Tuscany Itinerary: See the Best Places in One Week (+Map & Tips)
This post may contain affiliate links, which means that we may earn a small commission, at no cost to you, for qualifying purchases. More info: Disclosure.
Planning a trip to Tuscany and not sure where to start and what’s the best Tuscany itinerary?
In our previous post, you could read about some of the most beautiful towns in Tuscany. In this article, you can read how to combine all those beautiful places (and some more) and create the perfect Tuscany trip itinerary that allows you to experience the very best of this picturesque region in one week.
How many days do you need in Tuscany
While you can see the main cities in 3-4 days, I recommend at least one week for Tuscany. This will allow you to see not just all the highlights of the best towns of Tuscany, but also to get a glimpse of the beautiful Tuscan countryside.
Below, you can find our suggested Tuscany itinerary that shows you where to go and what to see if you have one week in Tuscany. Read on!
How to see the best of Tuscany in one week
This Tuscany itinerary starts and ends in Florence. However, you can start and end in other towns and combine this trip with a visit to the other regions (e.g. Cinque Terre or Bologna). This is really just meant to show you what’s possible and how to plan your time in Tuscany.
In order to see the very best of Tuscany and to experience some of its stunning landscapes, it’s best to visit the region by car. On the other hand, you don’t really need a car in the cities. Train connections between major towns in Italy are really good. So if you want to, you can visit some of the most beautiful towns using public transport only.
While this Tuscany itinerary is made assuming that you have a car, you can easily adapt it to your needs and your way of traveling. Just use this itinerary as a guide to the best places in Tuscany, how much time you need at each place, and how to best plan your trip.
At the bottom of the article, you can also find a map indicating all the places mentioned in this Tuscan itinerary. Read on!
One Week Tuscany Itinerary
Day 1 – Florence
Florence is one of the most beautiful cities in Italy and is not to be missed in any Tuscany itinerary.
One full day is the minimum that you need in order to see the main highlights of Florence. You can find more information, tips, and advice for visiting Florence in some of the more detailed guides to the city on our blog.
Not to be missed in Florence is the Cathedral (you can climb the dome of the Duomo as well), Ponte Vecchio, Accademia Gallery, Uffizi Gallery, and Palazzo Vecchio. If you have just one day in Florence, stroll the old town, check out the market, and walk to Piazzale Michelangelo for the best sunset view in Florence. Alternatively, have a drink at one of the best rooftop bars in Florence.
Stay in Florence for at least one night, in order to take full advantage of your time here. If you are traveling by train, I recommend a hotel close to the railway station. We recently stayed at Hotel Croce di Malta, an excellent mid-budget 4*hotel with a lovely rooftop terrace. If traveling by car, keep in mind that parking in the city is very expensive.
TIP: If you only have limited time and want to see the best of Florence in one day, be sure to book priority tickets for ALL the places you absolutely want to visit inside.
LEARN MORE: One Day in Florence
Day 2 – Florence to Siena
Leave Florence early in the morning and drive to Siena. Via Chiantigiana road SR 222 from Florence to Siena is very scenic, so you may want to take this road rather than a highway.
Spend the rest of the day exploring the beautiful town of Siena. Must-see in Siena is Piazza del Campo with its Palazzo Pubblico and the Mangia Tower, Siena Duomo (Cathedral), and the picturesque streets of the Old Town.
TIP: Stay in Siena for 1 or 2 nights. Albergo Chiusarelli is one of the best picks in towns in terms of price/location/quality.
LEARN MORE: Best Things to Do in Siena
Day 3 – Val d’Orcia – Tuscan countryside
Here is a scenic road trip suggestion through the picture-perfect Tuscan countryside – Val d’Orcia – that you can take as a day trip from Siena.
If you have the time, you may want to spend a couple of days in this area, but one day is sufficient to drive through the scenic Tuscan countryside.
From Siena take the road SR2 to San Quirico d’Orcia. From here continue East along the SR146 in the direction of Montepulciano. This is the most scenic road in Tuscany – the one with the typical Tuscan landscapes you see in travel magazines and on postcards.
Take your time to explore Val d’Orcia and visit at least a couple of charming little towns in the area: Pienza, Montepulciano, San Quirico d’Orcia, Monticchiello, Montalcino… Also the Abbey of Sant’Antimo is worth a visit.
With just one day in this region, I think I’d focus on Montepulciano, Pienza, and the countryside of Val d’Orcia.
TIP: If you are in Siena without a car, the best way to explore the Tuscan countryside is by taking an organized tour, e.g. this wine tour that brings you to Montalcino, Pienza, and Montepulciano from Siena.
READ ALSO: Best Things to Do in Montepulciano
Day 4 – San Gimignano and Volterra
San Gimignano and Volterra are both relatively small towns and their proximity to each other means that you can easily visit them in one day.
San Gimignano, famous for its fourteen medieval towers has a tiny but very picturesque Old Town. It can get extremely busy during the day, so I recommend going there first thing in the morning.
One of the main places to see is Piazza della Cisterna. You can also climb to the top of the Torre Grossa.
Volterra has a great atmosphere in the evening, so it’s best to visit it later in the day. It’s a charming medieval town and it’s nice to just stroll the streets, check out some souvenir shops, and have a nice Tuscan dinner.
In my previous post, you can read more about what to see and do in San Gimignano and in Volterra.
TIP: One of the nicest and good price/quality hotels in Volterra is Hotel La Locanda. If you are on a tighter budget but want something really special, stay in Chiostro Delle Monache Hostel Volterra. It’s located in the 15th-century Franciscan monastery, has a great location, and free parking.
Day 5 – Pisa
Take your time to explore Pisa. Don’t limit your visit to the leaning tower of Pisa only! In fact, the leaning tower of Pisa is just one of the many monuments of Miracle’s Square. The Cathedral and the Baptistery are very impressive as well.
Pisa town center has no crowds and is very picturesque as well. Stroll the Arno River promenade and check out the Borgo Stretto, an old shopping arcade with many restaurants, cafés, and shops.
