Tuscany Day Trip from Florence: Siena, San Gimignano, Pisa and Lunch at a Winery
Overview
Famous for a wealth of art, history, striking landscapes and outstanding produce, Tuscany really does have the best of all worlds! With only a day to spare, see the best Tuscany has to offer on this full-day guided coach trip from Florence.
Inclusions
- Air-conditioned vehicle
- Professional English speaking tour guide with you for the whole day
- Guided walking tour of Siena with entrance fee to the cathedral
- Hearty farmhouse lunch – veggie and gluten-free options available
- Wine tasting of four varieties
- Free time to explore the towns at your own pace
- Entry/Admission - Duomo di Siena
What to expect
Itinerary
This is a typical itinerary for this product
Stop At: Florence, Florence, Tuscany
We will meet at the front of Santa Maria Novella train station at 7:45am, ready for an 8.00am start. Your guide will be holding a WALKABOUT TOURS sign, right by the taxi stand at Santa Maria Novella train station across from the outside McDonald's. After meeting your expert guide, an air-conditioned coach will whisk you away to the first stop of the day, Siena. The drive to Siena will take about 1 hours 15 minutes. During the journey, your guide will explain the itinerary for the day and entertain you with interesting facts about Siena and Tuscany!!!
Duration: 15 minutes
Stop At: Siena, Siena, Tuscany
Siena is a real medieval gem and in fact one of Tuscany's most famous and beautiful hill top towns. When you arrive you will join a 1 hour guided walking tour with a local city guide through Siena's most beautiful streets and sites, including the entrance to the Cathedral, a treasure chest of artworks. Afterwards, enjoy Siena at your own pace with free time for shopping or relaxing in an open-air cafe.
Duration: 3 hours
Stop At: Piazza Salimbeni, 53100, Siena Italy
The first stop on the walking tour of Siena is a bank that has its headquarters in this square - the oldest surviving bank in the world. It's called Monte dei Paschi di Siena and it has been running continuously since 1472. Your guide will explain how Siena's wealth through the centuries came from being on the pilgrim route known as the Via Francigena, a route that led pilgrims between Rome and Northern Europe. Siena prospered as a banking town by lending money and exchanging money for the merchants who were using the pilgrim route as a safe travel route. The Sienese are still wealthy from their banking past and are still famous for their banks today!
Duration: 15 minutes
Stop At: Contrada della Torre, Via di Salicotto, 76, 53100, Siena Italy
Your local guide will then walk through some of the most picturesque back streets of Siena, while telling about something very unique to Siena are the 17 districts which make up the historical centre.The name for these ancient divisions is 'contrade'. Each contrada has its
own symbol, normally that of an animal including a snail, rhino and giraffe amongst others. The sense of identity and belonging to ones 'contrada' is extremely important. They are self-contained little worlds with their own church, where newborns are baptised, and a public fountain where the newborns are baptised a second time! Needless to say there are strong rivalries between these districts, that explodes during the Palio horserace held twice a year in Piazza del Campo.
Duration: 15 minutes
Stop At: Piazza del Campo, 53100, Siena Italy
Piazza del Campo is one of the most beautiful squares you will ever see and it is also the city's gathering place, where the locals meet for a coffee and to chat and of course gossip. The unusual square (actually not a square, it's in the shape of a sea-shell, and sloping!) is the site of the famous Palio horse-race. A 600 year old tradition of Siena. The piazza gets transformed into a racing track twice a year and the contrade, or neighbourhoods of the city battle out for the highest honour possible – winning the palio. You'll hear more about this on the tour, your local guide will set the scene so that you can somehow live for a moment the vibrant atmosphere of this incredible race.
Duration: 15 minutes
Stop At: Duomo di Siena, Piazza del Duomo 8, 53100, Siena Italy
Our walking tour then ends inside the Duomo of Siena – undoubtedly the jewel of the city. If you've seen the interior of Florence's Duomo, it is nowhere near as spectacular as Siena's. The most unique part of this city's cathedral is its floor. It's an artwork on its own, made out of the world's most precious marbles – in fact, it's a combined masterpiece of over 50 images created over 2 centuries by some of Italy's most important artists. Then, enjoy walking through the city center on your own before meeting your guide again to head to your next stop!
