Tuscany

Which day trips from Florence are worth the trouble?

Siena, Lucca, San Gimignano. These three. Skip Pisa if you only have one day. The leaning tower is a long wait for a photo. The others give you real Tuscany. Siena for medieval scale. Lucca for slow cycling. San Gimignano for towers and views. Each fits one day from 8:30am to 7pm with spare time for a long lunch.

How do I get to Siena by train or bus?

Train is best. Regional trains from Florence Santa Maria Novella (SMN) to Siena. Duration 1h20. Price €9.10 one way as of July 2026. Departs every 30 minutes until 9pm. Arrives at Siena station. From there walk 10 minutes uphill to Piazza del Duomo. Or take bus 17 from the station (€1.70, 10 min).

Bus option: Tiemme bus from Florence bus station (behind SMN) direct to Siena. Same price €9.10 but takes 1h40. Slightly cheaper only if you book online. I take the train every time. More room, fewer traffic jams.

Warning: The last train back from Siena to Florence is at 9:15pm. Miss it and a taxi costs €120. Set an alarm on your phone at 8pm.

Is Lucca easy for a half day trip?

Yes. Lucca is flat inside the walls. Perfect for a half day or full day. Train from Florence SMN to Lucca station. Duration 1h15. Price €8.40 one way. Trains run twice per hour.

Rent a bike at the station exit. Cicli Bizzarri charges €12 for a full day. No deposit. They give you a basket and a lock. Cycle the 4.2 km of the Renaissance ramparts. Takes 45 minutes at a slow pace. Stop at Torre Guinigi (€5 entry) for the rooftop garden. Eat a focaccia at Forno Maggiore on Via Fillungo for €4.

Local trick: Skip the Puccini museum. It is small and overpriced (€10). Instead walk to Piazza Anfiteatro at 11am when the coffee shops open. Sit at Caffè di Simo. Watch the old men play cards. That is Lucca.

How do I reach San Gimignano without a car?

You cannot take a train all the way. San Gimignano has no station. The combo is train plus bus. From Florence SMN take a regional train to Poggibonsi (€7.20, 50 min, hourly). At Poggibonsi station exit, walk 100 meters to the bus stop. Take bus 130 to San Gimignano (€1.70, 25 min, runs every 30 minutes until 8pm).

Total travel time: 1h30 each way. Total cost: €8.90 one way. The bus drops you at Porta San Giovanni, the main gate. Walk 5 minutes to Piazza della Cisterna.

Opinionated verdict: Arrive before 10am. By 11am the tour buses from Florence dump 200 people. The main street becomes a human river. Go early. Eat at Gelateria Dondoli (€3 for two scoops, award winning). Skip the Civic Museum (€9, dull rooms). Climb Torre Grossa (€9, 218 steps, worth it for the view over the 14 towers).

Which day trip is the cheapest? Which is the most scenic?

Cheapest: Lucca. Train €8.40, bike €12, lunch €6. Total €26.40. You spend less than €30 for a full day.

Most scenic: Siena. The drive from Florence to Siena passes the Chianti hills. On the train you see rolling vineyards from the window. The city itself sits on three hills. The Piazza del Campo (the shell shaped square) is the most beautiful public space in Italy. I have lived here ten years. It still makes me stop.

Practical warning for 2026: Siena closed the Piazza del Campo for a week in early July for the Palio horse race (2 July and 16 August 2026). Check dates. The city is packed. Hotels triple prices. Go in late August instead.

Can I visit more than one town in a day?

Do not try Siena plus San Gimignano in one day. Too far apart. Bus between them takes 1h15 directly (Tiemme bus 130, €5.20). But you lose the morning. You see nothing. Pick one.

Florence to Fiesole is the only two in one day that works. Bus 7 from SMN to Fiesole (€1.70, 30 min). Visit the Roman amphitheater (€4). Walk 15 minutes down to San Domenico. Then bus back. Total 3 hours. You still have the afternoon for Florence.

FAQ

Is the Pisa day trip a waste of time?

Not a waste. But it is a half day. Train from Florence to Pisa Centrale (€8.60, 1 hour). Walk 20 minutes to the Field of Miracles. The tower costs €18 to climb. Book online 3 days ahead. Otherwise you wait 90 minutes. I recommend a quick visit at 8am when the light is good and the crowds are thin. Then eat lunch in the Santa Maria neighborhood. The Via Santa Maria has good cheap pasta for €8. Do not spend the whole day there.

Are there day trips from smaller towns like Siena or Lucca?

Yes. From Siena you can bus to Monteriggioni (bus 130, €2.50, 30 min). It is a tiny walled village. Perfect for a morning. From Lucca take the train to Viareggio (€3.60, 25 min) for the beach. The beach at Viareggio is free public sand. Bring a towel. The water is clean in July and August.

How do I avoid tourist scams on day trips?

Three rules. First, never buy train tickets from third party resellers at the station. Use official Trenitalia machines or the app. Second, in Siena if someone offers you a "free" bracelet outside the Duomo say no. They tie it on your wrist then demand €5. Third, restaurant touts near Piazza del Duomo in Florence charge double. Walk 200 meters away. Eat where locals sit. Look for the menu handwritten in Italian with no photos.

What is the best season for day trips?

Late September. 2026 harvest is from September 10 to October 20. The hills turn gold. Crowds drop after August 15. Prices for trains stay the same. The weather is 24 degrees Celsius. Perfect for walking Siena's steep streets. April and May are also good but rain is common. July is hot at 35 Celsius. Bring water. Avoid August 1 to 15 when half of Italy is on holiday and trains are packed.

Can I use the same ticket for bus and train?

No. Separate tickets. Train tickets from Trenitalia. Bus tickets from the bus station or tabaccheria. A one way bus ticket costs €1.70 for city buses. Regional buses cost more. Validate each ticket before boarding. The bus has a small yellow machine near the driver. Traps a voided ticket. Fines start at €60.