Why Florence is a great base for day trips
Florence sits at the heart of Tuscany and on Italy's main high-speed rail line, so some of the country's loveliest places are an easy day away. In about 37 minutes a fast train has you in Bologna; in about an hour a bus or train reaches Siena, Pisa, or the walled city of Lucca; and the Chianti vineyards begin just south of the city. Florence also has a wide choice of small-group and private tours that do the driving on Tuscany's winding country roads.
This guide compares the best day trips from Florence, Italy, with an honest look at how much walking each involves, so you can choose the ones that suit your pace. With four or five days in Florence, one or two day trips is plenty. Lucca and Bologna are the gentlest; Siena and the Tuscan hill towns are beautiful but steep; the Cinque Terre is spectacular and the most demanding of all.
The best day trips from Florence, compared
Times are one way from central Florence by the fastest regular train or bus, or by road for tour-only trips. Walking levels assume you use the easiest options described below.
| Day trip | Time from Florence | Getting there | Walking | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Siena | About 1 hr 15 min | Express bus 131R from beside Santa Maria Novella; or a train plus escalators | Moderate to hard: a hilly, cobbled center | Piazza del Campo and the striped cathedral |
| San Gimignano | About 1.5 hr | Bus or train to Poggibonsi, then bus 130; or a tour | Moderate: the bus stops at the top gate | The medieval town of towers |
| Chianti wine country | About 45 min to 1 hr by road | Half-day or full-day tour; buses to Greve | Easy on a tour | Vineyards, olive groves, and tastings |
| Pisa | About 1 hr | Train to Pisa San Rossore or Pisa Centrale | Easy at the square; the tower climb is hard | The Leaning Tower and Piazza dei Miracoli |
| Lucca | About 1 hr 20 min | Direct regional train | Easy: a flat center and flat, tree-lined walls | Walls you can walk or cycle around |
| Cinque Terre | About 2 to 2.5 hr to La Spezia | Train via La Spezia, or a long tour | Hard: stairs from stations and steep villages | Five pastel villages on the Ligurian cliffs |
| Val d'Orcia and Montepulciano | About 1.5 to 2 hr by road | Full-day tour | Moderate to hard: Montepulciano is steep | Cypress-lined roads, Pienza, and wine towns |
| Bologna | About 37 min | High-speed train | Easy to moderate: flat, with covered porticoes | Food, towers, and 62 km of arcades |
| Venice | About 2 hr | High-speed train to Santa Lucia | Moderate to hard: bridges with steps, crowds | The Grand Canal and St Mark's Square |
| Arezzo and Cortona | About 40 min to 1.5 hr | Train, then bus or lift up to the old towns | Moderate to hard: both towns are on hills | Piero della Francesca and Tuscan hill towns |
| Fiesole | About 25 min | City bus 7 from Piazza San Marco | Moderate: steep, short climbs | Hilltop views over Florence and a Roman theater |
- Time from Florence
- About 1 hr 15 min
- Getting there
- Express bus 131R from beside Santa Maria Novella; or a train plus escalators
- Walking
- Moderate to hard: a hilly, cobbled center
- Best for
- Piazza del Campo and the striped cathedral
- Time from Florence
- About 1.5 hr
- Getting there
- Bus or train to Poggibonsi, then bus 130; or a tour
- Walking
- Moderate: the bus stops at the top gate
- Best for
- The medieval town of towers
- Time from Florence
- About 45 min to 1 hr by road
- Getting there
- Half-day or full-day tour; buses to Greve
- Walking
- Easy on a tour
- Best for
- Vineyards, olive groves, and tastings
- Time from Florence
- About 1 hr
- Getting there
- Train to Pisa San Rossore or Pisa Centrale
- Walking
- Easy at the square; the tower climb is hard
- Best for
- The Leaning Tower and Piazza dei Miracoli
- Time from Florence
- About 1 hr 20 min
- Getting there
- Direct regional train
- Walking
- Easy: a flat center and flat, tree-lined walls
- Best for
- Walls you can walk or cycle around
- Time from Florence
- About 2 to 2.5 hr to La Spezia
- Getting there
- Train via La Spezia, or a long tour
- Walking
- Hard: stairs from stations and steep villages
- Best for
- Five pastel villages on the Ligurian cliffs
- Time from Florence
- About 1.5 to 2 hr by road
- Getting there
- Full-day tour
- Walking
