Florence is gorgeous, and the traditional picture of the domes of the Florence Cathedral at night time 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 beautiful views.
You can simply see why visiting Florence is such a bucket record vacationer exercise. The metropolis middle is an absolute hub for sightseeing and embracing indulgent Italian residing. So relating to day journeys from Florence, discovering day journey locations that truly justify tearing your self away from Florence metropolis middle can appear ludicrous in case you 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 bold regional practice scramble, these finest day journeys from Florence will present among the most memorable experiences on your Italy itinerary. A day journey from Florence is among the most fun issues you are able to do, and also you’ve obtained to benefit from the unimaginable community of high-speed trains and the town’s prime location in the Tuscan countryside. Don’t make Florence your last vacation spot – regardless of how alluring that Florence Vespa tour appears to be like.
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 need to tick off iconic locations and choose a memorable day journey, Cinque Terre is among the most traditional day journeys from Florence. Cinque Terre is a world-famous row of historical seaside villages dotted in clusters alongside the dramatic Riviera shoreline. The area is known for its colourful homes and cliffside enchantment, with the homes virtually spilling over rock faces on their manner right down to the oceanfront.
Cinque Terre has 5 most important cities: Riomaggiore, Manarola, Vernazza, Monterosso, and Corniglia – in case you can, go to all of them. Each city has its practice station, and it is among the finest day journeys in case you’d wish to indulge in nice meals, aesthetic city scenes, and elective 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 practice or automotive
2. Wine Tasting
To be a wine lover, you 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 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 well-liked 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 restricted 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 sometimes final half a day, lasting between 5.5 and seven hours – so that you’ll get to see a very good 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 may attain Pisa in lower than an hour from the central Florence practice station. A day journey to Pisa is stuffed with sightseeing and tradition; you could have the long-lasting Leaning Tower, scrumptious meals, and lots of artwork museums. Pose in the traditional ‘hold up the Leaning Tower’ place and wander by beautiful white marble buildings; visiting Pisa is improbable for the relaxed sightseer kind of traveler.
Wine lovers can put all their newly accrued wine tour information to the check by ordering a glass to people-watch with and dine al fresco. A day in Pisa must be in your playing cards. It is among the finest cultural spots in Italy, and direct trains just like the Pisa to Florence connection are God sends relating to 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 historical metropolis partitions that date again to the Thirteenth century and a skyline lined 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 be a delegated 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 simple, regardless of the transient stopover in Poggibonsi, and the entire journey takes lower than two hours a technique. Or you may e-book a rental automotive and drive this present day 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 most important 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 intervals, and this half-day journey from Florence is among the most historic small-town locations you may 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 points of interest, good 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 likewise 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 beautiful metropolis middle. Lucca has a cobblestone aesthetic with some large 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 attractive 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 among the most photogenic day journeys from Florence and is finest for hopping between monuments. It additionally has among the finest 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 filled with character. The charming city is ready throughout the Tuscan countryside and is among 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, points of interest just like the Sanctuary of the Madonna di San Biagio turn into much more dramatic.
Small cities like Montepulciano are finest visited by rental automotive. With rental vehicles, you may take pleasure in a extra liberating journey to Montepulciano. And apart from, 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 trend capital, it’s an unmissable day journey from Florence. The metropolis is known for Milan Fashion Week and has attracted big designer and mannequin names over the previous years. Milan is all procuring and structure – so if both sounds up your avenue, this is among the finest day journeys from Florence. The iconic Duomo di Milano is the place to fill your structure bucket. Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II is among the fanciest procuring facilities ever seen.
Milan can 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, when 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 way from only a lovely title; this UNESCO World Heritage Site has a hanging most important square-shaped like a fan and a few ridiculously fairly medieval buildings. It is among the finest day journeys from Florence if you would like 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 if you are 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 in case you 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 among the finest locations to go to in Italy, and in case you go to Florence, there’s no motive you may’t have the very best 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 can make an influence, a visit to Venice is one in every of 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 among the finest day journeys from Florence. If you catch a quick practice, you may arrive immediately at one of many central Rome practice stations in simply 1.5 hours. The quick trains are a wonderful manner of which 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 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 couple of points of interest 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 properly in a single day. While if you wish to see the Vatican City, you’ll want an entire day to go to this area of Rome.
