Best Day Trips from Florence: Siena, Pisa, Cinque Terre and More

Florence sits at the heart of Tuscany with an excellent rail and bus network radiating outwards. Medieval hilltop towns, leaning towers, coastal cliff villages and university cities are all within reach in a single day. Here is what to know for each destination - travel time, cost, entry fees and how to do it guided or independently, with guided tours from Florence worth considering for Tuscany’s less accessible towns.

Siena: Medieval Rival

Distance: 68 km | Travel time: 1 hour 15 minutes by bus | Bus cost: approximately €8 return

Siena is Florence’s great medieval rival and the city’s preserved historic centre remains one of the most complete in Europe. The focal point is Piazza del Campo - the fan-shaped central square where the Palio horse race takes place twice a year in July and August - which is free to enter at any time. The Siena Cathedral (Duomo) charges approximately €8 as of 2026 for entry to the main church, or approximately €15 for the combined ticket including the baptistery and panoramic Facciatone terrace.

The SITA SUD bus from Via Santa Caterina da Siena (directly behind Florence’s Santa Maria Novella station) is the standard route. Trains technically run but require a change at Empoli and take longer.

Guided option: Half-day and full-day Siena day tours from Florence start from approximately €35–55 per person on GetYourGuide, typically including a local guide in Siena and hotel pickup in Florence. Wine and food tours combining Siena with Montepulciano or Montalcino run from approximately €90–130 per person.

Pisa: Beyond the Tower

Distance: 80 km | Travel time: 1 hour by regional train | Train cost: approximately €9–12 one-way

Pisa is the quickest major day trip from Florence and the crowds around the Leaning Tower make it better enjoyed early or late in the day. The Piazza dei Miracoli is a 20-minute walk or a short bus ride from Pisa Centrale station. Tower entry must be pre-booked online (approximately €18 as of 2026, timed-entry slots) - walk-in tickets are rarely available. The Baptistery (approximately €5), Cathedral (free with a €3 voucher) and Camposanto monumental cemetery (approximately €5) round out the square and justify spending 4–5 hours rather than rushing back after the obligatory leaning photo.

Best time to go: a Wednesday or Thursday morning in spring avoids both the weekend crowds and the full summer heat.

Lucca: Walled City for Cycling

Distance: 75 km | Travel time: 1.5 hours by regional train | Train cost: approximately €6–9 one-way

Lucca is an underrated alternative to Pisa. Its intact Renaissance walls - 4 km long and wide enough to cycle on top - are free to walk or cycle at any time. Bike hire on the walls costs approximately €4 per hour. The Piazza dell’Anfiteatro, built on the outline of a Roman amphitheatre, is one of the most charming town squares in Tuscany. The Torre Guinigi, topped with oak trees, charges approximately €4 for the climb.

Lucca works well as a half-day or paired with Pisa - both are on the same train line from Florence, so you can stop at Lucca first, then continue to Pisa on a later train.

San Gimignano: The Tower Town

Distance: 56 km | Travel time: 1.5 hours (train to Poggibonsi-San Gimignano, then SITA bus) | Combined cost: approximately €11–14 return

San Gimignano’s 14 surviving medieval towers make it instantly recognisable. The town centre - a UNESCO World Heritage Site - is small enough to cover on foot in 2 hours. Torre Grossa, the tallest surviving tower, charges approximately €13 for entry. The local Vernaccia di San Gimignano white wine is worth trying at any of the enoteca around the main square.

The logistics: train from Firenze SMN to Poggibonsi-San Gimignano (around 50 minutes), then a connecting SITA bus to San Gimignano (25 minutes). The bus runs hourly. Alternatively, a direct tour bus is simpler if you don’t want to manage the connection.

Guided option: San Gimignano and Siena combination day tours from Florence run approximately €65–95 per person including transport and guide, and are one of the most popular day-trip formats in Tuscany.

Cinque Terre: Cliff Villages and Coastal Trails

Distance: 230 km | Travel time: 2 hours by fast train to La Spezia | Train cost: from €15 one-way

The five cliff villages of Cinque Terre are technically in Liguria, not Tuscany, but Florence is a perfectly viable base. Take a Frecciarossa or Intercity from Firenze SMN to La Spezia Centrale (approximately 1 hour 55 minutes), then local Trenitalia trains between the villages - a Cinque Terre Card (approximately €7.50 as of 2026) covers unlimited local train travel and trail access.

Riomaggiore, Manarola and Vernazza are the most photogenic villages. The Sentiero Azzurro coastal trail between them is the classic walk, though sections require a paid permit. The Via dell’Amore between Riomaggiore and Manarola reopened in 2024 after restoration - approximately €5 entry, timed entry required.

Allow a minimum 10-hour day for this trip. An earlier Frecciarossa departure (around 7 am from Florence) gives you the most time.

Bologna: University City with Great Food

Distance: 100 km | Travel time: 35 minutes by Frecciarossa | Train cost: from €15–25 one-way

Bologna is the fastest long-distance day trip from Florence and one of the most rewarding. The porticoed streets, medieval towers and food market at the Mercato di Mezzo make it a completely different character from Tuscany. The two leaning towers (Torre degli Asinelli and Torre Garisenda) at the city centre charge approximately €5 for the climb. The Basilica di San Petronio, facing the main piazza, is free.

Bologna’s food scene is world-class - this is the home of ragù bolognese, mortadella and tortellini. Budget approximately €18–25 for a proper sit-down lunch at a traditional trattoria.

Best Season for Day Trips from Florence

April to June and September to October are the best months. July and August are manageable but Cinque Terre and Siena in particular get extremely crowded. San Gimignano on a Saturday in August is not the meditative experience the guidebooks describe. Autumn - especially October - is outstanding in Tuscany for light, colour and the olive harvest.

Booking Tips

SITA SUD bus tickets can be bought at the Florence bus station (Via Santa Caterina da Siena) on the day, but the first morning departure to Siena often fills up in summer - buy online at sita-on-line.it or arrive 15 minutes early. For Cinque Terre, book Frecciarossa tickets on Trenitalia.com or Italo at least a few days ahead. We recommend booking guided day tours from Florence at least 3–5 days in advance in peak season - GetYourGuide, Viator and Context Travel all have strong Tuscany options. Tuscany-specialist operators including Tuscany & Umbria and Discover Tuscany run small-group wine tours combining Chianti vineyards with either Siena or San Gimignano from approximately €95–130 per person including wine tastings and lunch.