- Moderate to hard: Montepulciano is steep
- Best for
- Cypress-lined roads, Pienza, and wine towns
- Time from Florence
- About 37 min
- Getting there
- High-speed train
- Walking
- Easy to moderate: flat, with covered porticoes
- Best for
- Food, towers, and 62 km of arcades
- Time from Florence
- About 2 hr
- Getting there
- High-speed train to Santa Lucia
- Walking
- Moderate to hard: bridges with steps, crowds
- Best for
- The Grand Canal and St Mark's Square
- Time from Florence
- About 40 min to 1.5 hr
- Getting there
- Train, then bus or lift up to the old towns
- Walking
- Moderate to hard: both towns are on hills
- Best for
- Piero della Francesca and Tuscan hill towns
- Time from Florence
- About 25 min
- Getting there
- City bus 7 from Piazza San Marco
- Walking
- Moderate: steep, short climbs
- Best for
- Hilltop views over Florence and a Roman theater
Cinque Terre day trip from Florence: how to do it comfortably
The Cinque Terre, five fishing villages clinging to the cliffs of the Ligurian coast, is one of the most searched day trips from Florence and one of the most photographed places in Italy. It is also a long day and, for older travelers, the most physically demanding trip on this list. Done the right way, with the right villages, it can still be a highlight.
How to take a day trip to the Cinque Terre from Florence
Trains from Florence reach La Spezia in about 2 to 2.5 hours, often with a change at Pisa. From La Spezia, local trains run along the coast through all five villages, up to four times an hour in peak season and about twice an hour out of season. The alternative is a guided day tour from Florence, which handles the trains or coach and keeps the group moving; either way, plan on an early start and a 12-hour day.
The Cinque Terre Card and the Via dell'Amore
The Cinque Terre Treno card covers the local trains between Levanto and La Spezia for the day. In 2026 the price varies with demand, from about €22 to €35 for adults, with a lower rate for travelers over 70; validate it on your first trip. The famous Via dell'Amore, the cliffside path from Riomaggiore to Manarola, has reopened as a one-way walk with a dated, timed booking of 30 minutes, sold only together with a Cinque Terre Card. Disabled visitors enter free.
What the walking is really like
- Stairs from the stations: Corniglia sits 382 steps above its station (a shuttle bus runs up), and most villages slope steeply from the station to the harbor.
- The easiest villages: Monterosso has a long flat seafront promenade and beach, and Vernazza's harbor is a short walk from its station. Choose two villages and linger rather than trying to see all five.
- The boat: Seasonal ferries link Riomaggiore, Manarola, Vernazza, and Monterosso (not Corniglia), weather permitting. They give the classic view of the villages from the sea, but boarding can mean steps and a moving deck.
- The trails: The hiking paths between villages are steep, narrow, and uneven, and flip-flops are banned, with heavy fines. Most travelers over 60 are happier on the train and the boat.
More of the best day trips from Florence, Italy
Day trip from Florence to Siena, Italy
The easiest way to Siena is the Autolinee Toscane 131R express bus from the bus station beside Santa Maria Novella, about 1 hour 15 minutes; buy tickets at the bus station, as they are not sold online. It stops at Piazza Gramsci, about 5 minutes' walk from the Piazza del Campo, which saves the climb from Siena's railway station in the valley below the town (trains take about 1.5 hours, sometimes with a change, and the station is linked to the old town by a long series of escalators). Siena is built on three ridges, so the center is steep and cobbled. The cathedral needs a timed ticket; for a few weeks each summer and autumn its famous marble floor is uncovered. The Torre del Mangia has more than 400 narrow steps.
San Gimignano: the town of towers
San Gimignano is reached by bus or train to Poggibonsi, then the 130 bus, about 20 minutes, for roughly 1.5 hours in all. The 130 stops at the gates at the top of the hill, so you avoid a steep walk up; buses run at least twice an hour in the morning and less often on Sundays. Most visitors combine San Gimignano with Siena and a Chianti winery on a guided day tour of about 9 hours, which is the easiest way to see all three.
