6 UNMISSABLE Things to Do in Tuscany for the Best Vacation

Located within the central-north a part of Italy, Tuscany is without doubt one of the most stunning areas of my beloved dwelling nation, and positively certainly one of my favorites! Why?

Even if comparatively small, this area has such a large and numerous provide of issues to try this you might spend months right here and nonetheless need to keep. The picturesque Tuscan countryside, rolling vineyards, renaissance artwork, charming Tuscan cities, unimaginable meals… and far more!

Since you most likely can’t keep right here for months, I made a decision to put in writing this information for you with the highest issues to do in Tuscany throughout your vacation, together with the sights, excursions, and meals you completely can’t miss, so you possibly can slim down your Tuscany bucket listing!

I additionally included some helpful info about the place to remain in Tuscany, methods to get round, and (an important factor) the place to eat… so that you don’t should make any effort. Just get able to e-book!

Let’s begin!

Here’s a map of the Tuscany area, so you possibly can see the place all the perfect issues to do in Tuscany  are positioned:

1. Spend some days in Florence, the capital metropolis!

Florence (also called Firenze), the Tuscan capital metropolis, needs to be on the TOP of your Tuscany bucket listing: other than being completely beautiful, it has an unimaginable variety of historic and inventive sights to go to, medieval buildings, and scrumptious eating places!

For this cause, I made a decision to separate Florence from the opposite Tuscan cities: I truthfully suppose you must dedicate at the very least 2 days to this unimaginable metropolis, whereas the opposite one may be visited on a day journey! 

Let’s try some MUST do in Florence:

1.1 Wonder round Florence and see the Ponte Vecchio Bridge

The neatest thing you are able to do in Florence is unquestionably to lose your self in its cobblestone streets, however there are some spots you completely should cross by. From stunning squares like Piazza della Signoria, the place you must cease to have a conventional aperitif (attempt the Aperol spritz with an olive oil bruschetta!) to the well-known Ponte Vecchio bridge.

The Ponte Vecchio, crossing the waters of the Arno river, is without doubt one of the symbols of the town!

Apart from being a picture-perfect spot, Ponte Vecchio hosts many goldsmith retailers, upscale jewellery retailers, and road stands: the proper place to purchase some cool souvenirs and a few reminiscences of your journey to Tuscany!

In the previous, the bridge was a passageway for the Medici, the household ruling the town in the course of the Renaissance, so as to go from their dwelling to the places of work within the Uffizi, one other must-see attraction in Florence (see beneath for particulars)!

1.2 Visit the Uffizi Gallery

The Uffizi Gallery, additionally referred to as Pitti Palace, was the previous official residence of the Grand Duchy of Tuscany.

Today it’s Florence’s largest artwork museum, internet hosting an immense assortment of Italian Renaissance work and sculptures from a number of the most distinguished artists throughout Renaissance Florence.

Here you’ll be fortunate sufficient to see the well-known Birth of Venus by Botticelli, the Madonna Enthroned by Giotto, The Annunciation by Leonardo da Vinci and plenty of extra!

The Uffizi Gallery is open day by day aside from Monday, and you might actually spend the entire day there (when you’re an artwork fanatic, you’ll most likely try this). 

Otherwise, I might enable at the very least 2-3 hours there, and e-book a skip the line ticket upfront so that you don’t lose any treasured time ready! But the perfect factor you are able to do is to have a guided tour of the place, so you possibly can truly study the historical past behind all of the artwork you’ll see!

PRICES:

Regular Entrance: Adults – 20€, Under 18 – 2€
Skip the line ticket: 40€
Guided group tour: 51€

1.3 Get the perfect views from Piazzale Michelangelo

If you haven’t fallen in love with Florence till now, you’ll when you go to Piazzale Michelangelo, a forecourt up on a hill from the place you’ll have unforgettable views of the town!

Apart from some road distributors and a bronze duplicate of Michelangelo’s David sculpture, it doesn’t matter what time of day you go to, Piazzale Michelangelo will give you a stupendous lookout over Florence… But I personally recommend you go throughout sundown time when the Tuscan solar makes the town shine with a magical mild.

The stroll to get right here could possibly be fairly sweaty, however is completely definitely worth the effort!

How to get there:

• By foot: The best option to get to Piazzale Michelangelo by foot is from Piazza Poggi sq., mendacity proper on the base of the hill upon which Piazzale Michelangelo sits. It will take 10 minutes.

  Otherwise, If you need to have a extra panoramic route, you can begin on the Porta San Miniato, (close to the bar “il Rifrullo”), and climb up by way of Scalea del Monte alle Croci after which Scalinata del Monte alle Croci. This historic stroll is extra charming however nonetheless quick, taking you round quarter-hour.

