Day Trips to Chianti from Florence

Travellers wishing to holiday in this beautiful part of Italy will soon discover that there is much to see, do and enjoy in Florence. Among the best plans is an excursion to explore Chianti and, weather permitting, other beautiful areas of the countryside.

Located in the very heart of Tuscany, the Chianti region is a hilly landscape famous the world over for its vineyards and traditional wineries. It is worth a trip to discover both its delicious gastronomy and the infinite beauty of its landscapes.

Once you've exhausted the classic Florence itinerary, which includes visiting the Uffizi Gallery, seeing the Dome of Florence's Duomo and exploring the Pitti Palace and Gardens, it's time to get to know Chianti and here are the options.

Tuscany is a region of Italy made up of several towns and provinces. In the heart of Tuscany lies the province of Siena, a highly fruitful area that is home to some of the most beautiful villages and landscapes in all of Italy.

Because of this, several local companies organise excursions to Siena from Florence; accompanied by an expert guide you can tour the highlights of the area: San Gimignano, the village of Monteriggioni, the famous Chianti wine cellars, the city of Siena itself and much more.

It is one of the most popular excursions from Florence and is offered to travellers by different companies in various formats.

Group excursion to Chianti and surroundings.

You will have the opportunity to see the highlights of Tuscany, including Chianti, in just one day trip. This is an excellent option if you are on a short 5-day trip in Florence.

The group tours are conducted in shared transport leaving Florence early in the morning to make the most of the exploration hours and require a minimum number of participants for the tour to take place. The number of people may vary from tour operator to tour operator.

• Price: Depending on the company you hire and the number of participants, the tour costs between €60 and €80.
• Duration: This is a full day tour, lasting 11 to 12 hours.
• Advantages of this option: This alternative offers excellent value for money.
• Disadvantages of this option: You depend on a full group to complete the experience, although due to its popularity there are always interested travellers, especially if you go to Florence in August, one of the busiest months for tourists.

Private tour to Chianti and surroundings.

An air-conditioned private transport takes travellers from Florence to explore the highlights of the Tuscany region, such as the Chianti vineyards.

Although the specifics vary somewhat depending on the company you hire, generally companies charge a standard rate for the trip, allowing 4 to 8 travellers to join the experience.

This option is ideal if you are going to Florence with children for a family holiday and are looking for a more comfortable and completely personalised private alternative.

• Price: The private tour is priced at around €700 per group of participants, with the option to include between 6 and 8 people.
• Duration: This is a full day excursion, usually lasting approximately 8 hours.
• Advantages of this option: It is a comfortable option that offers greater flexibility in customising the experience.
• Disadvantages of this option: The price is the biggest drawback, as it is significantly more expensive than other options.

A short excursion designed to explore the best of the Chianti vineyards from Florence. It is a popular tour option and is offered by several local companies in Florence.

Although the specific aspects of the experience will depend on the company you hire, many companies include in their itinerary the following activities: the accompaniment of an expert local guide, a brief tour of the small village of Greve and the opportunity to taste some of the best wines of Chianti.

This is an ideal option for those travellers in a hurry whose stay in Florence will take no more than 4 days. This way, you can spend a few hours exploring some areas of Tuscany and the rest of the time exploring the city's museums and monuments.

Additional information: Price: The price to be paid is

• Price: The price to be paid is around 50€ per traveller.
• Duration: Designed to take half a day, the tour lasts approximately 5 hours.
• Advantages of this option: It is the best alternative for travellers with tight itineraries who also want to keep their trip on a budget.
• Disadvantages of this option: The tour only covers parts of the Province of Siena. If you want to explore the rest of the countryside, you will have to book another tour.

There are two things that make a trip to Florence totally worthwhile: the impressive Florentine museums and the delicious Tuscan cuisine. If you are looking for an experience to enjoy the latter, this is a tour not to be missed.

The tour is offered by some of the best local tour operators and is designed for small groups. It combines the traditional tour that takes the traveller to the highlights of Chianti with a first class gastronomic experience.

Enjoy delicious Tuscan cheese, the region's fine wine, a tasting of local food, and take home samples of original olive oil. Undoubtedly one of the best food tour options in and around Florence.

Additional information: Price: The price to be paid is usually around

• Price: The price to be paid is usually around 200€ per traveller. Includes transport to and from the tour and of course the food served during the tour.
• Duration: This is a full day tour, lasting approximately 8 to 9 hours.
• Advantages of this option: It is the best alternative to familiarise yourself with the local gastronomy and traditional dishes of the Tuscan region.
• Disadvantages of this option: The price can be a bit high for budget travel.

A tour option in and around Chianti that takes the traveller through the different landscapes of the province of Siena. This is a popular alternative offered by some tour operators in Florence for small groups of travellers, usually not exceeding 8 to 10 participants.

