Florence is gorgeous, and the basic picture of the domes of the Florence Cathedral at evening is a sight that has traveled the world photographically as postcards and social media posts for a very long time now. It isn’t simply the enduring cathedral; Florence has so many superb issues to do in 2023. It is a metropolis of arts, wine tasting, and gorgeous views.
You can simply see why visiting Florence is such a bucket listing vacationer exercise. The metropolis middle is an absolute hub for sightseeing and embracing indulgent Italian dwelling. So in relation to day journeys from Florence, discovering day journey locations that really justify tearing your self away from Florence metropolis middle can appear ludicrous if you happen to aren’t conversant in its surrounding ‘day trip territory’. Please don’t make the rookie transfer of staying in Florence’s metropolis middle; these day journeys from Florence are nicely price it.
22 Best Day Trips from Florence
Whether you desire a leisurely half-day journey or an bold regional prepare scramble, these finest day journeys from Florence will present among the most memorable experiences to your Italy itinerary. A day journey from Florence is likely one of the most enjoyable issues you are able to do, and also you’ve acquired to reap the benefits of the unbelievable community of high-speed trains and town’s prime location in the Tuscan countryside. Don’t make Florence your closing vacation spot – irrespective of how alluring that Florence Vespa tour seems.
Planning Your Trip To Florence Right Now?
Below are among the prime day journey excursions from Florence. Don’t neglect to plan forward when visiting Italy!
Top Day Trip Activities and Tours from Florence:
1. Cinque Terre
If you wish to tick off iconic locations and choose a memorable day journey, Cinque Terre is likely one of the most basic day journeys from Florence. Cinque Terre is a world-famous row of historic seaside villages dotted in clusters alongside the dramatic Riviera shoreline. The area is known for its colourful homes and cliffside attraction, with the homes virtually spilling over rock faces on their approach all the way down to the oceanfront.
Cinque Terre has 5 foremost cities: Riomaggiore, Manarola, Vernazza, Monterosso, and Corniglia – if you happen to can, go to all of them. Each city has its prepare station, and it is likely one of the finest day journeys if you happen to’d prefer to indulge in nice meals, aesthetic city scenes, and optionally available climbing trails. A Cinque Terre day journey is to not be missed, and you may try our full information to visiting right here.
Distance from Florence: 3 hours by prepare or automobile
2. Wine Tasting
To be a wine lover, you should go to Tuscany and its stunning wine areas. The most well-known is the Chianti wine area, which has Sangiovese grapes that create scrumptious pale wines. The Chianti hills are filled with wine estates, with the Chianti wines courting again to earlier than the early fifteenth century, and you may take a guided wine tour that whisks you round the very best. The Chianti wine area is standard due to its excessive density of wine estates and the tastiness of its produce.
You ought to e book a guided tour for this Florence day journey for apparent causes. Public transport is proscribed in distant areas, and rental vehicles are an apparent no-go. Still, fortunately there are such a lot of organized wine-tasting excursions from Florence. Tours usually final half a day, lasting between 5.5 and seven hours – so that you’ll get to see chunk of the Tuscan countryside whereas hopping between wine estates. A wine tour is a lot enjoyable.
Distance from Florence: An hour by automobile
3. Pisa
Who doesn’t dream of visiting Pisa? And due to Italy’s high-speed prepare system, you’ll be able to attain Pisa in lower than an hour from the central Florence prepare station. A day journey to Pisa is filled with sightseeing and tradition; you have got the enduring Leaning Tower, scrumptious meals, and plenty of artwork museums. Pose in the basic ‘hold up the Leaning Tower’ place and wander by gorgeous white marble buildings; visiting Pisa is improbable for the relaxed sightseer sort of traveler.
Wine lovers can put all their newly accrued wine tour information to the take a look at by ordering a glass to people-watch with and dine al fresco. A day in Pisa needs to be in your playing cards. It is likely one of the finest cultural spots in Italy, and direct trains just like the Pisa to Florence connection are God sends in relation to Florence day journeys.
Distance from Florence: 1 hour by prepare
4. San Gimignano
If you desire a extra rustic, medieval-style day journey from Florence, a San Gimignano day journey needs to be on the playing cards. San Gimignano is a tiny hill city with historic metropolis partitions that date again to the Thirteenth century and a skyline coated with medieval spires and rooftops.
