10 Best Day Trips From Florence (Less Than Two Hours Away)

Savvy Travel Life contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase using one of the links below, I receive compensation at no extra cost to you. I only recommend products and services we use and trust. Read my disclaimer for more information.

I’ve been to Florence a number of times but I make sure that on each trip, I don’t see the same popular attractions every time. Instead, I usually throw in a day trip or two outside of Florence.

I find it’s the perfect balance between enjoying the best of the city and experiencing all that Tuscany has to offer.  

Below is a curated list of the best day trips from Florence, all within a 2-hour drive, ranging from guided day trips to the most convenient options by train, bus, and car.

This isn’t a laundry list of every possible place you could go to from Florence. The day trips I have selected are enjoyable, realistic and have manageable travel times so you don’t feel rushed or like you are racing the clock to squeeze everything in.

10 BEST DAY TRIPS FROM FLORENCE WITHIN 2 HOURS

Best Guided Day Trips

My husband and I always find these small-group tours intimate, fun, and stress-free. You get a built-in guide who provides history, context, and local insight, which adds significant value to the day trip. Plus, it eliminates fighting over directions that can happen when you rent a car (a marriage-saver!).

1. Chianti Wine Tour

This Chianti Wine Tour was one of our favorite day trips from Florence. Located between Florence and Siena, the region of Chianti is known for its scenic rolling hills, vineyards and charming villages. It’s one of the most beautiful areas of Tuscany and home to some of Italy’s most well-known wines.

What You’ll See & Do:

• Visit three different family-owned Chianti wineries with guided tastings of Chianti Classico, Riserva, Super Tuscan and Sangiovese.
• Learn about local winemaking and what makes a true Chiani Classico.
• Walk through Greve, a charming Tuscan medieval village.
• Savor a Tuscan countryside lunch paired with regional wines and olive oil.
  

Why I recommend it: You can sit back and take in the views of the Tuscan hillsides while someone else does the driving. It’s a fun, full day of wine, food and scenery – what could be better? And since wine is involved, not having to drive is a huge bonus. This tour consistently receives top reviews.

2. A Day in Central Tuscany – Siena, San Gimignano, and Pisa & Winery Lunch

If you want a taste of Central Tuscany without a heavy wine focus, this full-day tour hits Siena, San Gimignano, and Pisa, plus lunch at a Chianti estate. It’s the perfect all-in-one countryside experience, without having to lift a finger.  

What You’ll Experience:

• A guided walk through Sienna’s medieval streets, including a visit to its famous Duomo (Cathedral).
• San Gimignano’s tower-filled skylines, narrow laneways  picturesque piazzas, and panoramic view from the Rocca fortress.
• A chance to climb the Leaning Tower of Pisa and visit Piazza dei Miracoli,(Square of Miracles).
• A Tuscan lunch and wine tasting at an organic family-run winery with postcard countryside views.

Why I recommend it: If you’re short on time and want to see some of Tuscany’s biggest highlights, this tour will give you a real feel for the region.

3. Cooking Class At A Tuscan Farmhouse & Local Market Tour

If you love Italian cuisine and want a hands-on experience, a cooking class in the Tuscan countryside sounds idyllic, doesn’t it?  This market-to-table cooking adventure starts with your guide in Florence’s Mercato Centrale, where you’ll choose local ingredients and meet local vendors.

Then you’ll head to a Tuscan farmhouse, where you’ll learn how to make everything from bruschetta and pasta to roasted pork and tiramisu. And of course, no cooking class is complete without enjoying the fruits of your labor, with a lunch overlooking the countryside.

Why I recommend it: It’s a good way to break up all the sightseeing with an interactive and cultural activity, and you’ll get some cooking tips to take home with you.

4. Emilia Romagna Food Tour  

If you’ve seen and done it all in Tuscany and want a different kind of food-focused experience, the flavors of Emilia Romagna are close by and the region is a dream for food lovers. It’s a delicious way to explore the best of the neighboring area, Parma and Modena, known for its cheese, balsamic vinegar and prosciutto ham.

The tour is private so a bit pricier than others suggested here but includes hotel pick-up with a one-on-one guide/sommelier.