While it is true that some specific aspects of the experience will depend largely on the company you hire, it is also true that most of them offer the following services to the traveller: an expert tour guide who accompanies the group throughout the experience and the necessary bicycle and safety equipment.

In addition, some companies also offer a snack or lunch or stops for food tasting.

The bike route usually goes through the Chianti area, in the very heart of Tuscany.

Further information

• Price: Around 120€ per participant. This price includes the rental of the equipment needed for the experience.
• Duration: It is a tour of just over half a day, so I recommend reserving approximately 6 hours for the experience.
• Advantages of this option: You will be able to enjoy an immersive experience within the Tuscan countryside. Cycling through the countryside is much better than riding in a speeding car.
• Disadvantages of this option: A certain level of physical endurance and cycling practice is required to participate. Travellers with special health conditions may not be admitted.

This tour option includes the traditional excursion to Chianti and its vineyards, with the addition of one of the most interesting stops in the province of Siena: Monteriggioni. An excellent alternative to get to know more of the countryside in a single trip.

Monteriggioni is a charming little commune situated on a hill. On your visit you will find a medieval village suspended in time, and you will see first-hand how its small size contrasts greatly with its charm.

In Chianti you can enjoy traditional wine tastings, samples of Tuscan virgin olive oil and refreshments, although this depends on the itinerary and plans of the company you hire.

Additional Information

• Price: Available from 50€ per traveller.
• Duration: You will need to reserve around 5 hours of your itinerary for this experience.
• Advantages of this option: This is a half-day trip that offers a more complete itinerary than other similar excursions in its range.
• Disadvantages of this option: This is a group tour which may be subject to the minimum number of participants being reached. This can be difficult if you are travelling in off-peak months, e.g. Florence in December.

This is another excellent combination tour option that will take you to Chianti and a bit more of Tuscany.

San Gimignano is an excellent alternative to visit a medieval walled town in an experience that will make you travel to another period of history. Chianti, meanwhile, is a basic excursion to get to know the vineyards of Tuscany from Florence.

Depending on the company you hire, some services may or may not be included. I recommend reading the details carefully before paying and making sure the experience meets your expectations.

However, on a tour to San Gimignano and Chianti you can expect round-trip transportation from Florence to the heart of Tuscany, an expert guide to explain the different tours during the trip, a traditional lunch in a beautiful area of Chianti and a wine tasting.

Further information

• Price: The price to be paid is around 60€ per traveller.
• Duration: This is a full day tour for which you will need to set aside around 11 to 12 hours for the experience.
• Advantages of this option: Combination tours are the best way to make the most of your time and budget. It is ideal for travellers who are visiting Tuscany for the first time and want to take the time to appreciate the place.
• Disadvantages of this option: You will need to book a full day for the experience. Short stay travellers, for example only 3 days in Florence, will not be able to undertake this experience without sacrificing your time exploring the city.

If you're looking to experience Italian Tuscany in a different way, consider booking a dinner trip to Chianti, located a 50-minute drive away. This adventure offers a different plan for what to do in Florence at night during your holiday.

Please note that some aspects of the experience may vary from company to company. However, you can expect the accompaniment of an expert guide, private transportation to and from Chianti to Florence, a tour of the vineyards after your arrival and a traditional dinner served at sunset in a typical Italian villa.

Additional information

• Price: Around 100€ per participant.
• Duration: You will need to book 5 hours at the end of the day.
• Advantages of this option: The timetable is the main advantage. It is ideal for a 2-day trip in Florence, as it allows you to make the most of your time.
• Disadvantages of this option: The price can be a drawback for budget travellers. If you are looking for cheaper options, I recommend looking at other alternatives.

The famous wine region of Chianti is located between Florence and Siena, about 30 kilometres from the capital of Tuscany. Due to its proximity, it is easy to reach by various means of public transport such as bus or Italy's public train system which is, by the way, of excellent quality.

However, the best way will always be an organised excursion from Florence, here I explain the reasons why.

It saves you time...

A day trip to Chianti is the ideal plan for travellers who stay in Florence for a short time and need to make the most of every second. The tour operators organise the itinerary so that you can live the greatest number of experiences according to the type of excursion you decide to book.

You don't need to plan...

Going on a solo trip involves much more planning than you might imagine, starting with renting a car, booking your own appointments with wineries (risking low availability) and finally preparing the route so you don't get lost along the way.

A day trip could become insufficient if you get lost and don't know the exact direction to take.

You have the opportunity to meet other travellers...

Perhaps this is the best part of the wine experience and Chianti tours: the group tours are full of adventurous travellers and you end up enjoying a pleasant evening with people from all corners of the world.

Talk to other adventurers about your travels and hear about their own experiences and perhaps discover some inspiring places to plan your next destination.