San Gimignano’s feudal environment has lingered through the years, and it has a ‘step back in time’ high quality that draws many vacationers. The city can be a chosen UNESCO World Heritage Site. This Florence day journey is good for anybody wanting a small, walkable vacation spot. And San Gimignano’s historical past is tough to withstand.
You can catch a prepare to Poggibonsi after which a bus to San Gimignano to get there. There are common prepare schedules, so planning prepare rides and bus journeys is simple, regardless of the transient stopover in Poggibonsi, and the entire journey takes lower than two hours a technique. Or you’ll be able to e book a rental automobile and drive this present day journey from Florence in an hour.
Distance from Florence: 2 hours by public transport or an hour by automobile
5. Volterra
Volterra is one other medieval city simply accessible as one of many foremost Florence day journeys. This time, although, it has a particular darkish aesthetic, with orangey brown buildings and a solemn architectural vibe. Volterra has seen all the things from the Etruscan to the Roman and Medieval durations, and this half-day journey from Florence is likely one of the most historic small-town locations you’ll be able to select. Ancient metropolis partitions encompass the city, and its Palazzo dei Priori is adorned with medieval frescoes.
A Volterra day journey is extra than simply wandering medieval streets. It has some sensible sights, excellent for history-loving day trippers. A serious Volterra attraction is the Roman Theater advanced, which has bathtub ruins courting again to the third century. Visit the Roman Theater and in addition pay a go to to admire the extravagant ceiling of the Palace of the Priors.
Distance from Florence: 1.5 hours by automobile or 2.5 hours by public transport
6. Lucca
Lucca is a fantastically historic medieval metropolis identified for its Renaissance partitions and gorgeous metropolis middle. Lucca has a cobblestone aesthetic with some huge metropolis sights and is barely bigger than the medieval cities we’ve already listed. Split in half by the Serchio River and surrounded by tree-lined streets and Sixteenth-century ramparts, Lucca is gorgeous to discover on foot.
You can catch a prepare to Lucca prepare station by rolling hills, having fun with some beautiful surroundings and Pisa stopover earlier than arriving in Lucca in beneath two hours. Alternatively, take the direct path to Lucca on the bus in simply over an hour. Lucca is likely one of the most photogenic day journeys from Florence and is finest for hopping between monuments. It additionally has among the best direct buses out of all these day journeys from Florence.
Distance from Florence: 1 hour and quarter-hour by bus or automobile
7. Montepulciano
Montepulciano is a hilltop city filled with character. The charming city is ready inside the Tuscan countryside and is likely one of the most rural day journeys from Florence. Vineyards encompass Montepulciano, and it’s a paradise for wine lovers; well-known for its vino nobile crimson wine – medium-bodied and fruity. However, it isn’t all surroundings and wine. Visitors even have the city’s medieval historical past to take pleasure in. Set excessive in the Tuscan hills, sights just like the Sanctuary of the Madonna di San Biagio grow to be much more dramatic.
Small cities like Montepulciano are finest visited by rental automobile. With rental vehicles, you’ll be able to take pleasure in a extra liberating journey to Montepulciano. And apart from, with no direct prepare, you’ll shave over an hour off your journey time.
Distance from Florence: 1.5 hours by automobile or 3 hours by public transport.
8. Milan
Milan is an enormous title. And for many who have but to go to Milan, Italy’s vogue capital, it’s an unmissable day journey from Florence. The metropolis is known for Milan Fashion Week and has attracted enormous designer and mannequin names over the previous years. Milan is all procuring and structure – so if both sounds up your avenue, this is likely one of the finest day journeys from Florence. The iconic Duomo di Milano is the place to fill your structure bucket. Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II is likely one of the fanciest procuring facilities ever seen.
Milan can be one of the crucial eco-friendly Florence day journeys; it’s faster to get there by prepare than by automobile. The high-speed prepare from Florence reaches Milan in lower than 2 hours, whilst you journey for 3.5 hours by automobile.
Distance from Florence: 2 hours by prepare or 3.5 hours by automobile
9. Siena
Siena is way from only a stunning title; this UNESCO World Heritage Site has a putting foremost square-shaped like a fan and a few ridiculously fairly medieval buildings. It is likely one of the finest day journeys from Florence in order for you medieval Tuscan sightseeing with out the effort of inaccessible, out-of-the-way villages and hilltop cities.