TIP: If you are touring around Tuscany by car, I’d advise not to stay in Pisa. Instead, drive to Lucca after you visited Pisa and stay there for two nights. Lucca has such a great atmosphere and several really nice hotels. They are located inside the city walls and so parking is not free (but possible). Check out Hotel Palazzo Alexander or Hotel Alla Corte degli Angeli.
Day 6 – Lucca
Lucca is our favorite town in Tuscany. You can see the main highlights in just one day, but you definitely won’t regret it if you choose to stay a bit longer.
The main landmark is the city walls of Lucca which you can explore on foot or by bike. In fact, the best way to see Lucca is by taking a self-guided bike tour.
Piazza dell’Anfiteatro is another must-see in Lucca. Make sure also to climb at least one of the towers -Torre Guinigi or Torre Delle Ore for the best views in town. Here you can read more about what to see and do in Lucca.
TIP: Take a food tour in Lucca – it’s a great way to explore the town and taste some of the typical local specialties.
Day 7 – Collodi, Pistoia, Prato, or the outskirts of Florence
There are several nice towns that you could visit between Lucca and Florence. Collodi, Pistoia, and Prato are all worth a detour.
We liked exploring the outskirts of Florence as well. You’re hardly out of the city, but the scenery is amazing. Take a road from Florence to Fiesole for stunning views and a beautiful Tuscan landscape.
Alternatively, you could easily visit Bologna. It’s located in the nearby Emilia Romagna region (so not in Tuscany), but is more than worth a visit if you find yourself in this part of Italy.
READ ALSO: Florence to Bologna Travel Info & Itinerary + Best Things to Do in Bologna
Where to stay for this Tuscany itinerary
Many people ask what’s the best area to stay in Tuscany. The answer really depends on what kind of trip you are planning.
If you are thinking of making a road trip in Tuscany, you can find my suggestions for hotels in each town in the day-to-day Tuscany itinerary above.
If, however, you don’t like changing hotels and packing your bags every day, you can also stay at one central location in the Tuscan countryside and take day trips from there. Sometimes you’ll need to drive an hour, sometimes two, so it’s not perfect, but it might still be easier and more relaxing, especially if you are traveling with kids.
TIP: If you want to stay in just one place for sightseeing, the best place to stay for exploring Tuscany would be the area close to Volterra or San Gimignano. It is very centrally located in Tuscany and is therefore ideal if you are looking to stay at just one hotel and explore the region by taking day trips. Here you can find the best deals for accommodation in Volterra and hotels in the San Gimignano area.
In fact, a few years ago we did just that when we were visiting Tuscany with our kids. We stayed at just one hotel in the Montaione area for 12 days and combined relaxing days by the pool with sightseeing. It worked well for us. You can read more in our best of Tuscany – itinerary from one central location post.
On our most recent trip to Tuscany, we were focusing on the area around Siena and Val d’Orcia, plus a few other places in Umbria too. For that, we opted to stay at this beautiful country house in Bettole.
There’s really not one ‘best’ spot to stay- Tuscany is way too big for that. So it all depends on which places you decide to visit.
Without a car: If you are not renting a car, the best places to stay for exploring Tuscany are either Florence or Siena. They both have good railway connections to the bigger towns and also a big choice of organized tours to the smaller villages in the countryside.
One week Tuscany trip itinerary map
Below, you can see an overview of this suggested Tuscany itinerary on the map.
Start in Florence, drive down to Siena, then on to San Gimignano and Volterra. Continue your trip towards Pisa and Lucca, and end in Florence.
Alternatively, continue to Cinque Terre, which is just a short ride from Pisa. Here you can find more information about how to see the best of Cinque Terre in one day.
Best Time to Visit Tuscany
Tuscany is a beautiful destination that has something to offer at any time of the year. That being said, the best time to visit Tuscany is in late spring or in early autumn. The very best months for sightseeing in Tuscany are May and September.
In the summer months, it’s very hot here. So if you are visiting in July or August, you may want to concentrate on the Tuscan countryside. A popular thing to do is rent a villa with a pool and make an occasional day trip to one of the smaller towns in the area.
Whereas the weather in late fall, in winter, and in early spring is more suitable for visiting the big cities rather than touring the countryside.
READ ALSO: Best Time to Visit Europe
So, this is our suggested Tuscany itinerary for up to one week. If you are planning a trip to Italy, make sure to check our Italy travel guide for more tips and travel advice for a big variety of popular destinations in Italy.
Alternatively, check our selection of articles below for more tips for a variety of destinations in Italy.
More tips for some of the most visited destinations in Italy:
- Best Things to Do in Rome
- Best Things to Do in Venice
- Best Things to Do in Milan
- Best Things to Do in Naples
- 2 days in Rome
- 1 day in Milan
- 1 day in Venice
- 1 day in Cinque Terre
- Tips for Visiting Rome
- Best Things to Do at Lake Como
- Bellagio, Lake Como
- Best of Lake Garda
- Best of the Italian Dolomites
- Emilia Romagna Region
- Hiking in the Dolomites
- Tips for Visiting Cinque Terre
- Amalfi Coast Itinerary
- Italian Riviera
- San Marino
- Best Day Trips from Naples
READ ALSO: Best Places to Visit in Italy
If you found this Tuscany itinerary helpful, don’t forget to bookmark this post and share it with your friends. Are you on Pinterest? Pin this image!
Jurga –
Your blog has been so helpful to me thank you! Traveling to Tuscany in May 2025 for 6 nights with my 2 older teen daughter. We plan to fly in from Paris (into Florence, Milan or Verona) and then back to Denver from Florence. I want to see as much as possible (including Cinque Terre) but won’t have a car and prefer to stay in no more than two hotels. Assume Florence for the last 3 nights since we’ll fly out from there. What other town should be our base? And which towns make the most sense for day trips? Thank you!!