What you’ll see & do:

• Visit a cheese factory, where you’ll watch the Parmigiano Reggiano cheesemakers at work, see the grand aging room of cheese wheels, and taste different types of cheese.
• Learn about the balsamic vinegar manufacturing process at an Acetaia and taste authentic (D.O.P.) balsamic vinegar during lunch.
• Drop by a prosciutto factory to learn about the meat curing process and taste a variety of cold cut.
• Tour and enjoy a tasting at a Lambrusco winery with your sommelier guide.

Best Day Trips By Train Or Bus

Italy’s train system is excellent – fast, frequent and affordable. Some are express trains that can get you to your destination faster than sitting in traffic, while others are regional trains that make more frequent stops. Either way, we have travelled most places in Italy by train as it just makes it so easy to do.

➡️ Savvy Travel Tip If Traveling By Train – Be aware that Italy has regularly scheduled one-day train strikes. The dates are published in advance so good to check in advance in case it impacts your travel plans.

Buses sometimes can take longer but they are also more direct, taking you right to the city’s center. We always get a thrill as passengers, watching how they effortlessly navigate Italy’s tight turns and narrow streets.

5. Siena – For Medieval History & Art Lovers

Siena is the heart of Tuscany and one of the closest day trips to Florence. Known for its Gothic architecture, art and museums, it feels like you are stepping back into the Middle Ages. It’s smaller size and mostly car-free zone makes it easy to explore on your own.

Best Things To Do In Siena:

• Take a guided walking tour of Siena, with stops at Basilica Cateriniana di San Domenico & the Duomo. I find tours from local guides really helpful when you first arrive in a city.

• Take in Piazza del Campo, the heart of the city. Created in the 13^th century, it served as the town square and still does with all its grandeur.  It was once used for bullfights and is still home to the famous Palio bareback horse race. The Palio runs on July 2 & August 16 if you find yourself in the neighborhood.  

• Climb Torre Di Mangia, one of Siena’s most famous and the third tallest historic tower in Italy.

• If you visit the Duomo on your own, buy the OPA Si Pass, which gives you admission to the entire Siena Cathedral Complex, including theBaptistery, Crypt, and Museo dell’Opera, showcasing masterpieces by renowned artists such as Michelangelo and Donatello. Also, don’t miss the Piccolomini library, which has incredibly beautiful frescoes and impressive ceiling.

• Art history lovers won’t want to miss the Pinacoteca Nazionale to see works by Sienese artists from the 12^th to 16^th centuries.

How To Get From Florence To Siena

By Bus (recommended) – there are direct buses, which is best option (55 to 75 minutes), and drops you off in the historic center.

By Train – You can take the train (90 minutes) but you will have to make your way uphill into Siena on foot so that’s why the bus is the better option.

By Car – About an hour’s drive but finding parking outside the city walls can be a pain, especially in high season.

If You Decide To Stay Overnight: Treat yourself with a stay at the Grand Hotel Continental Siena, which has a beautifully restored interior that rivals Siena’s public spaces.

6. Lucca

Lucca is a delightful city, loved by tourists who want to be transported back in time. It’s complete with cobbled streets, charming piazzas and Renaissance-era city walls. The imposing 16^th– and 17^th-century walls were built to defend the city from cannon fire.

A century later, the top was transformed into a park-like promenade, now a hugely popular space used by locals for walking and cycling.

Best Things To Do In Lucca:

• Walk on top of the Renaissance walls (Le Mura) or rent a bike and cycle along the nearly 3-mile loop.
  
• Browse market stalls in Piazza dell’Anfieatro, which still follows the oval shape of the ancient amphitheatre that once stood there.
  
• Opera fans should visit Casa Natale di Puccini, the home where Puccini was born, featuring costumes from his operas and the piano where he composed much of his work.
  
• Climb Torre Guinigi for the best viewpoint of Lucca (230 steps) and its incredible rooftop garden (it’s the tower with the holm oak trees on top of it.
  
• Wander Palazzo Pfanner, a 17th century villa known for its Baroque garden and statues inspired by Greek mythology.

How To Get From Florence To Lucca

By Train (recommended): About 80 minutes if you take a direct train. The Lucca train station sits just outside the city walls, a 5-minute walk away from the city center. Choose the direct regional train if possible, not the one that requires a change in Pisa, as it will extend the duration of your train ride.

