The Best of Tuscany in One Day Trip from Florence - Pisa, Siena, San Gimignano plus lunch and wine tasting at a Chianti 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 will meet at the front of Santa Maria Novella train station at 7:45am, ready for an 8.00am start. After meeting your expert guide, an air-conditioned coach will whisk you away 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.
Reviews of this experience
Leave a review2,929 total reviews
Kudos to Tony & Walkabout
by: Tom Lauder on Walkabout
From the very start of the tour, Tony, our guide greeted us like we were long lost friends. His knowledge and sense of humour peppered the all day event with anecdotes about Italian history as well as the historical facts and the background of the places we visited. From Siena to Pisa and all points in between, Tony managed to make it not only an educational experience but an extremely entertaining and pleasurable day. Kudos to Walkabout Tours and Tony!
Noemi is fantastic
by: Diane Monfasani on Walkabout
Our tour guide Noemi was wonderful! Extremely knowledgeable as well as friendly. Out driver Emiliano was great too. Would highly recommend this tour!!
Hats off to Tony!
by: Guy meets world on Tripadvisor
From the quaint sienna tour to the stunning wineries of San gimignano, this trip is a go-to for anyone trying to conquer Tuscany in a day. The lunch consisted of four courses and two bottles of wine from a completely organic family owned winery overlooking the rolling hills of the Tuscany country side. The bus is well air conditioned with just the right amount of commentary between destinations to have useful information without feeling like you are on a Hollywood star tour. Our guide, Tony, was the perfect liaison to guide the experience.
10/10 Recommend
by: Bianca B on Tripadvisor
Fantastic experience with our tour guide Tony and driver Daniele. He kept a positive atmosphere and allowed ample time to explore and dine.
Breathtaking
by: Lisa G on Tripadvisor
My favorite part was the winery visit. The hills of Tuscany were amazing. The iconic leaning tower of Pisa was a fun place to visit. Our tour leader Alessandro was great.
Manolo - Your Number One Guide
by: Susan C on Tripadvisor
Manolo was our Guide and what an excellent Guide he was! The day was thoroughly enjoyable, Manolo was very attentive and knowledgeable and we could not recommend him more.
Great Tour of Tuscany
by: Jays1763 on Tripadvisor
What a fantastic tour! Davide was a tour guide for the day and he was great! He made the tour fun and entertaining. The tour through Tuscany is beautiful. Lunch was a lot of fun. We met people from our tour while we had a great lunch with great wine on a farm with a fabulous view of the Tuscany countryside. Siena is a beautiful town with great history and an annual horse race that looks like a fun experience. It is a long day but it is worth it and you really feel like you get to see a lot of Tuscany. I would highly recommend this tour
Great Experience
by: Honey H on Tripadvisor
Alice was an amazing tour guide. So was the lady at Siena. Both had so much passion for their cities and made the tour a wonderful experience. The food was fantastic and everything ran smoothly. I have already recommended this tour to a few of my friends.
Siena, Tuscany, San G, and Pisa!
by: Amanda G on Tripadvisor
The locations were amazing! The food and wine at the farmhouse was beyond expectations. Alicia (Alice, tour guide) and Michal (bus driver) were hilariously entertaining, enthusiastic, informative, and very helpful with our trip. HIGHLY recommend!
Very good
by: Nhowie9 on Tripadvisor
All and all this tour is very well run and allows you to see major Tuscan towns/sites all in one day. However, there is not much time in each place to explore especially if others in the group do not return to the bus on time which happened to us at multiple stops. I would still recommend this tour and we are glad we did it.
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.
