What are the best day trips from Florence Italy? Florence is the perfect home base for your Italy vacation. Bustling with action and packed with historical treasures, and just a stone’s throw from some of the most interesting spots in Italy. Here are my top picks for the best day trips from Florence!
This post was contributed by Anca, the founder of One Day Itinerary, a travel blog dedicated to those who want to make the most of their time in a new city, even if they only have only one day there!
The city of Florence is widely considered to be one of the best places you can visit in Italy. Incredible architecture, loads of culture, great food and so many sights to see! It’s no wonder Florence is right up there with Rome as the most popular Italian city to visit.
But Tuscany, the broader region in which Florence is located, is just as famous for its beauty and historical marvels. This part of Italy offers breathtaking landscapes, and a rich and intricate history. It has delivered us the Renaissance and so many famous artists. Therefore, if you come to spend time in Florence, day trips to explore the surrounding region are pretty much a must.
But where should you go? Honestly, you really can’t go wrong no matter where you end up! But here are some of our top suggestions.
Siena
Best Siena Tours from Florence:
Siena & San Gimignano Private Tour with LivTours
Day Trip to Pisa, Siena, & San Gimignano with Lunch
Siena & San Gimignano with Lunch & Wine
Sunset in Siena & Dinner in Chianti
Siena is about a one hour drive from Florence (you can easily take the bus if you don’t have a car).
This incredible city has been around since ancient times, so it has a whole lot to offer in terms of sights. As a matter of fact, its entire city center is a UNESCO World Heritage Site!
The Siena Cathedral is a masterpiece which can be visited and climbed for a spectacular view. Palazzo Pubblico (the Siena town hall) is an architectural feat which houses a fantastic museum. And Torre del Mangia, right next to it, offers breathtaking views if you want to climb 400 steps.
If you can, plan you trip to Siena around the Palio, a traditional horse race held on July 2 and August 16. The city becomes packed with thousands of people gathering on the Piazza del Campo, the main city square in front of Palazzo Pubblico.
San Gimignano
Best San Gimignano Tours from Florence:
Siena & San Gimignano Private Tour with LivTours
Day Trip to Pisa, Siena, & San Gimignano with Lunch
Siena & San Gimignano with Lunch & Wine
Siena and San Gimignano are often combined, but don’t rush things if you have the time – both places are more than worthy of a whole day, and could easily make two separate day trips from Florence.
San Gimignano is best known for its medieval towers, of which 14 still stand and provide this place with a unique skyline. Standing on a hilltop surrounded by old farms, vineyards and olive trees, the town looks like something straight out of a fairy tale.
Like in Siena, the historic center here is also under UNESCO’s protection, with some truly beautiful examples of medieval architecture. Palazzo Comunale is one of the most important spots to visit while in town, along with the nearby churches which contain impressive frescos.
Once you’re done sightseeing, enjoy the charm of this beautiful little town, walk its fascinating streets and taste some of the local products. You’ll love every second of it!
Chianti
Best Chianti Tours from Florence:
Sunset in Siena & Dinner in Chianti
Private Chianti Wine Tasting Tour with LivTours
Private Chianti Tour in a Vintage Car
Wine lovers won’t want to miss the chance to visit the region in which one of Italy’s most famous wines is made! Even if you don’t drink, a day trip from Florence to Chianti is a great way to spend the day.
Chianti is a part of Tuscany, and is full of picturesque hills and beautiful little towns. Naturally, this is also a foodie heaven – you can try numerous superb wines apart from Chianti, and pair it all with some spectacular food. There’s even an option for a tour of the vineyards on a horse!
This is the perfect way to get away from the city and into the Italian countryside. Unfortunately, you’ll need a car to do it independently. Since that puts a damper on the Chianti tasting, we suggest you do it as an organized tour.
Pisa
Best Pisa Tours from Florence:
Private Pisa Tour with LivTours
Private Lucca and Pisa Tour with LivTours
Day Trip to Pisa, Siena, & San Gimignano with Lunch
Small Group Tour to Pisa, Siena, San Gimignano, and Chianti
Who hasn’t heard of the Leaning Tower of Pisa? Visiting Pisa as day trip from Florence is your chance to visit the tower (and get the ridiculous photos).
You can get to Pisa from Florence by bus (just over an hour) or train (about 90 minutes).
The famous tower sits on Piazza del Duomo, a square with several other very important sights. Namely, the cathedral (Duomo) right next to the tower, the baptistery, and the fascinating cemetery.
The city is packed with beautiful palaces and squares. Knights’ Square (Piazza dei Cavalieri), is one of the mains sights, along with towers and great museums (the National Museum of San Matteo is absolutely superb!).
You’ll have a busy day trying to cover it all, so if you need to stop and take a break, Pisa’s Botanical Garden is very close to the main square. Find a free bench and enjoy the greenery!
