The Best of Tuscany Day Trip from Florence: Siena, San Gimignano, Pisa and Lunch at a Winery
Join us on a full-day guided tour of Tuscany and appreciate the architecture, cuisine and history of this sun-drenched region in all its glory.
What's included?
- Air-conditioned coach travel
- Guided walking tour of Siena with entrance fee to the cathedral
- Hearty farmhouse lunch – veggie and gluten-free options available
- Wine tasting of four varieties
- Maps of and information about all the towns visited
Highlights
- Guided walking tour through the medieval city of Siena
- Traditional Tuscan lunch and informal wine tasting at a Chianti vineyard (not included in the tour option without lunch)
- Free time in the hilltop town of San Gimignano
- Scenic drive to historic Pisa to explore its hidden corners and iconic tower
Full Itinerary
Depart Florence
We'll gather at the front of Santa Maria Novella train station, and after meeting your expert guide, an air-conditioned coach will whisk off to the first stop on our jam-packed itinerary.
View Siena
View Siena through the eyes of a local as you join a guided walking tour through the medieval city made up of yellow-ochre buildings, terracotta rooftops and green shutters. Learn about the world’s oldest bank, see the Piazza del Campo - the site of the 600-year-old Palio horse race - and admire the interior of the Duomo, a treasure chest of artworks. Afterwards, enjoy Siena at your own pace with free time for shopping or relaxing in an open-air cafe.
A Tuscan Lunch at a Chianti Vineyard
Next we stop at an organic, family-run wine estate – the highlight of our Tuscany tours! You will take part in an informal wine tasting lesson, trying Chianti, Vernaccia and Tuscan dessert wine, Vin Santo. Next enjoy traditional local lunch with plenty of wine, and soak in the idyllic location overlooking stunning views of the surrounding countryside. Take the opportunity to meet fellow travellers while feasting on fresh, organic farm food, including homemade pasta, cured meats (homemade prosciutto and salami), local cheeses, a real garden salad and Tuscan biscotti (if the tour option without lunch is chosen, this part of the tour is not included but there will be more time spent in San Gimignano).
Don't forget your camera - the view from the winery is jaw dropping!
San Gimignano
After lunch we visit the enchanting hilltop town of San Gimignano where you have free time to roam the picturesque streets and squares. Maybe browse the local shops, try an award winning gelato or walk among the town’s famous medieval towers.
Scenic Country Drive & Pisa
A scenic drive through iconic Tuscan countryside will take you to your final stop, Pisa. Here, take a closer look at the iconic Leaning Tower, the Cathedral and the Baptistery. A brief tour of the historic heart of Pisa will show you another side of the city.
Upgrade to include skip-the-line entry to the Leaning Tower
Return to Florence
You will be dropped off in Florence at around 8.30pm with a camera full of pictures, a stomach full of hearty Tuscan food and a host of new friends.
Know before you go
- Due to uneven and steep surfaces, we are unable to accept wheelchair users or those with walking difficulties on our Tuscany tours.
- Children under the age of 8 years are not permitted to climb the leaning tower of Pisa.
- When the Duomo of Siena is closed for religious services, Santa Maria della Scala museum will be visited instead.
- Vegetarian option is available, but we regret that gluten free or other alternative dietary requirements cannot be catered for
Reviews of this experience
Leave a review2,929 total reviews
Best tour & tour guide
by: Carla Canepa Castellanos on Walkabout
Loved this your!! Highly recommend the 12 hour Tuscany tour. My family if 4 with 2 teenage boys had a wonderful time with your guide, Manolo (Mano), & Elessio, our driver. They took great care of the group. Everything was well organized. Mano is just want you want in a tour guide: knowledgeable, helpful, keeps us on schedule, funny, and gives the guests space to explore and enjoy. Highly recommend this tour!
Best tour & tour guide
by: Carla Canepa Castellanos on Walkabout
Loved this your!! Highly recommend the 12 hour Tuscany tour. My family if 4 with 2 teenage boys had a wonderful time with your guide, Manolo (Mano), & Elessio, our driver. They took great care of the group. Everything was well organized. Mano is just want you want in a tour guide: knowledgeable, helpful, keeps us on schedule, funny, and gives the guests space to explore and enjoy. Highly recommend this tour!
