Day Trips from Florence

Categories

 

 

DAY TRIPS FROM FLORENCE, ITALY

 

A look at a map will quickly illustrate that Florence is the center, a hub, for other great places to go to see in Italy. The following day trips are just that, places you can go to, and return, in a day, from Florence, because the travel infrastructure is really that developed. Whether it is a rental car, a bus, a tour van, or a train you will benefit from not being the first visitor to Florence who wants to see other cities and regions around it.

 

Here is a list to consider as you budget your time and money………..

 

PISA

 

Yes, the tower is still leaning, waiting for you to take “that” photo. Yes, checking it off your bucket list is worth it.

 

How to get there: Trains run from Florence to Pisa frequently and the ride is about an hour. Trains are so good in Italy this will be the first, but not the last time in this list that we will say, don’t drive, take the train. Driving, even with GPS, is a recipe for something going wrong and it is also not inexpensive. Leave the distress of finding a parking space in Manhattan, hop on the train and relax.

 

BOLOGNA

 

When I was in Bologna I was told that Gelato was born there. I didn’t confirm that rumor but it is worth going there to be near where the best Balsamic Vinegar in the world is produced and near the University of Bologna.

 

How to get there: Of all the train trips from Florence, this is the easiest, only 35 minutes on a frequent high-speed intercity train.

 

CINQUE TERRE

 

Cinque Terre is the farthest location from Florence on this list so however, you plan to get there, leave early and expect to be back late. Cinque Terre literally translates as Five Towns. They are: Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza, and Monterosso. Be prepared for a long day on your feet.

 

How to get there: As a day trip, the best way to see all of Cinque Terre is a guided tour that will take you there on their van or bus.  Cinque Terre can be a long day trip and challenging to plan and organize on your own, and a tour lets you enjoy the experience without the hassle. However, if you want to get there on your own, take a train to La Spezia and then switch to the local train that stops at each of the five villages. You do not want to drive to Cinque Terre.

 

SIENA

The Palio di Siena and the Siena Duomo are reason enough to see Siena.

 

How to get there: Hourly direct trains run from Florence to Siena and take around 1.5 hours. You may find a quicker option is to go by bus with both the direct 131R and regional 131O buses running around every hour. The drive by car on the other hand is only an hour, but the best way to see Siena is on a full day tour from Florence. You can not only get to visit Siena, but also the beautiful town of San Gimignano and the Chianti wine region.

 

SAN GIMIGNANO

One of the most popular of the day trips from Florence is to the town of San Gimignano, famous for its skyline of medieval towers. Within the small walled town and UNESCO world heritage site, you’ll have no problem walking around starting from the Piazza del Duomo. The hub of town life in San Gimignano, this piazza is where you can see both the Duomo and the Town Hall. It’s also where you can go to climb the Torre Grosso and see the town from above, not to mention all the olive groves and vineyards that surround the town. In fact, this and neighboring squares are where you’ll find many of the town’s 14 surviving towers poking out from medieval and Renaissance palaces like Palazzo Vecchio del Podestà.

How to get there: Your best choices for visiting San Gimignano are either to join one of the many guided tours there or, surrender to a rental car and do the 50-minute drive from Florence yourself. Otherwise, it’s 2 hours on the bus, switching in the town of Poggibonsi. If you don’t want to drive yourself, consider joining a full-day tour. On this tour, you’ll not only stop in San Gimignano but also in beautiful Siena and in Chianti for some wine tasting. And, you won’t have to worry about driving under the influence.

 

MONTEPULCIANO

For many people, when they picture Tuscany it is an image of row after row of grapevines amongst rolling hills. That view is Montepulciano, a picturesque hilltop town in southern Tuscany. On a visit to Montepulciano, both your eyes and taste buds are in for a treat as the town is known for both its medieval buildings as well as its famous wines. As for sightseeing, you’ve got the Piazza Grande where both the town’s Renaissance Cathedral and Town Hall are found. After wandering the secret backstreets of this labyrinth town, it’s time for some wine tasting. The town is known for its noble reds, which you can experience down in some of Montepulciano’s oldest wine cellars.

How to get there: Like San Gimignano,  getting to Montepulciano is best done with a 1 hour 15-minute drive as trains take about two hours. Once there you can join a guided tour and again, not risk driving under the influence.

 

PIENZA AND VAL D’ORCIA

Other than its history and its UNESCO world heritage status, the big draw of Pienza is its views out over the sublime Val D’Orcia countryside. Besides the scenery, Val D’Orcia is protected as a national park and is important culturally for its celebrated wines and cheeses. No surprise then that tours to Pienza and Val D’Orcia revolve around the region’s wine and food.

How to get there: Traveling by car or on a guided tour are the only options that are going to give you the chance to fully explore the Val D’Orcia. Driving from Florence should take around 1 hour 20 minutes, while the bus journey would take 3 hours.

Special note: These day trips are fine if you only have the time to experience a bit of Tuscany but If you have the time and budget, rent a car and have a designated driver, or hire a driver with a car. The hill towns of Tuscany are likely to be the raison d’etre for your trip to Italy. If so, soak up Florence and then switch your lodging to one of the Tuscan towns shown above for a few days. You won’t regret it.