Hi Andrea, without a car, Florence is by far the best town to base yourself for a longer time. You can do some day trips by train and some smaller towns by taking tours. You could easily spend 6 nights in Florence and find plenty to do. Take a day trip to Siena. A tour that visits Sam Gimignano and Pisa, a tour that visits Montepulcuano and some wineries… We book all our tours via GetYourGuide. Just search ‘from Florence’ or similar and you will see tons of options. For example this tour and there are many more.
That said, if you want to add an extra place, did you consider Bologna? It’s amazing and you can also take some nice day trips from there.
Otherwise you can also stay in Siena for a few days. But I would do Florence at least 4 nights.
Good luck with the planning and have a great trip!
@Jurga, thank you for the feedback and recommendations. Will look at Bologna and day trips. And will make Florence our base.
Hi Jurga, I’m a bit overwhelmed trying to map out or visit to Italy We have seen the main cities in Italy.
We have rented a villa in Crotona for 6 night and plan to rent a car from where ever we should fly into from the united States. Cortona will be our base in Tuscany. We would love to see the Chanti area ,Seina, Pienza, Montepulciano and Florence all returning to each day.
We also would like to go to Cinque Terre and The Amalfi Coast with Capri. How would you lay out this itinerary? The order and what mode of transportation would be preferred? We do not plan to have a car on the Amalfi coast as I hear it is difficult to drive. We plan to use ferries to get around there.
Would Lake Como be out of the way or could we incorporate it in. We could spend 2-3 weeks.
Thank you for you help,
Kathy
Hi Kathy, you can visit many places in Tuscany from Cortona, but if you also want to go to e.g. Cinque Terre, I would do that separately since it’s a bit too much of a drive for a day. The same with Lake Como, which is even further away.
One of the options would be to fly to Milan, visit Lake Como for a few days, then drive down to the Cinque Terre area and spend a few days on the Ligurian Coast, and then on to Cortona.
After that, return your rental car either in Rome or Naples or so and explore the Amalfi Coast and Capri using boats and transfers or public transport. Depending on where you drop off your car, you can take a train e.g. from Florence or Rome to Naples. You can then fly out of Naples or take a train to Rome and fly from there.
If you absolutely have to start in Cortona, then you could drive to Cinque Terre for a few days after that, followed by Lake Como. Then drop off the car in Milan and travel by train from there to the south.
We have tons of articles covering all these areas and even transportation options from Naples to the Amalfi Coast etc., just use the search function on the blog.
Good luck with the planning.
Jurga,
Just read your Tuscan itinerary and it’s almost exactly like what I was looking to plan for next year. I was thinking of leaving Florence in the morning and taking the Via Chiantigiano geting to Siena that evening. The next day is exploring Siena and spending another night there. The next day is the Val d’Orcia to Montepilcino and spending a night down that way somewhere. The next day is spending a little more time in that area before heading up to San Gimignano/Volterra. One day there before heading to Lucca via Pisa. After a day or so there, I think heading over to Cinque Terre and doing your one day hike and 2nd day exploration of Portovenere sounds perfect. Leaving Cinque Terre, I’ll head back to Florence arriving a day early so I can spend time up in the hills around Fiesole. I plan to rent a car, so we’ll then turn it back in at the airport and regretfully head home. Any additions/subtractions/suggestions you can make would be much appreciated.
All the best,
Tynes Quarles
Hi Tynes, your plan sounds good. It’s just that you don’t absolutely have to make a road trip and change hotels every day. You could also stay somewhere close to Siena/San Gimignano for a few days before moving toward Luca/Pisa/Cinque Terre area for a few days. But if you don’t mind changing hotels, your plan sounds just fine. As for additional suggestions, unfortunately, I really have no time to help our readers with more detailed itineraries. There’s so much to see and do in Tuscany. Here are some nice places you may want to add to your plan since you will be nearby: Pienza, San Quirico d’Orcia, Cipressi di San Quirico d’Orcia, Montalcino, Crete Senesi (on the road between Asciano and Taverne d’Arbia near Siena).
Good luck with the planning and don’t forget to spend some time in Florence itself! You can easily fill 3 days there too.
What a fantastic blog! This has really inspired me! I am thinking to visit Florence and Tuscany for a week in mid-June.
After 2 nights in Florence, and having a car, what town would you recommend to stay as a base and then do day trips? In terms of day trips, a must visit for us are Sienna, Lucca and Volterra. And definitely a winery but without driving to it. Advice very welcome!
Hi Teddy, if you want to visit Sienna, Lucca, and Voltera, you could stay somewhere in the middle between all these towns and make sure there’s a winery nearby.
I quickly checked something for you in the San Gimignano area which is very central and fits your criteria. There are several wineries that you can visit in that region and many accommodations, so you can find places to stay within walking distance to one or the other winery if you like.
For example, this agriturismo (Capanna 1826) is just near this vineayrd. From what I read in the reviews of this accommodation, they even include a visit to their vineyard for free if you stay there.
But there are many more options. You just have to do a bit more research and see what’s available for your travel dates. If you don’t mind taking a taxi to one or the other vineyard, then it will be easier. Just pick a hotel you like and then see what wineries there are nearby.
Also, the San Gimignano area is just one of the many, so it’s just a suggestion based on the info you gave.
If you are traveling in June, I’d book your accommodations asap.
Hello, this blog seems very helpful. I am traveling to Italy for the first time with 9 family members for 2 weeks in June. We were trying to fit in so much, but don’t think it’s feasible with so many people. Was hoping to visit Venice, Tuscany, Rome and The Amalfi Coast. Also, we are planning to stay in Air bnb’s along the way. Just not sure if we should travel to each area and stay for 3 days or find 2 central hubs and take day trips? Any insight you can offer would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
Hi Ann Marie, since these areas are located quite far from each other and each has so much to offer, I think that staying in each place for a few nights is indeed better than looking for two base locations.
You could start with 4-5 days in Sorrento (from where you can easily visit Amalfi Coast, Capri Island, Naples, Pompeii, etc.), then move on to Rome for 3-4 days. From there, take a train to Florence which is a good base for Tuscany, Cinque Terre, and also Bologna. Depending on what you want to see, you could stay here for 4-5 days. And finally, take a train to Venice and stay there for 2-3 nights.
