Things to Do in Tuscany: 12 Must-See Highlights

Tuscany Attractions on a Map

Tuscany is one of the most beautiful travel destinations in the world — and there is seriously so much to see here. So much, in fact, that ranking the highlights is nearly impossible.

There are, however, certain places so significant artistically and historically that Tuscany’s reputation rests on them. These are the spots you simply cannot skip on a Tuscany vacation.

Tuscany divides neatly into north and south. Many of the most important highlights are in the north and not all that far apart from each other — which is especially handy if you’re traveling without a car.

The north is well connected, with the two airports of Florence and Pisa plus plenty of bus and train links, so getting around is easy even without your own wheels.

The south is much more rural. Still, some standout places are here too — the thousand-year-old villages of Sorano, Sovana, and Pitigliano, and the stunning postcard landscape of the Val d’Orcia.

Tuscany Sights on a Map

We’ve marked all the Tuscany attractions we cover in this article on a map, so you get a solid first overview of where everything is.

The Old Town of Florence

If you’re heading to Tuscany, Florence is absolutely non-negotiable.

Not just because it’s the regional capital, but because it’s one of the most important cultural cities on the planet.

Florence is bursting with art, history, and architecture. You can visit the Uffizi Gallery — one of the best museums in Florence — the Palazzo Vecchio, or just wander through the medieval alleyways of the historic center and browse the chic designer boutiques.

Florence also makes a fantastic base for your trip, since from here you can easily reach other great Tuscan cities like Siena, San Gimignano, or Pisa.

Florence is a major tourist magnet and gets seriously crowded. Buying tickets in advance is worth it — you’ll skip the lines, guarantee entry, and maybe even save a few euros. Here are tickets to Florence’s top attractions:

Still looking for a great place to stay? Here’s our hotel pick for Florence:
Book Corte Calzaiuoli Elegant Suites in Florence

The Old Town of Siena

Siena sits about 70 kilometers from Florence and is super easy to reach by car or train.

It’s one of those places in Tuscany you really can’t afford to skip.

Even the drive there is gorgeous — you’ll pass through rolling countryside with vineyards, olive groves, and medieval villages at every turn.

The entire old town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, home to the sweeping Piazza del Campo and Siena’s magnificent Gothic cathedral.

There are also plenty of other impressive structures, including the Palazzo Pubblico with its bell tower rising over 100 meters.

Siena is also famous for its traditional horse race, the “Palio di Siena,” held every year on July 2 and August 16 right on the Piazza del Campo.

Staying right in Siena’s historic center makes the most of your visit — like this great option:

Book B&B Il Corso in Siena

San Gimignano

For us, San Gimignano is one of the most beautiful places in Tuscany — this little town is pure picture-book Tuscany.

It sits roughly halfway between Siena and Florence, perched on a hill in the middle of the Tuscan countryside.

What makes San Gimignano so special is its compact medieval old quarter and the 12 tall towers you can spot from miles away.

The old town is enclosed by an 11th-century defensive wall and filled with well-kept alleyways, the towers, and two main squares: Piazza della Cisterna and Piazza del Duomo.

There are little souvenir shops, restaurants, and artists’ studios around every corner — and from many spots in town, you get incredible views over the Tuscan landscape.

Our tip: San Gimignano is home to one of the best gelato shops in the world — Gelateria Dondoli on the Piazza della Cisterna. The place has won the world championship title twice. You absolutely have to try it!

For that authentic Tuscan feel, check out this farmhouse hotel in San Gimignano:

Book Agriturismo Segreto di Pietrafitta in San Gimignano

The Leaning Tower of Pisa

This is the top sight in Pisa and probably one of the most iconic landmarks in Italy.

The Leaning Tower is actually the freestanding bell tower of Pisa’s cathedral — and it took a full 177 years to build.

Why so long? Because the tower kept tilting further and further due to the soft ground beneath it, forcing construction to halt twice for several decades at a time.

Today the tilt is about four degrees and is well under control thanks to structural engineers.

You can also climb the tower — just be ready to tackle 294 slightly tilted steps.

Tickets for the Leaning Tower of Pisa with priority entry cost 25 euros.

The Cathedral Square and the Leaning Tower are the main draws in Pisa, but it’s worth wandering a bit further — to the Piazza dei Cavalieri, for example, or along the Arno, which is especially lively in the evenings.

If you’d like to spend a little more time in Pisa, we really recommend this hotel in Pisa:

Book Boutique Hotel The Rif in Pisa

Val d'Orcia and the Village of Pienza

If you want to see the quintessential Tuscan landscape — the kind from postcards and calendars — you absolutely have to make it to the Val d’Orcia.