Duration: 15 minutes
Stop At: Fattoria Poggio Alloro, Localita Montefalconi SNC, 53037, San Gimignano Italy
After the morning exploration of Siena, a 45-minute drive will take you the the next stop: Fattoria Poggio Alloro, an organic family-run wine estate – the highlight of the day! Enjoy an informal wine tasting lesson and a traditional Tuscan lunch with plenty of wine, in the most gorgeous location overlooking stunning views of the surrounding countryside. Take the opportunity to meet fellow travelers while feasting on fresh organic farm food of homemade pasta, cured meats (homemade prosciutto and salami), local cheeses, a real garden salad, and Tuscan biscotti. There is also the opportunity to buy the local products of the winery before heading to San Gimignano.
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes
Stop At: San Gimignano, San Gimignano, Tuscany
After lunch, a 15-minute drive will take you to San Gimignano, that is an even smaller, walled Tuscan hill town than Siena - about 6 times smaller - and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. San Gimignano is most famous for its towers of which there were 72 though there are just 14 remaining today. From this the city gets its nickname of the little Manhattan of Tuscany. Your guide will give you a map and point out the best landmarks, so that you can roam independently the picturesque streets and squares of this enchanting hilltop town.
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes
Stop At: Piazza della Cisterna, Piazza Della Cisterna, San Gimignano Italy
Your guide will lead you to the entrance city gate and that is where the main boulevard starts from, Via San Giovanni. This street will take you to Piazza della Cisterna, the heart of San Gimignano and also the setting for several films. This was the square where festivals and tournaments took place while the Piazza Duomo was the religious and political centre. This is also where the best gelato in the world is – Gelateria della Piazza 'Dondoli'. It's won many awards as the best gelato, you could try it and see what you'll think!
Duration: 20 minutes
Stop At: Piazza del Duomo, San Gimignano Italy
From Piazza della Cisterna, the next piazza along is Piazza del Duomo – the Duomo, also known as the Collegiata, is small but is well worth visiting! The beautiful interior of the cathedral walls is filled with colorful 14th century frescoes in every space available. You could also climb up one of the medieval towers here in this piazza, next to the Duomo (the Torre Grossa) to appreciate the incredible 'BIRD'S EYE' view over San Gimignano.
Duration: 20 minutes
Stop At: Rocca of Montestaffoli, Via della Rocca 6, 53037, San Gimignano Italy
Another stunning view over the towers of San Gimignano is from La Rocca. It is easily accessible behind the Duomo and It is a peaceful setting with olive trees and the wall surrounding the garden that formed part of the 14th-century fortress Medici of Florence built to protect this town from Siena. if you walk to the back of the garden and climb the steps to the top, the views over San Gimignano's skyline are absolutely breathtaking.
Duration: 20 minutes
Stop At: Pisa, Pisa, Province of Pisa, Tuscany
After the visit of San Gimignano, a 1 hour and an half scenic drive through iconic Tuscan countryside will take you to your final stop, Pisa.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Piazza dei Miracoli, Piazza del Duomo, 56126, Pisa Italy
Upon arrival, your guide will lead you straight to the famous Square of Miracles. At first sight, it is truly breathtaking - the white marble buildings glow in contrast to the perfect, green lawns. You will have about an hour to explore the Cathedral, Baptistry, Monumental Cemetery, and of course - The Leaning Tower! Upgrade to include skip-the-line entry, if you wish.
Duration: 15 minutes
Stop At: Leaning Tower of Pisa, Piazza del Duomo Piazza dei Miracoli, 56126, Pisa Italy
During your time in Pisa, you can climb the Leaning Tower to admire the incredible views of the Square of Miracles from above. The views from the top of the Tower are truly breathtaking - from the monuments below, to the city surrounding the square, the Arno River, and the countryside in the distance... and part of the fun is also climbing the stairs inside the Leaning Tower that we will make you feel a bit dizzy at the end! To avoid disappointment, we suggest to upgrade to include the pre-booked tickets since the entrance to climb the Leaning Tower is according to time slots.
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Florence, Florence, Tuscany
After leaving Pisa, it will take about an hour to return to Florence. You will dropped off at the start point with a camera full of pictures, a stomach full of hearty Tuscan food and a host of new friends.