Best tour & tour guide
by: Carla Canepa Castellanos on Walkabout
Loved this your!! Highly recommend the 12 hour Tuscany tour. My family if 4 with 2 teenage boys had a wonderful time with your guide, Manolo (Mano), & Elessio, our driver. They took great care of the group. Everything was well organized. Mano is just want you want in a tour guide: knowledgeable, helpful, keeps us on schedule, funny, and gives the guests space to explore and enjoy. Highly recommend this tour!
Best tour & tour guide
by: Carla Canepa Castellanos on Walkabout
Loved this your!! Highly recommend the 12 hour Tuscany tour. My family if 4 with 2 teenage boys had a wonderful time with your guide, Manolo (Mano), & Elessio, our driver. They took great care of the group. Everything was well organized. Mano is just want you want in a tour guide: knowledgeable, helpful, keeps us on schedule, funny, and gives the guests space to explore and enjoy. Highly recommend this tour!
Best tour & tour guide
by: Carla Canepa Castellanos on Walkabout
Loved this your!! Highly recommend the 12 hour Tuscany tour. My family if 4 with 2 teenage boys had a wonderful time with your guide, Manolo (Mano), & Elessio, our driver. They took great care of the group. Everything was well organized. Mano is just want you want in a tour guide: knowledgeable, helpful, keeps us on schedule, funny, and gives the guests space to explore and enjoy. Highly recommend this tour!
Best tour & tour guide
by: Carla Canepa Castellanos on Walkabout
Loved this your!! Highly recommend the 12 hour Tuscany tour. My family if 4 with 2 teenage boys had a wonderful time with your guide, Manolo (Mano), & Elessio, our driver. They took great care of the group. Everything was well organized. Mano is just want you want in a tour guide: knowledgeable, helpful, keeps us on schedule, funny, and gives the guests space to explore and enjoy. Highly recommend this tour!
Best tour & tour guide
by: Carla Canepa Castellanos on Walkabout
Loved this your!! Highly recommend the 12 hour Tuscany tour. My family if 4 with 2 teenage boys had a wonderful time with your guide, Manolo (Mano), & Elessio, our driver. They took great care of the group. Everything was well organized. Mano is just want you want in a tour guide: knowledgeable, helpful, keeps us on schedule, funny, and gives the guests space to explore and enjoy. Highly recommend this tour!
Best tour & tour guide
by: Carla Canepa Castellanos on Walkabout
Loved this your!! Highly recommend the 12 hour Tuscany tour. My family if 4 with 2 teenage boys had a wonderful time with your guide, Manolo (Mano), & Elessio, our driver. They took great care of the group. Everything was well organized. Mano is just want you want in a tour guide: knowledgeable, helpful, keeps us on schedule, funny, and gives the guests space to explore and enjoy. Highly recommend this tour!
Best tour & tour guide
by: Carla Canepa Castellanos on Walkabout
Loved this your!! Highly recommend the 12 hour Tuscany tour. My family if 4 with 2 teenage boys had a wonderful time with your guide, Manolo (Mano), & Elessio, our driver. They took great care of the group. Everything was well organized. Mano is just want you want in a tour guide: knowledgeable, helpful, keeps us on schedule, funny, and gives the guests space to explore and enjoy. Highly recommend this tour!
An Unforgettable Day in Tuscany!
by: Ali Manouchehri on Walkabout
We had an absolutely incredible time on the Best of Tuscany day trip from Florence! Trying to fit Siena, San Gimignano, and Pisa all into one day felt like a tall order, but the itinerary was paced perfectly and never felt rushed. The absolute highlight of the trip, though, was our guide, Gianluca. He was incredibly knowledgeable, sharing so much fascinating history about the medieval towers and the cities, but he delivered it all with a great sense of humor that kept everyone engaged. Most impressively, he even managed to make our 11-year-old son have fun and stay entertained. From the stunning views to the beautiful winery lunch in Chianti, everything was flawless. If you want an stress-free, memorable way to see the best of Tuscany, we highly recommend booking this tour—and definitely ask for Gianluca - our new Italian cousin.