Siena is gorgeous, historic, and extremely accessible. Regarding must-visits, the fan-shaped sq., Piazza del Campo, is a best choice while you’re there. You must also climb to the highest of the Torre del Mangia and revel in some native delicacies.
Siena is finest reached by bus. You may catch the regional prepare with out reserving prepare tickets in advance. However, the bus is marginally faster, so if you happen to fancy saving your self half-hour, take the bus as an alternative.
Distance from Florence: 1 hour by automobile or bus
10. Venice
Venice is likely one of the finest locations to go to in Italy, and if you happen to go to Florence, there’s no purpose you’ll be able to’t have the very best of each worlds. Venice has many issues to do, together with taking a canal gondola journey and visiting St Mark’s Square.
The metropolis middle is finest skilled by strolling tour – guided or self-guided – and is famously set on water, divided by canals and linked by boats and tiny overwater bridges. If you desire a day journey from Florence that can make an impression, a visit to Venice is one in all your most dependable choices. Venice is magical.
Distance from Florence: 3 hours by automobile or 2 hours by prepare
11. Rome
You’ll want your ambition for this journey, however Rome is likely one of the finest day journeys from Florence. If you catch a quick prepare, you’ll be able to arrive instantly at one of many central Rome prepare stations in simply 1.5 hours. The quick trains are a superb approach of which means you continue to get loads of free time in your Rome day journey. The real-time cruncher is attempting to cherry-pick the very best of Rome to see in only a single day – this metropolis often calls for three to 4 days at the very least.
Pick a number of sights and analysis transport between them as a result of Rome is large; hardly explorable on only a strolling tour. The Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Trevi Fountain mix nicely in a single day. While if you wish to see the Vatican City, you’ll want a complete day to go to this area of Rome.
Central Italy is nicely price detouring to on a day journey from Florence. Just be sure to catch the direct trains and high-speed choices. You can learn all about the very best locations to see in Rome right here.
Distance from Florence: 1.5 hours by prepare
12. Bologna
Bologna is a type of Italian cities you hear of hundreds however are likely to overlook for extra mainstream locations. We are right here to vary your thoughts on stunning Bologna, although. And it is best to carve out time for a day journey from Florence to Bologna, particularly in case you are a foodie. Bologna is famend for its scrumptious meals and is the proper place to take a cooking class or meals tour. Think pasta, tiramisu, and extra. The entire metropolis appears like one huge restaurant, and it even has the nickname ‘Fat City.’
Bologna is 40 minutes away by prepare, so we advocate heading there for a night meal or a half-day journey from Florence. It is the proper close by vacation spot to divert to for some high-quality delicacies. Keep your abdomen completely satisfied and add this to your must-do Florence day journeys.
Distance from Florence: 40 minutes by prepare
13. Fiesole
Fiesole is a city of ruins however in the absolute best approach. The city has many historic and archaeological sights, together with the unique segments of the city’s Etruscan wall, preserved Roman baths and theater, and quite a few non secular landmarks. Fiesole is likely one of the finest day journeys from Florence to get a style of lesser-visited historical past. Its historical past is assumed so far again even additional than its bigger neighbor of Florence, making it a sought-after location for historical past fanatics and people in the know.
You can take advantage of regional trains or drive to Fiesole. The city is simply exterior of Florence’s bounds, so it is likely one of the most handy sightseeing locations you’ll be able to take pleasure in exterior town middle.
Distance from Florence: 35 minutes by prepare or 20 minutes by automobile
14. Verona
Verona is likely one of the most romantic cities on Earth, so in relation to probably the most memorable day journeys from Florence, Verona must be on the prime. Verona is town of the opera Romeo and Juliet – which Shakespeare set in town. You may even go to Juliet’s House to enter onto the tiny balcony to recreate the enduring ‘Romeo, Romeo wherefore art thou’ scene. Love is a central theme of this metropolis, and if you wish to win some critical brownie factors, Verona is the place to carry your important different.
It is a good day journey from Florence for all traveler varieties and teams. You can go to the Verona Arena, Giusti Garden, Scaliger Tombs, and quite a few castles and basilicas. Verona is a fairly walkable metropolis and really doable as a single-day journey. Catch the prepare to maximise your time sightseeing.
