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Florence is the capitol of the Tuscany region of Italy. Because of its central location and easy access to trains, Florence is a great place to do day trips from!
Whether you’re traveling by train or renting a car for an epic road trip, every direction you travel from Florence brings unique and incredible beauty. From the gorgeous Italian Riviera to the rolling hills in Tuscany to the hustle and bustle of Rome, a day trip from Florence will certainly not disappoint!
Best day trips from Florence
- Cinque Terre
- Pisa
- Rome
- Tuscany
- Siena
- Saturnia
- Bologna
Booking trains in Italy
Traveling through Italy via train is a great option because they are comfortable, frequent, inexpensive and usually reliable. Since we can easily see all of our route options and get e-tickets directly on our phones, we book all of our trains and busses using Omio.com or the Omio app!
Florence to Cinque Terre day trip
Cinque Terre is a gorgeous part of Italy that was given UNESCO status in 1997. Because this unique area in the Italian Riviera consists of 5 colorful cliffside fishing villages, stunning views of the sea and incredible food, it definitely belongs on your Italian itinerary!
Since getting to Cinque Terre from Florence via train is very easy, it makes for a great day trip option. While you may want more time in Cinque Terre, you can see a lot in a day trip from Florence!
Florence to Cinque Terre by train
There are multiple trains from Florence to Cinque Terre and the journey takes 2 – 2.5 hours each way. While the routes are straight forward, you do have to switch trains once during the trip. Most of the time you’ll be routed through La Spezia, which is a very simple switch, and then the train from there to Cinque Terre is 10-20 minutes depending on which town you get off at.
You can buy tickets on Omio.com and although it depends on the route and the time of year, the typical is cost about 15-25 euro each way. When you’re booking, do make sure to put your destination to the town you want to go to, not just “Cinque Terre.”
Tip: Once you’re in Cinque Terre you can travel between the villages via train very easily. The best option is the Cinque Terre Train Card which gives you unlimited rides between the towns for 1 day. The card costs 16 euro and while you can purchase online or from the teller, you cannot at a machine.
For all of thebest things to do in Cinque Terreas well as all of ourtips for visiting, check out our fullCinque Terre Travel Guide!
Florence to Pisa day trip
Home to the iconic Leaning Tower, Pisa is certainly something you’ll want to see for yourself! And while the Leaning Tower might be your main draw, Pisa has much more to offer.
With an adorable city center, river bank, shopping and world-renowned landmarks, Pisa is a great day trip from Florence. Since the train station in Pisa is only a 20 minute walk from the Leaning Tower, it’s also a very accessible day trip option by train & then by foot.
Florence to Pisa by train
Because there are multiple trains every hour each day, getting to Pisa from Florence by train is extremely straight forward. When booking your train through Omio.com you’ll find trains that go from Florence Santa Maria Novella to Pisa Centrale, take 45-75 minutes, require 0 train changes and usually cost around 9 euro each way.
Florence to Rome day trip
Oh, Roma! Since this romantic and culturally rich capital city is just a quick train from Florence, do yourself a favor and head there for a day. Whether you want to admire the Colosseum, see Saint Peter’s Basilica or try your hand at throwing your wish into the Trevi Fountain, a day trip to Rome will certainly be filled with incredible history and adventure.
From Rome to Florence by train
Train is by far the best option for traveling between Rome and Florence since the journey takes less than 1.5 hours while the drive could take over 3 hours. While booking on omio.com you’ll find over 50 trains between the two cities every day that cost around 25 euro.
Florence to Tuscany day trip
Unfortunately a lot of the more remote rolling hills of Tuscany aren’t accessible by public transit, so you’ll either have to rent a car or book a tour to the region.
With a car you can certainly travel from Florence around many places in Tuscany for day trips. There’s Lucca, the Chianti region, Asciano, San Gimignano, Volterra, Livorno and Asciano, all within an hour and a half drive, just to name a few. When we road tripped through Tuscany, though, our favorite part was always the scenery along the way!