You can find lots of information for all these destinations on our blog. See an overview of all articles on our Italy travel page.
This 2-week Italy itinerary might also be helpful – just to see what’s possible and how you could structure your time at some places. For Amalfi Coast, take a look at this guide.
Good luck with the planning!
@Jurga, THANK YOU SO MUCH!! Greatly appreciate the information!!
Hi,
I am considering a 3 night stay in Florence next Summer followed by a week in self catering accomodation somewhere on the coast (we will not be driving, therefore, will be making use of public transport when we transfer from Florence to our second destination). We love Sorrento, Taormina and the Lake Garda towns and are wondering where on the coast (quite manageable by train from Florence), would have a similar vibe / buzz (i.e lively atmosphere) to these places? We would obviously fly into Florence but would be happy to go home from a different airport.
My other option is to follow on from Florence with a week in self catering accomodation (definitely with a pool to cool off), within walking distance of one of the cities / towns in the region – but I’m having difficulty deciding between Siena. Lucca and San Gimignano (or somewhere else with a Sorrento type ‘feel’ to it!!).
Any suggestions / advice would be gratefully received
Many thanks,
Becs
Hi Becs, as you can imagine, there are too many options for me to give you any kind of reasonable suggestion. 🙂 Also, there are two coasts – with places like Rimini or Ravenna to the east or the Cinque Terre area, Ligurian towns, etc. to the west. I assume you mean west?
Without a car, by the sea, you could split your stay between the Cinque Terre area and Italian Riviera (e.g. Portovenere or Monterosso al Mare for a few days followed by a few days in Rapallo or St Margherita Ligure. If you are looking for a bigger city – check out Genoa.
If you rather stay in central Tuscany, then Siena is definitely a lot better than San Gimignano – in terms of transport, things to do, etc. San Gimignano is a tiny village. Lucca is also very nice but not as centrally located as Florence or Siena for all the most popular places. Bologna is amazing too, btw!
You can also just stay in Florence the whole time and make day trips. It also depends so much on what exactly you want to see.
Good luck! Whatever you choose, you can’t really go wrong – the whole area has so much to offer.
We are a family of 5 and we will be going on a week trip to Tuscany at the end of this month, We will be staying in a country guesthouse in Montaione. This will be our base to see different places in Tuscany, as we have a car. Could you recommend which cities are best to visit to get a real feel of Tuscany. We also want to do some wine tasting in Chianti and Montepulciano, so any tips on nice wineries to visit would be much appreciated. Thank you.
Hi Kim, you can find all the suggestions in this article and you may also want to take a look at this guide to some of the best towns in Tuscany. This is by no means a complete list and there are dozens of amazing places. But if this is your first time, you’ll probably not want to miss the main cities such as Florence or Siena, so you need at least 2-3 days for that. The rest really depends on your interest and preferences. Of the smaller ones, San Gimignano is really nice, also Volterra, Montepulciano, and Pienza. If you have even more time, you may want to check out Montalcino and Cortona, also San Quirico d’Orcia. A week will fly by!
As for the wineries, we really enjoyed a very unique wine cave visit in Montepulciano last summer. You can find more details in our Montepulciano guide. And this is a really nice winery that you can visit in Chianti.
The problem with winery visits is that it’s not really something you can do (and enjoy wine) if you have to drive afterward. So ideally, you have a dedicated driver, find a winery close to your accommodation and take a taxi, or book a tour (but those are usually only available departing from big towns so not ideal unless you stay in Florence or Siena).
But definitely check out the wine cellar in Montepulciano if you go there! You can also taste just a bit of wine and buy some to take with you to enjoy at your accommodation.
Enjoy your trip!
Looking for some advice on my trip to Italy in Aug/Sept. Flying into Venice and staying for 3 days then headed to Florence/Tuscany region for 5 nights. We don’t want to rent a car but want to go wine tasting and check out the countryside and maybe the hill towns. After the 5 nights we head to Sorrento for 4 nights and finish off in Rome. Looking for advice on where I should stay in Florence/Tuscany area. Should I stay a few nights in both places or stay in one place and do day trips by train? Where do I take the train from to end up in Amalfi? Any advise appreciated.
Hi Rosemary, some of the best places to stay in Tuscany when traveling by train are Florence and Siena. You can find plenty of Tuscan countryside/wine tours from any of these towns (see here for tours from Florence and here – from Siena).
If you don’t mind changing hotels, you can spend a few nights at each of these; otherwise, I would recommend staying in Florence. There are many nice hotels close to the station (just in the center too), and it’s very easy to explore the city or plan day trips. At the bottom of this guide of the best places to see in Florence, you can find some hotel recommendations for this area.
For the Amalfi Coast, you’ll have to take a train to Naples (there are high-speed trains from Florence to Naples – see here for train schedules and to prebook your tickets). Here you can find our guide on how to get to the Amalfi Coast from Naples.
Have a great trip!
Hi Jurga and bless you for all of your amazing blog posts! You really have helped me immensely! So I work for American Airlines and am bringing my best friend to Italy to celebrate her 50th birthday. I am curious on your thoughts as to the best way to get to the Tuscany region…fly into where? Also, is Uber a thing in Italy? I imagine we will rent a car but would love to do at least one wine tour and will be concerned about driving on that day. So along that line, where would you recommend renting a car from?
Thank you again for all your insight! You’re amazing!
Hi Brandi, one of the best airports for Tuscany is Florence. But Rome is so close that you can easily just fly there and rent a car or take a train.
You don’t need a car in the cities and you can also take countryside/winery tours from both – Florence and Rome (see some examples here). And yes, taxis are not very expensive in Italy, but it will be expensive if you take them outside the city for several hours. For that, tours are much better.
Otherwise, if you are renting a car, you can also stay in smaller towns in the wine region, and you’ll find some great wineries/wine cellars in the area, often without having to drive (if you stay in town). Here is just one example – Montepulciano.