Tuscany day trip from Florence: Chianti and the Val d'Orcia
The Chianti hills begin just south of Florence, and half-day and full-day small-group tours visit wineries around towns such as Greve in Chianti, handling all the driving on the narrow, winding roads. Farther south, full-day tours of about 9 hours visit the Val d'Orcia, with its cypress-lined roads and the towns of Pienza, Montepulciano, and Montalcino. Pienza is fairly level; Montepulciano's main street climbs steeply from the town gate to Piazza Grande. For a slower visit, see our Tuscany guide.
Day trip to Pisa from Florence
Trains reach Pisa in about an hour. Get off at Pisa San Rossore if your train stops there: it is about 5 minutes' walk from Piazza dei Miracoli, while Pisa Centrale is about 30 minutes' walk away, or a short ride on the LAM Rossa bus. The square, the cathedral, and the baptistery are easy and level. Climbing the Leaning Tower is another matter: about 300 worn spiral steps on uneven, slippery stone, with no bags allowed and timed entry only. The site does not recommend it for anyone with heart or mobility problems. A ticket for the tower and all the monuments costs €27 in 2026, and entry to the cathedral is free with any paid ticket. Pisa pairs well with Lucca on the same train line.
Lucca: the flattest day trip from Florence
Direct regional trains reach Lucca in about 80 minutes, about once an hour, and the walled city is a 5 to 10 minute walk from the station. Lucca is the gentlest day trip from Florence: the center is flat, and the broad Renaissance walls, about 4 km around and lined with trees, make a level, shady walk of about an hour. Bikes rent for a few euros an hour, and many hire shops offer comfortable bikes and tandems.
Bologna: the easiest day trip by train
High-speed trains reach Bologna Centrale in about 37 minutes, every 15 to 20 minutes, which makes Bologna the fastest day trip from Florence by train; avoid the slow regional trains, which take more than two hours. The center is about a 20 to 25 minute walk from the station, or a short taxi ride. Bologna is flat, and its 62 km of covered porticoes, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, keep you out of the sun and rain. Come hungry: this is the home of tortellini, mortadella, and ragu.
Venice: possible, but better overnight
High-speed trains reach Venezia Santa Lucia, on the Grand Canal, in about 2 hours, with more than 30 trains a day, so a day trip is possible. The vaporetto water bus leaves from just outside the station, which saves the bridges and steps of the 25-minute walk to St Mark's. In 2026 Venice charged day-trippers aged 14 and over an access fee of €5 to €10 on 60 peak days between April and July; the rules for 2027 have not yet been set, so check before you go. Visitors staying overnight are exempt. See our Venice guide for an easy-pace stay.
Arezzo and Cortona: hill towns to the south-east
Arezzo is about 40 minutes by Intercity train from Firenze Rifredi, or 1 to 1.5 hours by regional train from Santa Maria Novella. Its old town, with Piero della Francesca's frescoes and a sloping medieval square, is about a kilometer uphill from the station; a city bus and a free lift from a car park save the climb. Cortona, made famous by Under the Tuscan Sun, is reached by train to Camucia-Cortona and a bus up the hill; its streets are steep and narrow, so pace yourself.
Fiesole: a half day above Florence
City bus 7 runs from Piazza San Marco, near the Accademia, up to Fiesole's main square in about 20 to 25 minutes, every 20 to 30 minutes; buy the €2 ticket before you board. The views back over Florence are lovely, and the Roman theater and museum are close to the square. The town is steep, and the climb to the San Francesco viewpoint is short but sharp. It makes a gentle half day, ideal for a cooler evening.
The top-rated full-day trips from Florence right now
These full-day trips of 6 to 12 hours handle all the transport, and are ranked for traveler ratings, comfort, and value. Tours in the destination picker below are left out.
Top-rated day trip tours from Florence, by destination
Choose a destination to load its nine top-rated tours, with live prices and traveler ratings from Viator. Check each tour's starting point: tours that include pickup in Florence handle the transport, while others begin at the site. Most offer free cancellation.
Day trips from Florence by train
Italy's trains, and Tuscany's regional buses, make many of the best day trips from Florence, Italy easy to do on your own. These are the best day trips from Florence, Italy by train and bus:
- Bologna, from Santa Maria Novella: About 37 minutes on high-speed trains, every 15 to 20 minutes.