• By automotive: Rent a car and drive 10 minutes up the hill. You can park proper in entrance of the point of view, costing 1€ for the primary hour and a pair of€ each hour after.
• By bus: You can attain the Piazzale with bus 12 or 13 from wherever within the historic heart, and even the pink two-level sightseeing tour bus. The experience will take you round half-hour.

1.4 Join an artwork class

Since Firenze is the hometown of a number of the greatest world-famous artists equivalent to Giotto, Brunelleschi, Donatello, Michelangelo, and Leonardo da Vinci simply to call just a few. So there’s an opportunity you would possibly get impressed by all of the artwork you’ll see within the museums of the town. 

In this case, I strongly recommend you may have a special expertise and be a part of one of many many artwork lessons like this sculpting or painting class in a recent artwork studio in Florence.!

It prices 180 euros however will show you how to get in contact along with your inventive aspect, and who is aware of… possibly uncover a brand new ardour. I might give it an opportunity if I had been you!

2. Visit all the opposite stunning cities of the Tuscany area

Apart from the regional capital of Florence, there are numerous different Tuscan cities that must be a part of your listing of issues to do in Tuscany. 

Each one provides distinctive vacationer sights so let’s see them one after the other:

2.1 See the Leaning Tower of Pisa 

I believe everyone knows Pisa for one fundamental cause: the leaning tower of Pisa (that we name in Italian Torre pendente di Pisa) well-known as a result of it’s leaning on one aspect, at round 4 levels. 

The leaning tower stands within the universally famend Piazza dei Miracoli (campo dei Miracoli) and has this explicit place as a result of it was first constructed on delicate foundations on the finish of the Twelfth-century. 

This bell tower is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the vital iconic symbols of all of Tuscany, so when you’re on the town you must at the very least see it, and when you can, go to it and climb it.

In this manner, you possibly can have a greater appreciation of the leaning tower’s interiors, and panoramic views whenever you attain the highest after having climbed 250 inclined steps… fairly a cool and distinctive expertise! 

Taking the well-known picture exterior the tower is free however if you wish to climb it, the go to received’t take you greater than 1 hour and prices €20 when you e-book it online, in any other case, you may have the choice to go to this historic monument on a day trip from Florence.

But when you’re on the town, and also you need to try all the different necessary monuments value a go to in Pisa, you must positively be a part of this entire guided tour of the principle Miracle Square (Campo dei Miracoli) sights: the Pisa tower, the Cathedral, and Baptistery.

PRICES:
Entrance Ticket: €20
Day trip from Florence: €53
Full Guided Tour of Pisa: €30

2.2 Travel again in time in Siena

Even if typically ignored in favor of Firenze, Siena (certainly one of my favourite cities in all of Italy) is totally a should, positioned within the rolling hills of the Tuscan countryside! 

This medieval city, which can also be the second-largest metropolis in Tuscany, hosts an unimaginable historic metropolis heart, proclaimed a UNESCO world heritage web site, which is bordered by historical bastions.

Siena historic heart is the place you’ll discover one of many highlights of the town: Piazza del Campo, the principle sq. with medieval buildings, brick paving stones, and the spectacular fountain Fonte Gaia… you’ll step again in time as quickly as you attain it!

Piazza del Campo can also be the proper place to absorb some Tuscan solar, do some people-watching, browse the numerous memento retailers, and savor scrumptious and refreshing gelato!

And when you occur to be on the town on the 2nd of July or sixteenth of August, you’ll be fortunate to attend an excellent conventional and iconic occasion, the Palio di Siena: a horse race held in the principle sq.. 

During the race, ten horses and riders, bareback and dressed particularly colours, compete representing ten of the seventeen metropolis wards, and the (comparatively) small sq. will get utterly filled with a roaring crowd!

If you don’t need to lose any of the city’s greatest sights and have some helpful details about their historic background, you must contemplate reserving the guided walking tour of Siena, together with the Siena cathedral and the masterpieces of some Renaissance artists for 35€.

2.3 Go truffle searching in San Gimignano 

The picturesque small city of San Gimignano is positioned in Tuscany’s rolling hills, a couple of 1-hour drive from Siena. 

This medieval city will give you charming cobblestone streets and a skyline fabricated from 13 outdated towers, from the place you’ll get the perfect views of the inexperienced Tuscan countryside!

Apart from getting misplaced in its historic metropolis heart, the tiny city of San Gimignano is the proper place to have interaction in food-related actions… Who’s up for it?