*Not all regional trains are air-conditioned if heat is an issue for you.

By Bus: The bus is faster (55 minutes) than the train but not as frequent. It also isn’t as comfortable as the train. The bus will drop you off inside the city walls at Piazzale Verdi.

By Car: Drive time is 75 minutes but since parking isn’t allowed inside the city walls, it is less convenient.

7. Bologna – Italy’s Food Capital

Bologna is a short train ride away (35 minutes), making it the easiest day trip to take from Florence. You can pack so much into a single visit to Bologna and get a real taste of its medieval history, lively culture, and incredible food, without ever feeling rushed.

As the food capital of Italy, it’s easy to eat your way through the city while wandering its ancient medieval streets and endless porticoes. It’s the kind of city where you instantly feel immersed and the perfect introduction to the Emilia-Romagna region.

Best Things To Do In Bologna:

• A guided walking tour of Bologna’s historic center starting off in the main square, Piazza Maggiore, will give you a great overview of why UNESCO calls its the best-preserved medieval city in the world. The 2-hour route includes visits to churches, historic buildings and fascinating details about the city’s history shared by a very knowledgeable local guide.
  
• Lunch in the Quadrilatero (Bologna’s oldest market) to try local food specialties such as mortadella, tortellini, lasagna and ragu bolognese.
  
• A food tour where you can get a combination food & history tour, along with tastings and a meal at various stops along the way. Definitely my number one thing to do in Bologna!
  
• Make sure to admire the porticoes as you walk under them. You can’t miss the 62 km of these covered walkways that stretch through Bologna’s historic center and beyond.

For a list of more things to do, check out my Best of Bologna in One Day guide.

How To Get From Florence to Bologna

By Train (recommended): Taking the train to Bologna from Florence is easy, with most train rides taking 33 minutes. It’s a 15-minute walk from the train station to the historical center of town or you could take a bus from the train station.

➡️ Savvy Travel Tips:

• I don’t recommend driving to Bologna as the historic center has a limited travel zone (ZTL) where only registered cars are allowed and that is the exact area you’ll want to visit.
  
• Make sure to book your return train ticket online. as the lines for the kiosk machines and ticket counters are crazy-long.
  
• Bologna’s train station is large and split into two sections so check in advance which side your train departs from to avoid a long, last-minute walk.   

If You Decide To Stay Overnight: Try Art Hotel Orolgoio for fabulous art interiors, modern rooms and piazza views.

Best Day Trips By Car

For the record, you can easily do day trips by car to Siena, San G, Lucca and Pisa but only do it if you are renting a car for several days as part of your trip. It’s not worth a one-off rental.  

For car rentals in Italy, book via Discover Cars.

Here are a few day trips that I would only recommend doing by car:

8. Vinci + San Miniato For da Vinci Fans & Truffle Hunting

One of the shortest day trips by car from Florence to smaller and less touristy areas of Tuscany.

Vinci is an hour away from Florence. This hilltop town’s name may sound familiar as it’s the birthplace of Leonardo da Vinci. You can visit the Museo Leonardiano, focused on his technological contributions brought to life by his sketches in a display of over 60 models.

You can also stop by the home where he was born, Casa Natale di Leonardo, nearby, albeit it’s a little light on content.

It’s a nice, quieter drive through the countryside to get to Vinci but not a stand-alone day trip unless you are a hardcore fan of the artist. That’s why it works nicely as a stop on the way to San Miniato.

The town of San Miniato is a 30-minute drive away from Vinci and the perfect next stop for truffle hunting and lunch.

Called “tartufo” in Italian, the country is known around the world for its truffles. San Miniato in particular is known for its delicious white truffles, which you can find in the area year-round.

You’ll join an expert truffle hunter and trained dog in the woods to search for fresh truffles,

9. Montepulciano & Montalcino for Wine Lovers

Just under two hours from Florence, this is one of the longer day trips, but it’s perfect for travelers who truly appreciate Italian wine. If you’re a wine connoisseur, the journey is absolutely worth it.

Montepulciano is best known for its Vino Nobile, a red wine. The town sits high on a ridge, so you get amazing countryside views no matter where you are standing.

The town has many family-owned cantinas where winemakers pour samples straight from their ancient cellars. It’s an easy place to wander, sip, and lose track of time.