Have a great trip!
Thank you for this information Jurga! We are considering going to Tuscany for 3 weeks and rent a villa in 3 separate places each for a week. What three places/cities/villages would you recommend staying in to enable seeing a good deal of Tuscany. Travel by car for longer distances not an issue. We would be so grateful for any help you can give!
Hi Bev, a lot will depend on when you travel and what you can still find. Here are a few areas to consider:
San Gimignano (any area within 20-30 minutes drive from here)
Val d’Orcia (around Pienza or so)
Cortona (also great for Assisi and other places in Umbria) or Saturnia (if you like to visit the famous natural hot springs and spend some time in the south of Tuscany)
Have a great trip!
Jurga, totally grateful for putting this invaluable information together for all of us independent travelers to see! I am taking my daughter and two granddaughters to Italy and was uninterested in the cruises that miss exactly what your itinerary notes, and tours on strict schedules!
Please share more……..I am starving for much needed infor and will continue to review your site! TU!
Glad to help, Vicki. We have tons of articles about a big variety of destinations all over Italy on the blog. I hope that this helps you to plan the most amazing trip with your family!
Hello Jurga, thanks for sharing the itineraries. Great one & helpful indeed. Look forward to visiting Tuscany next month. You hv posted a sunset/sunrise photo of Tuscan Countryside in your article, may I know where & which spot did you shoot this photo?
@Lim Cherk Teing, Which picture please?
Hi Lim, if you’re referring to the vertical image with the winding road and cypress trees, it’s a stock image and not something I took.
We’re currently in Tuscany and I always thought this location is in the heart of Val d’Orcia close to Pienza. But the only place that we found that looks like that is probably in the area called Crete Senesi that is located along the road between Taverne d’Arbia and Asciano. It’s also part of the region of Val d’Orcia, but closer to Siena.
It’s not indicated correctly on online maps and there are no signs once you get there, but there is a small parking and a sign saying something like ‘panoramic view’ if I recall well. Be sure to walk all the way up the hill and when you look backwards, you see a winding road like this in the distance.
However, to take this kind of picture, you’ll need a very good telezoom lens and/or a drone.
I might be wrong and there are also some other places in Val d’Orcia that look somewhat similar, but there you’d definitely need a drone to see this kind of view.
Anyway, you can see some pictures that I took from this and other areas nearby on our Facebook page where we’re now posting lots of pictures from our trip here.
One tip – don’t travel to Tuscany hoping to take a specific picture. What you’ll get will never be as you imagine because the views, the landscape, the colors, the light and the sky are ever-changing. But it’s amazing either way!
Enjoy your trip!
Great itinerary but I would choose the Abbazzia di Monte Olivete near Buonconvento over the Abbazzia di San Antimo. It is full of wonderful murals with an active monastic community. The monks at San Antimo were recalled to their mother house and are no longer onsite.
Thanks for the recommendation, Mark.
Happy travels!
Hello! Thank you for all your information. We are thinking of visiting Italy by car from Greece (Ancona/Bari) from 22 August 2022 until 4 September. We are planning to spend 1 week in a road trip around Tuscany and then the other week visit Naples, Amalfi coast etc. Do you think 2 week are enough for this trip? Could you suggest us with what trip to start? We would also like to visit wineries and stay in agrotourism farm houses. Thank you for your time 🙂
Hi Themis, it’s a bit difficult to advise much since there are thousands of possibilities and I have no time to plan individual itineraries for our readers. Two weeks sounds like a nice amount of time, but you could spend 2 months and still not see it all. So just make the most of the time that you have.
Also, keep in mind that it’s going to be very hot (although you’re probably used to that in Greece) and also very, very busy in both these areas.
For the Amalfi Coast, I recommend staying in Sorrento – leave your car and don’t touch it for a week :). You can find some ideas on how to plan your time in our Amalfi Coast itinerary, plus many articles that we link to from that one. You may also want to read this guide: where to stay on the Amalfi Coast.
For Tuscany, maybe you could split your stay between two areas – one closer to Montepulciano and one closer to Florence / Pisa/ Luca. Or just one that’s more centrally located and then explore the rest by car.
You’ll find many wineries and nice agriturismos in Tuscany. On the Amalfi Coast, it’s more about limoncello, seafood, and sea views.
I can’t really recommend any specific hotels/ agriturismos as there are just too many choices, very different budgets, and also – now already – limited availability. We use booking for all our stays when we travel and always find nice places, just don’t wait too long to book since your travel period is still school holidays in Italy and in general, August is the busiest month there.
Good luck with the planning!
@Jurga, thank you for your immediate reply, you’re very helpful. If you could advise me in just one thing. Do you believe is better to start from Ancona and go to tuscany area and then amalfi coast and leave from bari or the reverse, starting point bari, amalfi coast and then go up in tuscany and levae from ancona? Does it mak any difference?
Hi Themis, I don’t think it makes much difference unless you find a specific accommodation that you really want to stay at and its availability is limited. Otherwise, just do what makes the most sense to you.
Have a great trip!
We would like to visit Tuscany for a few weeks late August 2023. We would prefer to hire a car and see more of the countryside/small towns as suggested in your itinerary above. We are from Australia, so driving on the right side of the road would be a little different, based on your experience would you recommend a drive yourself holiday of the region, noting that car parking at some accommodation venues might be difficult. We would not be travelling with children.
Hi Jodie, yes, if you want to explore the Tuscan countryside, renting a car is the best option. However, keep in mind that August is the busiest month for travel in Italy and it’s going to be very busy (and very hot). The second half of the month is better for the crowds than mid-July to mid-August, but you’d enjoy it more if you can come a bit later. September, especially the second half, would be much quieter and – normally – not nearly as hot.
For parking – the best way to avoid issues is to start your days early and get to the most popular places first thing in the morning.
Also, you don’t need a car for the big cities like Florence, so you could just rent it for the part of the trip, depending on where exactly you are planning to go.