Duration: 1 hour
This is a typical itinerary for this product
Stop At: Florence, Florence, Tuscany
We will meet at the front of Santa Maria Novella train station at 7:45am, ready for an 8.00am start. Your guide will be holding a WALKABOUT TOURS sign, right by the taxi stand at Santa Maria Novella train station across from the outside McDonald's. After meeting your expert guide, an air-conditioned coach will whisk you away to the first stop of the day, Siena. The drive to Siena will take about 1 hours 15 minutes. During the journey, your guide will explain the itinerary for the day and entertain you with interesting facts about Siena and Tuscany!!!
Duration: 15 minutes
Stop At: Siena, Siena, Tuscany
Siena is a real medieval gem and in fact one of Tuscany's most famous and beautiful hill top towns. When you arrive you will join a 1 hour guided walking tour with a local city guide through Siena's most beautiful streets and sites, including the entrance to the Cathedral, a treasure chest of artworks. Afterwards, enjoy Siena at your own pace with free time for shopping or relaxing in an open-air cafe.
Duration: 3 hours
Stop At: Piazza Salimbeni, 53100, Siena Italy
The first stop on the walking tour of Siena is a bank that has its headquarters in this square - the oldest surviving bank in the world. It's called Monte dei Paschi di Siena and it has been running continuously since 1472. Your guide will explain how Siena's wealth through the centuries came from being on the pilgrim route known as the Via Francigena, a route that led pilgrims between Rome and Northern Europe. Siena prospered as a banking town by lending money and exchanging money for the merchants who were using the pilgrim route as a safe travel route. The Sienese are still wealthy from their banking past and are still famous for their banks today!
Duration: 15 minutes
Stop At: Contrada della Torre, Via di Salicotto, 76, 53100, Siena Italy
Your local guide will then walk through some of the most picturesque back streets of Siena, while telling about something very unique to Siena are the 17 districts which make up the historical centre.The name for these ancient divisions is 'contrade'. Each contrada has its
own symbol, normally that of an animal including a snail, rhino and giraffe amongst others. The sense of identity and belonging to ones 'contrada' is extremely important. They are self-contained little worlds with their own church, where newborns are baptised, and a public fountain where the newborns are baptised a second time! Needless to say there are strong rivalries between these districts, that explodes during the Palio horserace held twice a year in Piazza del Campo.
Duration: 15 minutes
Stop At: Piazza del Campo, 53100, Siena Italy
Piazza del Campo is one of the most beautiful squares you will ever see and it is also the city's gathering place, where the locals meet for a coffee and to chat and of course gossip. The unusual square (actually not a square, it's in the shape of a sea-shell, and sloping!) is the site of the famous Palio horse-race. A 600 year old tradition of Siena. The piazza gets transformed into a racing track twice a year and the contrade, or neighbourhoods of the city battle out for the highest honour possible – winning the palio. You'll hear more about this on the tour, your local guide will set the scene so that you can somehow live for a moment the vibrant atmosphere of this incredible race.
Duration: 15 minutes
Stop At: Duomo di Siena, Piazza del Duomo 8, 53100, Siena Italy
Our walking tour then ends inside the Duomo of Siena – undoubtedly the jewel of the city. If you've seen the interior of Florence's Duomo, it is nowhere near as spectacular as Siena's. The most unique part of this city's cathedral is its floor. It's an artwork on its own, made out of the world's most precious marbles – in fact, it's a combined masterpiece of over 50 images created over 2 centuries by some of Italy's most important artists. Then, enjoy walking through the city center on your own before meeting your guide again to head to your next stop!
Duration: 15 minutes
Stop At: Fattoria Poggio Alloro, Localita Montefalconi SNC, 53037, San Gimignano Italy
After the morning exploration of Siena, a 45-minute drive will take you the the next stop: Fattoria Poggio Alloro, an organic family-run wine estate – the highlight of the day! Enjoy an informal wine tasting lesson and a traditional Tuscan lunch with plenty of wine, in the most gorgeous location overlooking stunning views of the surrounding countryside. Take the opportunity to meet fellow travelers while feasting on fresh organic farm food of homemade pasta, cured meats (homemade prosciutto and salami), local cheeses, a real garden salad, and Tuscan biscotti. There is also the opportunity to buy the local products of the winery before heading to San Gimignano.