Distance from Florence: 2 hours quarter-hour by prepare or 3 hours by automobile
15. Arezzo
Arezzo is one other of the very best day journeys from Florence to succeed in by prepare – knocking a powerful 50% off your journey time as an alternative of visiting by automobile. So, if you happen to don’t drive or wish to be extra eco-friendly, hear up. Arezzo is thought for 2 foremost issues; gold and vogue. Poets and artists alike have known as the tiny medieval townhome, and it has had a outstanding impression on Italian tradition for a hill city of its measurement. You can go to impartial retailers and galleries and coordinate your journey to coincide with occasions like its month-to-month vintage market.
If you want regionally made valuables and looking for antiques, Arezzo is an incredible Florence day journey. It is simple to get diverted to the extra important locations when planning a day journey from Florence. Arezzo is proof of why you must also think about among the smaller locations. Plus, it’s only a 30-minute prepare journey away. Arezzo is a big win, win.
Distance from Florence: 1 hour by automobile and half-hour by prepare
16. Parma
As fairly because the Tuscan countryside is with its cypress timber and delightful vineyards, it is best to go to extra of the Emilia-Romagna area. And in order for you an actual foodie hotspot, Parma is your day journey. The metropolis is famously house to Parmesan cheese and Parma ham, and it’s a nice, smaller various to huge Bologna in order for you a extra lowkey vibe. As a college metropolis, Parma is tremendous pleasant. Parma is fairly particular, and gastronomical custom and heritage rule supreme in this northern metropolis.
It is finest to go to Parma by prepare. It is fast for one, and second, this implies you’ll be able to indulge in some wine along with your cheese and ham tasting.
Distance from Florence: 2 hours by prepare and three hours by automobile
17. Pistoia
Pistoia is likely one of the most accessible day journeys from Florence. So word this down as among the best day journeys from Florence in case you are quick on time or funds. This historic metropolis is often not on the vacationer radar. Only a number of enterprise out by the Tuscan countryside to see Pistoia, which is an absolute disgrace.
Those that properly do are rewarded with medieval church buildings, fewer crowds, and festivals just like the Pistoia Blues Festival, which hosts artists like Mumford & Sons and the Arctic Monkeys.
Short and candy journey-wise, and rewarding attraction-wise, Pistoia is definitely a best choice when contemplating day journeys from Florence. Sometimes the very last thing you need is extra crowds, and underrated Pistoia is an antidote for folks overload.
Distance from Florence: 35 minutes by prepare or 45 minutes by automobile
18. Orvieto
Orvieto is lesser identified however on no account much less important. This tiny metropolis sits on a tufa cliff with an thrilling community of caves beneath town ground. Orvieto is likely one of the most curiously laid out cities you’ll be able to go to on a day journey from Florence. It feels thrilling, virtually legendary. And if you happen to go to, an underground tour of a few of its networks is important. The excursions often final an hour or so – leaving a lot extra time to discover the opposite sights, together with the Thirteenth-century cathedral and Well of St Patrick.
Orvieto has that wow issue and is extra off-the-beaten-track than the remainder of our greatest day journeys from Florence. If you already know Italy fairly nicely, Orvieto is likely one of the higher choices to broaden your familiarity with the lesser-visited areas of the nation.
Distance from Florence: 3 hours by public transport or 2 hours by automobile
19. Monteriggioni
Monteriggioni is arms down among the best day journeys from Florence. This gorgeous city nonetheless has its historic partitions, and town partitions are well-known for his or her medieval options, together with dramatic watchtowers. Monteriggioni is on the cusp of the wine-famed Chianti area and has gorgeous views over the rolling hills from town partitions. It is filled with environment, good views, and character – all of the totally different substances for a day journey of a lifetime.
Monteriggioni is a type of day journeys that solely a tiny demographic of vacationers learn about and makes an effort to go to whereas in Florence. The city leaves such an enormous impression with its lingering medieval constructions and heritage; reap the benefits of experiencing this firsthand. While visiting Monteriggioni, you must also go to the Arme Museum, which has replicas of historic weaponry.
Distance from Florence: 2 hours by bus or 1 hour by automobile
20. Assisi
Assisi is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the birthplace of St Francis, one in all Italy’s two beloved patron saints. It goes with out saying that Assisi is likely one of the finest day journeys from Florence for non secular or patriotic historical past. The Basilica of St Francis is the hub of all of the collective non secular historical past and accommodates frescoes portraying the saint’s life, even holding his sarcophagus in its crypt.