- Pisa, from Santa Maria Novella: About an hour; get off at Pisa San Rossore for the Leaning Tower if your train stops there.
- Lucca, from Santa Maria Novella: About 80 minutes on direct regional trains, about hourly.
- Siena, by bus 131R: About 1 hour 15 minutes from the bus station beside Santa Maria Novella, to Piazza Gramsci near the Campo.
- Venice, from Santa Maria Novella: About 2 hours on high-speed trains to Santa Lucia.
- Arezzo, from Rifredi or Santa Maria Novella: About 40 minutes by Intercity, or 1 to 1.5 hours by regional train.
- La Spezia for the Cinque Terre: About 2 to 2.5 hours, often with a change at Pisa.
Which station to use, and what's nearby
Most day trips leave from Firenze Santa Maria Novella, the main station, a flat 10-minute walk from the Duomo. Buses to Siena and Chianti leave from the regional bus station right beside it.
Departure stations in Florence
| Station | Trains from here | What's nearby | Getting there |
|---|---|---|---|
| Firenze Santa Maria Novella | Bologna, Pisa, Lucca, Venice, La Spezia, Arezzo (regional) | The Santa Maria Novella church is across the square; the Duomo is a flat 10-minute walk | Taxis wait in front; the tram stops outside |
| Bus station beside Santa Maria Novella | Siena (131R express), Poggibonsi for San Gimignano, Greve in Chianti | On Via Santa Caterina da Siena, to the left as you face the train station | Buy Siena bus tickets at the ticket office; they are not sold online |
| Piazza San Marco bus stop | Fiesole (city bus 7) | Beside the Accademia gallery and the San Marco museum | A flat walk of about 10 minutes from the Duomo |
| Firenze Rifredi and Campo di Marte | Some Intercity and regional trains to Arezzo | Smaller stations outside the historic center | Take a taxi; allow extra time |
- Trains from here
- Bologna, Pisa, Lucca, Venice, La Spezia, Arezzo (regional)
- What's nearby
- The Santa Maria Novella church is across the square; the Duomo is a flat 10-minute walk
- Getting there
- Taxis wait in front; the tram stops outside
- Trains from here
- Siena (131R express), Poggibonsi for San Gimignano, Greve in Chianti
- What's nearby
- On Via Santa Caterina da Siena, to the left as you face the train station
- Getting there
- Buy Siena bus tickets at the ticket office; they are not sold online
- Trains from here
- Fiesole (city bus 7)
- What's nearby
- Beside the Accademia gallery and the San Marco museum
- Getting there
- A flat walk of about 10 minutes from the Duomo
- Trains from here
- Some Intercity and regional trains to Arezzo
- What's nearby
- Smaller stations outside the historic center
- Getting there
- Take a taxi; allow extra time
When you arrive
| Day trip | Arrive at | What's close to the station | Getting to the sights |
|---|---|---|---|
| Siena | Piazza Gramsci (bus) or Siena station (train) | From Piazza Gramsci, the Campo is about 5 minutes' walk | The train station is in the valley; escalators climb to Porta Camollia, or take a city bus or taxi |
| San Gimignano | Porta San Giovanni (bus 130 from Poggibonsi) | The town gate at the top of the hill | The main street runs gently through the town; no climb from the bus |
| Pisa | Pisa San Rossore, or Pisa Centrale | From San Rossore, Piazza dei Miracoli is about 5 minutes' walk | From Centrale, it is about 30 minutes' walk; take the LAM Rossa bus or a taxi |
| Lucca | Lucca | The walls are just across the road | Enter through Porta San Pietro; the center is a flat 5 to 10 minute walk |
| Cinque Terre | La Spezia Centrale, then local trains | Local trains along the coast leave from the same station | Corniglia is 382 steps above its station; Monterosso has a flat seafront |
| Bologna | Bologna Centrale | The station is at the northern edge of the center | Piazza Maggiore is a 20 to 25 minute walk under the porticoes, or a short taxi ride |
| Venice | Venezia Santa Lucia | The Grand Canal is right outside the station | The vaporetto stop is about 100 meters away; St Mark's is a 25-minute walk with many bridges |
| Arezzo | Arezzo | The modern town around the station | The old town is about a kilometer uphill; a city bus and a free lift help |
| Fiesole | Piazza Mino (bus 7) | The main square, with cafes and the cathedral | The Roman theater is a short walk; the viewpoint is a steep climb |
