The Ultimate Tuscany Route
Wine, pasta, rolling hills, authentic cities, and countless vineyards. Yesss… Tuscany has it all! As a food addict, it’s definitely the place to be in Italy, but even if you’d rather avoid the vino and pasta (though I don’t believe such people exist), this is a delightful destination.
In addition to fabulous food and the best wines, Tuscany also really embodies holiday for me. The ambiance, the sun, the people, and the charming cities ensure that you never want to leave here. No wonder we visited Tuscany twice during our road trip through Italy, and it was so wonderful.
What also makes Tuscany so incredibly nice is that it’s suitable for a short holiday, but you can also easily spend a month here. Are you already eager to jump in the car? Then read on quickly for our favorite Tuscany Route.
Tuscany Route 2.5 weeks
- Florence – 3 days
- Montepulciano – 3 days
- Pienza – 2 days
- Siena – 3 days
- Volterra – 3 days
- Lucca – 3 days
Florence – 3 days
Florence is the capital of Tuscany and the perfect place to start your Tuscany road trip.
We have to confess one thing though. We haven’t visited Florence ourselves yet. Yup, Shame on Us! The city was high on our bucket list, but due to circumstances with the dog (who became very sick and needed rest) and the fact that we couldn’t find a good place for the camper, we decided to skip the city for now during our road trip. But we will definitely go back again. And if you have a great camper tip, please let us know. Still, Florence could not be missing from this route, because it is really the ideal starting point for your road trip through Tuscany.
Spend 2 or 3 nights in Florence. The city has countless attractions that will keep you entertained for a few days. The city center is on the UNESCO World Heritage List, and for good reason. The city is full of beautiful historical buildings, such as the Ponte Vecchio bridge and the Santa Maria del Fiore, the cathedral of Florence. You’ll never get tired of looking around.
Tips for Florence:
- Climb the dome of the Duomo
- Walk across the Ponte Vecchio bridge
- View art in Palazzo degli Uffizi
- Score the tastiest gelato
- Visit Palazzo Vecchio
Montepulciano – 3 days
From Florence, you drive to Montepulciano in about 2 hours. Tip! Forget Google Maps and take the back roads. Really, you won’t believe your eyes, it’s so beautiful! Montepulciano is often called the real Tuscany and I can’t disagree. It is indeed everything you can expect from Tuscany: endless rolling hills, vineyards, a beautiful center, narrow sandy roads, and stunning pine trees. Montepulciano is an absolute must during your Tuscany road trip. We recommend you to stay at least 2 nights in Montepulciano, but of course, you can stay longer.
Tips for Montepulciano:
- Go wine tasting at a real Tuscan vineyard
- Visit the famous road of Tuscany, La Foce
Also read the article “Montepulciano: the real Tuscany”
Pienza – 2 days
Just a half-hour drive away you will find the charming Pienza. The city is located on a hill and is small but nice. You can also combine Pienza with Montepulciano. We found it to be a wonderfully cozy little town. One day is enough to discover Pienza.
Tips for Pienza:
- Walk along the Gladiator Road and follow in the footsteps of Russell Crowe
- Duomo of Pienza: a magnificent cathedral in the middle of the city where you can admire, among other things, old artworks
- Visit The Palazzo Pubblico, the city hall of Pienza
- Go eat at Sette Di Vino. Be sure to try the Tuscan bean soup!
- Maybe taste the best gelato in Tuscany at Buon Gusto Gelateria
Also read the article “Pienza travel guide”
Siena – 3 days
Siena is a huge open-air museum with its magnificent cathedrals and historic buildings, and it has been on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1995 for good reason. It’s a must-visit when you’re in Tuscany. You can wander around Siena for hours without getting bored. There is so much beauty to see. Siena is about an hour’s drive from Pienza.
Tips for Siena
- Visit the famous Piazza del Campo square
- Visit the Duomo Santa Maria, the pearl of Siena.
- Visit the Basilica di San Domenico: a magnificent church just outside the city
- Orto Botanico: a beautiful botanical garden just outside the city covering a massive 25,000 square meters.
- Fonte di Fontebranda: a unique water basin
- Book a wine tour or food tour to enjoy a culinary day.
Also read the article “Siena”
Volterra – 3 days
For me, Volterra might be the most romantic town in Tuscany. The city breathes Tuscany! From charming cozy alleys to gigantic cathedrals. We found Volterra beautiful. Not only is the city itself wonderful to visit, but the surroundings and the way there is an experience in itself. Volterra is located on top of a hill. The winding road to it is one you won’t soon forget. We also found our favorite Italian campsite here: COLONE. So enough reason to quickly put Volterra on your must-visit list. Volterra is about an hour’s drive from Siena.
Tips for Volterra
- Wander for hours through the beautiful historic center of Volterra
- Admire the Roman Theater from above
- Visit the churches San Lino, Oratorio di Sant’Antonio Abate and Oratorio di San Cristoforo.
- Taste the gelato from L’isola del Gusto Gelateria
Also read the article “Volterra” for more tips.
Lucca – 3 days
From Volterra, it’s about a 1.5-hour drive to the town of Lucca. Lucca is another charming Tuscan city that you never want to leave. We enjoyed it so much here, especially the numerous terraces and the fantastic food! What also makes Lucca so great is that it’s compact and you can do everything on foot. In addition, you can easily make a day trip to Pisa from Lucca. It’s nice to cross that one off your bucket list as well.
Tips for Lucca:
- Stroll around and taste a lot of wines
- Book a food tour and discover the tastiest dishes and hotspots
- Take a day trip to Pisa
- Take a seat on one of the terraces on Piazza dell’Anfiteatro
Also read the article “Lucca” for more tips.
And then the route is complete. From Lucca, it’s only an hour’s drive to Florence where you can possibly catch the plane back to the Netherlands.
Add Sardinia to your road trip
If you’re not done exploring Italy, you can also add Sardinia to your Tuscany Roadtrip. From Lucca , it’s just a 45-minute drive to Livorno. From here, you can take the ferry to Sardinia. Sardinia is one of our favorite holiday destinations. Not only in Europe, but of all the places we have ever visited. So, a huge tip!
WHAT???! Is your favorite Tuscany destination not included?
WHAT?! Is your favorite spot missing from this overview? Let me know by sending a DM via Instagram.
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