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 long-lasting 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 terms of 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 acquainted with 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 properly price it.
22 Best Day Trips from Florence
Whether you need a leisurely half-day journey or an formidable regional practice scramble, these finest day journeys from Florence will present among the most memorable experiences in your Italy itinerary. A day journey from Florence is likely one of the most fun issues you are able to do, and also you’ve obtained to benefit from the unbelievable community of high-speed trains and town’s prime location in the Tuscan countryside. Don’t make Florence your ultimate vacation spot – irrespective of how alluring that Florence Vespa tour appears.
Planning Your Trip To Florence Right Now?
Below are among the high day journey excursions from Florence. Don’t overlook to plan forward when visiting Italy!
Top Day Trip Activities and Tours from Florence:
1. Cinque Terre
If you need 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 legendary for its colourful homes and cliffside attraction, with the homes virtually spilling over rock faces on their means right down to the oceanfront.
Cinque Terre has 5 essential cities: Riomaggiore, Manarola, Vernazza, Monterosso, and Corniglia – if you happen to can, go to all of them. Each city has its practice station, and it is likely one of the finest day journeys if you happen to’d wish 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’ll take a look at our full information to visiting right here.
Distance from Florence: 3 hours by practice or automotive
2. Wine Tasting
To be a wine lover, you will need to go to Tuscany and its lovely wine areas. The most well-known is the Chianti wine area, which has Sangiovese grapes that create scrumptious pale wines. The Chianti hills are stuffed with wine estates, with the Chianti wines relationship again to earlier than the early fifteenth century, and you’ll take a guided wine tour that whisks you round the perfect. The Chianti wine area is well-liked due to its excessive density of wine estates and the tastiness of its produce.
You ought to ebook a guided tour for this Florence day journey for apparent causes. Public transport is restricted in distant areas, and rental automobiles 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 a superb chunk of the Tuscan countryside whereas hopping between wine estates. A wine tour is a lot enjoyable.
Distance from Florence: An hour by automotive
3. Pisa
Who doesn’t dream of visiting Pisa? And because of Italy’s high-speed practice system, you’ll be able to attain Pisa in lower than an hour from the central Florence practice station. A day journey to Pisa is filled with sightseeing and tradition; you’ve gotten the long-lasting 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 unbelievable for the relaxed sightseer sort of traveler.
Wine lovers can put all their newly accrued wine tour data to the take a look at by ordering a glass to people-watch with and dine al fresco. A day in Pisa must 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 terms of Florence day journeys.
Distance from Florence: 1 hour by practice
4. San Gimignano
If you need a extra rustic, medieval-style day journey from Florence, a San Gimignano day journey must 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 ambiance has lingered through the years, and it has a ‘step back in time’ high quality that draws many vacationers. The city can also be a chosen UNESCO World Heritage Site. This Florence day journey is right for anybody wanting a small, walkable vacation spot. And San Gimignano’s historical past is tough to withstand.
You can catch a practice to Poggibonsi after which a bus to San Gimignano to get there. There are common practice schedules, so planning practice rides and bus journeys is straightforward, regardless of the transient stopover in Poggibonsi, and the entire journey takes lower than two hours a technique. Or you’ll be able to ebook a rental automotive and drive at the present time journey from Florence in an hour.
Distance from Florence: 2 hours by public transport or an hour by automotive
5. Volterra
Volterra is one other medieval city simply accessible as one of many essential Florence day journeys. This time, although, it has a particular darkish aesthetic, with orangey brown buildings and a solemn architectural vibe. Volterra has seen the whole lot from the Etruscan to the Roman and Medieval intervals, 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 good points of interest, excellent for history-loving day trippers. A serious Volterra attraction is the Roman Theater complicated, which has bathtub ruins relationship 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 automotive or 2.5 hours by public transport
6. Lucca
Lucca is a fantastically historic medieval metropolis recognized for its Renaissance partitions and gorgeous metropolis middle. Lucca has a cobblestone aesthetic with some massive metropolis points of interest 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 practice to Lucca practice 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 probably the greatest direct buses out of all these day journeys from Florence.
Distance from Florence: 1 hour and quarter-hour by bus or automotive
7. Montepulciano
Montepulciano is a hilltop city stuffed 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 pink 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, points of interest just like the Sanctuary of the Madonna di San Biagio turn out to be much more dramatic.