All in all, if you are prepared for it and are flexible enough, I’m sure you can have a great trip in the summer as well. Just get accommodation(s) with a pool!
PS We’ve been to Australia and other places where they drive differently than here in Europe and never had any issues. Since the car you rent is adapted for the traffic there, you quickly get used to it and just follow the traffic.
We are planning a trip to Italy 8/22/22 to 9/10/22. We have had covid in Dec 2020 and have had the first 2 Pfizer vaccinations in the spring of 2021, but we have not received the booster and and do not intend to get it. We will be able to travel freely in Italy and be allowed into the sites, museums, hotels and restaurants?
I have searched for information online, but it is all very confusing.
Hi Michael, at THIS moment, you do need a booster shot for all these places/ activities in Italy, so 2 vaccines are insufficient. You need a ‘super’ green pass for almost everything now. We are ourselves traveling to Italy in a few days and we just got a booster shot for our 13-year old or we would risk not being able to do most of the things we want to. Even though some rules are about to relax a bit from April 1, we just didn’t want to spend our entire vacation worrying about what we would or wouldn’t be able to do.
They say that Italy will get rid of the ‘super green pass’ requirement from May 1 altogether. But there’s no way of knowing what the rules will be like at the end of the summer, when you plan to travel.
I wouldn’t worry about this now, but check how the situation is 2-3 weeks before you travel and you’ll get a better idea. But you always have to keep in mind that things might change even last minute. The general expectation here in Europe is that covid-related rules are going away (and a lot of European countries don’t have any restrictions anymore, some still require masks on public transport, so Italy is an exception, and even there, they’re slowly getting rid of the rules). But nobody will be able to tell you for sure if that’s how things will remain if some new variant shows up again…
I will likento travel with elderly parents (87 & 81) from around 22/4-8/5. Rome and Tuscany probably staying in 2 locations and hiring a car.
Sounds like a great plan, Hus! I’m just not sure what’s your question… 🙂
If you are looking for specific itinerary suggestions, please note that we don’t offer any trip planning services. This is just a travel blog based on our personal experiences that inspires and helps our readers plan their own trips.
Enjoy Italy!
Hi Jurga,
We have just booked our holiday in Tuscany with your invaluable information.
Thank you very much.
Maria Dolphin
Lucky you! Tuscany is amazing – enjoy your trip!
Hello Jurga,
This is absolutely wonderful and beautiful! Thank you so much for your blog and pictures, and for sharing your experience.
I will be visiting Italy for the first time in April or May 2022, and I like to plan ahead. Tuscany is definitely the region I would like to visit, for a max of 10 days if I spend a couple in Venice.
Reading your experience, and although I would most likely be a solo traveler, I am very tempted to rent a car rather than changing hotels all the time and riding public transport. I like to be on my own schedule when I travel, and I am more attracted to small villages and scenic drives than famous monuments or places.
Would you say it would be best to rent a small car then?
Many thanks and thanks so much again!
Irene
Hi Irene, if you want to explore more of Tuscany than just the main cities, then yes, it’s definitely easier to do that by car. You can also see some stunning countryside that way!
Driving in Italy is quite ok, the biggest issue is often to find a parking spot in the popular places. But in April or May, it shouldn’t be too busy. Just make sure to always book accommodation that has parking and avoid driving into the city center anywhere. There are usually parking areas at the outskirts, so it’s always easier to use those rather than try to park at the main town square or so. 🙂
For Venice, you definitely don’t need a car, but you can drive to Venice by car . So if you start your trip there, only rent it when you are planning to leave the city. If you end your trip in Venice, drop the car off as soon as you arrive.
Good luck!
Hi Jurga, love your site. Thinking about taking my family (5 adults 3 kids) to Italy in late April 2021. Problem is, because of schedules etc, we only have 7 days. I’m thinking agitouristismos, renting two cars, and private tour guides. Would love to spend 2 days in Rome and the rest in Umbria/Tuscany. I know crowds and prices will be down. Doable? Thoughts? Potential problems?
Hi Wayne, everything is doable if you plan well. Don’t expect it to be quiet, though – April is already quite busy in Italy, but it’s a great time to travel. Not too hot, not as busy as in summer, and indeed, accommodation prices should be somewhat lower (especially outside the cities). It also depends when Easter falls next year – Easter is very busy in Italy because Europeans have school holidays. So try to travel after that.
As for an itinerary, it’s hard for me to suggest since there are so many possibilities. Rome – 2 days is really an absolute minimum for the city (here you can find some tips for Rome) – if you plan well and get skip-the-line tickets for all the main landmarks. Also, don’t rent a car in Rome – only once you leave!
Talking about a car rental, you can also rent a mini-bus for 8-9 people. It should be cheaper than renting two cars, and also cheaper for insurance, tolls, parking, etc. The only disadvantage is that it’s bigger and parking spots are usually rather small. On the other hand, our car (a 7-seater van) is also big and we never really had problems driving with it in Italy.
For Tuscany and Umbria – you can choose to stay in one place and make day trips from there, or you can stay at 2-3 different places and make a mini road-trip. It’s really your choice. If you are visiting many cities, traveling by train might be easier, but for smaller towns, the car is definitely easier and allows you to see more of the countryside.
Hope this helps a bit. Try to figure out what you absolutely want to see. Once you have that, take a map and make an itinerary. After you do that, look for accommodations that best suit your plans.
Thanks for the info!
Glad you found it useful. Enjoy your trip to Tuscany!
Thank You I can’t wait to go, we are leaving this Wednesday.
I had very little time to plan, so I’m using your itinerary!!
Susan, Atlanta, Ga.
