Day trips from Florence

It’s really easy to visit Pisa from Florence on your own, by train. If you just want to see the leaning tower, you can get out at the Pisa San Rossore station.

thank you so much about the train option. Wanted to take a tour to see nearby towns too. I went on tripadvisor but many have mixed reviews and I have been reluctant to book. But thank you for the train option really appreciate it.

This same question was just asked on this forum a few days ago. Two options suggested by posters are Tours by Roberto and Walks of Italy. For example, Walks of Italy has a small bus day tour from Florence that visits Siena, San Gigmignano, lunch at a Tuscan vineyard, and a late afternoon stop in Pisa (Leaning Tower). Here is a link to that discussion:
https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/italy/which-tuscany-day-trip-from-florence-did-you-take

Thes two company's have a pretty comprehensive list of tours.

https://www.walksofitaly.com/florence-tours/

https://www.getyourguide.com/florence-l32/day-trips-tc172/

We've used Walks of Italy for tours in Florence and Rome and they do a great job. They may cost more than some, but the groups are small and the guides are top notch.

Are you familiarizing yourself with the Italian train system? It’s really great. I looked on the Trenitalia website, and it appears that there are trains from Florence to Pisa ~every half hour or less. You can just go to the station (the main one being Firenze S. M. Novella), buy your ticket from an agent or from a vending machine, validate your ticket shortly before you leave by time-date stamping it in a validation machine, get on the train and go.

In September we took the bus to San Gimignano from Florence.
You change buses in Poggibonsi (Same stop for both buses), and it was very easy.
You buy your return tickets at the bus depot in Florence, and it's a big coach with AC.
When you get to San Gimignano, the bus stops right outside the gate into town, so you don't have to walk up any big hills.
Much cheaper than a tour!

thank you so much everyone!!! All these great ideas are most helpful! I just wish we had more time!

Melissa

Hi Melissa.

We haven't been yet, but we hired a private car with deluxe limo Italy. They are taking us to Pisa, an agriturismo, and then the San Gimignano.