Tuscany

Is 7 days enough for Tuscany?

It is short but yes, if you do not try to see everything. You need a car. You need to skip places like San Gimignano on weekends. Focus on Florence (2 days), Siena (1 day), and the Val d'Orcia (2 days). Add one day for Pisa + Lucca. You lose half a day to driving between them. That is the honest math.

Day 1: Florence, The Big Two

Morning: Accademia (the David).

Arrive at 8:15 for an 8:30 slot. The line moves fast if you booked. You walk in, turn right, and there he is. 15 minutes tops. Skip the rest of the museum. Walk out by 9:00.

Late morning: Duomo complex.

Climb Giotto's Bell Tower (414 steps, 20 EUR). Do not climb the dome. The view from the tower is better because you see the dome. Queues at 10:00 are 25 minutes. Buy the Brunelleschi Pass online (30 EUR) to skip the ticket booth.

Afternoon: Oltrarno side.

Cross the Ponte Vecchio at 13:00. Eat a sandwich at Pino's (7 EUR, via dei Bardi 52). Walk up to Piazza Michelangelo. Take the stairs, not the road. It is 220 steps. Free. The panorama at 14:00 is hot but empty compared to sunset.

Evening: Dinner in Santo Spirito.

Piazza Santo Spirito at 19:30. Try Trattoria Casalinga. No reservations. Wait 15 minutes. A plate of pappa al pomodoro (8 EUR) and a glass of Chianti (4 EUR). Done by 21:00.

Practical: Book Accademia at 8:30 or 9:00. Do not book a guide. Walk the city. It is small.

Day 2: Florence, Uffizi and Fiesole

Morning: Uffizi Gallery.

Your ticket is for 9:00. Go straight to Room 15 (Botticelli's Primavera). Then Room 18 (Tribuna). Then take a break. The museum is huge. Leave by 12:00. You have seen the best.

Afternoon: Fiesole hill town.

Bus 7 from Piazza San Marco. 20 minutes. 1.50 EUR. Walk the Roman amphitheater (8 EUR). The view down to Florence is quiet. No crowd. Eat lunch at La Terrazza (13 EUR for pasta). Back by 16:00.

Evening: Mercato Centrale upstairs.

Open until 00:00. Get truffle pasta from the stand by the stairs. 12 EUR. Eat standing. Then walk to Piazza della Repubblica for gelato. Vivoli is overrated. Try Perché No! (via dei Tavolini 19).

Day 3: Siena, One Day, One City

Morning: Piazza del Campo and the Tower.

Drive from Florence to Siena (1 hour 15 minutes, park at Stadio parking garage, 20 EUR for the day). Walk to the Piazza at 9:30. Climb the Torre del Mangia (503 steps, 15 EUR) at 10:00. The line is 10 minutes if you are early. The view of the shell shape is worth every step.

Midday: Duomo di Siena.

Buy the Opa Si Pass (15 EUR) at the door. Go inside. Do not miss the Piccolomini Library. The floor mosaics are on display only until late July. After August they cover them. Check the date.

Afternoon: Walk and eat.

Via di Città for shops. Skip the tourist menu near the Piazza. Walk uphill to Osteria Le Logge (via dei Porrioni 5). Order the pici cacio e pepe (11 EUR). The wine list is local. Pay 30 EUR total. Done by 14:30.

Evening: Drive to your agriturismo.

Pick a farmhouse 20 minutes south of Siena, near Asciano. Example: Podere la Torre. It costs 120 EUR per night in July 2026. They serve dinner for 35 EUR per person. Eat outside. Watch the sunset over the Crete Senesi hills.

Day 4: Val d'Orcia, The Classic Drive

Morning: Montepulciano.

From your farmhouse drive 40 minutes. Park outside the walls (via delle Cave, 2 EUR per hour). Walk up to Piazza Grande. Visit a winery inside the town: Contucci. Free tasting. Buy a bottle (15 EUR). Walk the ramparts at 11:00. Quiet.

Lunch: Pienza.

Drive 20 minutes. Park at the bottom (2 EUR per hour). Buy pecorino cheese at the shop on via del Corso. A wheel costs 12 EUR. Eat a panino with pecorino and honey from the window of La Bottega (6 EUR).

Afternoon: The iconic photo spot.

Drive the road SP146 between Pienza and San Quirico d'Orcia. Stop at the Chapel of Vitaleta. Walk 5 minutes from the car. Take your photo with the cypress trees. Free. No gate. No ticket.

