Tuscany is an incredible place to visit in Italy and there’s SO much more to this destination than Florence. This 1 week Tuscany Itinerary will cover some of the must visit spots and off the beaten path destinations in this beautiful region.
Things To Do in Tuscany
This quick guide will cover some epic experiences that are unique to Tuscany. Some of them are:
- Truffle Hunting with dogs
- Cooking Class at an Italian’s home in the countryside
- Wine tasting
- Visiting historic rights
- Explore Medieval villages
Florence (Day 1&2)
For your first 2 days, I recommend exploring Florence, the heart of the early Renaissance. I do not recommend exploring Florence by car (trust from my mistake lol). The sights here are very walkable and public transit will take you anywhere you need to go.
Hotels in Florence
When you’re choosing a hotel in Florence, make sure it’s in a walkable area or near a bus stop, has a balcony, and bonus if it has a rooftop bar with a view! Hotels in Florence book far in advance so try and secure yours before you are forced to settle for something last minute.
Palazzo dei Conti Residenza d’Epoca
This hotel is my best overall pick. The location is hard to beat, the rooms are more spacious than your average, and it has incredible views of the Duomo. Check Rates
Eden Rock Resort
Even though Eden Rock Resort is not in the city center, the quiet surroundings and views from the hilltop make it worth staying in. There’s also a bus stop right outside the resort making it easy to get to the attractions of Florence. Check Rates
Arte Boutique Hotel
A stylish stay in the heart of Florence within half a mile of the train station. Check Rates
Things To Do in Florence
Visit Historical Sights
You can’t miss the historical sights in Florence like the Duomo and the original David Sculpture. It can take a bit of planning since some sights have long queues & require advanced reservations. I suggest taking this Skip the line tour to take the stress out of planning your day.
Walk around the Boboli Gardens
Visiting the Boboli Gardens was a highlight of my trip in Florence. The gardens we’re so picturesque & you can find some of the best city views from here. Tip: Have lunch in 4Leoni afterwards! Just a short walk from the Gardens.
Drink from Wine Windows
A unique way to get your vino! You can find wine windows throughout Florence, just type in wine window on google maps and it’ll take you straight there.
Giottos Bell Tower
We watched sunset from Giottos Bell Tower and it did not disappoint but you sure have to work for that view! The climb to the tower is about 400 steps but the views throughout more than make up for it.
Try Florentine Steak
You have to eat the region’s specialty dish of course! Florentine steak is made from a specific type of cow sourced from Tuscany & typically served rare. I don’t typically like my steak on the rare side but found this to be delicious & tender. We loved the one from I’Tuscani.
Siena (Day 3-5)
Once you’ve had enough of the bustling city of Florence, it’s time to head to the countryside! Tip: Stop at Antinori Winery on your way there. It is one of the most beautiful wineries in the world. Make reservations for your tour on their site at least 1-2 months in advance.
Hotels in Siena
Agroturismo La Villa
An Agroturismo or farmhouse is a must when you’re in Tuscany. We stayed in this villa for 3 nights and it was perfect! It was affordable, in a quiet area and we loved seeing their farm animals everyday. Our host even gave us a bottle of wine and honey made from the farm. Check Rates
Villa Del Sole Siena
For a walkable location in Siena with an incredible view, I’d recommend Villa Del Sole. It’s just 984 feet from Piazza del Campo square and the Tower of Mangia. Check Rates
Gli Archi di Corsanello
This hotel looks like a castle set on the Tuscan Hills. Their units have fully equipped kitchens for a homey stay with a view of the rolling hills. Check Rates
Things To Do in Siena
Truffle Hunting
One of the most unique activities in Tuscany is going Truffle Hunting with some adorable dogs. We joined Francesco and his hard working dogs to sniff out some truffles from the woods. This felt like an authentic wild hunt in the forest and the lunch with wine afterwards was incredible! Check out his website to book this experience.
Explore San Gimignano
Our Truffle Hunt was in San Gimignano so we explored this medieval town afterwards. San Gimignano has 14 towers still preserved from the 14th century, some you can climb for a nice view of the city. Unfortunately it was raining so hard on the day we visited so we didn’t stay long but it was definitely worth a stop. Keep in mind this is THE most popular Tuscan Town to visit since it’s not too far away from Florence so expect a crowd.
Check Out Monteriggioni
My personal favorite medieval town in Tuscany has to be Monteriggioni. It’s a walled defense built in the 12th century (wild!) It was much less crowded here compared to San Gimignano. We paid to walk around the wall & saw incredible views from up there. I also recommend eating in Ristorante Le Lorri, it was our favorite meal we had in all of Italy.
Montepulciano (Day 6&7)
Montepulciano is known for growing red wine so this is a stop you absolutely can’t miss.
Hotels in Montepulciano
Lupaia
We had one splurge on our trip to Italy and it was a stay at Lupaia and i’m here to tell you…it was well worth it. The property is perched on a hill with magical views of the vineyards and mediaeval towns. The rooms are so charming with some remnants from the original farm built in the 13th century. Check Rates
Things to do in Montepulciano
Explore the Mediaeval town
I would set aside a day to explore both Montepulciano and Pienza. Wander around the shops and be sure to taste the locally grown red wine.
Cooking Class in the Countryside
When I was searching for a cooking class, I had a few boxes to check. It had to be in a farmhouse in the countryside, small group, and included tiramisu (my fave dessert!) This class had just that! It was in an Italian couple’s home and they were SO welcoming. I have been making the recipes I learned from this class at home 🙂
Before your trip to Tuscany make sure you avoid these common mistakes.