3 Days in Tuscany: Florence, Pisa, Siena & San Gimignano
Everyone raves about visiting Rome and Venice, but what about spending a few days in Tuscany?
Despite the fact that I am not a fan for the taste of wine – visiting Siena, Pisa, and Florence were some of my favorite places I saw in Italy.
Some of the places to go in Tuscany are truly astounding and will match the postcard expectations you’ve had in your head for years. For instance, the leaning tower of Pisa is no let down… it is leaning!
The Leaning Tower of Pisa and I in Pisa, Italy; July 2018
🇮🇹 Tuscany at a Glance 🇮🇹
| 🗓️ Ideal Trip | 3 days to 1 week |
| 🌿 Best For | First-time visitors looking for postcard-perfect countryside, charming medieval towns, and classic Italian vibes. |
| 🏨 Best Base | Florence |
| 🚆 Transportation | Train + day tours, or rent a car if you want complete flexibility exploring Tuscany at your own pace. |
| ☀️ Best Months | April–June & September–October |
View of major plaza in Siena, Italy; July 2018
⏳🇮🇹 How Many Days Should You Spend in Tuscany? 🇮🇹
☀️ 1 Day
If you only have one day in Tuscany, spend it entirely in Florence. Between the Duomo, Ponte Vecchio, Piazzale Michelangelo, museums, and incredible food scene, Florence easily fills an entire day by itself.
🚂 2 Days
With two days, I recommend visiting Florence and Pisa. Florence gives you Tuscany's incredible art and architecture, while Pisa makes for an easy day trip to see the iconic Leaning Tower and explore another beautiful Tuscan city.
🏰 3 Days
Three days is enough for a fantastic introduction to Tuscany. You'll have time to visit Florence, Pisa, Siena, and San Gimignano, giving you a little taste of Tuscany's famous cities, medieval villages, rolling hills, and unforgettable scenery.
🌿 5 Days
With five days, you'll be able to slow down and experience Tuscany beyond the highlights. Add destinations like Val d'Orcia for its postcard-perfect countryside or Lucca for its charming historic center and famous Renaissance walls.
is it worth seeing the leaning tower of pisa?
Yes, it is worth it to travel to see the Leaning Tower of Pisa – especially if you are interested in architecture and fun photo opportunities. There isn’t much else to see or do in the area, but the Leaning Tower of Pisa itself is worthwhile.
Like the Trevi Fountain in Rome, the size of the infamous green field surrounding the tower is deceiving, but the actual tower does not disappoint.
What do I need to know before going to the Leaning Tower of Pisa?
I have two pieces of advice for you before your Pisa experience:
1. Like many other places in Europe, be prepared to either go buy a coffee from McDonald’s or have euro coins in your pocket to use the bathroom.
2. Go to the Leaning Tower of Pisa early. I mean… really early. We got there just before 9 in the morning. By 11… it was crawling with other tourists.
After this, we were off to Firenze.
We were only given a few hours in Florence, but we sure made the most of it. I can’t speak on museums (you guys know by this point that I’m not a fan of those things), but I can speak on all of the other cliché, Florence sights to see.
❤️🇮🇹 If You Love... You'll Love Tuscany Because... 🇮🇹
| If You Love... | Visit Tuscany Because... |
|---|---|
| 🍨 Exquisite gelato & a sweet tooth | San Gimignano is home to some of the best gelato I've ever had and is the perfect place to wander with an ice cream in hand. |
| 🌿 Medieval towns, wine tasting & rolling green hills | Siena is everything you picture when you imagine Tuscany, with beautiful countryside, vineyards, medieval streets, and postcard-worthy landscapes that reminded me a bit of Ireland. |
| 🎨 Renaissance art & classic European cities | Florence is the heart of Tuscany, packed with world-famous museums, stunning architecture, incredible viewpoints, and Renaissance history around every corner. |
| 📸 Unique architecture & fun Instagram photos | Pisa offers far more than just the Leaning Tower, but it's still one of the most fun places in Italy for iconic travel photos. |
| 🍝 Incredible Italian food | Honestly... everywhere. You really can't go wrong anywhere in Tuscany when it comes to fresh pasta, pizza, wine, pastries, and authentic Italian cuisine. |
Is Florence Worth Visiting?
Absolutely, I don’t think a trip to Italy is complete without a trip to Florence – as it’s exceptionally beautiful with its unique architecture and focus on art. Basically, Florence is one of those cities where everywhere you turn, the architecture puts of you in a trance. It’s very small, and it has many moments where its streets remind me of Prague.
Walking the streets of Florence, Italy; July 2018.
In all, it’s like Milan as in it’s another typical European city… but it has some exceptional moments that other places in Italy don’t.
What should I do in Florence?
Here’s a list of 8 things you should be sure to see and do in Florence if you’ve only got a few hours there:
1. Church of Santa Croce
Basilica of Santa Croce in Florence, Italy; July 2018
If you’ve ever seen a picture of Florence, you’ve probably seen a picture of this iconic church – known for it’s unique coloring and complex structure.
It’s open from 9:30AM to 5:30PM Monday to Saturday, with shortened hours on Sundays. Tickets are 10€ for full-fare admission and 6€ if you qualify for a student discount.
2. Palazzo Vecchio
Palazzo Vecchio in Florence, Italy; July 2018
Known as the “town hall” of Florence, Palazzo Vecchio overlooks the Piazza della Signoria – which is known to have a replica of Michelangelo's David statue.
