More about: 7 Best Day Trips to Chianti from Florence
All travellers who want to spend their holidays in this beautiful part of Italy will soon discover that there is plenty to see, do and enjoy in Florence. Among the best plans is an excursion to explore Chianti and, if time permits, other beautiful areas of the countryside.
Located in the heart of Tuscany, the Chianti region is a hilly landscape famous throughout the world for its vineyards and traditional wineries. It is well worth taking a trip to discover both its delicious cuisine and the endless beauty of its landscapes.
Once you have exhausted the classic itinerary in Florence, which includes visiting the Uffizi Gallery, seeing the dome of Florence Cathedral and exploring the Pitti Palace and its gardens, it is time to discover Chianti. Here are some options.
1. Traditional excursion: A day in Chianti and the highlights of Tuscany from Florence
Tuscany is a region of Italy made up of several cities and provinces. In the heart of Tuscany lies the province of Siena, a highly fertile 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 visit the highlights of the area: San Gimignano, the village of Monteriggioni, the famous Chianti wineries, the city of Siena itself and much more.
This is one of the most popular excursions from Florence, which is why it is offered to travellers by different companies and 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. This is an excellent option if you are taking a short 5-day trip to Florence.
Group excursions are carried out in shared transport, leaving Florence early in the morning to make the most of the time available for exploration. A minimum number of participants is required for the excursion to take place. The number of people may vary from one tour operator to another.
- Price: Depending on the company you choose and the number of participants, the tour costs between £60 and £80.
- Duration: This is a full-day excursion, lasting 11 to 12 hours.
- Advantages of this option: This alternative offers excellent value for money.
- Disadvantages of this option: You depend on the group being full to go on the trip, although due to its popularity there are always travellers interested, especially if you are visiting Florence in August, one of the busiest months for tourism.
Private excursion to Chianti and surroundings.
A private air-conditioned transport takes travellers from Florence to explore the highlights of the Tuscany region, such as the Chianti vineyards.
Although the specific details vary slightly depending on the company you hire, companies generally charge a standard rate for the trip, allowing 4 to 8 travellers to join the experience.
This option is ideal if you are visiting Florence with children for a family holiday and are looking for a more comfortable and private alternative that is completely personalised.
- Price: The private tour costs around £600 per group of participants, with the option of including between 6 and 8 people.
- Duration: This is a full-day excursion, which usually lasts approximately 8 hours.
- Advantages of this option: It is a convenient option that offers greater flexibility when it comes to personalising the experience.
- Disadvantages of this option: The price is the main disadvantage, as it is considerably more expensive than other options.
2. Half-day excursion to Chianti from Florence
A short excursion designed to explore the best of the Chianti vineyards, departing from Florence. This is a very popular tour option, so it is offered by several local companies in Florence.
Although the specific details of the experience will depend on the company you choose, many companies include the following activities in their itinerary: the company of an expert local guide, a short tour of the small village of Greve and the opportunity to taste some of the best Chianti wines
This is an ideal option for travellers on a tight schedule who are only staying in Florence for four days or less. This way, you can spend a few hours getting to know some areas of Tuscany and devote the rest of your time to exploring the city's museums and monuments.
Additional information
- Price: The price is around £45 per person.
- Duration: Designed to take place in half a day, the excursion lasts approximately 5 hours.
- Advantages of this option: This is the best alternative for travellers with tight itineraries who also want to keep their trip within budget.
- Disadvantages of this option: The excursion only covers some areas of the Province of Siena. If you want to explore the rest of the countryside, you will need to take another tour.
3. Gastronomic excursion to Chianti from Florence
There are two things that make a trip to Florence totally worthwhile: the impressive Florentine museums and the delicious cuisine of Tuscany. If you are looking for an experience to enjoy the latter, this is a tour not to be missed.
The tour is offered by one of the best local tour operators and is designed for small groups. It combines a traditional tour that takes travellers to the highlights of Chianti with a first-class gastronomic experience.
Enjoy delicious Tuscan cheese, fine local wine, a tasting of local food, and take home samples of original olive oil. Without a doubt, one of the best food tours in Florence and the surrounding area.
Additional information
- Price: The price is usually around £180 per person. It includes round-trip transportation and, of course, the food served during the trip.
- Duration: This is a full-day tour, lasting approximately 8 to 9 hours.
- Advantages of this option: This is the best way to familiarise yourself with the local cuisine and traditional dishes of the Tuscany region.
- Disadvantages of this option: The price may be a little high for travellers on a tight budget.