The area lies south of Siena, about two hours by car from Florence. It’s famous for its rolling hills and the incredible colors of the soil, and it has inspired artists for centuries.

The entire area is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site, recognized for its beauty and the harmony between people and nature.

The Val d’Orcia is dotted with charming little villages well worth a stop, such as Montalcino and San Quirico d’Orcia. But the most beautiful and famous of them all is Pienza, a small hilltop village right in the heart of the valley.

From Pienza, you also get wonderful panoramas of the surrounding landscape.

Nearby, a small chapel sits alone in the middle of a field — the Cappella della Madonna di Vitaleta. Thanks to its unique setting, it’s one of the most photographed subjects in all of Tuscany.

The Val d’Orcia isn’t just full of things to see — it’s also celebrated for its food and wine traditions.

Some of the most famous products include Pecorino di Pienza (a delicious sheep’s milk cheese), the sausage Cinta Senese, mushrooms, truffles, and of course Tuscan olive oil. You’ll also find Italy’s most famous and most prized red wine here — the Brunello di Montalcino.

The best way to explore the Val d’Orcia is on your own with a rental car, though you can also join culinary day tours by bus from Florence or Siena.

Want to stay longer than just a day trip? Here’s a lovely hotel in Pienza.

Book Hotel San Gregorio in Pienza

The Old Town of Lucca

Lucca is a wonderful little Tuscan town and makes for a perfect day trip.

It’s very close to Pisa and super easy to reach from Florence by car or train.

Lucca was one of the most important trading cities in Europe during the Middle Ages and the Renaissance — and you can still feel that today.

There’s a beautifully maintained historic center with lovely squares, towers, medieval building facades, and plenty of restaurants, artists’ studios, and fashion boutiques.

One of Lucca’s standout sights is the tower of the Palazzo Guinigi — a 44-meter-tall medieval tower with a rooftop garden featuring centuries-old oak trees at the very top.

230 steps lead up to it, but the climb is totally worth it: from the top you get a fantastic 360-degree view over all of Lucca and the nearby mountains.

What else makes Lucca special is its completely intact 12-meter-high city wall that entirely surrounds the old town. You can even walk along the wall and make your way all the way around.

If you want to save some time — and maybe a euro or two — grab tickets for Lucca’s top attractions online in advance.

We also have a hotel recommendation for staying right in Lucca:

Book La Bohème in Lucca

The Triangle of Villages: Sorano, Sovana, and Pitigliano

In the southernmost corner of Tuscany, you’ll find these three historically rich villages, just a few kilometers apart — making them perfect for a day trip.

All three are already over 3,000 years old, founded by the ancient Etruscan people.

But history isn’t the only reason to visit — their appearance is equally remarkable. They sit atop reddish tufa rock and look as though they were carved right out of the stone.

The stone houses of all three villages are packed tightly together. Pitigliano and Sorano are also surrounded by deep ravines, which makes them even more dramatic.

Within the villages, there are various vantage points from which you can gaze out over the entire landscape all the way to the horizon.

Our tip: If you don’t have time for all three and would rather see just one, Pitigliano is definitely the one to choose. With its wealth of sights, it’s the most significant town in southern Tuscany.

Pitigliano has an archaeological museum, a medieval aqueduct, a synagogue, and thousands-of-years-old sunken roads that wind through the towering rock beneath the town.

Want to spend the night in Pitigliano? Here’s a great option:

Book Il Girasole Storico in Pitigliano

The Mountain Village of Cortona

Ever since the Hollywood film “Under the Tuscan Sun,” the enchanting village of Cortona has been famous well beyond Italy.

Cortona sits on the slopes of Monte S. Egidio and is a very popular Tuscan day-trip destination, known for its medieval alleyways that always seem to go either uphill or downhill.

Thanks to its hillside position at over 500 meters above sea level, the town also offers a wonderful panorama over the Tuscan plain.

Highlights in Cortona include the chic shopping strip Via Nazionale, the large Piazza della Repubblica, and the Museo dell’Accademia Etrusca, where artifacts from the Etruscan period are on display.

If you feel like spending a few days here, take a look at this place to stay in Cortona.

Book Casa Zeni in Cortona

The Monastery Ruins of San Galgano

About 40 minutes by car south of Siena, the ruins of the Gothic abbey of San Galgano stand alone in the middle of a field.

At first glance, the massive building doesn’t look like a ruin at all — the outer walls are so well preserved. But as you get closer, something is clearly off: the roof is missing.

This enormous medieval structure still has completely intact walls and columns — only the roof is gone, and has been for over 200 years. That’s what makes it such an incredible photo location.

