Based on the images of this Tuscan hilltop town, my husband and I are considering the one hour train ride for an afternoon visit to a winery for lunch. We will be traveling in the area early August 2018. Is there a particular winery you would recommend? Is there a Rick Steve's tour that might support such a day trip arrangement? Other insights?
Posted by
Firenze, Italy
1534 posts
San Gimignano is not reached directly by train. You have to travel - by train or bus, and bus may be a little faster - to Poggibonsi, where you switch to a bus to S. Gimignano.
Posted by
OP
Spokane WA
255 posts
Thank you for this crucial info. Don't want to waste precious time on the road. Hmmm...perhaps there is another close to Florence Tuscan vineyard for lunch option.
Posted by
West Coast
405 posts
What about taking the bus down to The Chianti region? I'm planning on doing this when I go later this year to see the area and go to wine bars in Panzano and Greve. Maybe there are wineries open to the public along the way that someone in the know can explain (and-sorry- I can mooch off your post).
Posted by
Corvallis OR
7042 posts
Check Walkabout tours, they have a day tour from Florence that goes to San Gimignano, Siena, Pisa, and lunch at a Chianti winery. It's all day so would be longer than just a train ride to San Gimignano and lunch at a local winery. If you prefer that, then check Poggio Alloro 5k from San Gimignano.
I have no personal experience with either Walkabout or Frattoria Poggio Alloro but I have heard mention of Walkabout Tours here on the forum and Trip Advisor has some reviews of Frattoria Poggio Alloro.
Posted by
OP
Spokane WA
255 posts
Thank you for these good ideas. I'll do some more research based on your leads.
Posted by
Houston
50 posts
I don't normally do tours but unless you are driving it is the least stressful way to see some of Tuscany. My wife and I took a half day tour from Siena to San Gimignano including a stop at the winery Tenuta Torciano and had a great time. There are several tour options from Florence including with Rick's friend Roberto.
Posted by
NorthCarolina
942 posts
I second using WALKABOUTFLORENCE. We stayed another 2 weeks after our RS tour and did 2 different WalkAboutFlorence tours and they were both fantastic. We did the BEST OF TUSCANY (which goes to 3 towns) and the CHIANTI WINE & FOOD SAFARI. You can read about this on TripAdvisor and check out their website. If you decide to book, do so directly on the website, no need to go thru TripAdvisor which uses a 3rd party booking company. We booked both our tours on the WalkAboutFlorence site and they were both amazing.