I lived in Tuscany for a year and have come up with my top seven places for day trips in Tuscany. Depending on where you are staying some of these will be more convenient and accessible. Still, if you are staying anywhere from Pisa, to Florence and even to smaller towns such as Siena or Montepulciano there will be a place for you.
Best Way to Travel for Day Trips in Tuscany
I love taking public transport around Tuscany. When planning a day trip my #1 recommendation is to look into the train options. The Tuscan countryside is stunning and when traveling by train you can enjoy the scenic views. Some of the smaller towns in Tuscany are less well-connected so taking a bus or private transfer can be necessary. If you are renting a car you have to be careful because many of the towns can only be entered if you have a permit. If you want more information on traveling by train, I have a full blog post on it here.
Grosseto
Grosseto is a charming town located in the south of Tuscany on the coast. There is a train station located not far from the city center that makes it easily accessible. This has to be one of my favorite locations in Tuscany as the streets are adorable. Grosseto is filled with many good restaurants and cute boutiques. A day in Grosseto is easily spent strolling around the center of the town. Grosseto also has a popular beach outside of the city at which you can spend a few hours.
Cinque Terre
Cinque Terre is one of the most visited places in Tuscany, but also incredibly small. While it is so beautiful the amount of tourists there can make it less enjoyable. If you are visiting Cinque Terre I cannot recommend hiking between the towns enough. There are beautiful trails with incredible views. Cinque Terre is a great option for day trips in Tuscany because if you are staying in a nearby town such as Pisa or La Spezia it is easily accessible by train. This way you can spend all day in Cinque Terre but save some money by sleeping in another town where you have access to more restaurants, grocery stores, and cheaper hotels.
Monte Argentario
Monte Argentairo has some of the most beautiful beaches and coastlines in Tuscany. It is about an hour outside Grosseto and 100% worth the trip. There are very few tourists and many beautiful beach clubs and marinas to hang out at. I had the best time exploring and relaxing here.
Siena
I lived in Siena for a year it is such a beautiful city, and easily connected to other Tuscan towns by train and bus. I have a few recommendations for a day trip to Siena. I recommend taking public transport to Siena for a few reasons. First, when renting a car you have to have a permit to enter the city of Siena. Driving in Siena is a nightmare. Most of the streets are one-way and the roads are very narrow. If you do bring a car, it is best to park it when you enter the city and spend the rest of the day on foot. Siena is very small and most things are less than a 15-minute walk away from each other. During the day Siena has great places to shop and a variety of sights to see.
Even though this guide is for day trips, I think Siena deserves a night. The city is a bit too famous for day trips in Tuscany as many tour groups are bussed in every day. This makes Siena significantly less enjoyable during peak tourism hours. If you are unable to spend the night in Siena I would make sure to be there for the early morning as well as at night. Walking around in the morning in Siena is very peaceful and the Fortress makes a beautiful place to watch sunrise. Siena is also home to many fantastic restaurants. Read my Siena guides here for my favorite restaurants and places in Siena.
Montepulciano
Montepulciano is a quaint city located on the top of a hill in Tuscany. It is the perfect place to go on a day trip if you want to have a relaxing day. It is a little bit less disconnected than some other cities but worth the trip. Montepulciano has many beautiful lookouts as well as many places to go wine tasting and eat. This makes it the perfect leisurely day trip. If you are looking for a place to go with children or are wanting to see more things I would recommend going to a different place as it is very small. I have a full guide to Montepulciano here if you are interested in what to do while visiting this Tuscan town.
Florence
Florence is the capital of Tuscany. Staying in a smaller Tuscan town and going into Florence for the day is a great option if you want to enjoy the laid blackness of staying in the beautiful Tuscan countryside or a smaller town. A day in Florence is easily spent visiting museums and seeing the beautiful art that gives it its name as the cradle of the Renaissance. The Uffizi Gallery is my favorite in Florence and the #1 museum you should visit. I recommend getting there right when it opens as it gets really busy throughout the day. Florence has many beautiful plazas with incredible sculptures throughout the city. If you are looking for where to eat in Florence check out my Florence food guide here. Florence also has many great boutiques and vintage stores. If you are wondering where to shop I have some recommendations. Read them here.
Fiume Esla
If you are looking for a more adventurous type of day trip in Tuscany I highly recommend Fiume Esla. It is easily accessible by public transport and beautiful. It is a short hike with stunning waterfalls and swimming areas. This makes a perfect half-day trip. If you want more information on Fiume Elsa check out my post about it here.
Other Ways to Spend Your Days in Tuscany
A good alternative to taking day trips while you are in Tuscany is partaking in activities. There are fabulous cooking classes offered all throughout Tuscany as well as many vineyards to go wine tasting. I hope that you have a great time exploring all that Tuscany has to offer.
Sarah 🙂