Here you’ll eat the perfect ice lotions on this famend Gelateria Dondoli, do some wine tasting within the Vernaccia di San Gimignano winery, and even go truffle searching!

In truth, it’s probably not recognized exterior of Italy, however within the Tuscany area, you could find luxurious truffles, particularly in the course of the winter months!

If you’re a foodie, you must positively take the event to go looking for this secret treasure, since it’s inconceivable to domesticate truffles in an agricultural setting. And what is best than doing that by this truffle hunting tour with wine and lunch in San Gimignano? 

If you don’t have a car, you possibly can go to San Gimignano on a day journey from Florence, for 53€.

3. Enjoy a yummy meals tour of Tuscany

Tuscany’s countryside that includes rolling hills dotted with cypress timber, olive groves, and medieval small cities is the proper setting to have interaction in some scrumptious meals excursions or cooking lessons so you possibly can study to breed the superb plates you’ll attempt as soon as again dwelling (a memento which retains on giving!

It’s no secret that Italian delicacies provides extraordinary meals and contemporary components, however possibly you don’t know that Tuscany, particularly, is thought within the nation for its conventional dishes: pasta with wild boar sauce, Tuscan bread with olive oil, scrumptious cheeses… you’ll fall in love!

Let’s try collectively the perfect meals excursions of this unimaginable Italian area:

• Private Food Tour in Florence: Join this 3-hour personal meals tour by Florence and uncover probably the most beloved meals by locals. Start with an genuine Italian espresso, attempt contemporary pasta dressed with olive oil, and pattern Tuscan road meals on the bustling Sant’Ambrogio marketplace for 106€ per group.
• Pizza and Gelato Cooking Class: Learn methods to make pizza and gelato throughout this cooking class with knowledgeable Italian chef, and end it with a 3-course feast of appetizers, pizza, and gelato, accompanied by wine and beer. The cooking class lasts 5 hours and prices 70€, and so they even offer you a recipe booklet to take dwelling!
• Chianti food and wine tour: Get a real style of Italy’s well-known Chianti area on this wine and meals day journey from Florence. You will journey by the rolling hills of the Tuscan countryside and take many stops to pattern extra-virgin olive oil, cheese, and wine, plus end the journey with a 3-course meal. All this for 180€

4. Do some wine tasting within the Tuscany countryside

Well as we simply noticed, a meals tour is unquestionably a should throughout your Italian vacation… however a visit to Tuscany isn’t full with out going wine tasting within the Chianti wine area (in southern Tuscany), recognized for its scrumptious native wine, one of many most prestigious in the entire world!

It goes with out saying {that a} wine tour is without doubt one of the greatest issues to do in Tuscany, so I gathered right here a listing of the highest wine excursions within the picturesque rolling hills of the Chianti Countryside: a fully stunning setting on your wine tastings!

• Small-Group Wine Tasting: Enjoy 4 hours of wine tasting from Florence as a gaggle whenever you journey alongside stunning hillside roads surrounded by vineyards, olive groves, and cypress timber. You will go to 2 top-rated wineries within the Chianti area, style completely different wines and find out how wine is produced utilizing conventional strategies… all this for 80€.
• Florence to Chianti wine region: With this half-day tour from Florence you’ll journey by the vineyards and rolling hills of the Tuscan countryside and cease at two property wineries to style genuine Chianti wines and snack on regional specialties (bruschetta and cheese… the proper combo!). The tour prices 45€.
• Sunset wine tasting in Chianti: Try the native wines and conventional Tuscan snacks in the course of the golden hours of sundown… the perfect time of the day! During this half-day tour, you’ll cease within the charming medieval village of Greve-in-Chianti to go to a neighborhood winery and its cellars to attempt Chianti Classico and Super Tuscan wines for 100€.

5. See Tuscany from the air!

What is best than exploring Tuscany than doing that from the air? If you’re up for a singular and unforgettable expertise (and also you’re not fearful of heights) you must try this sizzling air balloon experience from San Casciano in Val di Pesa, positioned a 30-minute drive from Florence.

During this hot air balloon ride, you’ll have the possibility to fly over the countryside and see Tuscany from a fowl’s-eye perspective, from 2,000 toes (609 meters) excessive! Get prepared to absorb probably the most unimaginable views of Tuscany’s vineyards, quaint villages, and medieval castles. 

And if this wasn’t sufficient, you’ll end this magical journey with a glass of glowing wine when you return down into the countryside… the cherry on the cake! 