Wow, that was the last minute indeed! Hope you are enjoying Tuscany! Have a great rest of the trip.
hi,
hello ,I am Ivan, I am Planning a 6 t0 7days in mid november road trip around the following places.
i will be coming from Rome and also wish to have a farm stay in Tuscany.
where do you recommend that i should stay ,how should i move around to save time and where should i pick up a rental car and returned my car before heading to Cinque Terre fro 2 nights
1)lucca,
2)siena
3)san gimignano,
4)volterra,
5)chianti
6)pisa
7)cortona
regards
ivan
Hi Ivan, sorry, but I really have no time to plan custom itineraries. Hope that information in our blog posts can guide you. Tuscany isn’t big so you can either drive around and sleep at a different place every night or stay in one place and make day trips, or maybe stay at 2-3 hotels that make it easy to explore a certain area before moving on to the next one.
As for the car, it’s usually easiest and cheapest to rent from big cities/airports. I think Florence could be a good option as you can easily get there from Rome and also from there to Cinque Terre by train.
Hope this helps.
Hi Jurga,
You’re blogs are wonderful! I have a few questions for you!
I’m planning on a 2020 visit to Italy and would probably start in Tuscany for a 4-5 days and see that area.
I am kind of hoping I can take a side trip to either the Marche area or Abruzzo area (where my grandparents came from). How difficult or easy is it to get to either one of those places?
I’m assuming that would be while I am in Tuscany as I think that is the closest to either of those areas.
And could that be done in a day rather than an overnight, or is it just too far away? I don’t have the actual towns where my grandparents came from, just the region, so if you have any more specific ideas as to where to go/what to see, that would also be very helpful!
In addition to Tuscany, I’d also like to see both Cinque Terre and the Amalfi Coast, but not sure I can do both.
How does Cinque Terre and Amalfi Coast compare (or differ), and would I really be missing out if I can only do one? That said, if I can only go to one of them, which would you recommend? I know it’s hard to choose!
Thank you so much!
Hi Debbie, lots of questions and really hard to say something because I have no idea how much time you have in total and how you’ll be traveling around.
If you have a car and about a week, then I think, you can do Tuscany and a day trip to Cinque Terre + maybe another day in the area for Portovenere.
I’m not sure about Abruzzo or Marche, but at first view, it looks too far for just a day trip. If you are wondering what to see and do in all these places, I really recommend Michelin Green Guide Italy or Michelin Green Guide Tuscany – it has a very easy to use star system that makes it easy to decide where to go first.
As for the comparison with the Amalfi Coast, please take a look at my comment to a similar question I got from somebody else. I would say, if you have at least 2-3 days extra, it’s definitely worth it. I think Capri is amazing and also a trip to Pompeii can be really interesting.
I suggest you use Google Maps for planning your trip – it has very accurate information when it comes to driving distances and times and can make it easier to decide how to best plan your itinerary.
Hope this helps.
Oops! Looks like I left out some info! I would like to spend around 10 days in Italy, but prefer not to drive, so I would be looking to take public transportation/trains, and maybe some tours.
Thanks!
Hi Debbie, I don’t have much experience with public transport in Italy. Except for the trains – they are usually very good and the connections between main towns are also ok. It becomes more complicated if you are planning to go to smaller villages…
If you rather take tours, then it’s best to stay in bigger towns like Florence, because there are many more options for guided tours and it’s easy to get around. You can find some tour suggestions in the article.
Sorry, I can’t help you more. Researching any trip like that takes lots of time and I hardly have the time to research our own trips and post some suggestions on the blog.
Enjoy Italy!
Hi Jurga,
I am sure the answer to my question is somewhere in the comments but I figured it would be easier to simply ask you. My husband and I are planning on going to Italy and spending most of our time in Tuscany and possibly the Italian Riviera. I wanted to know how easy it is to rent a car for the trip and travel this way. I always am fearful of tolls and other extra costs. I just want to be able to explore the towns at our leisure and not have to worry about much. The plus to having a car is that we do not have to worry about packing so light. A train would mean backpacking, which I do not really prefer. Thank you,
K
Hi Kay, everyone travels differently. We always drive in Italy and never had any issues, but yes, there are tollways, high parking costs in towns, and very expensive fuel. The good side is that car rental is usually quite cheap (but you have to book in advance!).
Ultimately, it’s your own choice. The car gives you flexibility, but it’s easier to travel by car if you stay away from the biggest cities and major tourist places… If you are mainly interested in visiting places like Florence or Cinque Terre, then you better take a train. And there is no reason why you can’t take a suitcase on the train, but a smaller suitcase is always easier than a large one.
Have a great trip!
Such an informative article this is, Jurga! I often read articles about Tuscany and they are about the same places we have heard a thousand times. But this post is like a breath of fresh air because it showcases some unique places that I have never heard. I really feel pleased by reading your article and it makes me want to visit Tuscany again.
Glad to hear that, Don.
Hi Jurga
I am visiting Florence this September, for two days , I like your hotel choice ,hotel De la Ville , what would you recommend to see in this short time
Hi Frank, in this post you can find more information on the main highlights to see in Florence. You can see the main landmarks in just a day, but you can easily fill 2 days as well, especially if you like museums.
If you rather see something else on day 2 and want to see the other towns and some of teh Tuscan countryside as well, you can consider an organized day trip (by train or with an organized tour, depends on the place).
Here are some tours that you could consider (there are many more options, these are just a few examples that I think are worth your time the most):
From Florence: Siena, San Gimignano and Chianti Wine Tasting
From Florence: 8-Hour Excursion to Pisa and Lucca
From Florence: Tuscany Highlights Full-Day Tour
Hope this helps.
Thank you Jurga
Your itinerary is very helpful, I was recommended a restaurant in Florence Trattoria 13 Gobbi. will let you know , a friend went twice for dinner
Looks good, Frank. I added the link to the restaurant (might be helpful to other readers). Enjoy your trip!
Hello,
Thank you for posting this itinerary, it’s been so helpful. I was wondering if you knew how much petrol would be if we were to use your itinerary?
Thank you!
Hi Jessica, it’s really quite impossible for me to tell. It depends on which car you have, how much fuel it uses, whether you drive on highways or smaller roads, where your hotels are, etc.
