Florence and day trips

Welcome
Do you have a guide book?
RS has several that would be helpful to you

Or start here

https://www.ricksteves.com/europe/italy/tuscany

You’ll have to do some research to determine which villages in Tuscany interest you, which are easy to get to on public transportation, etc

The Tuscany countryside is best seen by car-are you willing to rent and drive?

I recently spent 4 nights in Florence (October 2024), my first trip to Italy. I had planned on making a day trip to Bologna during my time there, but there was so much to see in Florence, that I didn't want to lose that opportunity.
I am currently sitting at my computer at home, working on an itinerary for a return to Italy, very near to your planned dates, and will be using Florence as once of my bases. If you plug in day trips from Florence into the search you will find a number of threads with helpful info.
The great thing about Florence is that you can make day trips by train or even bus, without the need for a driver or tour, unless you prefer that option...many do, I do not.
Happy planning! I am eager to hear the replies, as they may help guide me as well.

This site looks very helpful.
https://www.earthtrekkers.com/best-day-trips-from-florence/

If you don't want to take the train, consider a paid day tour.

The only day trip I took from Florence was to Pisa. I took the train there and back. The train worked fine. If you want to go to the top of the leaning tower of Pisa or to some kind of Christian church-like structure next to it, you need an advance ticket(s). Also there was a long line outside somewhere by the tower, for a bathroom, but if you are visiting the museum by the tower - only 2% or less of visitors to the tower seemed to be in the museum when I was inside it - you can use the bathroom in the museum which didn't have a line.

It is easy to do day trips from Florence on your own -- no. need for a driver which is hellaexpensive. We have done Bologna recently as well as Siena, Arezzo, Lucca, and Pisa on our own from Florence. All very easy. There are others like Col d'Val Elsa that are also an easy reach from Florence.

for something like visiting vineyards there are local tours that do that e.g. visit vineyards and small wine oriented towns and have lunch.

We took the 23 minute train ride to Prato.
Had a wonderful day.
Museum, castle.

We just did a day tour wine tasting with Fabrizio at Ciao Fabry Tours. We were staying outside Montalcino, he picked us up at our accommodations and drove us around for the day, visiting 2 Brunello wineries and a sheep farm for lunch. He does all kinds of day tours for wine tasting, city sites, and even cooking classes, and picks up across a ride range of locations from Florence and throughout much of Tuscany. I would not hesitate to book him for one or more days. His English is great, he has fantastic local knowledge and connections, reasonable prices for what all we did, and he was incredibly fun. I actually wish we had booked a cooking class with him as well!

https://www.ciaofabrytours.com

On our last trip we had a pleasant day trip from Florence to Lucca, all by train, and very easy and convenient. We got an early start and arrived in Lucca with no particular agenda but to ride bikes along the city walls, wander around, and have a nice meal, all of which was easily accomplished. It was our first trip to any Italian city with no church visit, and we survived successfully. Heading back to the station for our return to Florence we noticed the Pisa train schedule and jumped aboard at the last minute for a fast trip.to revisit after nearly 4O years. The connections to the tower area and back were easy and we returned to Florence that evening. It was simple, no stress, and fun. Safe travels.

We took a day trip to Siena in June 2023. It was wonderful. In the middle of the day, we had arranged lunch and vineyard tour (mostly olives but some grapes) at a local winery (had to take a taxi there and back it but easily arranged) and then came back to tour the rest of Siena. It was one of our favorite days. Siena is wonderful and easy to get to by bus. We also were there with our kids who wanted to see the beach. While a longer train trip (about 2 hrs), we spent the day in Castiglioncello. Another one of our favorite days (maybe they all were : ), we were treated like royalty at a lovely beach club. It was truly wonderful. All of this thanks to guidance on this forum. You are in good hands!!!

Janet is spot on! There are so many places you can visit from Florence. We have done dozens of day trips on different visits. Florence itself will keep you busy, but there are so many lovely towns you can do via train or bus. Drivers will be expensive, but if it's in your budget, can definitely recommend one. Where are you flying in and out of?

The Florence Food tour offers food & wine tours as well as cooking classes which are highly rated

https://foodtourinflorence.com/

You could take a quick bus ride northward to Fiesole. It’s the #7 city bus, which you catch from the train station or from alongside the Museo San Marco. You can buy city bus tickets at a tobacconist shop, and validate ticket in a machine on the bus.

I second the rec for Fiesole as a day trip. It's a lovely town with magnificent views of Florence and it's easy to get to. You would not need a driver or a tour guide for that unless you really wanted one.