Just keep in mind, this Italian plaza will be crowded to the brim if you’re traveling to Italy during peak season in the summer – be extra careful with pit pocketing, here.
3. Piazza Della Signoria
Piazza Della Signoria in Florence, Italy; July 2018
4. Try Florentine Food
People in Florence are into cooking with the whole cow and serving their meat nearly raw – better known as Steak Florentine. If you eat meat and have a sturdy stomach, you can try it.
Florence has distinct meats to try alongside your typical pizza & pasta options.
If not… you can do what my mom and I did, which was take a break from the pasta and pizza at Universo Vegano.
🌱 Vegan Update (2026)
Sadly, Universo Vegano permanently closed in April 2024, so if you're following my Florence itinerary, you'll need to choose another vegan spot instead. :contentReference[oaicite:0]
Luckily, Florence has plenty of fantastic alternatives nearby! I recommend Il Vegano for traditional Tuscan comfort food, Nirvana Veg for classic Italian dishes like vegan lasagna and carbonara, or Cortese Café if you're craving incredible vegan pastries, desserts, or gelato. :contentReference[oaicite:1]
Universo Vegano in Florence, Italy; July 2018.
I ate some sort of chick’n cutlet and potatoes.
Vegan meal in Florence, Italy; July 2018
I got to try my own vegan tiramisu as well!
Vegan tiramisu in Florence, Italy; July 2018
My not-vegan-mother approved of this place; I can recommend if you’re looking for some healthier food after stuffing your face with bread and gelato all over Italy for several days in a row.
5. Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore
Basilica of St. Mary of the Flower in Florence; July 2018.
It’s really breathtaking, and really hard to capture completely in a photo.
6. Take a Gelato Break
I had Gelateria de Neri bookmarked in my phone forever. I had good dairy-free gelato in both Milan and Venice… but I think this one may have taken the crown.
The gelato I had in Florence was just so rich in dark chocolate flavor, and the strawberry was perfectly creamy, and could’ve fooled anyone.
My last gelato in Italy :(
Where can I find the best gelato in florence?
The best gelato places in Florence include
Gelateria de Neri (dairy-free options)
Gelateria La Carraia (for specialized flavors)
Gelateria dei Medici (for a wide variety of flavors)
7. Ponte Santa Trinata
Ponte Santa Trinata in Florence; July 2018.
As this bridge in Firenze is the oldest elliptic arch bridge in the world, it’s definitely worth a visit, a picture, and a moment to marvel in.
8. Piazzale Michelangelo
This is the most stunning view I saw out of the four big cities in Italy, and in my opinion – an absolute must while you’re in Florence.
The view from Piazzale Michelangelo in Florence; Taken July 2018.
What day trips can I take from Florence?
Florence is a great home base to explore the rest of Tuscany, including cities like Pisa, San Gimignano, and Siena – as each city is a little over an hour away by car from Florence.
San Gimignano
After our day in Florence, we made a stop in San Gimignano to try some award-winning gelato.
I didn’t try it, but all the friends I made on the tour group can vouch for it. They make obscure, but good off beat flavors like basil, ricotta, fig, and rosemary.
Outside Gelateria Dondoli in San Gimignano, Italy; July 2018
The lines apparently get long, so come early if you’re interested in trying their award-winning gelato. Our tour group went at around 11 in the morning… gelato for breakfast may not sound the most appetizing, but hey - you’re in Italy!
Eat it while you can. Trust me, you’ll miss it once it’s gone.
Siena
Last on our Tuscany list was Siena.
Our tour took us here for a complimentary wine tasting excursion in Tuscany. Like I mentioned before, I’m not a fan for the taste of wine, but if you are – you need to do this while you’re here.
Wine tasting in Tuscany, Italy; July 2018
Don’t worry – they serve homemade bruschetta with in-house-made olive oil. It was delicious, and made up for the bitter, alcohol-in-my-throat-and-on-fire burn taste in my mouth.
If you’re like me, and prefer to pictures over prosecco you can opt to walk outside for the tall, skinny, pointy dark trees and rolling hills of Tuscany for a photo session instead.
The rolling green hills of Tuscany in Siena; July 2018.
Tuscany was exactly everything I had hoped it would be.
I hope this serves as a good guide to help you figure out what you want to do when you visit.
Still need help figuring out which place in Tuscany is best for you?
⚖️🇮🇹 Tuscany Towns: Pros & Cons 🇮🇹
| Town | Pros ✅ | Cons ❌ |
|---|---|---|
| 🎨 Florence |
✅ Amazing Renaissance architecture ✅ Incredible food scene ✅ World-famous museums |
❌ Can get very crowded ❌ One of the more expensive places in Tuscany |
| 🗼 Pisa |
✅ Easy day trip from Florence ✅ Home to the iconic Leaning Tower ✅ Fun place for classic travel photos |
❌ Small city ❌ Half a day is usually enough ❌ Arrive early before the crowds take over |
| 🌿 Siena |
✅ Stunning medieval center ✅ Less touristy than Florence ✅ Beautiful Tuscan countryside nearby |
❌ Very hilly ❌ Harder to reach without a car |
| 🍨 San Gimignano |
✅ Gorgeous medieval streets ✅ Award-winning gelato ✅ Incredible Tuscan scenery |
❌ Can get crowded during the middle of the day |
View of tower and dome in Florence, Italy; July 2018
🇮🇹🌿 Tuscany FAQs 🌿🇮🇹
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Last updated: July 27, 2026