5 Top Day Trips from Florence to Add to Your Itinerary

Florence is one of those cities that feels almost impossible to leave behind. Between its Renaissance art, gelato-filled streets, and bustling piazzas, you could happily stay just within the city for days. But one of the best parts about Florence is that it’s also the perfect base for exploring the rest of Tuscany and beyond!

From medieval towns to wine country and even the seaside, many of Italy’s most iconic destinations are just a short ride away. With a mix of trains, buses, or organized tours, you can easily swap a day in Florence for a taste of Pisa, Siena, or even Venice. To make things easier, this list highlights the best day trips from Florence to make the most out of your Italian journey.

If there’s one day trip almost everyone adds to their Florence itinerary, it’s Pisa. Just over an hour away via car, Pisa is home to one of the most famous monuments in the world: the Leaning Tower. But the tower is only part of a bigger story: The Piazza dei Miracoli (“Square of Miracles”) also includes the Cathedral, Baptistery, and Camposanto cemetery, all impressive examples of Romanesque architecture.

A great way to see Pisa in a short amount of time is the Pisa and Piazza dei Miracoli Half-Day Walking Tour. This trip includes round-trip transport from Florence, a guided tour of the Piazza, and free time to explore on your own. You’ll learn about the centuries of engineering challenges behind the tower’s tilt and see the ornate details inside the cathedral. If you’d like, you can also climb the Leaning Tower itself for those iconic views.

For travelers with a full day to spare, there’s also the Lucca and Pisa Tour. Lucca is a charming Tuscan town known for its Renaissance-era walls and quiet cobbled streets. The tour adds a sweet touch too: You’ll get to try Buccellato, a traditional bread flavored with raisins and anise, beloved by locals.

Want to know more about Pisa day trips? Check out our guide!

If Florence is all about Renaissance art, Cinque Terre is for those who want a taste of colorful coastal Italy. One of the most unforgettable day trips from Florence, Cinque Terre is a UNESCO World Heritage Site composed of a cluster of five cliffside villages on the Ligurian coast: Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, and Riomaggiore. It’s famous for pastel-colored houses, terraced vineyards, and the sparkling Ligurian Sea. It’s a bit of a journey from Florence (about 2.5 hours), but worth every minute.

Exploring Cinque Terre on your own can be tricky since each village is connected by a combination of trains, boats, and hiking trails. That’s why the Cinque Terre Day Tour from Florence is such a popular choice. It already covers transport from Florence and between the villages, so you can focus on exploring and enjoying yourself. 

No trip to Tuscany feels complete without experiencing Siena, San Gimignano, and the Chianti wine region. One of the most rewarding day trips from Florence, you’ll be able to explore Tuscany’s famous medieval towns, You’ll see Siena with its Gothic architecture and famous Piazza del Campo, San Gimignano with its historical tower skyline, and Chianti with rolling hills and endless vineyards.

There are different ways to explore this area depending on your style of travel. Here are a couple of ways to go about it:

The Highlights of Tuscany Tour packs a lot into one day. You’ll start off in Pisa for its Leaning Tower, have free time to wander San Gimignano’s cobblestoned streets before finishing the day in Siena where you’ll explore its historic center with a guide. It’s a whirlwind, but you’ll see the best of Tuscany in one go!

Now, if you’d prefer something slightly slower-paced, the Siena, San Gimignano, and Chianti Tour cuts out Pisa and focuses on Tuscany’s heart. This option includes a guided tasting at a Tuscan wine estate, giving you a deeper experience of the region’s food and drink.

For wine lovers, the Chianti Vineyards Escape is ideal. It’s a half-day trip that takes you straight into the vineyards, where you’ll sample different wines and olive oils at family-run wineries.

Want something more adventurous? The Small-Group Vespa Tour with Lunch in Tuscany lets you ride through the Tuscan countryside on a Vespa, with all safety gear provided. After winding through vineyards and villages, you’ll enjoy a traditional Tuscan lunch.

This UNESCO World Heritage landscape south of Siena is all rolling hills, cypress-lined roads, and medieval hill towns. It’s slower-paced than Siena or Pisa, but just as beautiful. If you’re interested in the Tuscany’s countryside, this is one of the most scenic day trips from Florence you can take.

The Val d’Orcia Tour from Florence is a perfect introduction. You’ll visit Montepulciano, Pienza, and Montalcino, three towns known for their wine, cheese, and Renaissance charm. The tour also includes tastings of local wine and pecorino cheese, so it’s a feast for the senses as much as for the eyes.

For a more focused experience, the Montepulciano & Pienza with Wine Tasting digs deeper into the food and wine culture. You’ll explore Montepulciano’s wine cellars, sample Vino Nobile (one of Italy’s most famous red wines), and stroll Pienza’s streets, known for Renaissance architecture and pecorino shops.

While places like Pisa and Siena attract crowds, Monteriggioni remains more of a hidden gem. This tiny walled village was built in the 13th century by Siena as a fortress against Florence, and it feels frozen in time. With its circular stone walls and towers, it’s often described as one of Italy’s best-preserved medieval towns.

The Monteriggioni and Val d’Orcia Bus Tour makes it easy to combine Monteriggioni with Tuscany’s countryside. After exploring the village’s cobbled lanes and fortress walls, the tour continues to Pienza and Montepulciano, with wine tastings included.

Yes, you can see Venice in a day from Florence! Thanks to high-speed trains, the journey takes just about two hours, making it possible to wander the canals, bridges, and piazzas and still be back in Florence by evening.

The Venice Day Tour from Florence is designed to make the most of your time. You’ll leave Florence by bus at 7:30 AM, and have the afternoon to yourself in Venice. Since this isn’t a guided tour, you’ll be able to explore the city at your own pace — just head back to the bus by the designated meeting time!

This is a long day trip, but if you have a limited time in Florence (or Italy in general) and want to hit as many sights as you can, this is definitely an option for you. Now, if you prefer to DIY your itinerary all the way, you can opt for the Trenitalia Pass and take a high-speed rail to/from Florence.

To help you navigate Venice (and hit those cafes and photo spots you bookmarked on Instagram), having reliable WiFi is essential for this day trip. You can opt for a Europe eSIM since it’s simply installed on your phone via QR code. No need to bring around a bulky portable device or worry about losing your physical SIM. Your hands will be free for all that gelato and pasta and coffee. 😉

Florence is a destination in its own right, but it’s also a great home base for some of Italy’s most memorable experiences. From climbing the Leaning Tower of Pisa to sipping wine in Chianti, from gazing at Cinque Terre’s cliffs to wandering Venice’s canals, these day trips from Florence add incredible variety to your trip.

The best part is that with organized tours, you don’t have to worry about transportation logistics or missing connections. So, if you’ve made it here, consider this your sign to go on that journey under the Tuscan sun. ☀️

What is the best day trip from Florence, Italy? The most popular day trip from Florence is to Pisa, home of the Leaning Tower and the Piazza dei Miracoli. Many travelers also love combining Pisa with Siena and San Gimignano for a full Tuscany experience.

What is the most beautiful town near Florence, Italy? Many visitors consider San Gimignano one of the most beautiful towns near Florence thanks to its medieval towers and hilltop views. For wine lovers, the rolling hills of Chianti are equally stunning.

What city to combine with Florence? If you have extra time, Venice is one of the best cities to combine with Florence. It’s farther than typical day trips, but still doable in one day with a high-speed train or organized tour.

Where else to visit around Florence? Beyond the classic Tuscan towns, you can explore Val d’Orcia for its scenic vineyards and villages like Pienza and Montepulciano, or head west to the colorful seaside villages of Cinque Terre.