4. Bicycle tour of Chianti and the best of Tuscany from Florence
A tour option through Chianti and the surrounding area that takes travellers through different landscapes in the province of Siena. This is a popular alternative offered by some tour operators in Florence for small groups of travellers, usually no more than 8 or 10 participants.
While it is true that some specific aspects of the experience will depend largely on the company you hire, most offer travellers the following services: an expert tour guide who accompanies the group throughout the experience and the bicycle and necessary safety equipment.
In addition, some companies also offer an aperitif or lunch or stops for food tasting.
The bike route usually covers the Chianti area, in the heart of Tuscany.
Additional information
- Price: Around £120 per participant. This price includes the rental of the equipment needed for the experience.
- Duration: This is a half-day tour, so I recommend setting aside approximately 6 hours for the experience.
- Advantages of this option: You can enjoy an immersive experience in the Tuscan countryside. Exploring the countryside by bike is much better than doing so in a car at high speed.
- Disadvantages of this option: A certain level of physical fitness and cycling experience is required to participate. Travellers with special health conditions may not be admitted.
5. Excursion to Monteriggioni and Chianti from Florence
This excursion includes the traditional trip to Chianti and its vineyards, with the addition of one of the most interesting stops in the province of Siena: Monteriggioni. An excellent alternative for learning more about the countryside in a single trip.
Monteriggioni is a charming little town situated on a hill. During 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 some refreshments, although this depends on the itinerary and plans of the company you hire.
Additional information
- Price: Available from £50 per traveller.
- Duration: You should reserve around 5 hours of your itinerary for this experience.
- Advantages of this option: It 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 excursion, which may be subject to a minimum number of participants. This can be complicated if you are travelling during months with low tourist numbers, for example Florence in December.
6. Excursion to San Gimignano and the Chianti vineyards from Florence
This is another excellent combination tour that will take you to Chianti and a little further afield in Tuscany.
San Gimignano is an excellent choice for visiting a medieval walled town, offering an experience that will transport you to another period in history. Chianti, meanwhile, is a classic excursion for discovering the vineyards of Tuscany from Florence.
Depending on the company you choose, some services may or may not be included. I recommend reading the details carefully before paying to ensure that the experience meets your expectations.
However, on a tour to San Gimignano and Chianti, you can expect return transport from Florence to the heart of Tuscany, an expert guide to explain the different routes during the trip, a traditional lunch in a beautiful area of Chianti and a wine tasting.
Additional information
- Price: The price is around £50 per traveller.
- Duration: This is a full-day tour for which you should allow around 11 or 12 hours for the experience.
- Advantages of this option: Tours with combined options are the best way to make the most of your time and budget. This is ideal for travellers visiting Tuscany for the first time and wanting to take the time to appreciate the area.
- Disadvantages of this option: You will need to set aside a full day for the experience. Travellers with a short stay, for example only 3 days in Florence, will not be able to enjoy this experience without sacrificing time that could be spent exploring the city.
7. Excursion with dinner at a Chianti vineyard from Florence
If you are looking to experience Italian Tuscany in a different way, consider booking a trip to have dinner in Chianti, located 50 minutes away by car. This adventure offers a different plan for Florence at night during your holiday.
Please note that some aspects of the experience may vary from one company to another. However, you can expect the company of an expert guide, private transport to and from Chianti, a tour of the vineyards upon arrival and a traditional dinner served at sunset in a typical Italian villa.
Additional information
- Price: Around £85 per participant.
- Duration: You should allow 5 hours at the end of the day.
- Advantages of this option: The schedule is the main advantage. It is ideal for a 2-day trip to Florence, as it allows you to make the most of your time.
- Disadvantages of this option: The price may be a drawback for travellers on a tight budget. If you are looking for cheaper options, I recommend looking at other alternatives.
What are the advantages of taking a tour vs visiting Chianti on my own?
The famous Chianti wine region is located between Florence and Siena, about 30 kilometres from the Tuscan capital. 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, incidentally, of excellent quality.
However, the best way will always be an organised excursion from Florence. Here are the reasons why.
It saves you time...
A day trip to Chianti is the ideal plan for travellers staying in Florence for a short time and who need to make the most of every second. Tour operators organise the itinerary so that you can enjoy as many experiences as possible depending on the type of excursion you decide to book.
You don't need to plan anything...
Setting off on your own involves much more planning than you might imagine, starting with renting a car, booking appointments with wineries on your own (risking limited availability) and finally planning the route so you don't get lost along the way.
A day trip could turn out to be 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 excursions to Chianti: group tours are full of adventurous travellers and you end up enjoying a pleasant evening with people from all over the world.
Talk to other adventurers about your travels and listen to their experiences to perhaps discover an inspiring place that will inspire you to plan your next destination.