From Bratislava to Trapani in Sicily during the winter
32 €
What to do in Tuscany
What is there to do in Tuscany? What activities are worth travelling to this diverse Italian region for?
Sights and history
Italy as a whole boasts one of the highest concentrations of historical sites in the world, and Tuscany is certainly no exception. Quite the contrary.
You’ll find world-class historical monuments in every major Tuscan town.
Major cities
In Tuscany, you can visit at least four large, world-famous cities brimming with sights, where you can easily spend several days. We provide separate guides for each of these cities.
Small towns for day trips
As well as the major cities, you’ll find interesting sights in dozens of smaller towns, which are ideal for day trips or short stays of one night. We’ve selected only the best-known ones, which we describe in detail in the town guides.
Sights outside the towns
However, Tuscany is also full of individual sights located well outside the towns. You shouldn’t miss these sights set amidst the countryside.
Discover medieval villages
Be transported back several centuries in time in the many picturesque villages that can be found all over Tuscany.
Historically, these villages were built on hills and hilltops to make them easier to defend, which is why the view of them from a distance is just as breathtaking as a stroll through the narrow streets of their centres.
Take a look at our tips for the most beautiful Tuscan villages:
Wine tourism
Tuscany is one of the world’s most famous wine-growing regions. The rolling countryside and favourable warm climate, with plenty of rainfall, create ideal conditions for the finest grape varieties.
Don’t just admire the idyllic countryside – be sure to visit the finest wineries too.
Top 10 Tuscan wineries
Where should you go for wine cellar tours and tastings?
Antinori Chianti Classico
One of the oldest wineries, in operation since 1385, will take you on a tour of its historic vineyards, but above all through its modern and very spacious cellars.
- Tours from 45 eur
- Official website: antinori.it/en
- 24 km south of Florence
Castello di Ama
This legendary winery in the heart of the Chianti region invites visitors to explore its historic buildings and vineyards dating back to the 12th century, as well as its more modern buildings, which frequently host exhibitions of contemporary art.
- Tours from 90 eur
- Official website: castellodiama.com
- 23 km north of Siena, 55 km south of Florence
Prima Pietra
These secluded and very peaceful vineyards, far from the main tourist attractions, will transport you to the idyllic setting of the rolling countryside of Tuscany, where life moves at a leisurely pace.
- Tours from 55 eur
- Official website: tenutaprimapietra.com
- 71 km south of Pisa, 90 km west of Siena
Petra Agricola
This winery, which forms part of a farm and features an architecturally striking main building, is set in a beautiful landscape of wide fields and vineyards, just below a wooded hill.
- Tours from 35 eur
- Official website: petrawine.it
- 109 km south of Pisa, 25 km east of the port of Piombino
Poggio Antico
One of the most beautiful wineries is situated in a very remote yet picturesque area on the summit of Poggio hill, offering magnificent and soothing views of the vineyards of the Montalcino region.
- Tours from 40 eur
- Official website: poggioantico.com
- 106 km west of Perugia, 118 km south of Florence and 47 km south of Siena
Capezzana
This small, historic winery, where you can visit the historic cellars and sample some excellent wine, is one of the most easily accessible and offers the most affordable tours.
- Tours from 25 eur
- Official website: capezzana.it
- 26 km west of Florence, 86 km east of Pisa
Badia di Coltibuono
This magnificent winery is situated in a former monastery amidst deep forests, with small and very photogenic vineyards.
- Tours from 27 eur
- Official website: coltibuono.com
- 62 km south of Florence
Rocca di Frassinello
Undoubtedly the most architecturally interesting winery, with a huge cellar designed by architect Renzo Piano, is situated in the southern part of Tuscany.
- Tours from 35 eur
- Official website: castellare.it
- 77 km south of Siena
Salcheto
A small family-run winery with a wonderful atmosphere and highly rated tours, situated in the southernmost part of Tuscany amidst the beautiful countryside near the town of Montepulciano.
- Tours from 25 eur
- Official website: salcheto.it
- 70 km south of Siena
Castello Verrazzano
This winery, situated in a former castle on the steep slopes of an undulating and partly wooded hilly landscape, is the ideal destination for a half-day trip from Florence.
- Tours from 32 eur
- Official website: verrazzano.com
- 29 km south of Florence
Map of the best wineries
Beaches and swimming
Endlessly long sandy beaches line the entire Tuscan coast and are the ideal place for a summer holiday.
In Tuscany, you’ll find huge seaside resorts with tens of kilometres of flat beaches featuring private, paid-for sections (known as ‘lida’), as well as smaller beaches along the picturesque, rugged coastline.
Large seaside resorts
Where should you head for lively resorts and beaches with a full range of facilities?
- Viareggio and Pietrasanta – these two neighbouring resorts are the largest in the whole of Tuscany and are situated not far from Pisa
- Grosseto – long town beaches which, at their edges, give way to a natural beach bordered by woods
- Tirrenia – the nearest seaside resort to Pisa
Small, rugged beaches
The Tuscan coast is generally quite flat, but you will also find some very rugged stretches with small, picturesque beaches.
This applies in particular to the Monte Argentario peninsula and the island of Elba, which also forms part of Tuscany.
In the footsteps of the Etruscan civilisation
The area that is now Tuscany was the heartland of the Etruscans, an ancient people with a highly distinctive culture.
Etruscan civilisation lasted from the 8th century BC and reached its peak in the 4th century BC. Gradually, the Etruscans became assimilated into the expanding Roman Empire.
To this day, you can find archaeological sites of Etruscan cities in several places, the most significant of which include the following:
- Populonia on the so-called Etruscan Coast between the towns of Piombino and Livorno
- Roselle, near the town of Grosseto
- Volterrain central Tuscany
Spas and thermal springs
Almost a quarter of all thermal springs in Italy are found in the region of Tuscany.
Where can you find natural spas that are completely free to use, and where, on the other hand, are the major spa towns with their luxury hotels?
We will gradually expand our list of spa destinations in Tuscany as we visit more places on our travels.
Major spa towns
The town of Montecatini Terme is one of the largest spa resorts not only in Tuscany but in the whole of Italy.
Here you will find several luxury spa hotels, beautifully maintained colonnades and a large number of natural springs.
Book a hotel in Montecatini Terme
Natural spas
How about taking a dip in a thermal spring gushing forth in the open countryside, whilst enjoying magnificent views of the beautiful rolling landscape?
Yes, Tuscany is the place for you.
The most famous thermal springs, accessible 24/7 free of charge, are near the town of Saturnia in southern Tuscany.
Hiking
You’d be hard-pressed to find a more varied landscape in Italy than that of Tuscany.
Gentle hills and undulating countryside full of vineyards and meadows alternate with fertile lowlands along the rivers and several high mountain ranges, with peaks reaching heights of around 2,000 metres.
And it is precisely in the mountain ranges of Tuscany that hundreds of kilometres of well-marked hiking trails criss-cross the landscape.
We are gradually putting together detailed guides to all of Tuscany’s mountain ranges.
Maps of hiking trails
Personally, we most often use the website or app from mapy.cz, which allows us to download offline maps.
This website provides an excellent overview of all signposted hiking trails in Italy, and these maps are extremely reliable.
This article may contain affiliate links from which our editorial team may earn commissions if you click on the link. See our Advertising Policy page.
Any questions left?
If you have any questions or comments about the article...
