Cinque Terre & Beyond: 5 Day Trips to Take From Florence

Cinque Terre – Coastal Charm Awaits

Cinque Terre dazzles from afar. Yet venturing beyond the postcard views reveals its wild heart. In Manarola, pick your way through vine-laced trails to an iridescent cove shielded from the open-water. Here you can opt for a refreshing dip, and bask in the sun. You’ll see many perched on the rocks but we recommend sprawling out on the flat ramp that leads into the water. While it might not seem so serene, it’s surely a lot more comfortable.

Descend the stairs of Vernazza's castle (otherwise known as the Ruins of Doria’s Castle) to its boat-speckled harbour. Absorb the chorus of clinking masts and rolling waves. Inhale the scent of salt air mixed with frying fish wafting from restaurants. Sip wine at a tucked-away cafe along the rocky shore.

Meander through the maze-like streets of Monterosso al Mare, famous for its many lemon trees. Seek out hole-in-the-wall Da Edoardo, open since 1978, where sauce brims with basil's verdant taste. Their pesto alla genovese, ground in ancient stone mortars, celebrates the traditional techniques.

As sunset nears, clamber upwards through scrubby trails leading to remote outcrops. There, fiery hues cast their glow over man and nature entwined. In these hidden pockets, Cinque Terre feels a world away from bustling piazzas. Discover the region's wild heart - and savour its secret gifts waiting to be explored.

How to Get to Cinque Terre From Florence?

There are two ways to get to Cinque Terre from Florence. By car or by train.

While driving yourself grants flexibility, we find the train to be the most hassle-free transport if planning yourself. Trenitalia will take you from Florence to Monterosso in just 2.5 hours. Settle in to watch rolling Tuscan hills give way to rugged coastline out your window. Tickets cost around €20 each way.

Of course, driving the 120 km yourself offers independence but requires navigating Italian highways. And finding parking in Cinque Terre's compact villages can prove tricky.

For maximum scenery and minimum stress, consider a small-group day tour from Florence. Intimate tours such as ours, provide walking tours and time to explore each village at your own pace. And you can indulge in wine tastings and local specialties along the way.

 

Bologna – Italy's Foodie Capital

In lively Bologna, history collides deliciously with foodie indulgence. As you wander beyond the main drags, you’ll uncover covered arcades adorned with vibrant street art.

In the heart of Bologna, modernity meets classical pretty soon, as within no time you’ll be immersed again in the city’s past among Piazza Maggiore’s Renaissance palaces. Students lounge and laughter fills the air as you explore the piazza’s sights. The Fountain of Neptune gurgles beside the imposing Basilica of San Petronio, while stalls of local handicrafts pop with colour. Take note of the aroma of freshly baked bread wafting from the local bakeries. 

For such a compact city, Bologna offers you endless opportunities to sample local specialties. Why not take a cooking class at La Vecchia Scuola Bolognese? Learn to create the perfect meaty ragù alla Bolognese coated ribbons of silky tagliatelle.

Let the Mortadella’s (Italian sausage) velvety texture and pistachio slivers delight your palate at restaurant cremeria Stefino. Under the porticos, sample gelato from Cremeria Funivia with strands of aged balsamic vinegar providing the perfect sweet and tangy afternoon treat.

After getting happily lost in the maze of porticos, you’ll finally find your way to Osteria Broccaindosso. Among vaulted brick ceilings, savour tortellini in brodo, watching as the chef crafts each delicate pasta parcel by hand.

A trip to Bologna is guaranteed to feed your stomach and soul. And with a quick 40-minute train trip from Florence, relish having this foodie paradise so close at hand for when your cravings inevitably return.

 

How to Get to Bologna From Florence?

Zippy trains make it a breeze to day trip from Florence to Bologna in well under an hour. Trenitalia Frecce tends to be the fastest and most frequent option, with swift trains departing Florence's Santa Maria Novella station for Bologna Centrale every 30 minutes.

Tickets will only set you back around €10-20 each way.

While you can save a few Euros opting for Italo or regional operators, we prefer Trenitalia for its speed and reliability. Let the lush Tuscan countryside pass you by in just 38 minutes before stepping out into the heart of Bologna.

If you prefer travelling on four wheels, FlixBus buses connect Florence and Bologna 3 times daily. Just be aware the bus journey takes nearly 2 hours versus the quick train ride. Still, with tickets around €10-15 each way, FlixBus provides an affordable alternative for this popular route between two of Italy's iconic cities.

However you choose to travel, Florence and Bologna pair perfectly for an easy and rewarding day trip. You can immerse yourself in Bologna's mediaeval lanes and bountiful food scene before making it back to Florence in time for a late dinner of leisurely wine sipping. Add Bologna to your Italian itinerary and arrive hungry!

Tours to Bologna From Florence

One of the easiest ways to maximise your time exploring Bologna is by booking a guided day tour from Florence. Having an expert guide (like the ones we’re proud to work with) handle the logistics allows you to simply relax and have someone else do the heavy lifting on the planning part.

 

Siena – And the Chianti Hills

Siena's black and white cathedral stuns with optical illusions. Peer closer at marble stripes...do they ripple before your eyes?

It can be amazingly fun to visit during the chaotic Palio horse races that take place twice a year in the shell-shaped Piazza del Campo. You'll be surprised to know that the saddle-free jockeys are paired with their horses at random only 4 days before the event.

Climb 500 steps up Torre del Mangia, then descend to hidden cafes on quiet side streets. Sip cocoa dusted cappuccinos amid locals. At Osteria Il Grattacielo, beef melts in your mouth in ribollita stew, washed down with Chianti's oak notes. Ricotta-filled pici pasta with sugo evokes the aroma of hardy Tuscan comfort food.

The hearty Chianti wine pairs perfectly with Tuscan fare thanks to the unique terroir of the surrounding Chianti hills.

These gentle slopes covered in vineyards and olive groves have produced wine since ancient Etruscan times. Crisscross the region's quiet backroads to discover tiny hilltop towns and family-run wineries. Stop to sample earthy Chianti Classicos and visit timeworn cellars. As the amber hues of sunset wash over the endless vines and cypress-dotted landscape, you'll understand why Chianti captured the imagination of history's great painters and poets.

Back in Siena, under the city lies a secret 14th century medicinal garden accessible by guided tour. Once supplying herbs to Santa Maria della Scala hospital, now rare plants and elaborate pottery designs flourish in the cave-like spaces beneath Siena's streets.

 

How to Get to Siena from Florence?

Several convenient options connect Florence and Siena. Regional buses by Autolinee Toscane run hourly between Florence's main bus station and Siena, covering the 70 km journey in around 1 hour 15 minutes. One-way tickets cost €10-15.

For the most direct route, Trenitalia operates speedy train service departing Florence's Santa Maria Novella station for Siena each hour. The panoramic 90 minute ride offers views of quintessential Tuscan countryside out your window. Tickets again, range €10-20 each way.

Travelling by bus allows flexibility to stop in charming hill towns like San Gimignano along the way. But the direct train is fastest if you want to maximise time in Siena. Whichever you choose, within an hour or two you can step from the splendours of Renaissance Florence into the heart of the Mediaeval world in Siena.