9 Best Day Trips from Florence by Train: Routes, Times & Tickets (2026)

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Day Trips from Florence by Train and Bus at a Glance

Compare all nine options before committing to one, since travel time and mode vary sharply across this list. This table sorts by primary mode and gives an editorial half-day-or-full-day verdict for each stop, based on the travel times and connection types confirmed below. Use it to shortlist two or three towns rather than trying to fit everything into one trip.

Regional Train vs Bus in Tuscany: Booking and Ticket Basics

Regional fares normally do not require buying far ahead for a lower price, and seats are unreserved. Check Trenitalia for the exact train and any current works. Siena has both bus and rail options; San Gimignano needs a bus for its last leg. Greve route 365A is extraurban, so the Florence urban municipality list does not prove city-fare validity for the whole trip. Use AT’s ticket rules and select the actual origin and destination.

The 9 Best Day Trips from Florence by Train and Bus

Every entry below states its mode plainly, since the word train in this guide's title only tells part of the story. This selection includes bus routes as well as trains: Siena has both options, San Gimignano needs a final bus leg, and Greve is a bus outing.

• Pisa
  • Regional trains from Santa Maria Novella reach Pisa Centrale in roughly 50–80 minutes, depending on the specific service.
  • Piazza dei Miracoli and the Leaning Tower fill a half day comfortably. That makes Pisa a strong candidate for pairing with Lucca rather than a standalone full day.
  • Pisa train route guide covers ticket types and the walk from the station to the tower square.
• Lucca
  • Allow roughly 1½–2 hours from Florence for initial planning, then check the exact train. The onward hop from Lucca to Pisa runs closer to 30 minutes.
  • That short connection is what makes the classic Pisa-and-Lucca combo day work, provided both stops stay tightly timed rather than open-ended.
  • Lucca train route guide details the combo-day timing and the station-to-old-town walk.
• Siena
  • Some regional-train routings to Siena involve a change and can stretch to 1.5 to 2 hours. That is why this guide covers the route by bus instead.
  • Autolinee Toscane's extra-urban coaches run more directly than the train option. Current times should be checked before travel. The operator's general ticket page does not list a fixed Florence-Siena fare.
  • Siena bus route guide has the current boarding point and ticket details.
• San Gimignano
  • San Gimignano has no train station, so the standard route combines a regional train toward Poggibonsi with a connecting Autolinee Toscane bus.
  • Total journey time commonly runs 1.5 to 2 hours each way, depending on the connection. That leaves this as one of the least forgiving stops for a late start.
  • San Gimignano route guide covers current transfer points and timing.
• Chianti (Greve)
  • Route 365A is an extraurban service. Select Florence–Greve in the AT planner and buy the applicable origin–destination fare.
  • Check the return timetable before committing to a half-day visit. Touring the wider Chianti countryside beyond the town realistically needs a car or an organized tour.
  • Chianti bus route guide covers what a car-free Greve visit does and does not include.
• Arezzo
  • Allow roughly 1–1½ hours for the regional journey to Arezzo, depending on the departure. Check Trenitalia's live planner before fixing a schedule.
  • Arezzo works as a full day or a selective half-day outing, with Renaissance frescoes and an antiques market as the main draws.
  • Arezzo train route guide covers the walk-up-versus-bus option from the station.
• Pistoia
  • Current sourcing does not confirm an exact Florence-to-Pistoia travel time, so check Trenitalia's journey planner directly before booking a specific train.
  • Pistoia sits on the same regional line as Prato and Lucca, which makes it a plausible add-on for travelers already comparing those routes.
  • Pistoia train route guide has route specifics and what a half day there covers.
• Prato
  • As with Pistoia, current sourcing does not confirm an exact Florence-to-Prato travel time, so verify the live regional timetable on Trenitalia before travel.
  • Prato sits closer to Florence by rail distance than the other eight towns on this list. That makes it a realistic add for a shorter half day.
  • Prato train route guide covers the station-to-center walk and what fills a half day.
• Cinque Terre
  • Cinque Terre is the longest single trip on this list. Current sourcing does not confirm an exact one-way travel time, so check Trenitalia's planner before setting a departure.
  • Because of the extra travel time in both directions, treat this as a full-day trip with an early departure rather than a relaxed half day.
  • Cinque Terre train route guide covers realistic time on the ground per village.

Mistakes to Avoid When Planning Florence Day Trips

A handful of planning mistakes account for most of the frustration reported around these nine routes. Checking each one before booking saves both time and money.

• Booking high-speed tickets at the last minute
  • Frecciarossa and Intercity fares are dynamic and climb as departure nears, unlike the fixed price of a regional ticket. Book the faster option as early as the itinerary allows.
• Assuming every destination on this list is a pure train ride
  • Siena can be reached by rail or bus; San Gimignano needs a final bus leg; Greve is a bus outing. Match the ticket and transfer plan to the destination.
• Underestimating the San Gimignano transfer
  • That train-plus-bus connection to San Gimignano commonly runs 1.5 to 2 hours each way, leaving less time on the ground than a direct-train destination gets.
• Overpacking a Pisa-and-Lucca day with a third stop
  • The Lucca-to-Pisa hop takes about 30 minutes, but adding a third town to the same day usually means rushing at least one of them.

Other options: Fiesole, Bologna and Rome

This guide’s nine routes are the destinations covered in this day-trip cluster. For a nearer hillside outing, the Fiesole bus 7 guide is already available. Bologna and Rome are separate high-speed journeys; compare their complete travel time before adding them to a short stay.

Regional tickets: paper and digital are different

Paper regional tickets must be stamped at the station before boarding. Trenitalia Digital Regional Tickets activate automatically at the booked departure time; change the departure before that time if your plans change. Electronic Regional Tickets follow their own printed validity. Trenitalia explains these ticket formats. Regional trains have no assigned seats: buying early does not reserve one.

Related Florence routes

Continue planning with these detailed guides:

• Santa Maria Novella station
• urbano capoluogo ticket

Connect this journey with your Florence stay

Use the Florence public transport guide to plan the bus or tram between your accommodation and the departure station.

Official planning sources

Sources reviewed 6 October 2026: Trenitalia, Trenitalia, official visitor or operator information, official visitor or operator information, Autolinee Toscane, Autolinee Toscane, Autolinee Toscane. Check the dated timetable and current notices before travelling. Journey allowances are planning estimates, not a guarantee for a particular departure.