PRICE: €275.00

6. Relax within the Saturnia sizzling springs

One of Italy’s best-kept secrets and techniques and TOP issues to do in Tuscany is the Saturnia thermal sizzling springs, positioned in southern Tuscany within the spa city of Saturnia, 3 hours drive from Florence (or 2 from Siena).

These silk blue water springs, mendacity on completely different ranges, have a continuing temperature of 37 levels because of the close by volcano. This is the BEST place to take pleasure in a peaceable tub throughout sundown or dawn, when there are only a few vacationers, with the peaceable sound of the waterfall.

People generally mistake the springs as being part of a close-by spa resort, however they’re truly a totally free place to go to 24 hours a day, at any day of the week or the yr… how nice is that?

PRO TIP: Even whether it is open all yr spherical, the perfect interval to go to the Saturnia sizzling springs are autumn and spring. The springs don’t have any shaded space, so in the summertime it will get SUPER sizzling, whereas in winter it may be very nice however you must come ready for the second you get out!

Where to remain in Tuscany 

The greatest base so that you can discover Tuscany is unquestionably the capital of the area, Florence, providing many vacationer sights and actions but in addition place, just a few hours driving from all the perfect issues to do in Tuscany that we’ve simply been by.

Check out the listing beneath of the perfect inns in Florence for various budgets:

• Luxury (€500 and up): Relais Santa Croce – This 5-star lodge set in a Renaissance Palazzo type constructing is without doubt one of the most luxurious and stylish properties within the historic heart of Florence, positioned close to the well-known Santa Croce Basilica. Here you possibly can have an aperitif within the music room or in your personal balcony, the perfect metropolis views!
• Mid Range (€80 – €300): B&B San Remigio – Check out this beautiful lodge that includes probably the most romantic terrace from the place you’ll have views of Florence’s beautiful buildings and most well-known sights just like the Giotto’s Bell Tower! The property additionally provides stylish household rooms with air con for very cheap costs… What else do you want?
• Budget (as much as €70): Palazzo Lombardo – If you’re searching for a lodge the place to remain on a finances in Tuscany, you’ve simply discovered it! This elegant lodge is ready in an vintage constructing and is positioned in a quiet, residential space in Florence, subsequent to a fantastic inexperienced park and properly linked to the historic heart.

Practical Information 

Now that we’ve bought all of your actions deliberate, right here is a few sensible info that you simply’ll discover helpful throughout your journey to Tuscany, together with methods to get across the area and the perfect eating places the place to eat!

How to get round Tuscany

Tuscany is the third-largest area of Italy, and meaning you must plan your itinerary upfront, or at the very least which manner of transport you’ll use to get round. 

The two most sensible methods to see the area are positively taking trains or renting a automotive, however you can even use the bus (even when I don’t personally recommend it). Let’s see them extra intimately one after the other:

By Car

The most sensible and pleasant option to go to Tuscany is unquestionably by automotive. You can observe your personal schedule and occasions, cease on the highway to take photographs, and attain the perfect eating places that normally are off the overwhelmed observe!

You can both rent a car from Rome’s Fiumicino Airport (the closest airport to the area) whenever you fly in and head straight to Tuscany, or rent your car from Florence, after visiting the town for just a few days, and discover the superb villages round.

Getting out of Rome or Florence would require you to drive on Italy highways (autostrada) which normally have tolls, whereas to get across the area and from one village to the opposite one, you’ll almost definitely keep on with secondary roads that are free and sometimes provide panoramic views!

When you come throughout a toll highway you’ll cross by a barrier the place you possibly can pay onsite with money or card. Use this website to verify your route for paid roads.  

Renting a 5-seat automotive for 1-day will value you round 112€, whereas for 1 week it’s 500€. 

By Train 

If you need to keep away from the stress of driving on Italian highways and tiny secondary roads within the Tuscan villages, the prepare is unquestionably the most suitable choice!

There is a high-speed prepare, Italo, connecting Florence with the bigger cities and cities of Italy, like Rome within the south and Bologna or Milan within the north, which might turn out to be useful when you land there by airplane.

While touring between the numerous mid-sized and secondary Tuscan cities like Pisa, Lucca, and Siena you possibly can take regional trains of Trenitalia from Florence… and so they even journey alongside the coastal route! 

Regional intercity trains are slightly sluggish however the most cost-effective choice to get round: costs rely on the size of the journey however they normally fluctuate from 5€ to twenty€.

The largest draw back of exploring Tuscany by prepare is that you simply received’t have the possibility to achieve many small cities as they don’t have prepare stations, like the gorgeous San Gimignano however in that case, you might take a day tour as an alternative.