Late afternoon: Bagno Vignoni.

A 5 minute drive. Walk the ancient thermal pool in the middle of the square. You cannot swim there. But you can dip your feet in the public stream below the square. Free. The water is 38 degrees Celsius.

Evening: Back to farmhouse.

Cook your own dinner if your room has a kitchen. Buy pasta, fresh tomatoes, and basil at a local market. The total cost is 10 EUR for two.

Day 5: Pisa and Lucca, A Double Day

Morning: Pisa. Do it fast.

Drive 1 hour 40 minutes from Val d'Orcia. Park at Piazzale San Gilio (10 EUR for the day). Walk 10 minutes to the Field of Miracles. Climb the Leaning Tower (18 EUR, book at 9:00). The climb takes 30 minutes. Leave by 11:00. Do not eat near the tower. Bad food. High prices.

Lunch: Lucca.

Drive 25 minutes. Park outside the walls (Porta Santa Maria, 1.50 EUR per hour). Walk onto the wall. Rent a bike at Cicli Betti (10 EUR for 2 hours). Ride the full wall loop (4.2 km). Stop for lunch at Trattoria da Guido (via Chiuso 3). Tortelli lucchesi (10 EUR). Eat outside.

Afternoon: Lucca's towers.

Climb the Guinigi Tower (22 EUR). The trees on top are real. The view is flat and green. Worth it. Finish at 16:00. Drive back to your farmhouse. Total driving day: 3 hours.

Day 6: Chianti, Wine and Small Villages

Morning: Greve in Chianti.

From your farmhouse drive 45 minutes to Greve. Visit the square (Piazza Matteotti) at 9:00. Taste wine at Enoteca al Pesce. 5 EUR for 3 tastes. Buy a bottle of Chianti Classico (18 EUR).

Late morning: Radda in Chianti.

Drive 15 minutes. Walk the tiny main street. Climb the bell tower for free. The view is all vineyards. Take a photo. Leave by 12:00.

Lunch: Castle Brolio.

Drive 20 minutes. Visit the Ricasoli castle (12 EUR, includes a wine tasting). Eat at the farm shop: a glass of wine and a plate of cold cuts (15 EUR). The terrace overlooks the Chianti hills.

Afternoon: Volpaia.

A 15 minute drive. This is the smallest hill town. Park outside. Walk the one street. It is quiet. Buy olive oil at the local frantoio (10 EUR per liter).

Evening: Dinner near your farmhouse.

Go to a simple trattoria in Asciano: Osteria Assassini. Pici with wild boar ragu (12 EUR). No reservation needed on a Tuesday.

Day 7: San Gimignano and Home

Morning: San Gimignano, early.

Drive 1 hour from the farmhouse. Arrive by 8:30. Park at Montemaggio (4 EUR for the day). Walk the walls. Climb the Torre Grossa (8 EUR, 218 steps). At 9:00 you have the tower to yourself. Leave by 11:00 before the buses arrive.

Lunch: Outside the walls.

Do not eat inside the town. Walk 5 minutes to Pizza nell'Ovile (via Cellolese 40). A slice of margherita costs 5 EUR. Eat standing.

Afternoon: Last stop, the Via Francigena near Monteriggioni.

Drive 30 minutes. Walk a 1 km section of the ancient pilgrim road behind the castle. Free. No people. Goodbye Tuscany. Drive to Florence airport (1 hour).

Where to stay for this itinerary

• Chianti area, near Greve: Best for Days 6 and 7. 130 EUR per night. Reason: central driving position.
• Siena countryside (Crete Senesi): Best for Days 3, 4, and 5. 110 EUR per night. Reason: quiet, views, farm meals.
• Florence city center (Santa Maria Novella): Best for Days 1 and 2. 160 EUR per night. Reason: walk to everything.

Practical tips

• Drive a small car. Tuscany's roads are narrow and the ZTL zones are heavily enforced. Fines come by mail after you go home. 80 EUR per violation.
• Book the Uffizi, Accademia, and Leaning Tower online 3 weeks before July 2026. The official sites are the only safe ones.
• Do not rely on taxis in the countryside. They do not exist. You need a car.
• Fill gas at stations with attendants. Self-service cards from other countries often get rejected.
• Bring cash. Small farm shops and some trattorias do not accept cards. 50 EUR in your pocket covers two lunches.
• Avoid August. July is hot but manageable. August is packed with Italians on holiday. Traffic triples.