Small cities like Montepulciano are finest visited by rental automotive. With rental automobiles, you’ll be able to take pleasure in a extra liberating journey to Montepulciano. And moreover, with no direct practice, you’ll shave over an hour off your journey time.
Distance from Florence: 1.5 hours by automotive or 3 hours by public transport.
8. Milan
Milan is a giant 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 legendary for Milan Fashion Week and has attracted big designer and mannequin names over the previous years. Milan is all purchasing and structure – so if both sounds up your road, 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 purchasing facilities ever seen.
Milan can also be one of the vital eco-friendly Florence day journeys; it’s faster to get there by practice than by automotive. The high-speed practice from Florence reaches Milan in lower than 2 hours, whilst you journey for 3.5 hours by automotive.
Distance from Florence: 2 hours by practice or 3.5 hours by automotive
9. Siena
Siena is much from only a lovely title; this UNESCO World Heritage Site has a placing essential square-shaped like a fan and a few ridiculously fairly medieval buildings. It is likely one of the finest day journeys from Florence if you need medieval Tuscan sightseeing with out the trouble 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 also needs to climb to the highest of the Torre del Mangia and revel in some native delicacies.
Siena is finest reached by bus. You also can catch the regional practice with out reserving practice 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 automotive 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 perfect of each worlds. Venice has many issues to do, together with taking a canal gondola trip 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 related by boats and tiny overwater bridges. If you need a day journey from Florence that may make an impression, a visit to Venice is one among your most dependable choices. Venice is magical.
Distance from Florence: 3 hours by automotive or 2 hours by practice
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 practice, you’ll be able to arrive instantly at one of many central Rome practice stations in simply 1.5 hours. The quick trains are a wonderful means of that means you continue to get loads of free time in your Rome day journey. The real-time cruncher is making an attempt to cherry-pick the perfect of Rome to see in only a single day – this metropolis often calls for three to 4 days no less than.
Pick just a few points of interest and analysis transport between them as a result of Rome is big; hardly explorable on only a strolling tour. The Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Trevi Fountain mix properly 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 properly 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 perfect locations to see in Rome right here.
Distance from Florence: 1.5 hours by practice
12. Bologna
Bologna is a kind of Italian cities you hear of hundreds however are inclined to overlook for extra mainstream locations. We are right here to alter your thoughts on lovely Bologna, although. And you need to carve out time for a day journey from Florence to Bologna, particularly if you’re 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 complete metropolis looks like one massive restaurant, and it even has the nickname ‘Fat City.’
Bologna is 40 minutes away by practice, 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 joyful and add this to your must-do Florence day journeys.
Distance from Florence: 40 minutes by practice
13. Fiesole
Fiesole is a city of ruins however in the absolute best means. The city has many historic and archaeological points of interest, together with the unique segments of the city’s Etruscan wall, preserved Roman baths and theater, and quite a few spiritual 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 thus far again even additional than its bigger neighbor of Florence, making it a sought-after location for historical past lovers and people in the know.
You can benefit from regional trains or drive to Fiesole. The city is simply outdoors of Florence’s bounds, so it is likely one of the most handy sightseeing locations you’ll be able to take pleasure in outdoors town middle.
Distance from Florence: 35 minutes by practice or 20 minutes by automotive
14. Verona
Verona is likely one of the most romantic cities on Earth, so in terms of probably the most memorable day journeys from Florence, Verona must be on the high. 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 long-lasting ‘Romeo, Romeo wherefore art thou’ scene. Love is a central theme of this metropolis, and if you wish to win some severe brownie factors, Verona is the place to convey your vital different.
It is a good day journey from Florence for all traveler sorts 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 practice to maximise your time sightseeing.
Distance from Florence: 2 hours quarter-hour by practice or 3 hours by automotive
15. Arezzo
Arezzo is one other of the perfect day journeys from Florence to achieve by practice – knocking a powerful 50% off your journey time as an alternative of visiting by automotive. So, if you happen to don’t drive or need to be extra eco-friendly, pay attention up. Arezzo is thought for 2 essential 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 unbiased outlets and galleries and coordinate your journey to coincide with occasions like its month-to-month vintage market.
If you want domestically made valuables and purchasing for antiques, Arezzo is an incredible Florence day journey. It is straightforward to get diverted to the extra vital locations when planning a day journey from Florence. Arezzo is proof of why you also needs to think about among the smaller locations. Plus, it’s only a 30-minute practice trip away. Arezzo is a big win, win.
