We are hiring a tour guide/driver to drive us around Tuscany on a Monday in May from Florence. We were wondering if Lucca, Volterra, San Gimignano would be good for a 10-12 hour day trip? Or any other places would be good. We are spending 2 nights in Siena later in the week. Of course I will discuss this with our guide before we go but I wanted to start with some ideas. Thanks in advance.
Posted by
Bay Area
3551 posts
Sounds gd. and you can lv San Gimi for later if you run out of time. you can take a public bus to Pienza, Montepulciano, San Gimi easily from Siena. safe, comfortan=ble and reasonable just know the schedules ahead.
Posted by
Forest Grove, OR
11780 posts
We liked Monteriggioni. Just a few miles from Siena, but a world apart. A very quick stop to view the countryside from the ramparts, or plan lunch there as Monteriggioni has a number of options.
Posted by
San Diego, CA, USA
38 posts
Ohhh all of those are great, and you'll love it. That's one of the standard "Tuscany day trip" itineraries from Florence. Love Monteriggioni and that would fit as well. Pienza probably would be better from Siena, as it's MUCH further south. But is also wonderful. Other ideas off the top of my head: Fiesole (right on top of Florence), Pitigliano, Pistoia, Montecatini (famous for baths), Gaiole in Chianti and other Chianti wine areas... but it's ALLLLL good.
Posted by
northvale, new jesery, usa
22 posts
Hi Lisa, My husband and I are considering a similar activity and while we've not yet been to Tuscany, the stops that you've mentioned have all come highly recommended to me by friends and it sounds like a great trip. I was wondering if you would share the name of the tour guide/driver you are hiring, as we are looking to for someone to drive us through Tuscany for the day as well (would rather not deal with the hassle of a rental car). Thanks so much & have a great time!
Angela
Posted by
Florence, Italy
42 posts
A one day tour around the countryside with driver sounds like a great idea but the best itinerary would be something round or circular around a particular area so that you don't waste too much time in the car and enjoy most of the day actually seeing and visiting the villages and sights. Lucca is a great walled town to visit, but quite a distance from both San Gimignano and Volterra since it is to the north of Pisa so really out of the area. Since your departure town is Florence, I'd suggest something spending a day in Chianti, visiting Panzano, Radda and Gaiole. If you want, you could visit San Gimignano into this tour. I'd also include a stop in wineries and doing wine tasting on this tour. Another possibility is to head to Pisa and Lucca, with a stop along the way in San Miniato and on the way back in Montecatini Terme or Pistoia. A day trip to Piena, San Quirico, Montalcino and Montepulciano makes more sense from Siena since you are closer than from Florence.