as your base and you’re not pushed for time, we’d recommend adding an overnight stay for these destinations.

• Rome – 1 hour, 25 minutes
• Milan – 2 hours
• Venice – 2 hours, 15 minutes

DAY TRIPS BY ORGANISED TOUR

For the towns & villages that aren’t connected to Florence via a direct train line, tours are a great way to organise a day trip from Florence (if you don’t have your own car).

Here are the day trips we’ve recommended by tour:

• Chianti Hills
• Val D’Orcia
• San Gimignano

BEST DAY TRIPS BY CAR

Despite Italians’ reputation for being a little crazy behind the wheel, Tuscany is a relatively easy place to drive.

Although the small towns are not made for cars, most have very easy parking on the outskirts, making driving yourself a very easy experience.

Having your own car also allows you to stop off and enjoy the incredible views at your leisure.

The best day trips from Florence in your car:

• Chianti so you can visit several of the wine estates of your choosing;
• Val D’Orcia so you can stop for photo opportunities as you see fit; and
• San Gimignano which has easy parking and no direct train line.

BEST DAY TRIPS FROM FLORENCE

1. SIENA

Siena is moody, mysterious, and one of our favourite cities in Italy.

The centre of tightly packed narrow lanes, penned in by towering houses, has been recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage for representing the ideal medieval city.

At just over 1 hour from Florence by train, Siena is convenient for a day trip but also a wonderful place to explore.

It’s packed with superb architecture, interesting museums, a great cafe scene and plenty of interesting streets to stroll down and explore.

The highlight is the Siena Duomo one of the most extraordinary cathedrals in the world.

Read More – Our guide to visiting Siena has all the information you need and an easy-to-follow-day trip itinerary.

By Train – Direct trains take 1 hour 15 minutes and leave from Florence Santa Maria Novella train station.

By Tour – This well-rated day tour to Siena includes a stop at San Gimignano.

2. SAN GIMIGNANO

San Gimignano is a medieval hilltop town with towers that rise above green fields and pointy cypresses. It’s a beautiful location and one of the best places to get a sense of Tuscany.

At one time, there were over 70 towers in San Gimignano; today, only 14 remain, but what’s left behind is one of Tuscany’s best-preserved medieval hill towns.

It’s a beautiful place to visit with a surprising number of interesting things to do.

The Duomo is beautiful, with 14th-century frescoes by renowned Sienese artists, and the main tower provides fantastic views of the Tuscan countryside.

There’s a great food scene, and we also stumbled across some of Italy’s most interesting modern art.

Read More – All the details are in our San Gimignano day trip guide.

By Car – San Gimignano is just a 1-hour drive from Florence, making it a great way to enjoy Tuscany from Florence.

By Bus – If you are travelling via public transport, regular buses connect Florence to San Gimignano with a stop in Poggibonsi.

3. CHIANTI REGION

The Chianti region is just south of Florence.

Known for its squat bottle in straw baskets, wine has been made here for over 700 years.

A traditional Tuscan lunch of sliced prosciutto and local cheeses washed down with a bottle of Chianti is a wonderful escape from Florence.

The main towns of Chianti are Castellina, Radda and Greve, but we have a soft spot for Badia a Passignano.

This tiny village has an abbey and three great restaurants, all set overlooking a vast sweep of wine and olive groves.

The vineyards belong to the Antinori estate who have built a fancy modern home which is easily accessible from the motorway between Florence and Siena. Booking in advance is required.

By Car – The villages and vineyards of Chianti are close to Florence, but they are dotted around the countryside, so the best way to visit them is in a hire car. This way, you could visit Antinori estate, Badia a Passignano and Greve al Chianti all in one day.

By Bus – Without a car, you can get the SITA bus 368 – 370 from Florence Autostazione to Antinori. The stop you need is Bargino and the journey takes around 40 minutes.  

By Tour – There are several great organised tours into Chianti. This day tour from Florence has a trip to 2 vineyards, including tastings for up to 5 wines.

4. VAL D’ORCIA

Val D’Orcia is a scenic valley in Tuscany, so beautiful and culturally important it’s classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Here, you’ll find the most iconic Tuscan scenery of cypress trees winding up sinuous roads towards grand villas.

Brunello is a single-grape Sangiovese wine, only harvested from vines grown on the hills of Montalcino – a small village in Val d’Orcia.

Nearby, Pienza is often considered the ‘ideal city of the Renaissance.’ This is one of the best regions in Italy to experience local wineries in a beautiful setting.

Another 15 kilometres past Pienza, Montepulciano is an interesting walled town with winding medieval streets on top of a rocky cliff face.

The central square is surrounded by imposing facades and terraces that look out over miles of sweeping Tuscan countryside.

By Tour – Seeing all the sights of Val D’Orcia by public transport is hard, so the best option is to take a tour. This one visits Pienza & Montepulciano and includes wine tasting.

By Car – If you want to get to know the area, hiring a car and taking your time is a great option. We recommend 2 days in Val D’Orcia.

5. LUCCA

The charming walled city of Lucca is a relaxing break from the busyness of Florence.

Known as the city of 100 churches, you can cycle the walls, join a walking tour, take a tipple in the oval ‘square’ and stare up at the remarkable frescoes of the Duomo di San Martino.

When you have finished exploring on foot, head up Guinigi Tower for remarkable views over the medieval streets of the city centre with red roofs reaching towards the surrounding countryside of Tuscany.

The individual sights are not quite as grand as other places in Tuscany. But what Lucca offers is the ability to stroll through a lovely Italian town, soak up the quiet ambience, admire the beautiful architecture and hang out in charming local squares.