- Arrive at
- Piazza Gramsci (bus) or Siena station (train)
- What's close to the station
- From Piazza Gramsci, the Campo is about 5 minutes' walk
- Getting to the sights
- The train station is in the valley; escalators climb to Porta Camollia, or take a city bus or taxi
- Arrive at
- Porta San Giovanni (bus 130 from Poggibonsi)
- What's close to the station
- The town gate at the top of the hill
- Getting to the sights
- The main street runs gently through the town; no climb from the bus
- Arrive at
- Pisa San Rossore, or Pisa Centrale
- What's close to the station
- From San Rossore, Piazza dei Miracoli is about 5 minutes' walk
- Getting to the sights
- From Centrale, it is about 30 minutes' walk; take the LAM Rossa bus or a taxi
- Arrive at
- Lucca
- What's close to the station
- The walls are just across the road
- Getting to the sights
- Enter through Porta San Pietro; the center is a flat 5 to 10 minute walk
- Arrive at
- La Spezia Centrale, then local trains
- What's close to the station
- Local trains along the coast leave from the same station
- Getting to the sights
- Corniglia is 382 steps above its station; Monterosso has a flat seafront
- Arrive at
- Bologna Centrale
- What's close to the station
- The station is at the northern edge of the center
- Getting to the sights
- Piazza Maggiore is a 20 to 25 minute walk under the porticoes, or a short taxi ride
- Arrive at
- Venezia Santa Lucia
- What's close to the station
- The Grand Canal is right outside the station
- Getting to the sights
- The vaporetto stop is about 100 meters away; St Mark's is a 25-minute walk with many bridges
- Arrive at
- Arezzo
- What's close to the station
- The modern town around the station
- Getting to the sights
- The old town is about a kilometer uphill; a city bus and a free lift help
- Arrive at
- Piazza Mino (bus 7)
- What's close to the station
- The main square, with cafes and the cathedral
- Getting to the sights
- The Roman theater is a short walk; the viewpoint is a steep climb
Book your day-trip train tickets ahead
High-speed trains to Bologna and Venice fill up, especially in spring and fall. Booking ahead secures seats together and usually better fares, with tickets on your phone.
Klook is a booking partner; we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Check times and the station before you travel.
Tips for train day trips
- Regional tickets: Regional trains to Pisa, Lucca, and Arezzo have flexible times. Paper regional tickets must be stamped in the machine on the platform before boarding; digital regional tickets check in automatically for the time you booked.
- Senior fares: Trenitalia stopped selling its over-60 Carta Argento in April 2026. Travelers over 60 who join the free CartaFreccia program can still buy FrecciaSenior fares of €29 or €39 on longer high-speed routes such as Venice, booked at least 11 days ahead; they cannot be changed or refunded.
- Timing: Travel mid-morning to avoid the commuter rush, and check the last train or bus back, especially on Sundays, when buses to San Gimignano and the hill towns run less often.
- Pickpockets: Keep bags zipped and in front of you at Santa Maria Novella and on the crowded Cinque Terre trains.
The easiest way to take day trips from Florence
- Small-group tours: Transport, a guide, and often tastings and tickets. Best for Chianti, San Gimignano, the Val d'Orcia, and the Cinque Terre.
- Private tours and drivers: Door-to-door at your own pace, with stops where you choose. The most comfortable way to see the hill towns with limited mobility, and good value shared between two to four travelers.
- On your own by train or bus: The least expensive and most flexible way to see Bologna, Pisa, Lucca, Siena, Arezzo, Fiesole, and Venice.
Planning tips
- Pace yourself: With four or five days in Florence, one or two day trips is plenty; leave a quiet day after the Cinque Terre.
- Check opening days: Some museums close one day a week, often Monday, and country buses run less often on Sundays.
- Mind the heat: From June to August, start early and favor shady or indoor sights; Siena's Campo, Pisa's square, and the Cinque Terre have little shade.