Theater performances are occasionally staged here, and weddings are sometimes held here too.

San Galgano is still a genuine off-the-beaten-path find, as not many tourists pass through this part of Tuscany. It’s almost never crowded, and if you’re lucky, you might have the ruins entirely to yourself.

Just a few kilometers further, on a hill, stands the legendary Cappella di Monte Siepi.

The highlight of this chapel is a sword stuck in a rock in the floor. According to legend, the former knight Galgano Guidotti drove the sword into the stone in the 12th century as a symbol of his renunciation of war and violence.

The sword in the stone is also said to have inspired the legend of King Arthur. Entry to the Cappella di Monte Siepi is free.

Need a hotel close to the monastery ruins? Here’s our pick for accommodation near San Galgano.

Book Agriturismo San Galgano

The Village of Vinci

Does the name ring a bell? No wonder — Vinci is where Leonardo da Vinci came from: “Leonardo from Vinci.”

The most famous Renaissance man of all time was born in this enchanting little village west of Florence.

Vinci sits amid vineyards and olive groves and is something of a lesser-known gem, since not many tourists make their way out here.

There’s a small medieval castle housing a permanent exhibition of Leonardo’s most famous inventions, and a charming little historic center with small trattorias and flower-filled balconies.

Just outside Vinci, you can also visit Leonardo da Vinci’s actual birthplace.

Looking for a great place to stay in Vinci? Give this one a try:

Book Casa Vacanze La Porta in Vinci

The Hot Thermal Springs of Saturnia

According to legend, the bubbling springs were created by a bolt of lightning that Zeus hurled at the earth during a dispute with the god Saturn.

The small town of Saturnia lies about 100 kilometers south of Florence and is world-famous for its thermal springs, located about a kilometer outside the village.

You have two options here:

1. Stay at the upscale wellness hotel Terme di Saturnia and soak in the healing spring water to your heart’s content. The resort was even named the best spa center in the world by CNN in 2014.
2. Swim in the waterfalls completely free of charge — they’re located at an old watermill right next to the wellness resort.

At the waterfalls, sulfurous water gushes from the rocks at 37 degrees Celsius and flows into large, naturally formed pools where you can swim at any time of day or night.

Heads up: After bathing, you’ll smell strongly of rotten eggs — that only goes away with a shower. Luckily, there’s a nearby bar with coin-operated showers.

Here’s our hotel pick if you want to stay right near the waterfalls:

Book B&B Villa Giulia in Saturnia

If you’re looking for another under-the-radar spot in Tuscany for hot springs, also check out the hot springs at Petriolo.

The Mountain Landscape of Garfagnana

When you think of things to do in Tuscany, deep forests and high mountains probably aren’t the first things that come to mind — but Tuscany has those too.

In the far north lies the Garfagnana region, with mountains rising over 2,000 meters, dense forests, and many small woodland villages. An absolute paradise for hikers.

This is where Tuscans love to escape in summer when it gets too hot in the cities and on the plains.

The mountain ranges of Garfagnana aren’t just great for hiking — there are also plenty of sights to discover.

One of them is the impressive, legendary stone arch bridge Ponte della Maddalena, also known as the “Devil’s Bridge.”

Another is the Grotta del Vento (“Cave of the Wind”), a cave about 4.5 kilometers long. It’s one of the most significant show caves in Europe and can be explored on three different routes.

Looking for a great hotel in Garfagnana? Here’s our tip:

Book Villa Moorings in Barga

Extra Tip: The Island of Elba

Elba is just 10 kilometers from the Tuscan mainland.

The island is part of the Tuscan Archipelago and is the perfect vacation island: beautiful beaches, a diverse flora and fauna, idyllic mountain villages, and plenty of viewpoints.

The entire island is a nature reserve, which is why the waters are wonderfully clear and perfect for snorkeling and diving.

Set aside a few days for Elba — a day trip just isn’t worth it.

The Best Ways to Explore Tuscany’s Highlights

There are several ways to get around and see the best of Tuscany:

1. You find accommodation in Florence (here are our hotel tips for Florence) and use Tuscany’s largest city as your base. From Florence, you can also reach several highlights easily by public transportation.
2. You stay at a Tuscan winery and explore the sights from there by car.
3. You do a road trip through Tuscany by car and stay in different places along the way. Here are our hotel tips for Tuscany.

All three options have their charm. Whatever you decide — a rental car is definitely the best way to explore the attractions. Unless, of course, you’re already there with your own car.

Rental car stations are available throughout Tuscany at all major tourist centers. Your best bet is to compare rates so you get the best deal:

Compare rental car deals on Discovercars