And then there’s Montalcino. If it’s star wine, Brunello, is your idea of a perfect red, just go. It’s about a 40-minute drive from Montepulciano, so you may have to decide one or the other, depending on your schedule (or go directly to Montalcino from Florence, just under a 2-hour drive).

Montalcino is smaller but people fall in love with its scenery and the vineyards that stretch in every direction. Wineries here tend to feel a bit more tucked away and operate at a slower, more relaxed pace

Either way, you’ll need a designated driver who isn’t drinking or better yet, hire one to take you from winery to winery so you can fully enjoy the tastings.

Or if that seems like too much to have to plan, this small group Val d’Orcia Brunello Wine Tour stops at both and is limited to just 8 participants.

10. Maranello Ferrari Experience – For The Car Lover

If there’s a car-lover in your group, a visit to the Ferrari Museum (Museo Ferrari) and Factory headquarters in Maranello is a must. About 1 hour 45 minutes from Florence, it’s easily done as a day trip.

The museum traces the history of Ferrari, from Enzo Ferrari’s beginnings to the present day, but the real highlight is exploring room after room of Ferrari cars, including the Formula 1 trophy room. I’m not usually into cars, but even I found it fascinating.

For lunch, make a reservation at Cavallino, just a few blocks away, where three-Michelin-star chef Massimo Bottura creates dishes that are nothing short of spectacular and will be a guaranteed highlight of your trip.

For the ultimate Ferrari experience, you can end your day by test-driving a real Ferrari. There are several companies across from the museum that will arrange for a guide to accompany you on your drive around Maranello as you take the driver’s seat.

Some people also like to see Enzo Ferrari’s childhood home and museum in Modena. If you are returning to Florence at the end of the day, I wouldn’t suggest it as it will take you a bit further north (by 25 minutes).

If you want to learn more about the Ferrari Museums in Maranello & Modena, check out Ferrari Museums in Maranello & Modena: Which is Better?

Where To Stay In Florence

Florence offers no shortage of great places to stay. I gravitate toward boutique hotels, and these are some of my top picks. They’re not exactly budget-friendly, but they offer an elevated experience without being over-the-top.

Hotel L’Orologio 

A stylish hotel overlooking Santa Maria Novella. Hotel L’Orologio serves guests generous breakfasts and offers spacious rooms decorated with details inspired by legendary watchmakers such as Rolex, Vacheron Constantin, and Patek Philippe.

Grand Hotel Cavour

Centrally located in the heart of Florence, Grand Hotel Cavour welcomes guests with a striking medieval-style lobby. You must visit its rooftop bar for panoramic and up close views of city landmarks. Rooms are comfortable and modern, blending contemporary touches with classic Florentine charm.

Hotel Spadai

Steps away from the Duomo, Hotel Spadai offers a more modern touch. Rooms are well-appointed, with complimentary mini-bar items. Guests can enjoy an evening happy hour at the end of a day of sightseeing.

Don’t Go To Italy Without These Apps
(Free Download)

Grab my FREE list of must-have apps for Italy. Enter your email to find out which ones will make your trip even better!

Get Your Italy Travel Apps List Here

We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe at any time.

Built with Kit

FAQs

Which Day Trips From Florence Are Best To Avoid?

I don’t recommend day trips to Cinque Terre as it’s too far away and there is no way to get the full experience of the five villages in a few hours.

Is It Better To Take A Tour On A Day Trip or Do It On Your Own?

It really depends on where you’re going and how you like to travel. For wine regions, a guided tour is a better choice so you don’t have to worry about driving after tastings.

Cities like Bologna, Siena, or Lucca are easy to reach on your own by train, and you can explore independently or join a local tour once you arrive.

Savvy Summary

This guide features the 10 best day trips from Florence that are less than two hours away and actually worth the effort.

From wine-filled afternoons in Chianti to medieval towns, cooking classes, and foodie adventures in Bologna and San Miniato, these are realistic, easy trips that add variety to any Florence itinerary.

Whether you prefer tours, trains, buses or exploring by car, each option offers a wonderful way to see more of the region without feeling rushed.

For ideas of what to see & do in Florence, checkout my One Day in Florence Itinerary.