Best Day Trips from Florence: Where to Go and How to Get There

Last updated: September 22, 2026

The best day trips from Florence are Siena, Pisa with Lucca, and Bologna by train, and Chianti or San Gimignano by car or tour. Siena is about 1 hour 30 minutes away by regional train, Pisa about one hour, and Bologna 38 minutes by high-speed train. The Cinque Terre works, but it’s a very long day.

Key takeaways

• Siena is the easiest hill town to reach alone: direct regional trains from Florence Santa Maria Novella take 1 hour 27 minutes to 1 hour 35 minutes.
• Pisa and Lucca pair well by train: Florence to Pisa takes 1 hour on the fastest regional trains, Pisa to Lucca 27 minutes.
• Bologna is the fastest trip: 38 minutes on a Frecciarossa or Italo high-speed train.
• San Gimignano has no train station: you ride a train to Poggibonsi (about 1 hour), then a local bus.
• Chianti’s wineries sit on country roads, and Italy’s drink-driving limit is 0.5 g/l, zero for drivers licensed less than three years.
• The Cinque Terre from Florence means five to six hours on trains, with 2 hours 28 minutes to 2 hours 51 minutes each way to La Spezia alone.

How we picked these day trips

Italy2Love compared eight destinations on three criteria: travel time each way from Florence, checked on the official rail timetable; whether the day works without a car; and what the visit asks of you (timed tickets, hills, early starts). Each trip also says who should skip it.

Train times come from the RFI (Rete Ferroviaria Italiana) departure boards for the timetable valid June 14 to December 12, 2026, checked September 22, 2026. Check your exact train before you go.

Best day trips from Florence at a glance

The short version. The sections below explain the catches.

Which day trips from Florence work best by train?

Siena, Pisa, Lucca, Bologna and Arezzo all have direct trains from Florence Santa Maria Novella. You need no car and no tour.

Siena

Direct regional trains take 1 hour 27 minutes to 1 hour 35 minutes (the 8:10 departure arrives at 9:38). Return trains take about the same.

The catch: Siena station sits below the walled town. Budget extra time to get up to Piazza del Campo on foot, by city bus or by the escalators toward the Antiporto gate. Autolinee Toscane also runs the 131R express bus from Florence’s coach station; its current timetable started September 15, 2026, so check it before relying on it.

• Best for: travelers who want a complete medieval city in one day, with the cathedral and the contrade (Siena’s historic neighborhoods) all walkable.
• Skip it if: steep streets are a problem. Siena is a hill town, and the walks from the station and between sights involve real climbs.

Pisa and Lucca

The classic two-for-one day. The fastest Regionale Veloce trains reach Pisa Centrale in 1 hour (the 8:28 arrives at 9:28); slower regionals take 1 hour 13 minutes to 1 hour 17 minutes. Pisa to Lucca takes 27 minutes. Direct Florence–Lucca trains take 1 hour 20 minutes to 1 hour 46 minutes, so the loop also works in reverse.

A realistic plan: morning in Pisa, train to Lucca around lunchtime, afternoon on Lucca’s walls, direct train back. Italy2Love’s guide to things to do in Lucca covers the afternoon.

Leaning Tower tickets: the climb costs €20, with no reduced tickets (as of September 2026), according to the Opera della Primaziale Pisana, which manages the square. Before you book:

• Children who won’t turn eight by the end of the year can’t climb; under-18s need an adult.
• Arrive late for your slot and you won’t get in or get a refund.
• Bags go to the cloakroom. The visit takes about 30 minutes and 251 steps.
• The tower opens 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.; from October 19, 2026, it closes at 7:00 p.m. Entry to the Cathedral is free.

• Best for: first-time visitors and families with children aged eight and up.
• Skip it if: you only want the tower photo. Pisa alone rarely fills a day; Lucca is what makes the trip.

Bologna

Bologna is 38 minutes away on Frecciarossa or Italo high-speed trains. It’s a different region, Emilia-Romagna, with a different kitchen: tortellini, mortadella and fresh egg pasta. Start with Italy2Love’s list of things to do in Bologna.

• Best for: food-focused travelers and fans of arcaded city streets.
• Skip it if: your trip is about Tuscan countryside. Bologna is a busy university city. High-speed fares also vary by day and time.

Arezzo (or Cortona)

Regionale Veloce trains reach Arezzo in 1 hour 10 minutes; slower regionals take 1 hour 29 minutes to 1 hour 36 minutes. Arezzo holds Piero della Francesca’s frescoes in the Basilica of San Francesco and a monthly antiques fair, the Fiera Antiquaria, held on the first Sunday of each month and the Saturday before. Next dates: October 3–4, October 31–November 1 and December 5–6, 2026.

