9 of the Top Day Trips From Florence

The Siena Cathedral and Piazza del Campo define Siena’s skyline, but one of the best things to do in this medieval city is get lost in its maze of cobblestone streets and Gothic architecture. Just 1.5 hours from Florence by bus or train, Siena is one of Tuscany’s top destinations, though its small-town feel is well intact. If you’d like to add another town to your day trip, there are plenty of Siena and San Gimignano tours from Florence, and some even include a quick stop in Pisa so you can admire the Leaning Tower.

Whether you’d like a hearty plate of tordelli Lucchesi or a relaxing bike ride around centuries-old city walls, Lucca ranks among the best one-day trips from Florence. Show yourself around the medieval center, home to the unusually tree-topped Guinigi Tower and oval-shaped Piazza dell’Anfiteatro, or tour the town by bike with a local. Lucca is just over an hour away from Florence by train or bus, which gives you time to add wine tasting in the nearby countryside to your itinerary, too.

Even the Medicis bought ceramics from Montelupo Fiorentino, a Tuscan town known for its majolica creations since the Renaissance. A 20-minute train ride from Florence, Montelupo shows off its colorful pottery in the Museum of Ceramics and through the official Strada della Ceramica that recognizes local workshops for their authentic craftsmanship. Shop to your heart’s content, or learn from the professionals in a Montelupo ceramics masterclass that lets you create a pottery piece to take home.

Verona’s Roman ruins and Romeo and Juliet–themed fun may be a far cry from Tuscany’s rolling hills and Renaissance riches, but they’re still just 1.5 hours from Florence by train. The hilltop Castel San Pietro and Ponte Pietra stretching over the Adige River make Verona one of the most scenic day trips from Florence, and walking tours ensure that you won’t miss any highlights. If the city’s Shakespearean lore calls to you, Romeo and Juliet tours can take you to Juliet’s House and other sights connected to the play.

Just over an hour away by train, Arezzo is one of the best day trips from Florence for vintage shopping—it hosts Italy’s oldest antiques fair on the first weekend of every month. At any time of the year, you can check out Piero della Francesca’s famous frescoes in the San Francesco Basilica or Piazza Grande’s soaring towers, Vasari-designed Logge Palace, and other unique architecture. Visit Arezzo on a private tour to appreciate all of its medieval charm and masterpiece-filled churches.

Escape Florence with a day trip to the Chianti wine region, where you’ll trade traffic and crowds for verdant hills, peaceful olive groves, and plenty of Tuscan wine. Greve, Castellina, and Panzano are just a few of the idyllic towns worth visiting in the area, though public transportation is limited. The best way to go to more than one vineyard is to book a wine tour from Florence, but travelers also love exploring Chianti by Vespa and taking farmhouse cooking classes with views of the countryside.

The tiny hill town of San Miniato is one of the most unique day trips from Florence—and an especially good destination for truffle lovers. If you can’t make it to San Miniato’s annual white truffle festival in the fall, you can still enjoy this fragrant fungus during a truffle hunting tour in the surrounding forests. Some experiences include transportation from Florence, and most end with a lunch showcasing your freshly foraged truffles. After your meal, San Miniato has plenty of medieval architecture, Renaissance artwork, and countryside panoramas to see on a more traditional itinerary in the city.

Known as “La Dotta, La Grassa, La Rossa” (The Learned, The Fat, The Red) for its 11th-century university, beloved cuisine, and red brick architecture, Bologna has endless things to do on a day trip from Florence. Most travelers opt for food tours to taste Bolognese pasta and cured meats at some of the city's historic markets and eateries, though walking tours show you Bolognese hidden gems beyond its best dishes. Don’t miss the lively University Quarter, home to the University of Bologna, or the monument-rich Piazza Maggiore during your visit.

Val d'Orcia is a real-life Tuscan postcard, with dramatic castles, cypress lanes, and vibrant green vineyards as far as the eye can see. The mainly rural area sits about two hours south of Florence, and it encompasses Pienza, Montalcino, and other medieval hill towns well worth a visit. The main draws to the valley, though, are wine tasting in Montepulciano and marveling at the countryside scenery by car. You can book a Val d’Orcia tour from Florence to visit the area’s best cities, wineries, and photo stops in one day.