Distance from Florence: 1 hour by automotive and half-hour by practice
16. Parma
As fairly because the Tuscan countryside is with its cypress bushes and exquisite vineyards, you need to go to extra of the Emilia-Romagna area. And if you need an actual foodie hotspot, Parma is your day journey. The metropolis is famously residence to Parmesan cheese and Parma ham, and it’s a nice, smaller different to huge Bologna if you need 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 practice. It is fast for one, and second, this implies you’ll be able to indulge in some wine together with your cheese and ham tasting.
Distance from Florence: 2 hours by practice and three hours by automotive
17. Pistoia
Pistoia is likely one of the most accessible day journeys from Florence. So be aware this down as probably the greatest day journeys from Florence if you’re brief on time or price range. This historic metropolis is often not on the vacationer radar. Only just a few enterprise out by the Tuscan countryside to see Pistoia, which is an absolute disgrace.
Those that correctly 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 well 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 practice or 45 minutes by automotive
18. Orvieto
Orvieto is lesser recognized however on no account much less vital. This tiny metropolis sits on a tufa cliff with an thrilling community of caves beneath town ground. Orvieto is likely one of the most apparently 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 crucial. The excursions often final an hour or so – leaving loads extra time to discover the opposite points of interest, 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 properly, 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 automotive
19. Monteriggioni
Monteriggioni is palms down probably the greatest 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 ambiance, good views, and character – all of the totally different elements for a day journey of a lifetime.
Monteriggioni is a kind 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 buildings and heritage; benefit from experiencing this firsthand. While visiting Monteriggioni, you also needs to go to the Arme Museum, which has replicas of historic weaponry.
Distance from Florence: 2 hours by bus or 1 hour by automotive
20. Assisi
Assisi is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the birthplace of St Francis, one among Italy’s two beloved patron saints. It goes with out saying that Assisi is likely one of the finest day journeys from Florence for spiritual or patriotic historical past. The Basilica of St Francis is the hub of all of the collective spiritual historical past and comprises frescoes portraying the saint’s life, even holding his sarcophagus in its crypt.
Whether you’re spiritual or not, it’s a outstanding place to go to, and the historical past is vividly displayed, making it an attractive go to. The medieval metropolis can also be lovely 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 practice tickets on arrival at Florence practice 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 automotive 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 recognized for seafood and maritime tradition. Since most Florence day journeys take you to inland locations and use regional trains to achieve hilltop village practice stations, having a coastal possibility is a big plus. Besides, after just a few days in the inland metropolis of Florence, you’ll probably be able to see the ocean. Livorno has its personal practice station, so you’ll be able to catch a direct practice into town – no advance practice tickets are essential.
When you attain Livorno, you need to stroll the Terrazza Mascagni promenade for gorgeous ocean views. This promenade has placing 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 selection.
Distance from Florence: 1.5 hours by practice or automotive
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 attractive day journey candidate, it is usually one of the vital accessible hilltop locations you’ll be able to go to from Florence. It takes simply 1.5 hours by automotive or public transport to achieve 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 desirous 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 automotive or public transport
FAQs About Day Trips from Florence
Day journeys from Florence are magical, whether or not you’re 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 must be in your listing. Italy is a kind 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 probably the greatest issues you are able to do in town. The public transport system is so environment friendly that you need 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’re 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 practice stations with hyperlinks to Florence, many bus routes, and much more organized excursions.
Is it attainable to do a day journey to Cinque Terre from Florence?
Yes, it’s attainable to do a day journey from Florence to Cinque Terre. You can take an organized tour, go to by practice, or ebook a rental automotive.
How lengthy is the practice trip from Florence to Tuscany?
The practice trip 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 pals? Or are you taking full benefit of the high-speed trains and whisking right down to Rome for a day? Any of those finest day journeys from Florence will present a unbelievable expertise. It is as much as you to resolve how far you need to go.
Florence is ideally situated as a base to expertise much more of Italy; you do proper to take full benefit of that. As lovely as its Renaissance artwork and historic monuments are, while you go to Florence, you additionally entry a community of wonderful locations. Make positive you develop 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 perfect accommodations and neighborhoods. Otherwise, have an exquisite time in your day journeys from Florence.