12 Best Towns in Tuscany

Tuscany is one of my absolute favorite areas of Italy. It’s filled with some of the most stunning landscapes I’ve ever seen, has some of the best food in the country (and the best wine) has the most epic sunsets, and some of the most charming towns.

The Tuscan region is huge and it can be hard to narrow down which area to stay in and which towns to visit. I’ve compiled my ultimate list of best towns in Tuscany and put together a map to help you pick which towns are grouped together and form an itinerary based off where you are staying.

I haven’t visited a town in Tuscany I didn’t love, but my favorites are San Gimignano, Saturnia, Pienza & Montepulciano.

I highly recommend renting a car for visiting this region! It’s really hard to get between the towns and explore the countryside without a car. The roads can be quite narrow & windy, but I didn’t find the driving to be too bad overall. And the roads are quite remote, so there aren’t a lot of other cars to deal with on the narrow streets!

Jump To:

• San Gimignano
• Siena
• Arezzo
• Saturnia
• Montemerano
• Manciano
• Montepulciano
• Pienza
• Montalcino & Val D’Orcia
• Orvieto
• Civita di Bagnoregio
• Pisa
• Lucca

Disclaimer: This article contains some links where I earn commission through booking. There is no extra cost to you, and I only recommend things I’ve used and love or places I’ve stayed and enjoyed!

Best Towns in Tuscany Map

San Gimignano

San Gimignano is one of my favorite spots in Tuscany! It’s a medieval, walled town located near Siena and offers some of the most stunning views of any Town in Tuscany I’ve visited.

San Gimignano is a great spot to take a day trip from Florence.

Getting to San Gimignano

Parking at San Gimignano can be a bit of a hassle as there are no cars in the walled city, so you’ll have to find a spot in one of the parking areas around the city.

From Florence you can take a bus to San Gimignano (this is faster than taking a train as there is no direct route)

From Siena bus is also the fastest route vs. taking a train

What to do in San Gimignano

San Gimignano is small and can be explored in a few hours. A few of my favorite things to see/do:

• Piazza del Duomo
• Walk around the edge of the town to get the best views of the Tuscan countryside
• Try Gelateria Dondoli – voted the best gelato in the world several years in a row
• Grab a drink/lunch with a view at Ristorante Sosta sulla Francigena San Gimignano
• Explore the wineries nearby in the Chianti region

Where to Stay in San Gimignano

I’ve been to San Gimignano several times, but have never stayed there. I’ve always visited as a day trip from Florence, but there are tons of accommodation options within the walled city itself and in the surrounding countryside.

Tuscan Town to Visit Nearby

• Siena
• Arezzo
• Pisa
• Lucca

Siena

Siena is a popular Tuscan town located not far from Florence. It’s known infamous it’s classic brick buildings & picturesque red roofs, as well as it’s central square, Piazza del Campo that is fan shaped and sloped.

Siena is a great day trip from Florence (and can be combined with a trip to San Gimignano as part of an organized tour)

Getting to Siena

Siena is easiest to get through from Florence via bus. I don’t recommend having a car in Siena (although it’s useful if you want to leave Siena and explore surrounding Tuscany)

Busses run regularly from Florence to Siena (usually hourly) and take about an hour! The bus station is right down the street from the main train station in Florence (about a 5 minute walk)

What to do in Siena

• Explore the infamous Piazza del Campo
• Climb Torre del Mangia to see Siena’s infamous red roofs from above
• Visit the Duomo di Siena

Where to Stay in Siena

I’ve always chosen to visit Siena as a day trip from Florence, but as one of the larger Tuscan towns it offers many accommodation options for visitors to choose from.

Tuscan Town to Visit Nearby

• San Gimignano
• Arezzo
• Montepulciano
• Pienza
• Montalcino
• Val d’Orcia

Arezzo

Arezzo is large, charming, hilltop city located in Eastern Tuscany. It features quintessential stone buildings, a large cathedral and is a popular spot for tourists to visit.

Getting to Arezzo

Arezzo can be reached by train from both Rome and Florence, but it also is accessible by car, which I recommend if you’ll be exploring other nearby areas of Tuscany!

Where to Stay in Arezzo

Arezzo is a good spot to serve as a homebase for exploring eastern Tuscany & as one of the larger towns in the area has lots of options for visitors.

Tuscan Town to Visit Nearby

• Siena
• San Gimignano

Saturnia

I had the opportunity to visit Saturnia on a recent trip to Tuscany and loved this area! Saturnia is most popular for its natural hot springs, but it also is home to some of the best views of the Tuscan countryside.

Getting to Saturnia

Saturnia is about halfway between Florence & Rome (around 2 hours from each) You’ll definitely want to rent a car to visit this area, as there aren’t really public transportation options.