Cortona is on the same line, about 1 hour 26 minutes to Camucia-Cortona by Regionale Veloce, but the station sits below the hilltop town.

• Best for: repeat visitors who want a quieter town with fewer groups.
• Skip it if: you want big-name sights. Arezzo rewards slow wandering, not a checklist.

Why are San Gimignano and Chianti hard without a car?

Both are countryside destinations, and Tuscan public transport is built for commuters, not for hopping between hill towns. A car or a tour saves hours here.

San Gimignano

San Gimignano has no train station. From Florence you take a train to Poggibonsi (the 8:10 arrives at 9:14), then an Autolinee Toscane bus from Poggibonsi station up to the town. The Comune di San Gimignano notes that “in many cases” you must change at Poggibonsi.

That’s three weak points: the train, the connection, and a bus timetable that differs on weekdays, Saturdays and holidays (the current one started September 15, 2026). Adding Siena the same day means yet another bus.

• Best for: travelers who love medieval skylines and are fine with a set pace.
• Skip it if: you want a relaxed day. Your time in town depends on either the bus or the tour schedule.

Chianti

The towns are reachable: Autolinee Toscane line 365 links Florence with Greve in Chianti, Radda and Gaiole. The wineries are the problem. Most sit outside the towns on country roads, and you’re going there to drink.

Italy’s legal limit is 0.5 grams of alcohol per liter of blood, and zero for drivers in their first three years with a license, according to ACI (Automobile Club d’Italia). Tastings at two or three estates make self-driving a bad plan. For the grapes and labels, read Italy2Love’s guide to the best wines of Tuscany.

• Best for: wine lovers who want tastings without the driving.
• Skip it if: you’re under 18 or don’t drink.

Is a Siena, San Gimignano and Pisa tour worth it?

Yes, if you want all three names in one day without managing connections. No, if you want real time in any of them. Three towns in one day isn’t realistic by public transport, and that’s the problem the bus tour solves.

Italy2Love’s review of the Tuscany day trip from Florence to Siena, San Gimignano and Pisa covers a 12-hour tour rated 4.9/5 on 24,043 Viator reviews, from about €95 (checked September 2026). Check on the listing whether the tower climb is included; the age rule and fixed slot apply either way.

• Skip it if: you already plan a train day to Pisa and Lucca. You’d see Pisa twice.

What should you know before booking a Chianti wine tour?

The small print matters more than the wineries. Italy2Love reviewed a Chianti wine tour from Florence rated 4.9/5 on 5,696 Viator reviews, lasting 6 to 9 hours, from about €130 (checked September 2026). Five points listings tend to bury:

• “Small group” isn’t that small: the cap is 27 people.
• Minimum age is 18. Families with teenagers should look elsewhere.
• No dietary accommodations, lactose intolerance included.
• Tips and hotel pickup are not included. Plan how you’ll reach the meeting point.
• Travelers book an average of 49 days ahead. In harvest season, don’t wait.

Rather sleep in the hills? See where to stay in the Tuscan countryside, including agriturismo stays (working farms that host guests).

Prefer to pedal? Italy2Love also reviewed a Chianti e-bike tour from Florence. The lowest price, from about €45 (checked September 2026), is the self-guided version: no guide, no winery visit, no lunch and no wine. Damage cover is mandatory, at €20 per person or a €200 deposit, not payable in cash. Riders must be at least 14 years old and 150 cm (4 ft 11 in) tall.

Can you do the Cinque Terre as a day trip from Florence?

You can, but do the math. Direct regional trains to La Spezia take 2 hours 28 minutes to 2 hours 51 minutes each way (for example, 6:08 a.m. to 8:59 a.m. out, 5:40 p.m. to 8:08 p.m. back). From La Spezia, local trains reach Riomaggiore in about seven minutes and Monterosso in about 25.

That’s five to six hours of your day on trains, leaving time for two or three of the five villages, and only with an early start. The coast deserves a night. Italy2Love’s guide to the Italian Riviera covers where to base yourself.

• Best for: travelers with one free day who’d rather see the coast briefly than not at all.
• Skip it if: you’re in Florence for three days or less. You’d trade a Tuscan day for a train ride.

What about the Val d’Orcia?

The Val d’Orcia is postcard Tuscany: cypress-lined roads, Pienza, Montalcino. It’s also the hardest trip here without a car. The hill towns sit away from regular rail lines, south of Siena and farther than Chianti. Rent a car or book a tour.