By Bus

The solely option to get to the smaller cities in Tuscany by public transport is by bus, however more often than not you’ll have to mix them with the prepare. Usually, the two stations are adjoining, so the switch is fairly easy. 

The largest concern with regional buses in Tuscany is that it is rather onerous to search out dependable bus schedules, as they modify very often and so they don’t at all times respect the occasions, however costs are very reasonably priced, round 3€ per experience!

If you need to try a while schedules, take a look at Sita Bus beneath which a lot of the regional bus corporations function, or TuscanyBus, a non-public firm providing service between Livorno, Pisa, Lucca, Florence, and La Spezia.

On Tours from Florence

If you like to not drive however are additionally restricted on time or don’t need to depend on public transport, I recommend you keep in Florence and take day journey excursions from right here to every of the locations you want to go to. 

As the capital of the area, Florence offers probably the most choices for visiting completely different cities and actions throughout your journey. Here are the highest excursions I can recommend for you: 

• Tuscany in One Day Sightseeing Tour – Discover the area’s highlights and fundamental cities with a neighborhood information on at the present time journey from Florence. This is a good tour if you wish to see as a lot as doable in sooner or later together with a Tuscan lunch and wine tasting within the Chianti hills! The tour prices solely €66.00.
• Siena and San Gimignano Day Trip – Take a guided tour of Siena and discover the medieval hill city of San Gimignano on at the present time journey from Florence, which is able to finish with a Tuscan lunch paired with native wines in a family-owned vineyard, for €130.
• Pisa from Florence afternoon Tour – Explore Pisa‘s top attractions with an expert local guide and skip the line to see the famous Leaning Tower on this half-day trip to Pisa from Florence, for €80.
• Wine tasting in Chianti wine region – Taste the authentic Chianti wines and try some Tuscan specialties like bruschetta and cheese on this half-day tour from Florence. You will explore the vineyards and rolling hills of the Tuscan countryside for €45.
• Tuscany Food and Wine Tour – Get a true taste of Tuscany on this full-day wine and food tour from Florence with a local guide. You’ll attempt the perfect Tuscan specialties and have a 3-course meal within the Chianti countryside on the finish, for €180.

Where to eat in Tuscany

Offering the most effective cuisines in the entire of Italy, the Tuscany area will delight you with an abundance of scrumptious components (contemporary cheeses, chilly cuts, virgin olive, Tuscan bread) and present that even easy meals may be so scrumptious!

Here you will discover numerous unimaginable eating places, from the coziest and most informal ones, to family-owned trattorias or upscale Michelin-starred eating places, in case you need to have a particular connoisseur dinner.

I gathered right here a listing of the perfect ones, let’s verify them out:

• La buchetta food and wine restaurant – If you might be in Florence, you completely should cross by this unimaginable conventional restaurant providing an informal setting and really pleasant workers! Here you’ll attempt probably the most scrumptious gnocchi ever, however in addition they have a really broad menu with an intensive wine listing!
• Arnolfo – This two-starred Michelin restaurant is positioned within the small city of Colle di Val D’Elsa and provides an intimate terrace with countryside views. Here they serve very revolutionary dishes fabricated from basic Tuscan components. A must-try is pink mullet with pappa al pomodoro with fermented garlic, however right here there may be additionally a vegetarian tasting menu!
• La Taverna di San Giuseppe – This restaurant in Siena is a former Etruscan wine cellar, and as we speak one of many locals’ favorites, so anticipate an off-the-cuff eating expertise! Here you’ll attempt the standard antipasti, do-it-yourself pasta, chianina steak, and cinghiale (wild boar). Make certain you reserve a spot, it will possibly get crowded!
• Il canto del Maggio – if you wish to eat scrumptious meals however don’t need to waste a fortune, Il Canto del Maggio provides unimaginable dishes and basic farm-to-table service. In this family-owned restaurant in Arezzo, they use contemporary components present in Mauro’s backyard (the proprietor). Plus you’ll get native wines and a priceless view at very cheap costs!

Frequently requested questions on issues to do in Tuscany

Conclusion

Here we’re on the finish of this very intensive information with the perfect issues to do in Tuscany, one of the vital stunning areas of Italy!

Whether you need to go to the picturesque countryside, go on day journeys to the numerous charming cities, be a part of a meals tour or fly over the area with a enjoyable tour on a sizzling air balloon, Tuscany has one thing for you!

I hope this information helped you select what to place in your Tuscany bucket listing, and that you simply loved studying that as a lot as I did writing it for you. 

If you may have any doubt or you may have been within the area and also you need to share your expertise, please accomplish that within the feedback beneath, I’m trying ahead to studying all of them!

Buon viaggio!

Elena