What to do in Saturnia

• Cascate del Mulino-Hot Spring -the free, natural hot springs. These stunning, cascading hot springs are a can’t miss. I recommend getting there early to beat the crowds. Parking is located about a 2-3 minute walk down the road
• Explore the town of Saturnia – this is a classic Tuscan hillside town with medieval stone buildings and epic countryside views

Where to Stay in Saturnia

I recommend spending at least a night in Saturnia vs. visiting as a day trip since it’s quite a long day trip from Rome or Florence.

I stayed at the Saturnia Tuscany Hotel and was blown away. This stunning hotel is about 5 minutes from the main town of Saturnia and offers the most epic views over the town and the Tuscan countryside (with an amazing sunset view!)

The hotel has a pool, a bar/patio, an on-site restaurant that was incredible! It also has an amazing breakfast that is included with your stay. You can see my full review of the hotel here.

From the hotel it’s about a 5 minute drivr to the Saturnia Hot Springs.

Tuscan Town to Visit Nearby

• Montemerano
• Manciano

Montemerano & Manciano

Montemerano is a small town near Saturnia and is one of the most stunning towns in Tuscany. It’s Piazza del Castello is one of the most photographed places in Tuscany. This picturesque village makes for a great day trip if you’re staying in nearby Saturnia. While you’re in the area swing by charming Manciano, another small Tuscan town that is easily combined with a day trip from Satunia to Montemerano.

Montepulciano

Montepulciano is one of the most famous parts of Tuscany and is a great place to base yourself for exploring, especially for vineyards and wine. Montepulciano refers to both a town & a wine. Montepulciano is the house wine served in the regions around Rome.

Getting to Montepulciano

Like most areas of Tuscany, I recommend renting a car for Montepulciano, it’s very hard to get around this area via public transport.

What to do in Montepulciano

While in Montepulciano explore the small town & then head out to some local wineries. You’ll definitely need to do your research and make reservations ahead of time, as these wineries don’t accept walk-ins.

Where to Stay in Montepulciano

There are tons of great hotels, and fontecastellos (or farmhouses the owners rent out, similar to a B&B – staying in one of these is an authentic Tuscan experience.

Tuscan Town to Visit Nearby

• Montalcino
• Pienza
• Val d’Orcia
• Orvieto

Pienza

PIenza is a town near Montepulciano that makes for a great day trip if you’re staying in that area. It can easily be explored in a few hours

Montalcino & Val d’Orcia

Montaclino is a small town nestled in the stunning Val d’Orcia countryside. It is one of the most well-preserved Tuscan towns in one of the most picturesque areas of Tuscany. I recommend having a car to fully explore this area as the hilltop town is small, but the surrounding Val d’Orcia is best explored by driving through the countryside.

These can be visited together as a day trip from Montepulciano.

Orvieto

Orvieto is an example of a classic Tuscan hilltop town. It is a great day trip from Rome that is brimming with history. The town was historically significant as it served as a midway point between Rome & Florence historically. Orvieto also has a famous cathedral that is worth visiting.

Getting to Orvieto

There are direct trains from Rome to Orvieto. They take about an hour and 20 minutes. It’s an hour and a half drive from Rome to Orvieto.

As a day trip from Rome I recommend combining it with a trip to nearby Civita di Bagnoregio. If you want to see both, you’ll need a car as Civita di Bagnoregio cannot be reached by train.

Civita di Bagnoregio

This stunning hilltop village located near Orvieto and about two hours from Rome is one of the most unique and stunning towns in Tuscany. The town can only be reached via pedestrian bridge. The pedestrian bridge from the parking lot is about a ten minute walk.

Civita di Bagnoregio can be easily combined with a trip to Oriveto, it makes for a great day trip from Rome. You will need to rent a car for this!

Pisa

If you’re short on time, I’d recommend skipping Pisa, truthfully, but if you have time or are in the area, stop by to see the infamous leaning tower! You definitely don’t need too long to explore Pisa, outide of the tower and cathedral, there isn’t a ton to see! I don’t recommend staying in Pisa overnight.

Getting to Pisa

Pisa is easily accessible via train from Florence and takes about an hour, and is also easy to reach from the charming town of Lucca.

Tuscan Towns to Visit Nearby

• Lucca
• San Gimignano

Lucca

Lucca is a charming Tuscan town west of Florence and near Pisa. It is most famous for the Renaissance walls that encircle the entire city.

Getting to Lucca

Lucca can be reached from Florence or Pisa via train. From Florence it takes about an hour and 20 minutes.

Top Things to do in Lucca

Lucca is a small town that is easily explored in a few hours, but I highly recommend renting bikes and explore the city by riding arund the infamous raised walls!

Tuscan Towns to Visit Nearby

• Pisa
• San Gimignano