Florence day trip ideas

On this Forum, the most recommended day trip from Florence has been Siena. You don't even have to drink wine in Siena, and it's got some world class sights and is easy to get to from Florence.

• Siena (possibly via the Chianti road, which takes longer than the freeway but more scenic)
• San Gimignano+Certaldo.

The above are really the top destinations for day trips from Florence and are relatively easy to do even without a car. If you had a car you could actually do them all, but without a car it would be too challenging.
Take your day trip on a weekday. Bus service is very very limited on weekends, particularly on Sundays.

I would still suggest a wine tour even if you don't want to do the tasting. It is just such a part of the culture of Italy and fun to visit a family owned vineyard. One of them was a wine tasting as well as olive oil and balsamic tasting, along with a bit of lunch. Nice scenery and a fun day trip. There are sometimes shops to visit as well depending on which one you pick.

Siena is absolutely your best bet for the day.
During summer months there is a bus that travels a very scenic route thru Chianti to Siena.
Slower than the train, which would be a better option for your return.

Arezzo is another easy daytrip option.

Thanks all! It sounds like Siena it is. I should quit second guessing myself and just decide!

Siena is my favorite place in Italy. We stumbled on it 30 years ago on our first trip together when my husband and I rented a small place about 10 km from Siena. We fell in love with it. The Cathedral is amazing (and I had seen many northern Gothic cathedrals before this). The Campo is lovely, be sure to climb the Torre Mangia and visit the town hall and its murals of 'good and bad government'. You can see my last climb of the Torre Mangia here:
https://janettravels.wordpress.com/2011/09/18/climbing-the-torre-mangia-at-67/

Another vote for Siena, as that's a really easy day trip from Florence which means you'll have more time to spend there. Travel by Bus is the easiest method as that drops passengers in the centre of town rather than at the bottom of the hill where the rail station is located. Travel time on the Corse Rapide (express) buses is about an hour. The bus station in Florence is very close to Firenze SMN rail station.

When in Siena, some sights to consider.....

• Piazza del Campo - this is the main square where the Palio is held each year.
• Duomo (including the Baptistery) - a magnificent Cathedral but be sure to note that there's a dress code. If you're wearing shorts, you likely won't be admitted.

Check the guidebook for other sights that may interest you.

Thanks Ken, that's the kind of detailed info that really helps!

Again, thanks everyone for your insights!

Kathi, when I arrived in Siena in the middle of the day, it was very busy and congested with both locals and tourists, and I thought, gee, what's so special about this? But then as the late afternoon turned into evening, the day trippers and many working folks emptied out the streets and town, the pace slowed and the lights came on to illuminate the Campo and the churches, it became a magical place. Fortunately, I was spending the night. But even if you are doing a day trip, I would encourage you to stay through dinner and take a late bus back to Florence. It's too beautiful and historic a town for a typical 10-to-4 day trip.