Tuscany is a beautiful region located in central Italy that is considered the birthplace of the Italian Renaissance. It’s known for its incredible museums, fine wines, and the incredible number of significant contributions people of the region have made not only to Italian culture but to the world at large. A visit to Tuscany is a visit to a region where you can eat some of the best food you’ll ever eat, see some historic sites like no other, and immerse yourself in a culture and landscape that you won’t forget. Here is a list of the six of the best places to visit in Tuscany. Each city is rich with culture and history and they each provide enough for you to spend weeks, if not months, visiting.
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The cities listed here can be enjoyed as a single destination for your trip, but this list can also be treated as an itinerary that can guide you through your Tuscany vacation.
Florence
Florence is one of the obvious choices, but that is for a good reason. The city is not only gorgeous but also the cultural capital of the region. Thanks to all the entertainment in Florence, it’s one of few Tuscan towns you should make sure you stay in for several days to make the most of the experience. You can spend those days visiting the Duomo of Florence, appreciating the art Uffizi Gallery has to offer, buying local produce or goods from the San Lorenzo Market, or enjoying the evening like a local at Piazza Santo Spirito.
Where to Stay in Florence:
As Florence is one most well-known regions in Tuscany, finding the perfect place to stay here might seem overwhelming as you have many incredible options. You can go the luxury route with the St. Regis Florence or Four Seasons Hotel Firenze, or for a quality stay without breaking the budget, consider the Hotel Cardinal of Florence, Hotel Azzi, Hotel Mia Cara, or even a hostel like My Friends. There are endless options- just be sure to book for more than one night to take advantage of everything Florence has to offer.
Florence Travel Guide & Resources:
Find the best flights, train tickets, or rent a car for your trip to Florence. Also, find the list of the best hotels in Florence to stay in. Need more ideas to add to your Florence itinerary? Find top attractions and things to do in Florence in addition to what already mentioned here.
Chianti
Between the famous Florence and Siena, the Chianti wine region is a breathtaking stop that you can’t miss. Even if the way you experience it is by simply driving through the region and stopping at one of the many incredible wineries, you will be able to get a taste of what makes Chianti so special.
For a more specific destination in Chianti, consider Montespertoli. This small hilltop town is surrounded by rolling hills and thriving vineyards – it looks like something right out of a postcard. The town itself is filled with historic and bold architecture that is typical of the region, and there are markets and festivals that take place throughout the year that you can enjoy.
Where to Stay in the Chianti Region:
Our favorite hotel is Villa Le Barone. The hotel is set back in Chianti’s stunning countryside, and it’s a perfect choice if you love wine, food, gardens, and Tuscany’s incredible fresh air. For the more budget-friendly choice, we recommend Castello di Fonterutoli. This hotel is one of the best-value vacations in the region and you still get to enjoy the charm and all the gorgeous scenery Chianti region has to offer. If you are on a honeymoon or a romantic getaway, we recommend Borgo Scopeto Relais Hotel.
Chianti Region Travel Guide & Resources:
Find the best flights, train tickets, or rent a car for your trip to Chianti. Also, find the list of the best hotels in the Chianti region to stay in. Need more ideas to add to your Chianti itinerary? Find top attractions and things to do in the Chianti region in addition to what already mentioned here.
Siena
For a glimpse at the architecture and history of Medieval Italy, consider a visit to the beautiful Siena. Enjoy some gelato and views in the Piazza del Campo or take a stroll through the historic city center. A few fantastic places to stay in Siena are the Grand Hotel Continental, Il Battistero Siena, or the more economic B&B Il Corso.
Like most Italian cities, Siena has an incredible array of traditional dishes you can indulge in when you visit. One of the traditional local dishes is the pappardelle con lepre, a type of handmade noodle that is served with hare. No matter what type of food you prefer, you’ll find something that suits your taste buds in Siena.
Siena Travel Guide & Resources:
Find the best flights, train tickets, or rent a car for your trip to Siena. Also, find the list of the best hotels in Siena to stay in. Need more ideas to add to your Siena itinerary? Find top attractions and things to do in Siena in addition to what already mentioned here.
San Gimignano
You may have left Siena, but you did not leave behind the gorgeous sights. Welcome to San Gimignano, famous for its 14 towers. Make sure you include the tower “Torre Grossa” on your itinerary – this 13th-century tower is nearly 54 meters tall, and if you make the climb to the very top you’ll be rewarded with stunning views of the entire town and picturesque countryside.
After capturing some magical moments, you can head down and move on to exploring the other towers. You can also explore the rest of this beautiful town and see sights such as the Santa Maria Assunta, a Romanesque church that is filled with beautiful art and frescos.
San Gimignano Travel Guide & Resources:
Find the best flights, train tickets, or rent a car for your trip to San Gimignano. Also, find the list of the best hotels in San Gimignano to stay in. Need more ideas to add to your San Gimignano itinerary? Find top attractions and things to do in San Gimignano in addition to what already mentioned here.