Fuel prices are very high in Italy, some of the highest in Europe. I think you should count some 1,70-1,80 EUR per liter at the moment, maybe 6-8 l/100 km for a small car. If you use google maps to estimate the distance where you are driving, I guess you could figure it out approximately, but it’s not an easy exercise as there are so many different factors.
Thank you for your post. We are travelling to Tuscany in August from Australia. We know it will be insanely busy but have a family wedding so we don’t have a choice on the time. We can spend a week in Tuscany so with it being such a busy time would you stay out of the main cities and centralise the accomodation to one place for the week
Hi Margie, Tuscany isn’t very big, so you could just stay in one place and just decide what you want to visit once you get there.
We stayed somewhat in between, in Montaione area and took day trips to Florence, Siena, Lucca, Pisa, San Gimignano, Volterra, etc. It means some driving up and down, but you have complete flexibility. And if the weather is really too hot for sightseeing, you can decide to just stay by the pool for a day (make sure to book a place with a pool – it’s really a must in summer!).
I’m really not sure what to tell you in terms of visiting Italian cities in August. We found it already too hot end of May… On the other hand, you come from so far, so I guess it would be a pity not to see at least a couple of bigger cities as well… You may want to pack an umbrella to use against the sun and eat lots of gelatos all day long. 🙂
Hi, great post!. I will be traveling next March and we are planning 6 days to road trip around Tuscany (excluding Florence). I understand that March is not that busy, so I’m planning in looking accommodations on the road without being bound to an itinerary. I know that it is always better to have everything booked before-hand, but in your opinion is it to risky not to have hotel/airbnb reservations in March? Thanks and greetings from Mexico.
Hi Cesar, I think the problem in March might be to find accommodations that are open. Except for the big cities, most accommodations in small towns in Italy tend to close between November and April. Of course, this might be region-specific and more the case in some places than in the others.
So yes, if it was me, I would book in advance. But if that’s really not how you travel, then at least try to look it up in advance so that you know how availability is in general and which accommodations will be open.
Hi there
I’m travelling from Melbourne Australia in sept oct 2018
I want to go to Tuscany hope to follow your 1 week itinerary
I won’t have a car
Do I need to book ahead from here or can I find accom in each town I visit
Just worried I won’t have a place to stay at a reasonable rate and I am travelling alone
Would love to hear your thoughts
Thanks Sandra
I really enjoy reading
The Full Suitcase ?
Hi Sandra, I guess you meant you’ll be in Italy next year, in 2019? I think there is a big difference in when you travel – September or October – as September will still be high season in many places. But even October, especially the first half, is still very busy in Italy.
In any case, my advice is to always plan a trip and book all accommodations in advance. There is so much more choice and better prices if you book upfront. Also, you can choose where to stay based on the location that best suits you and not waste your precious holiday time looking for accommodations every night.
If you don’t have a car then try to stay in bigger towns that have good public transport connections. In general, trains are quite reliable in Italy, definitely easier than traveling by bus.
Hope this helps.
We will be traveling by train, can we reach the areas you recommend in Tuscany from Florence by train?
Hi Brenda, to tell you the truth, I’m not really sure since we always travel in Italy by car. But I think there are good connections between the biggest towns, so Florence, Pisa, Sienna shouldn’t be a problem. I don’t think there is train going to San Gimignano or Volterra.
If you just go to Google Maps and choose directions between any two places, choose public transport as an option (a little train icon in the top left corner) and Google will show you the best way to get there.
We’ll be in Pisa from the 28th December till 2nd January. How can we go to Cinque Terre.? All day tours seem to stop in October!! Thank you for your advice.
Hi Frances, yes, indeed, the tourist season in Cinque Terre seems to stop around mid November. I found just one private tour that goes there from Pisa the whole year round, but it is very expensive.
However, you can always take a train from Pisa to La Spezia and then switch to another train to Cinque Terre from there. Another option is to rent a car, but then again, it’s best to not drive in CT itself and leave your car in La Spezia. There will be no boat tours running in winter, but you can visit the villages by train. Hiking is probably not ideal unless it would be very dry, which is unlikely in winter. Please check our practical guide to visiting Cinque Terre and our suggested one day itinerary for Cinque Terre.
Enjoy your trip!
Hi this itinerary is so helpful! Can you share the hotels you stayed in and where you recommend staying?
Hi Anisha, our kids were very young when we visited Tuscany, so we opted to stay in just one place the whole week. Our hotel was in Montaione area. We liked the fact that it was so central and we could do day trips to all the main towns. But you do need a car for this. You can find a bit more info here. It’s a very old post and from what I see the accommodation we stayed at isn’t available at the moment, but there are many other hotels and accommodation options in that area.
If you don’t mind changing hotels a couple of times and want to drive less, then you can also opt for 2-3 nights at several places. In that case I’d probably stay close to Siena and then somewhere close to Florence. If you are planning on taking a train, then stay in the city centre, close to the railway station.
A lot depends on your travel style and also on where you start and end the trip. Hope this helps a bit.
Hello, i’m John and i just start planning my second trip to Tuscany next year. I’m going for two week in June and staying in a Agrotourismo farm in Staggia. From there i’m circling all around Tuscany.. I’m taking note of the areas that you visited and i cant wait.. Congratulations on your pictures, very impressive work. I’m a semi-pro photographer and i can recongnize high quality picture.. Thanks for sharing with us this beautiful adventure.JD
Thank you and enjoy your trip to Tuscany. It’s such a beautiful region to explore and in two weeks you should be able to see a lot!
Thank You so much for your wonderful suggestions! We loved Tuscany so much & would like to return for a longer stay! There’s so much beautiful & scenic photo’s that we regrettably missed, it begs for a return visit indeed! Thank you again!
We feel exactly the same way – could go back to Tuscany again and again. The whole of Italy actually. We’re trying to visit at least one place/region in Italy every year and it never disappoints. Last year we went to Cinque Terre and the Ligurian coast and it was stunning too. This summer we’re off to Italian mountains and it looks amazing too. It’s difficult not to love Italy!