Frequently Asked Questions
DO YOU DO HOTEL PICK-UPS OR DO YOU HAVE A CENTRAL MEETING POINT?
We do not organise hotel pick-ups for difficulties with parking and scheduling, but our meeting point at Florence's main train station is very central and should be easy to get to. Many hotels are located within easy walking distance of the train station, otherwise a taxi (you could ask your hotel to book it for you) would be the fastest option, dropping you off right at our meeting point.
CAN WE CLIMB THE LEANING TOWER OF PISA? IS IT INCLUDED IN THE PRICE OF THE TOUR?
When you make a reservation you will have the chance to upgrade your tour to include entry to the Leaning Tower before you proceed to the payment stage. Remember that children under the age of eight are not permitted to climb the tower.
WHAT SHOULD I WEAR?
We suggest comfortable clothing and above all, comfortable shoes for walking. In the summer months please remember that you are expected to cover your shoulders to visit inside churches, but if you are dressed for a hot day don't worry, you will be given a disposable paper cape for the Cathedral in Siena.
HOW MUCH TIME DO WE SPEND ON THE BUS?
We have arranged an itinerary so that you will cover as much of Tuscany as possible but without spending too long on the bus. The longest ride of the day is through beautiful Tuscan scenery and lasts about an hour and a half.
DOES YOUR BUS HAVE A WASHROOM?
Our bus does not have a washroom. However the day is very well divided that you are never too far from washrooms. In the morning it takes just over an hour from Florence to Siena, then just forty minutes from Siena to the wine estate. After lunch we go to San Gimignano (only ten minutes drive) and from there to Pisa which takes one and a half hours. After Pisa it's just over an hour to Florence, depending on traffic.
DO YOU CATER FOR PEOPLE WITH FOOD ALLERGIES/VEGETARIANS?
Definitely! If you would prefer an alternative to the menu we have chosen, please tell your tour leader and he/she will telephone ahead to arrange it.
IS THE TOUR SUITABLE FOR YOUNG CHILDREN?
The thing to remember is that it is a long day (12 hours) and the city visits can be tiring for children. We have had occasional problems in the past when tired children have become fractious and noisy during the bus rides and disturbed the other passengers. So the decision has to be yours because you know your children! We reserve the right to ask you to leave the tour if in the tour leader's opinion your child disrupts the tour. We suggest to parents of very young ones that they use a back pack type of baby carrier rather than a stroller/pram because of the many steps, steep slopes and uneven surfaces in the medieval towns that we visit. It's also much quicker getting on and off the bus!
CAN WE GET OFF IN PISA?
If you have plans to stay in Pisa, you can bring your luggage with you (there is plenty of space on the coach) and collect it at the end of the tour, before the rest of us head back to Florence.
WE HAVE A FLIGHT/TRAIN TO CATCH FROM PISA AFTER THE TOUR. HOW CAN WE GET THERE?
If you have to get to the airport at Pisa, it's about fifteen minutes by taxi – the tour leader can help organise a taxi for you. If you are traveling by train, Pisa Centrale station is a ten minute taxi ride or bus ride away.
CAN WE CLIMB THE LEANING TOWER OF PISA? IS IT INCLUDED IN THE PRICE OF THE TOUR?
When you make a reservation you will have the chance to choose the tour option that includes the entry to the Leaning Tower before you proceed to the payment stage. Remember that children under the age of eight are not permitted to climb the tower.
WE ARE CATCHING A TRAIN AFTER THE TOUR, CAN WE BRING OUR LUGGAGE WITH US?
Our tours leave from and return to the main railway station in Florence, so if you are travelling on by train, bring your luggage with you in the morning and take the train in the evening directly after the tour. You will save both time and money by not having to use the luggage deposit! We recommend that you book any rail travel from Florence after 9pm to allow time for any traffic delays. We cannot be held responsible for any loss or extra expense incurred in the unlikely case of delays due to unforeseen circumstances beyond our control.