• Best for: photographers and road-trippers.
• Skip it if: you have one free day and no car. Spend a night there instead.

Which day trip from Florence should you choose?

Match the trip to your constraint, not to the most famous name:

• No car, first visit: Siena, or Pisa with Lucca.
• Less than a full day: Bologna.
• Wine is the point: a Chianti tour.
• You want the “big three” and don’t mind a long bus day: the Siena, San Gimignano and Pisa tour.
• You’ve done Tuscany before: Arezzo or Cortona.
• You want the coast: the Cinque Terre, on the earliest train.

For the city itself, see Italy2Love’s Florence travel guide.

First time in Florence? See how a day trip fits with the city’s museums in our 2-day Florence booking plan for first-time visitors.

How many Florence days do you need? Our 10-day Italy itinerary gives Florence three nights, one of them for a full Tuscany day, and the 2-week itinerary gives it four.

Frequently asked questions

What is the easiest day trip from Florence by train?

Bologna is the fastest, at 38 minutes on Frecciarossa or Italo high-speed trains. For a Tuscan town, Siena is the easiest: direct regional trains from Florence Santa Maria Novella take 1 hour 27 minutes to 1 hour 35 minutes. Pisa is also simple, at about one hour on the fastest regional trains, according to the RFI timetable checked in September 2026.

Can you visit Pisa and Lucca in one day from Florence?

Yes. Take a train to Pisa, which takes 1 hour on the fastest regional services, spend the morning at the Leaning Tower square, then take a regional train to Lucca, which takes 27 minutes. From Lucca, direct trains return to Florence in 1 hour 20 minutes to 1 hour 46 minutes. No car or tour is needed for this loop.

How much does it cost to climb the Leaning Tower of Pisa?

The climb costs €20 with no reduced tickets, as of September 2026, according to the Opera della Primaziale Pisana. Children who won’t turn eight by the end of the year can’t climb, and under-18s must be with an adult. Latecomers lose their slot without a refund. Entry to the Cathedral is free.

Can you get to San Gimignano from Florence without a car?

Yes, but it takes planning. San Gimignano has no train station. Take a train from Florence to Poggibonsi, about one hour, then an Autolinee Toscane bus up to the town. Bus times differ on weekdays, Saturdays and holidays, so check the current timetable before leaving. A tour or a car is simpler if you also want to see Siena.

Is the Cinque Terre too far for a day trip from Florence?

It’s far, but doable. Direct regional trains to La Spezia take 2 hours 28 minutes to 2 hours 51 minutes each way, and local trains to the villages add up to about 25 minutes more. Expect five to six hours on trains in total. You’ll see two or three villages at most, so staying one night is a better plan.

Which day trip from Florence is best in the fall?

Chianti is the strongest fall choice, because the grape harvest, the vendemmia, falls in early fall and wine country is at its busiest. Book early: travelers book the Chianti tour Italy2Love reviewed an average of 49 days ahead. Also note that the Leaning Tower closes at 7:00 p.m. from October 19, 2026.

Do you need to book day trip trains from Florence in advance?

Regional trains to Siena, Pisa, Lucca and Arezzo don’t require a seat reservation, so you can buy on the day. High-speed trains to Bologna have variable fares, so booking ahead usually saves money. Always check your exact train on the official timetable, because the current rail timetable runs only until December 12, 2026.

Tours we’ve reviewed

• Tuscany day trip from Florence: Siena, San Gimignano and Pisa: 12 hours, 4.9/5 on 24,043 Viator reviews, from about €95 (checked September 2026)
• Chianti wine tour from Florence: 6 to 9 hours, 4.9/5 on 5,696 Viator reviews, from about €130 (checked September 2026)
• Chianti e-bike tour from Florence: self-guided option from about €45 (checked September 2026)

Sources and verification

All checked September 22, 2026, unless noted.

• Train times: RFI (Rete Ferroviaria Italiana), official departure boards for Firenze Santa Maria Novella, Siena, Pisa Centrale and La Spezia Centrale, timetable valid June 14 to December 12, 2026.
• Leaning Tower price, rules and opening hours: Opera della Primaziale Pisana, official website.
• Bus lines to Siena, San Gimignano and Chianti: Autolinee Toscane, official line pages and timetables valid from September 15, 2026.
• Bus access to San Gimignano: Comune di San Gimignano, “In autobus” page.
• Drink-driving limits: ACI (Automobile Club d’Italia), “Alcol e guida” page.
• Arezzo antiques fair dates: Fiera Antiquaria di Arezzo, official website.
• Tour ratings, durations, prices and terms: the Viator listings behind Italy2Love’s tour reviews, checked September 2026.