Road trip to Tuscany
Here’s one route you can do for a day trip through Tuscany:
Get an early start in Florence and head straight to Siena. After admiring the medieval town head to Asciano where you’ll enjoy the most quintessential Tuscan views. From Asciano stop in the Chianti region for some wine tasting before heading back to Florence (just make sure you have a designated driver!).
With this route you’ll be on the road a little over 4 hours, and you’ll get a great sense for the Tuscany region!
>> Read: if you want to spend longer in Tuscany, check out the ULTIMATE Tuscany Road Trip!
Florence to Siena day trip
Siena has a gorgeous historical center that is a UNESCO World Heritage site and is know for its medieval architecture. Getting to Siena from Florence is equally accessible via car, bus and train. Because it takes an easy 1.5 hours to travel between the two cities, Siena is one of the most popular day trips from Florence.
Florence to Siena by train
There are over a dozen trains per day from Florence to Siena, and the cost 10 euro each way. The journey from Florence Santa Maria Novella to Siena takes just under an hour and a half, and you can book e-tickets in advance on Omio.com. There are fewer bus options per day, but they’re a little less expensive if you find a time that works!
Florence to Saturnia day trip
The famous Saturnia Hot Springs are a 3 hour drive from Florence or 2.5 hour drive from Rome. Due to the distance, Saturnia is the furthest from Florence we’d recommend traveling for a “day trip.”
However it’s for sure worth the trip as Saturnia is the most enchanting and incredible place we’ve ever been! The hot springs are a constant temperature of 37.5C/99F, open year-round 24 hours a day, and completely FREE!
Tip: to get to the springs instead of the center of the town of Saturnia, put Terme di Saturnia into Google Maps! Check out everything you need to know to visit these thermal baths here!
If you want to spend the night, which we did, we highly recommend B&B 8380 – Pian del Molino. It’s walking distance to the hot springs and is a great accommodation for the night!
Florence to Bologna day trip
Because it’s only a 35 minute, 10 euro train ride away, Bologna is probably the most overlooked but easiest day trip from Florence! While Florence tends to be pretty heavy with tourists, Bologna will give you a very authentic vibe. Bologna is known as a foodie-paradise, so don’t forget to pack your appetite!
Renting a car in Florence, Italy
Renting a car in Florence was a pretty simple experience. We booked a car through Expedia.com a few days in advance and got an automatic SUV for $56 USD/two days.
One thing you do need to specify, though, is automatic versus manual. By default you’ll get a manual in Italy, so if you can’t drive a stick shift be sure to request an automatic! If you can drive a manual, though, they tend to be decently cheaper options.
Most of the cars you pick up from the Florence airport, which is a quick 30 minute tram from the city center. From the airport there is good highway access so you can get wherever you need to go!
Driving in Italy
Driving in Italy is actually much easier than we expected! The highways are really nicely paved and the driving laws are very similar to the US.
The only thing that can be a little stressful is driving in the small towns where there are very narrow streets and it’s not exactly clear where cars are allowed. For these places we recommend just finding parking on the perimeter and then walking through the town!
Tips for driving in Italy
- All we needed to rent the car was our normal US driver’s license, however you’ll want to check with the rental company based on which country your license is from since some require an international license.
- You pay per distance for toll roads so be sure to keep your ticket, otherwise they will charge you for driving like the whole length of Italy! Note: you are able to use credit card for the tolls.
>> Read: For all the things you can’t miss while you’re in Florence, check out our “Things to do in Florence” guide and the Best Instagram Spots in Florence!
And if you want to continue your Italian adventures, check out all of the best places to visit in Italy and the ultimate 2-week Italy itinerary!
For other Italy inspo make sure to check out all of our Italy Blogs here!
Happy Traveling!
Kylie & Scott
(Want to know more? Comment below! And make sure to follow along on Instagram @LoveHardTravelOften)
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