10 Best Day Trips From Florence, Italy (By Train, Car & Tour)

The city of Florence itself is beautiful - the alluring streets, mom & pop shops, hole in the wall gelato joints, and plethora of history that is found in the cities foundation. But, the real beauty lies beyond the bustling city of Florence. Florence is a city surrounded by natural beauty (rolling hills, enchanting villages, fields to frolic in, and so much more). In this guide to the best day trips from Florence, Italy we will go over the very best places to escape to for a day in Tuscany (and beyond). Read on to discover where to go from Florence for a day.

Map Of Florence Day Trips

10 Best Day Trips From Florence, Italy

1. Fiesole

⭐Fiesole is 20 minutes from Florence

Fiesole is probably one of the easiest day trips from Florence. The charming village is located just 20 minutes outside of Florence in the hills of Tuscany and dates back before Florence.

Fiesole is both beautiful and historic. You will find views of the Tuscan countryside alongside ancient Roman ruins. This place is truly enchanting! If you are short on time you could definitely do a half day trip to Fiesole from Florence.

How To Get To Fiesole

Fiesole is super easy to get to! There is no train that goes to Fiesole, so you have three options. Drive, do a tour, or take the bus.

The bus is the easiest and most affordable way to go (this is what I did). All you need to do is find bus number 7 and ride it to the end on the line - which is the center of Fiesole.

You can also take a tour to Fiesole. Which is a bit more expensive, but, honestly sounds like it would be more fun. This is the only one that I found and it looks like a blast.

Why Visit Fiesole

The views, the trattorias, the peacefulness, the history, and it's beauty make Fiesole an one of our must-see towns near Florence.

🚗 Read Next - Fiesole, Italy Travel Guide

2. Milan

⭐Milan is 2 hours from Florence

I was so surprised when I learned how close Milan was to Florence (only two hours via train). Milan is easily one of the top places to visit near Florence due to its cool fashion culture, stunning streets, amazing eateries, and endless things to do.

What I love about Milan as a day trip from Florence is that it is so easy to hop on a train in the early morning and arrive right in the city just in time for coffee.

How To Get To Milan

Definitely do the train! You can book a high speed train out of Santa Maria Novella and into Milano Centrale. You can also book a bus, but I wouldn't because they take four hours and at that point it's not even worth it.

Why Visit Milan

Stunning architecture, fashion, food, and hidden gems make Milan a worthy day-trip from Florence! Also, who doesn't want to cross another big city off their travel bucket list?

🚗Read Next - Milan, Italy Travel Guide

3. Siena

⭐Siena is 1.5 hours from Florence

Siena was the Florence before Florence. What I mean by that is it was once the bustling capital if Tuscany and the center of all things trading, food, and community (like how Florence is today).

Anyway, Siena is a stunning medieval walled city full of captivating pathways, hidden gems, and so much to learn and see.

How To Get To Siena

The cheapest way to get to Siena is via train. You can take the train from Santa Maria Novella to Siena for around $15.

The easiest and most fun way to get to Siena from Florence is by tour. This tour looks great and you get to see San Gimignano also.

Why Visit Siena

Siena is home to so much beauty and history. Beyond the walls you will find stunning views of the Tuscan hills and within the walls you will be met with architectural beauty. Siena is definitely one of the most spectacular Medieval cities in Tuscany.

🚗Read Next - Siena, Italy Travel Guide

4. Pisa

⭐Pisa is 40 minutes from Florence

Pisa is probably the most popular day trip from Florence. I mean, who wouldn't want to see the iconic leaning tower of Pisa. Despite what other bloggers may say, I think that Pisa is an excellent choice for a day trip from Florence. There is plenty to do, tons of cool off-the-beaten-path museums and shopping, and of course, there is the Pisa Tower and Cathedral.

How To Get To Pisa

Pisa is super easy to get to from Florence. You can either take the train, a bus, or a tour to the Tuscan city. The train will take around 40 minutes and run you about 10 euro. The bus is 8 euro, but will take you 1.5 hours. A tour is the easiest, but most expensive. This tour looks great. I opted for the train and had no issues.

Why Visit Pisa

Pisa is honestly just a cool city. Even if you count out the leaning tower of Pisa and Cathedral. I thought it was so fun just wandering the streets, sipping coffee, and shopping - it's the best in both worlds like Hannah Montana.

🚗Read Next - Pisa, Italy Travel Guide

5. San Gimignano

⭐San Gimignano is 1 hour and 30 minutes from Florence

San Gimignano is a historic town in Tuscany. While it is very touristy, San Gimignano is still worth a day trip from Florence. Now, the history of this place is what really intrigues me. But if I try to tell you about it, I will probably buchter it, so if you are interested in San Gimignano history read this article.

San Gimignano is a walled medieval city that is home to towers, the best gelato in the world, and fascinating torture museums. So, it is safe to say, you will not get board in this Tuscan gem.

How To Get To San Gimignano

Getting to San Gimignano is easy, but confusing. There is no direct train to San Gimignano. So you have to take a train from Florence Santa Maria Novella to Poggibonsi (about 1 hour). Then From Poggibonsi, take bus #130 to San Gimignano (25–30 minutes).

