Which is the best option for side trip from Florence

Eliminate San Gimignano, it is touristy & more of a place to see from the road and stop off at if you have a car than a place to spend a whole day at. The public transportation schedule to and from there either leaves you too little or too much time there.

Thank you so much for your quick response and recommendation to skip San Gimignano. Appreciate the help.

I really enjoyed Lucca a lot. Walked the wall all the way around a couple of times, and visited the garden of the Palazzo Pfanner.

I would go to Lucca. It's easy to get to via train from Florence and so much to see and do there in a very walkable city. Lots of great food options as well.

Lucca & Pisa are an easy train from Florence. Another stop along that way is Montecatini Terme for some interesting varied sites - the park, the art nouveau spa sites.

For great food, you could also head north into the Emilia-Romagna region and take the train to Parma, Modena, etc. Parma has my favorite cathedral interior, if you happen to go there. I ate at La Forchetta again when I was in Parma again last June. Adventurous Kate has an article, “ Why You Should Travel To Parma, Italy” that will give you some quick photos. I do like the pleasing color palette of that city.

Tuscany has many towns to visit by both train and bus or a combo of both. This train map may help you decide.

https://www.wanderingitaly.com/maps/tuscany-rail-map.html?fbclid=IwAR0zh_itsbHPkQcXj1C4RaAcg5fd9x22Sw66R6uERy2M_TsggLn3TaC0Ipw

Bus timetables are available online or google town to town by bus.

Be sure you check return times carefully.

Thank you lnbsig, Bill, Jean, and Gerri for your recommendations. I appreciate your thoughtful responses. Meeting with our travel partners this weekend and this information will come in handy for us to finalize our travel plans.

Best,
Sandy

if you want more for your money (and time), Lucca and Pisa are easily combinable as a public transportation Florence side trip. Pisa for the history, and Lucca for history and food options. Go to a restaurant, trattoria, or pizzeria in the winding streets in the southern part of walled-in Lucca, closer to the train station, rather than any lining the piazza where the ancient amphitheater once stood.

Since everything is by train, you might want to have a Plan A and also a Plan B. Check the weather the day before and go the direction with the best weather. : )

Thank you Cyn and Jean. Appreciate the suggestions. Cyn, I didn’t even think about combing Pisa and Lucca.

Pisa is a good half-day to consider. All the major attractions are located close by each other: leaning tower, baptistry, duomo, duomo museum.

Another vote for Lucca. One thing we really enjoyed doing there was renting bikes to ride around the wall. Walking it is another good option. If you want to combine Lucca and Pisa I would suggest getting an early start and going to Pisa first, leaving the majority of the day for Lucca.

Lucca! I have been there twice, staying 2 nights each time, and would go back. Quiet, small town, great food, walk or bike around the wall, enjoy the scenery. Not as touristy. San G is very touristy with souvenir shop everywhere. Never been to Pisa, no desire, Seen enough picture of tourists at the tower.

Thank you all for your suggestions. We are going to go to both Pisa and Lucca and make a full day of it.

Have fun, SandyO. If you’re taking the train to Pisa, the frequent buses to the Field of Miracles sights pick up in front of the station, slightly to the right as you exit the doors. Buy bus tickets in the bar at the station, or you can try your luck with the vending machine out on the sidewalk at the bus stop.

Thanks Cyn for the tip. Appreciate all the extra help.