Best day trips from Florence: how to get there and what to see

Florence sits on the main north–south rail line, so most day trips are a train ride, not a drive. Pick by how much time you want to spend moving: Pisa is the shortest run, Siena and Lucca take a full day, and Chianti needs a bus, a car or a tour.

Prices below are 2026 estimates for one adult, one way, and exclude museum tickets. Regional trains do not need a reservation; high-speed trains do, and fares rise as departure nears.

Pisa is the default first trip: trains run frequently from Firenze Santa Maria Novella, and the tower, Duomo and Baptistery sit in one square about 20–25 minutes' walk from Pisa Centrale, or a short ride on the LAM Rossa bus. Two to three hours covers the Campo dei Miracoli; add the riverfront if you have longer. Book tower climbs separately if you want to go up.

Lucca rewards a slower day. The station is inside the walls, so you can walk the 4 km circuit on top of them, then drop into the centre for the oval Piazza dell'Anfiteatro and the Guinigi tower. Trains from Florence often require a change at Pisa or Lucca itself; check the connection when you buy.

Siena is the strongest full day. The direct train is slower than the bus in some timetables, and both land below the historic centre, so expect a 15–20 minute uphill walk or a local bus to Piazza del Campo. The Duomo and the civic museum fill a morning; the shell-shaped square and the contrade streets fill the afternoon.

Chianti is where a car or a guided tour earns its place. Buses reach Greve in Chianti, but vineyard visits and hill villages such as San Gimignano are awkward without your own wheels. If you drive, remember the ZTL: Florence's restricted zone cameras fine cars that enter the centre, and many rentals forbid it.

Arezzo, Prato and Montevarchi are the low-effort options when you want a half-day out and back. Bologna is the pick if you would rather eat than sightsee: 35–40 minutes on a high-speed train, then tortellini and porticoes.

A rail day trip is cheap by Western European standards. Budget €20–30 return to Pisa, Lucca or Arezzo, €20–30 return to Siena, and from €40 return to Bologna on a high-speed train booked early. Regional tickets can be bought at machines or in apps; validate paper tickets before boarding where required.

Add museum entries: the Leaning Tower climb, the Siena Duomo and the civic museum all charge separately, and Siena's Duomo often needs a timed slot in summer. A guided Chianti tour with two wineries typically runs €80–150 per person including transport, which is often less than a rental car plus tastings for one or two people.

Start early. The 7–8am trains reach Pisa and Siena before the coach groups, and the same towns are calmer before 10am. Buy return tickets in the morning so you are not queuing at a machine when you want to leave.

Regional trains in Tuscany can be busy and do not guarantee a seat; high-speed trains do, but only with a reservation. If you are doing two or three day trips, a rail pass is rarely worth it in Italy — point-to-point tickets are usually cheaper.

Check strike notices. Italian transport strikes are announced in advance and can cancel regional trains while high-speed services still run. Keep a bus alternative in mind for Siena.

For connectivity on the move, an eSIM set up before you leave avoids roaming charges while you check timetables.