Whether you’re non secular or not, it’s a outstanding place to go to, and the historical past is vividly displayed, making it an enticing go to. The medieval metropolis can be stunning to stroll round, and the Tuscan solar does it a favor, particularly when the white marble historic buildings seem sun-kissed at noon.
You can attain Assisi by public transport, simply buying prepare tickets on arrival at Florence prepare station. However, we’d advocate driving because it takes a very long time with a number of stops by public transport.
Distance from Florence: 2.5 hours by automobile and 2-3 hours by public transport
21. Livorno
Livorno has a special vibe from all the opposite day journeys from Florence in this information. A humble-sized port metropolis, it’s identified for seafood and maritime tradition. Since most Florence day journeys take you to inland locations and use regional trains to succeed in hilltop village prepare stations, having a coastal choice is a big plus. Besides, after a number of days in the inland metropolis of Florence, you’ll probably be able to see the ocean. Livorno has its personal prepare station, so you’ll be able to catch a direct prepare into town – no advance prepare tickets are needed.
When you attain Livorno, it is best to stroll the Terrazza Mascagni promenade for gorgeous ocean views. This promenade has putting checkboard flooring with black and white patterns so far as the attention can see. There’s additionally the Fortezza Vecchia, an enormous fortress as soon as devoted to defending the uncovered coastal metropolis. Of course, sampling native seafood is a should. For an perception into coastal Italian tradition, Livorno is the proper alternative.
Distance from Florence: 1.5 hours by prepare or automobile
22. Cortona
Cortona is likely one of the prettiest day journeys from Florence and is the filming website of the movie Under the Tuscan Sun. An exquisite day journey candidate, additionally it is one of the crucial accessible hilltop locations you’ll be able to go to from Florence. It takes simply 1.5 hours by automobile or public transport to succeed in Cortona, leaving loads of time to benefit from the city.
Cortona shouldn’t be solely fairly however an absolute hotspot for museums. Check out the Etruscan Academy Museum, its Archaeological Park, and the Diocesan Museum. The city is sufficiently small to discover on foot, and since it’s so near Florence, an excellent candidate for these eager to spend time having fun with museums. You have barely any journey time on this Florence day journey.
Distance from Florence: 1.5 hours by automobile or public transport
FAQs About Day Trips from Florence
Day journeys from Florence are magical, whether or not you are taking a tour for wine lovers or go to historic monuments for a day in Rome or Venice. Even if you happen to go to town for the primary time, a day journey from Florence needs to be in your listing. Italy is a type of nations the place the extra you’ll be able to match in, the higher. And these locations are simply too handy to overlook out on.
Is it price making a day journey from Florence?
Day journeys from Florence are among the best issues you are able to do in town. The public transport system is so environment friendly that it is best to take full benefit of all of the high-speed trains to different main Italian locations. You can simply attain dreamy locations like Rome, Verona, Venice, and Pisa. Never thoughts all of the smaller romantic cities and villages.
Can you are taking day journeys to Tuscany from Florence?
Yes, you’ll be able to take day journeys from Florence to Tuscany very simply. There are a choose few prepare stations with hyperlinks to Florence, many bus routes, and much more organized excursions.
Is it doable to do a day journey to Cinque Terre from Florence?
Yes, it’s doable to do a day journey from Florence to Cinque Terre. You can take an organized tour, go to by prepare, or e book a rental automobile.
How lengthy is the prepare journey from Florence to Tuscany?
The prepare journey takes round an hour, relying on whereabouts in Tuscany you select to go to.
To Conclude
Are you heading to a hilltop city for a medieval ambiance? Or to the Chianti wine area for wine tasting amongst buddies? Or are you taking full benefit of the high-speed trains and whisking all the way down to Rome for a day? Any of those finest day journeys from Florence will present a improbable expertise. It is as much as you to resolve how far you wish to go.
Florence is ideally positioned as a base to expertise much more of Italy; you do proper to take full benefit of that. As stunning as its Renaissance artwork and historic monuments are, whenever you go to Florence, you additionally entry a community of fantastic locations. Make certain you broaden your Italy itinerary after touching down in Florence.
Would you want some extra Florence inspiration? Check out this information on the place to remain in Florence for the rundown of all the very best lodges and neighborhoods. Otherwise, have an exquisite time in your day journeys from Florence.