THE BEST GETAWAYS AND EXCURSIONS FROM FLORENCE (IN ONE DAY)

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If you have already crossed out of your list each of the 30 things to see and do in Florence, you may want to take advantage of your visit to the Tuscan city to make an excursion. The idea is very good, considering that near Florence there are a lot of very nice places. Next we tell you what are the best getaways and excursions from Florence (one day), and how to do them, both for free and on a tour.

If you want more information, visit our GUIDE TO A TRIP TO FLORENCE

- Pisa−

It is one of the most popular excursions from Florence, in addition to the fact that its Leaning Tower is super photogenic, getting there is quick and easy. Ideally, you could have a whole day to visit Pisa, although if you only want to visit the Plaza de los Milagros, we believe that with half a day it will give you time without problems.

→ What to see and do in Pisa in one day
→ Cheap accommodation in Pisa

For free

How to get to Pisa from Florence? By train it is simple and cheap. You just have to go to the Firenze Santa Maria Novella station and take a train to Pisa. The trip lasts between 00.50 and 1.10 (depending on the train, if it is fast regional or regional) and the ticket costs € 8.60. You do not need to book in advance, although you can see the schedules on the website www.trenitalia.com. Remember to ring the train ticket before boarding!

On tour

In case you want to participate in a visit, with a guide that tells you curiosities and details about Pisa and its Tower in Spanish, a good option is this tour that also includes the visit of two other cities that we recommend seeing: Siena and San Gimignano , and lunch at a restaurant in the Chianti region.

− San Gimignano −

It is one of the most beautiful and curious villages in Italy and thanks to its stone towers it has earned the nickname "medieval Manhattan". If you want advice, stay there one night ... when the sun sets (and tourists return to Florence) the town shows its most charming side.

→ What to see and do in San Gimignano
→ Cheap accommodation in San Gimignano

For free

It is best to rent a car and get lost a few days in the Chianti area, the Val D'Orcia and the Maremma. But if you only have one day and want to visit San Gimignano from Florence, you will have to take two buses: one, about 50 minutes to Poggibonsi (line 131) and another, 30 minutes to San Gimignano (line 130). Prices: € 6.30 and € 2.60. You can search schedules and combinations on the web www.tiemmespa.it

On tour

If you only want to visit San Gimignano it is not worth doing the tour, but if you want to take advantage of the day and combine it with other visits, a tour is a great idea. We have already told you about the tour that includes San Gimignano, Siena and Pisa, but if you want another option, this replaces the excursion to Pisa with one to Chianti, the famous wine region that is located at the gates of Florence. Includes visit and lunch in Siena.

− Cinque Terre−

The 5 villages that form the so-called Five Lands are one of the most suggestive corners of Italy, and it is no madness to visit it in the day from Florence. Obviously if you have several days of time, the thing would be better, but in one day you can see the main points of interest. How? We tell you:

→ Cheap accommodation in Cinque Terre

For free

Visiting Cinque Terre for free from Florence is undoubtedly the cheapest option, but you will have to get up early to take advantage of the day. The first thing you have to do is buy a ticket from Firenze to Monterosso that costs around € 17.60. Eye: the train is not direct and there are several combinations (depending on the time). If you want to leave Florence around 7, for example, you will have to take a first train to Pisa (we saw that it takes approx. 1 h) and from there another one that will leave you in Monterosso, the most famous town of Cinque Terre. When booking the second train, decide on the Intercity: it is the fastest option (1.11h). If you book regional you will have to make an extra change: in La Spezia. More info and reservations on the web www.trenitalia.com.

On tour

Ideal for those who want to carefree and enjoy an easy, simple and beautiful day. This tour costs € 89 (€ 55 if you want to make the visits in Cinque Terre for free) and includes the visit of Manarola, Riomaggiore and Vernazza (there are tours by coach, train and boat).

− Elba Island−

If you travel to Florence in summer and you feel uncontrollable desire for a beach, there is a nice and close solution: the island of Elba. It has interesting reefs for divers, a few beaches where to take a dip and the interior is more mountainous and more diverse.

→ Cheap accommodation on Elba Island

For free

It is the recommended option if you have several days of time. Going and returning on the same day is crazy because to get to the island of Elba you have to go to Piombino before (there are almost no direct trains from Florence, you have to go through Pisa) and then get on a ferry. Between one thing and another it will take about 3-4h approx (one way!) And it will not give you time to see almost nothing. By train to Piombino it costs € 16.10 and the ferry from Piombino to Portoferraio (the capital of the island) costs about € 13-15 (there are several companies).

On tour

If you prefer to do it on tour, you can take a look at this, although it is very similar to the visit for free (with the comfort, of course, to forget to look for the combinations of all transfers).

− Assisi−

Famous worldwide for being the birthplace of San Francisco, the founder of the Franciscan order, Assisi is a beautiful city, well worth a visit. Obviously the Basilica of San Francisco that houses the famous frescoes of Giotto is the star attraction, but in general, walking through its streets is a real delight and the views of the hills that surround the city are a pasote!

→ Cheap accommodation in Assisi

For free

It is easy to get to Assisi from Florence, you will only have to take a speedy regional train (€ 16) and in approximately 2.30h you will arrive. You do not need to book in advance, although you can see the schedules on the website www.trenitalia.com.

On tour

This excursion is quite interesting as it includes, apart from the visit to Assisi, also a stop in the beautiful Etruscan town of Cortona (which inspired the book / movie "Under the Tuscan sun").

− Tuscany route−

Of course for us the best excursion from Florence is to rent a stroller and make a beautiful route through Tuscany. Ideally, extend your stay and dedicate 4 full days to the roadtrip. This would be the route:

• Route through Tuscany, stage 1: Chianti and San Gimignano
• Route through Tuscany, stage 2: Siena and Val D'Orcia
• Route through Tuscany, stage 3: Val D'Orcia and Maremma
• Route through Tuscany, stage 4: Termas, Volterra and Pisa

→ Rent a car in Tuscany
→ Cheap accommodation in Tuscany

We have it clear: no. We do not recommend a day trip to Venice and Rome from Florence. You would lose too much time in transfers (and if they are fast they are too expensive). It is best to visit Venice before arriving in Florence and finally Rome. In this way you can dedicate the time they deserve (Venice a whole day, better 2 and Rome minimum 3 days ...).

These are for us the best excursions and day trips from Florence. Have you done any? Which one would you not miss for anything in the world?

* Photocredit: Shutterstock

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