Lucca
Best Lucca Tours from Florence:
Private Lucca and Pisa Tour with LivTours
Pisa & Lucca Tour with Buccellato Tasting
Cinque Terre Day Tour with Lucca
Top Gear fans will know that Clarkson, Hammond and May shot an episode in this beautiful little town. If you’re not a fan, don’t worry: that’s not the only reason Lucca is on this list of top 10 day trips from Florence!
It has numerous amazing sights and will relax you with the atmosphere of a peaceful little town. Its main square, Piazza dell’ Anfiteatro, is not so much a square as an oval, but what is truly remarkable about it is the houses surrounding the Piazza have actually been merged with the walls of a Roman amphitheatre.
You’ll also want to visit Palazzo Guinigi and climb its tower, not just for the view but also for the trees that grow on top, making this tower truly unique. The local cathedral houses some very important pieces of art, so it should be added to your list, too!
Getting here takes about an hour, maybe a bit more, and you can take the train or bus, with some great views along the way.
Cinque Terre
Best Cinque Terre Tours from Florence:
Private Full Day Cinque Terre Tour
Cinque Terre Day Tour with Hike
Round Trip Bus Transport to Cinque Terre
Although not a part of Tuscany, Cinque Terre is still a very popular day trip from Florence because it only takes a bit over 2 hours to get there. With a slightly earlier start you can have a truly fantastic day, and maybe even grab a boat tour of this fascinating and postcard-perfect area.
Five mesmerizing towns and villages, some of which are on steep cliffs right next to the sea, await you. They really show you the fully beauty of the Italian Riviera. Beautiful hills dot the land, and the coastline shows off the very best of the Mediterranean. You can swim, wander, eat. Whatever you do, you will enjoy your time in this incredible national park and Italian UNESCO World Heritage Site to the fullest.
This is as close to a perfect day trip as one can get on their vacation.
Porto Venere
Best Porto Venere Tours from Florence:
Cinque Terre & Porto Venere Seaside Day Tour
While Porto Venere is not a part of Cinque Terre, it is no less beautiful. Situated just south, this charming village is the perfect spot if you’re looking for a place to spend your day swimming and enjoying the beach. There are plenty of great diving places around here, and the sea caves will leave you speechless.
As for sightseeing, the Church of St. Peter from the 12th century, with its distinctive black and white stripes, is the main attraction. It provides an incredible view of the sea below if you climb it. Lord Byron, the famous British poet, also loved coming here, and Byron’s Grotto is the place to go for inspiration!
Bologna
Best Bologna Tours from Florence:
Private Bologna Day Tour with Lunch
Attention, foodies!
Bologna is very close to Florence and considered the heart of Italian culinary scene. A day trip from Florence is easy and worth it, especially if you want to taste something truly special. Try the only true Parmigiano Reggiano – found all over the city – and maybe grab a bottle of real aceto balsamico as a souvenir. Also visit L’Osteria del Sole, the oldest pub in the world dating back to the middle of the 15th century. But that’s just the tip of the iceberg: there are so many dishes to enjoy here!
Besides food, Bologna has a lot to offer, and the distinctive red buildings give it a unique look. The city is famous for its university, and there are loads of beautiful squares, towers and churches to explore.
Less than an hour away by train, you can easily get here and have a wonderful day exploring!
Assisi
Best Assisi Tours from Florence:
Orvieto & Assisi Tour with Church Visits
Private Day Trip to Assisi & Cortona
If you’re a devout Catholic, the town of Assisi is one place you’ll surely want to visit. This is where the famous St. Francis of Assisi spent his life preaching understanding between religions and care for the poor.
The Basilica di San Francesco is dedicated to the Saint and houses 28 frescoes depicting various episodes from his life.
For those less interested in the religious significance, there is still lots to see in this pretty little town, like the temple of Minerva, now converted to a church, with some elements dating back to ancient Rome. You should also climb Rocca Maggiore, a medieval fortress overlooking the town, for spectacular views. Apart from that, plenty more churches and palaces deserve your attention.
Getting here by car is best. It will take you about two hours. You can also hop aboard a train, but expect it to take up to three hours.
Venice
Best Venice Tours from Florence:
Venice in One Day Tour
Venice Full Day Guided Bus Trip
Venice by Train with Walking Tour
Last, but most certainly not least, a city that really needs no introduction – Venice. Thanks to Italy’s fast trains, you can be there in just two hours, leaving plenty of time to enjoy.
Hop on a gondola and ride the famous canals while marvelling at the buildings sitting right up against the water. Get lost in the narrow streets. Enjoy some incredible art, or learn how Murano glass is made. Visit the church of San Marco and maybe even feed the pigeons!