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes
Stop At: San Gimignano, San Gimignano, Tuscany
After lunch, a 15-minute drive will take you to San Gimignano, that is an even smaller, walled Tuscan hill town than Siena - about 6 times smaller - and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. San Gimignano is most famous for its towers of which there were 72 though there are just 14 remaining today. From this the city gets its nickname of the little Manhattan of Tuscany. Your guide will give you a map and point out the best landmarks, so that you can roam independently the picturesque streets and squares of this enchanting hilltop town.
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes
Stop At: Piazza della Cisterna, Piazza Della Cisterna, San Gimignano Italy
Your guide will lead you to the entrance city gate and that is where the main boulevard starts from, Via San Giovanni. This street will take you to Piazza della Cisterna, the heart of San Gimignano and also the setting for several films. This was the square where festivals and tournaments took place while the Piazza Duomo was the religious and political centre. This is also where the best gelato in the world is – Gelateria della Piazza 'Dondoli'. It's won many awards as the best gelato, you could try it and see what you'll think!
Duration: 20 minutes
Stop At: Piazza del Duomo, San Gimignano Italy
From Piazza della Cisterna, the next piazza along is Piazza del Duomo – the Duomo, also known as the Collegiata, is small but is well worth visiting! The beautiful interior of the cathedral walls is filled with colorful 14th century frescoes in every space available. You could also climb up one of the medieval towers here in this piazza, next to the Duomo (the Torre Grossa) to appreciate the incredible 'BIRD'S EYE' view over San Gimignano.
Duration: 20 minutes
Stop At: Rocca of Montestaffoli, Via della Rocca 6, 53037, San Gimignano Italy
Another stunning view over the towers of San Gimignano is from La Rocca. It is easily accessible behind the Duomo and It is a peaceful setting with olive trees and the wall surrounding the garden that formed part of the 14th-century fortress Medici of Florence built to protect this town from Siena. if you walk to the back of the garden and climb the steps to the top, the views over San Gimignano's skyline are absolutely breathtaking.
Duration: 20 minutes
Stop At: Pisa, Pisa, Province of Pisa, Tuscany
After the visit of San Gimignano, a 1 hour and an half scenic drive through iconic Tuscan countryside will take you to your final stop, Pisa.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Piazza dei Miracoli, Piazza del Duomo, 56126, Pisa Italy
Upon arrival, your guide will lead you straight to the famous Square of Miracles. At first sight, it is truly breathtaking - the white marble buildings glow in contrast to the perfect, green lawns. You will have about an hour to explore the Cathedral, Baptistry, Monumental Cemetery, and of course - The Leaning Tower! Upgrade to include skip-the-line entry, if you wish.
Duration: 15 minutes
Stop At: Leaning Tower of Pisa, Piazza del Duomo Piazza dei Miracoli, 56126, Pisa Italy
During your time in Pisa, you can climb the Leaning Tower to admire the incredible views of the Square of Miracles from above. The views from the top of the Tower are truly breathtaking - from the monuments below, to the city surrounding the square, the Arno River, and the countryside in the distance... and part of the fun is also climbing the stairs inside the Leaning Tower that we will make you feel a bit dizzy at the end! To avoid disappointment, we suggest to upgrade to include the pre-booked tickets since the entrance to climb the Leaning Tower is according to time slots.
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Florence, Florence, Tuscany
After leaving Pisa, it will take about an hour to return to Florence. You will dropped off at the start point with a camera full of pictures, a stomach full of hearty Tuscan food and a host of new friends.
Duration: 1 hour
Additional information
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Due to uneven surfaces, we cannot accept anyone with walking disabilities or using a wheelchair
- Vegetarian option is available, please advise at time of booking if required
- Stroller accessible
- It is recommended to book any rail travel from Florence after 9pm to allow time for any traffic delays on your return journey
- When the Duomo of Siena is closed for religious services, Santa Maria della Scala museum will be visited instead
- Near public transportation
- Infants must sit on laps
- Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately
- Please note: For the Leaning Tower of Pisa children under the age of 8 are not admitted. Children between 8 and 12 years old must be accompanied by an adult and held by the hand at all times while you are in the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Teenagers between 13 and 18 years old must be accompanied by an adult while you are in the Leaning Tower of Pisa
- Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
- This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund
- This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 40 travelers
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Ticket delivery
You can present either a paper or an electronic voucher for this activity.