By Train – With direct trains from Florence, Lucca is one of the easiest Florence day trips. Trains leave Florence Santa Maria Novella train station and take 1 hour 20 minutes.

By Tour – To relax and enjoy this amazing part of Tuscany, this day tour visits both Lucca & Pisa and includes a taste test of Buccellato, Lucca’s delicious cake.

6. PISA

Most people head here for the remarkable collection of buildings on Piazza dei Miracoli – or Square of Miracles

Pisa Cathedral and its bell tower, the famous Leaning Tower of Pisa, is one of those big attractions in the world that everyone should visit.

Combined with Pisa Baptistry, the Camposanto Monumentale (Monumental Cemetery) and a museum, Pisa is one of the best architectural complexes in the world.

Standing on the summit of the leaning tower and taking in the views over Pisa is an experience that still seems as exciting as the first time we did it.  

By Train – To see the famous sights of Pisa, direct trains depart from Florence Santa Maria Novella train station and take 1 hour and 10 minutes.

By Tour – Alternatively, you could take this half-day tour, or you could take the same full-day tour mentioned above that visits both Lucca and Pisa in one day.

7. CINQUE TERRE

Cinque Terre National Park lies at the eastern end of the Italian Riviera, where the mountains meet the sea.

These five colourful fishing villages perched on the rugged Ligurian coast have become the iconic symbols of this beautiful area.

Connected by windy paths over the cliffs, hiking between the villages is an excellent day out.

Stop for lunch sitting over the harbour at Manarola then jump in for a refreshing post-lunch dip.

Regular trains run between the villages, so you can easily hop from one to the next.

One of the best ways to see the villages is on a boat tour, where you can see the colourful buildings wedged between the ocean and the mountains.

By Train – It takes about 3 hours to get to Cinque Terre by train with a stop in Pisa.

By Tour – If you intend to see Cinque Terre on a day trip from Florence and don’t have your own car, we’d recommend a private tour to relax on the way there and back. This tour includes an optional guided hike and train tickets between the villages.

8. BOLOGNA

Bologna is an authentic Italian city with a bold individual character. It feels like a place that locals know better than tourists.

With centuries of history and a population of 85,000 university students, Bologna is old enough to be charming and young enough to be exciting.

By day, stroll through its miles of porticoes, popping into medieval churches and climbing narrow soaring towers.

In the evening, join connoisseurs sampling wines from age-old enotecas, tuck into hams and cheeses on tightly packed lanes or join the young and boisterous enjoying aperitivo.

We would call this the best Florence day trip for foodies, perfect at just 30 minutes from Florence.

Read More – Read about all the top attractions with tips for visiting in our guide to the best things to do in Bologna.

By Train – Direct trains take 35 minutes and leave from Florence Santa Maria Novella station. More information is on our guide to the best things to do in Bologna.

9. VENICE

If Florence has competition for the most beautiful city in Italy, then it comes from Venice.

Built on 117 small islands connected by beautiful bridges across lovely canals, it’s a bewitching city full of ornately decorated buildings and grand piazzas.

The centre is compact enough to see many of the highlights in just one day, so it’s the perfect day trip from Florence.

Walk over the Ponte di Rialto to see the Grand Canale; explore Saint Marks Square heading into the basilica and up the campanile; and wonder at the Doges Palace and seafront. 

Venice is quite far from Florence, but a fast direct train means you can get there in just over 2 hours.

While the city deserves more than just a day, visiting on a day trip from Florence makes perfect sense if you are pressed for time.

By Train – Direct trains take 2 hours 15 minutes and leave from Florence Santa Maria Novella station.

By Tour – If you would like to join a tour, this guided tour from Florence includes a transfer and free time to wander around by yourself.

10. ROME

The capital of an ancient empire and a key player in the development of Renaissance Art, Rome is one of the greatest cities in the world.

Still the beating heart of Italy, Rome is also a modern, engaging epicentre and a great place to visit from Florence.

The city itself deserves three or four days to explore all the main sights, but the train from Florence takes under 90 minutes, so you can pack some of the highlights into one day.

You’ll need to be selective about what you want to see, but a morning exploring St Peters and the Vatican Museums and an afternoon at the Roman Forum and Coliseum would be a fine place to start.

Read More – Our guide to visiting Rome has much more information about what to do.

By Train – Direct trains take 1 hour 25 minutes and leave from Florence Santa Maria Novella station.

11. MILAN

Italy’s fashion capital, Milan, is an elegant city with promenade-style streets, a magnificent cathedral, and buzzing restaurants that are enthusiastic about local wine, truffles, and all things deliciously Italian.

Strolling around the cobbled streets and stopping to admire the world go by at Piazza del Duomo is one of the best ways to experience this northern Italian masterpiece.

Even if you don’t have time for an opera, it’s well worth getting tickets to tour the Teatro La Scala; the opulent interior will leave you mesmerised.

Alternatively, you can just stroll through the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II to be equally as impressed, completely free of charge.

Milan deserves much more than a day, but there are enough top sights to pick one or two and see them properly.

By Train – The high-speed train from Florence Santa Maria Novella station takes just under 2 hours to reach Milan.

MORE ITALY GUIDES

• Here are the best things to do in Siena.
• Discover the orange city with our guide to Bologna.
• Visit the beautiful Val di Funes in the Dolomites
• Read our top things to do in Florence.
• Our guide to the best things to do in Rome is perfect for first timers.
• Plan your trip with our 3-day Rome itinerary.
• Here are the best places to visit in the Dolomites.
• How to spend a day in San Gimignano.
• How to avoid the queues at the Vatican & St Peters.
• See Lake Como via boat (rental tips & routes).
• See Tuscany on these great day trips from Florence.
• Read our guide to the Italian Dolomites.