Central Italy is properly price detouring to on a day journey from Florence. Just ensure you 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 practice
12. Bologna
Bologna is a kind of Italian cities you hear of masses however are likely to overlook for extra mainstream locations. We are right here to vary your thoughts on lovely Bologna, although. And it’s best 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 right place to take a cooking class or meals tour. Think pasta, tiramisu, and extra. The complete metropolis seems like one large restaurant, and it even has the nickname ‘Fat City.’
Bologna is 40 minutes away by practice, so we suggest heading there for a night meal or a half-day journey from Florence. It is the right close by vacation spot to divert to for some high-quality delicacies. Keep your abdomen glad 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 manner. 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 among 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 take advantage of regional trains or drive to Fiesole. The city is simply outdoors of Florence’s bounds, so it is among the most handy sightseeing locations you may take pleasure in outdoors the town middle.
Distance from Florence: 35 minutes by practice or 20 minutes by automotive
14. Verona
Verona is among the most romantic cities on Earth, so relating to probably the most memorable day journeys from Florence, Verona must be on the prime. Verona is the town of the opera Romeo and Juliet – which Shakespeare set in the 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 deliver your vital different.
It is a superb 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 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 very best day journeys from Florence to achieve by practice – knocking a formidable 50% off your journey time as an alternative of visiting by automotive. So, in case you don’t drive or need to be extra eco-friendly, hear up. Arezzo is thought for 2 most important issues; gold and trend. Poets and artists alike have referred to as the tiny medieval townhome, and it has had a exceptional influence on Italian tradition for a hill city of its measurement. You can go to unbiased 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 a tremendous Florence day journey. It is simple to get diverted to the extra vital locations when planning a day journey from Florence. Arezzo is proof of why you also needs to take into account among the smaller locations. Plus, it’s only a 30-minute practice trip away. Arezzo is a large 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 timber and exquisite vineyards, it’s best to go to extra of the Emilia-Romagna area. And if you would like 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 large Bologna if you would like 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 may 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 among the most accessible day journeys from Florence. So word this down as among the finest day journeys from Florence if you’re quick on time or funds. This historic metropolis is often not on the vacationer radar. Only a couple 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 individuals overload.
Distance from Florence: 35 minutes by practice or 45 minutes by automotive
18. Orvieto
Orvieto is lesser recognized however not at all much less vital. This tiny metropolis sits on a tufa cliff with an thrilling community of caves beneath the town flooring. Orvieto is among the most curiously laid out cities you may go to on a day journey from Florence. It feels thrilling, virtually legendary. And in case you go to, an underground tour of a few of its networks is important. 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 among 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 among the finest day journeys from Florence. This beautiful city nonetheless has its historical partitions, and the 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 beautiful views over the rolling hills from the town partitions. It is stuffed with ambiance, good views, and character – all of the totally different substances for a day journey of a lifetime.
Monteriggioni is a kind of day journeys that solely a tiny demographic of vacationers find out 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; benefit from experiencing this firsthand. While visiting Monteriggioni, you also needs to go to the Arme Museum, which has replicas of historical 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 in every of Italy’s two beloved patron saints. It goes with out saying that Assisi is among 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 exceptional place to go to, and the historical past is vividly displayed, making it a fascinating go to. The medieval metropolis can 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 suggest 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 unique 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 choice is a large plus. Besides, after a couple of days in the inland metropolis of Florence, you’ll doubtless be able to see the ocean. Livorno has its personal practice station, so you may catch a direct practice into the town – no advance practice tickets are needed.
When you attain Livorno, it’s best to stroll the Terrazza Mascagni promenade for beautiful ocean views. This promenade has hanging 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 right selection.
Distance from Florence: 1.5 hours by practice or automotive
22. Cortona
Cortona is among the prettiest day journeys from Florence and is the filming website of the movie Under the Tuscan Sun. An attractive day journey candidate, it’s also one of the vital accessible hilltop locations you may 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 are taking a tour for wine lovers or go to historic monuments for a day in Rome or Venice. Even in case you go to the town for the primary time, a day journey from Florence must be in your record. Italy is a kind of nations the place the extra you may 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 finest issues you are able to do in the town. The public transport system is so environment friendly that it’s 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 may 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 e-book 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 mates? 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 improbable expertise. It is as much as you to determine 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, once you go to Florence, you additionally entry a community of fantastic locations. Make positive you increase 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 inns and neighborhoods. Otherwise, have an exquisite time in your day journeys from Florence.