Cancellation
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start time of the experience.
Yaneth_B
October 2023
This is an all day excursion -which was completely fine with us - but I never saw a time frame posted on the official description or reviews. We didn't arrive back at the bus pick-up spot until until after 8pm...Upon arriving earlier than the required meeting time we were checked in and since th...
This is an all day excursion -which was completely fine with us - but I never saw a time frame posted on the official description or reviews. We didn't arrive back at the bus pick-up spot until until after 8pm...Upon arriving earlier than the required meeting time we were checked in and since there were many early birds we started walking to the bus before the stated start time. The bus was parked about a 5 minute walk from the meeting point. The bus accommodated approx. 50 ppl. On our ride to our 1st stop (Siena) our guide gave us a bit of her background as well as an outline of the the tour. She also handed out the headphones we would use through out the 1st leg of the tour. Our main guide was EMMA, a local from Florence and she was great! Funny and very informative. On our 1st stop in Siena we did have a different guide who was a local in Siena (I don't recall her name) but she was very informative as well. Our 2nd stop was for lunch and wine tasting at Fattoria Poggio Alloro. A beautiful countryside winery/estate in Tuscany. We were here for approx 1.5 - 2 hrs. On our way to our 3rd stop - the medieval town of San Gimignano, Emma shared history of the the town. We were free to explore on our own as this part was unguided. Our final stop was Pisa - also unguided. We were at Pisa approx 1 hr. Our ride back to Florence was under 1.5 hrs. I highly recommend this tour!Claire_J
October 2023
I absolutely loved the lunch/wine tasting in San Gimingnano! The food was so fresh and amazing, and I loved the opportunity to be able to get to have an authentic, Italian dining experience. Our tour guide, Claudia, was absolutely wonderful for the entirety of the tour. I am so lucky to have been...
I absolutely loved the lunch/wine tasting in San Gimingnano! The food was so fresh and amazing, and I loved the opportunity to be able to get to have an authentic, Italian dining experience. Our tour guide, Claudia, was absolutely wonderful for the entirety of the tour. I am so lucky to have been able to meet her! 10/10 and would highly recommend, especially being a solo traveler! I got to see and learn about the region of Tuscany, while also visiting three different towns, have a (hearty) meal and get transportation. Great value and would highly recommend to either solo or group travelers.David_P
October 2023
Tony was an excellent tour guide. Made the whole day fun and interesting. Even made sure our friend who had trouble walking got to the places on time and see them. He is a great guy!
Tony was an excellent tour guide. Made the whole day fun and interesting. Even made sure our friend who had trouble walking got to the places on time and see them. He is a great guy!Madoghouse
October 2023
Great value with the tour going for 12-13 hours. Siena was beautiful, Tuscany was a dream come true and Pisa was just surreal! Our guide Davida was excellent. He was friendly but also ran a tight ship to ensure the entire group adhered to meeting times, this was a good thing. In my opinion, the f...
Great value with the tour going for 12-13 hours. Siena was beautiful, Tuscany was a dream come true and Pisa was just surreal! Our guide Davida was excellent. He was friendly but also ran a tight ship to ensure the entire group adhered to meeting times, this was a good thing. In my opinion, the food at the winery was at best average also just a tip, whenever you have the opportunity 'to go' during one of the stops....then go! There is plenty of time spent on the bus and it doesn't have amenities to cater if you need to....well you know what! Especially after the visit to the winery!Kimmy_B
October 2023
Terrific driver Davido, and tour guide jon carlos..trip was outstanding, winery is delightful. The chianti hills are breath taking. I strongly suggest u book this trip right away
Terrific driver Davido, and tour guide jon carlos..trip was outstanding, winery is delightful. The chianti hills are breath taking. I strongly suggest u book this trip right awayTheresa_P
October 2023
I loved Sienna and the wonderful vibe. It leaves you wanting more. The vineyard stop was unbelievable! The wine the food and farm style seating lead to new friendships and enlightening conversations. We loved our tour guide (Alice in wonderland). She certainly added magic to the tour.
I loved Sienna and the wonderful vibe. It leaves you wanting more. The vineyard stop was unbelievable! The wine the food and farm style seating lead to new friendships and enlightening conversations. We loved our tour guide (Alice in wonderland). She certainly added magic to the tour.