Volterra
Volterra is a small medieval town rich with history and culture within the beautiful region of Tuscany. You can stay at some beautiful hotels such as the Park Hotel Le Fonti, Volterra Inn, or Hotel La Locanda, which is family-friendly.
Visit the historic Teatro Romano. The ruins of this theater have been excavated by archaeologists in recent decades and it is said that the theater was first built in 1 AD. For such an ancient structure, it’s incredibly well preserved. In fact, it’s one of the most well-preserved ancient theaters in Italy. You can also visit the beautiful Duomo Santa Maria Assunta, which was first consecrated in 1120.
Volterra Travel Guide & Resources:
Find the best flights, train tickets, or rent a car for your trip to Volterra. Also, find the list of the best hotels in Volterra to stay in. Need more ideas to add to your Volterra itinerary? Find top attractions and things to do in Volterra in addition to what already mentioned here.
Lucca
Lucca is arguably one of the most beautiful, intimate, towns in Tuscany. It’s the perfect ending to a captivating journey through Tuscany. Enjoy some of the most unique accommodations in Lucca when you stay at Le Murelle, an 18th-century farm. It’s been renovated in recent years and has modern and luxurious amenities while retaining its historic charm. You can relax in the beautiful rooms while enjoying views of the mountains, vineyards, and groves of olive trees.
Soak in the gorgeous atmosphere while still being close to the sea and main city. The main city of Lucca is a walled city that is beautifully well-preserved. You can walk through the city and along these walls to get a glimpse of what the original city of Lucca was like. Its very first settlement in what is now Lucca was first established as early as 3 BC!
Lucca Travel Guide & Resources:
Find the best flights, train tickets, or rent a car for your trip to Lucca. Also, find the list of the best hotels in Lucca to stay in. Need more ideas to add to your Lucca itinerary? Find top attractions and things to do in Lucca in addition to what already mentioned here.
No matter where you go in Tuscany, you’ll be able to experience unparalleled picturesque sights, amazing cuisine, and delicious wine to indulge in. The people you will encounter are friendly and open, and you’ll be able to make friends and meet locals who make you feel like you are part of the community. You can go anywhere within Tuscany and you’ll have a great time, but the six cities located here are some of the best in the region.
Video Guide: 6 Best Places to Visit in Tuscany
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Travel Resources for Planning a Trip to Tuscany
To make planning your trip to Tuscany easier, we included some of our recommended travel resources below. You can search and find the best flights, transportation options, hotels to stay in, tours/activities, and things you can do in each destination during your trip.
Flights:
Agoda: Search thousands of destinations around the world & quickly compare prices to find amazing deals on the best flights.
CheapOAir: You can find airline tickets, hotel rooms, rental cars, and vacation packages all on one site!
Kiwi.com: What we like about Kiwi is the fact that they are able to create combinations of flight, train, and bus tickets and offer them in a single itinerary. Also, Kiwi has what they called “Nomad” which helps you find the best way of visiting multiple destinations, saving you time and money.
JetRadar: You can search and compare airfares from 726 airlines and dozens of travel agencies and systems.
Hotels:
Agoda: Agoda is one of the world’s largest online travel accommodation platforms with a network of over 2,000,000 vacation rentals and hotels worldwide.
Hotellook: They have more than 250,000 hotels in 205 countries, working with data from more than 10 online booking systems, such as Booking.com, Agoda.com, Hotels.com, Expedia, and others.
Transportations:
Airport Transfers: KiwiTaxi, Viator
Train: EuroRail, Trainline or RailEurope
Bus: Flixbus: Very affordable (as low as $6) and convenient way to transfer between cities in Europe.
Car Rentals: AutoEurope, EconomyBookings, or GetTransfer (transfers & car rentals with a personal driver)
Bike Rental: BikesBooking (Bikes & scooter rentals)
Transportation Comparison: Omio (search, compare, and book tickets for buses, trains, and flights all in one site)
Tours & Activities:
TakeWalks (WalkofItaly): This is our favorite site for walking tours & day trips.
Tiqets: Great site for entrance tickets. It offers directly bookable, instantly available, and completely mobile tickets for museums, shows, and attractions all over the world.
Musement: They have good activities and tours in Italy and Spain, also many great day trips you can choose from.
GetYourGuide: A large number of tours, excursions, and other travel activities
Viator: The largest one. It has everything from tours, attractions, shore excursions, and private guides in over 2,700 destinations worldwide. It also has many transportations and transfers options and some unique experiences we didn’t find anywhere else.
Need help planning a trip to Tuscany, Italy?
Looking for the best places to visit in Tuscany? If you find this type of trip planning to be too complicated to plan on your own, we’re here to help!
At MultiCityTrips, multi-destination travel and complicated itineraries such as a trip to Tuscany are our specialties. Contact us today to learn more about how one of our experienced travel experts/destination specialists can personalize your multi-city vacations at the best price.
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To learn more about how our process of trip planning works in detail, please see our “How It Works” page or check out our video on “How to Plan a Multi-City Trip to Europe in 5 Easy Steps” here.
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