Help with Florence half day trip!
 

I have one day to spare in Florence and would like to do a day trip to a typical tuscan town/village.

Several places that we are considering would be San Gimignano, Monteriggioni, Fiesole and Voltterra. We are looking to take a bus or train and would like to spend a half day. In past trips we visited Siena and Pisa, so we are looking for a new place to explore.

Please help to take a decision. Thanks!

Arezzo is an easy 1 hr trip by train. I wanted to visit San G on our last trip and didn't get there. From Florence I believe it's a train and then you connect to a bus - someone will confirm.

Thanks Tavelfan. I will check into Arezzo!

You don't mention if you'll have a car. I you have a car then San Gimignano and /or Voltterra would be great. San G being more touristy. Voltterra is a typical Italian village. If you only have train/bus travel option, then I strongly suggest Lucca. You can take the train from Florence's SMN station (the main station) which drops you off in Lucca with a 10 min walk to the city center. The town is very walkable and you can also rent bikes to ride the wall of the city (Takes 20 minutes to circle the wall on bikes.) Lucca is also the home town of Puccini. Or you can take bus #7 from Florence, near the train station, for a 30 minute ride to Fiesole. It's a lovely town overlooking Florence. Make sure you stop at the tourist info center there to get a free walking map of Fiesole. Lucca and the other towns you mention might be too much for a half day, in which then I would recommend Fiesole. By the way, if you go to Lucca, there is a tourist office right outside the train station to the right as you exit the station for a map of Lucca as well. Have a great trip. I am returning to Florence next month. Ciao!!

Thanks Alan! We will NOT have a car and prefer to take the public transportation route. Lucca is another consideration for us. We leave next week!

Steve31, best wishes, I am sure you will enjoy your trip immensely. I went to school in Florence for a while. I personally enjoyed Lucca and find San G a bit too over-populated by tourists. (But I realize that everyone has their own preferences.)

BC

Thank you bookchick. I am very excited. When I travel I enjoy exploring the new places, while staying where I've been before like Florence. Does anyone have any experience with Florence's touring places?

I think Lucca would give a better small town feel than Arezzo.

Posted too quickly . . .

Or you might accomplish the same idea by visiting Fiesole on the hilside overlooking Florence, accessible by city bus #7.

thanks ellenem

Has anyone taken any of the tours offered from the various companies in Florence to the above locations?

Fiesole has a very well restored Roman amphitheater as well as Medici villas, remnants of the Etruscans and breath-taking views of the city center of Florence below. It is possible to walk back to central Florence from the town, though I would discourage most from walking to Fiesole because of the steep grade.

Enjoy your trek, where you go.

hmmm, thanks for your suggestion!