The easiest option, again, is to just do a tour. This one looks super fun and includes a stop in Siena.

Why Visit San Gimignano

The history, beauty, gelato, museums, towers, and uniqueness are all great reasons to stop by San Gimignano from Florence.

6. Rome

⭐Rome is 1 hour and 30 mins from Florence

Need I explain. Okay, I will anyways. Rome is actually not as far from Florence as you would think and is definitely a doable day trip from Florence. You can get to Rome in 1 hr and 30 mins from Florence (if you take a high speed train). Rome in a day is a whirlwind, but still so worth it. Rome is a dream city, so just go 🙂

How To Get To Rome

Take the high speed train! No tours yet that go from Florence to Rome in a day, but I will make sure to keep this updated.

Why Visit Rome

The colosseum, the Trevi Fountain, childhood dreams, food, and so much more. I really don't need to explain on this one.

🚗Read Next - Rome, Italy Travel Guide

7. Cinque Terre

⭐Cinque Terre is 2.5 hours from Florence

Cinque Terre is what you see on postcards or, for my generation, instagram reels, but I prefer postcards so we are just going to say that. Cinque Terre is like a postcard - the bright blue water, incredible viewpoints, cativating street, underrated hiking scene, and more make it so. And the best part is that it's a doable day trip from Florence!

How To Get To Cinque Terre

Unfortunately, there is no direct train to Cinque Terre. First, take a train from Florence Santa Maria Novella to La Spezia Centrale. Next, hop on the local Cinque Terre Express train. Then you can hop off on your desired Cinque Terre village.

Honestly, the best and easiest way to do a Cinque Terre is by doing a tour. This one looks so fun.

Why Visit Cinque Terre

Scroll up and look at the picture.

8. Bologna

⭐Bologna is 35 mins from Florence

Bologna is one of the easiest day trips to take from Florence. Located only 35 minutes outside Florence and reachable by a direct train, visiting Bologna is a walk in the park. Bologna is all about the food. If you are a foodie Bologna is for you. You will find tradition tattorinas, cool cafes, and more in this small Tuscan city. Beyond the food Bologna offers stunning medieval architecture, a cool art scene, and plenty to do.

How To Get To Bologna

You can easily get to Bologna by train. Take the high speed train by Frecciarossa or Italo to get there in 30 - 40 mins.

To learn more about Bologna's food scene and have a guided tour of the city I recommend doing this tour called the Bologna Culinary Day Trip and Local Tastings From Florence!

Why Visit Bologna

Bologna is a great city for foodies! So if you love Italian food this city may be for you. I loved dining at Mastrosasso Torricella - not only is the food amazing, but there are stunning views of the Tuscan countryside from the restaurant.

9. Arezzo

⭐ Arezzo is 1.5 hours from Florence (40 mins on a high speed train)

Arezzo is a hidden gem in Tuscany. This charming city is most well known for its art, Etruscan roots, and antiques. Arezzo is the perfect city for travelers looking to get off the beaten path in Italy.

While in Arezzo you will have the opportunity to visit Italy's largest antique fair. So if you are a hipster of sorts you will love it!

How To Visit Arezzo

You can take a direct train from Florence to Arezzo (the high speed train takes 40 mins)!

You can also do this tour to make your life a bit easier (includes stop in Cortona).

Why Visit Arezzo

The landmarks, history, and uniqueness make Arezzo a great option for an underrated day trips from Florence. Also the train from Florence to Arezzo is one of the scenic train rides from Florence as you go through the Tuscan countryside!

10. Lucca

⭐Lucca is 1 hour from Florence

Last but not least we have the quaint and charming village of Lucca. Located about an hour from Florence (and right next to Pisa), Lucca is best known for its well preserved medieval architecture, Resianacce art, and laid back vibe. Lucca is a walled medieval city and is a perfect city for any kind of traveler.

One of the most iconic things to see in Lucca is Piazza dell'Anfiteatro, so don't miss it!

How To Visit Lucca

You can take a direct train from Florence Santa Maria Novella to Lucca (costs around 8 euro). Or you could do a tour. This one also includes Pisa!

Why Visit Lucca

Lucca is an excellent choice for your Florence day trip because of its stunning architecture, art scene, cool shopping, and food!

Top 10 Things To Do In Florence

There are so many amazing things to do in Florence. These are our top 10 favorites! For more Florence inspiration check out our Ultimate Guide To Florence, Italy.

10 Best Day Trips From Florence, Italy Wrap Up

Florence is surrounded by beauty, making day trips a must on any trip to the Renaissance city. We hope that this guide to the 10 Best Day Trips From Florence, Italy helps you plan the best trip ever. If you liked this post we think you will love our guide to the 8 Hidden Gems In Florence, Where To Stay In Florence, The Best Coffee Shops In Florence, What To Pack For Florence, and The Ultimate Guide To Florence. If you are studying abroad in Florence be sure to checkout our guide to 10 Things I Wish I Knew Before Studying Abroad In Florence, Italy

Happy Travels,

Daisy