Budget day trips for backpackers from Florence

Experience the sights of Tuscany without breaking the bank

If you’re planning on travelling to Florence, then you’ll be in the perfect place to explore its nearby cities and attractions. Tuscany is one of the most beautiful regions in Italy and is famous for its hill top towns, art museums, food, and wine. There are lots of ways to visit Tuscany cheaply as a backpacker and we can show you how.

If your hostel is close to Santa Maria Novella (SMN) train station, then you’re in the perfect place to go on a wine tasting day trip. Everywhere in Florence city centre is accessible by foot, so once you’re at the train station, you can explore the region with ease.

Train travel in Tuscany is cheap and you can get to most places within 1.5 hours or less. If you’re on a budget and want to explore Tuscany, then here are a few places you can visit without spending a fortune.

Fiesole

Image by Olevy (Wikipedia/Creative Commons)

Fiesole is a beautiful hilltop village only 7km from Florence. Dating back to the Etruscan era, the leafy settlement offers amazing views of the Arno valley. It’s also home to a Roman amphitheatre, historical museums, gardens, and woodland walks. In the summer months, its much cooler than Florence and you can enjoy outdoor concerts in the amphitheatre.

- You can get there for only €1.30 each way! Take the Line 7 bus direct to Fiesole's main square from Piazza San Marco in Florence city centre.

Pistoia

Image by Wikipedia/Creative Commons

Pistoia is Italy’s Capital of Culture 2017 and is famous for its Romanesque architecture and contemporary art museums, including Museo Marino Marini, Palazzo Fabroni, and Fernando Melani House. The medieval Tuscan city is known locally as a ‘mini-Florence’ and is only 30 minutes away from SMN station.

- Train tickets cost around €4.40 each way

Lucca

Image by John and Melanie Kotsopoulos (Flickr/Creative Commons)

Lucca is a romantic art city and can be reached by either train or bus, which leave about twice an hour from SMN station. It's one of the few Italian cities which has kept its medieval walls and no commercial traffic is allowed inside.

The city is best known for its beautiful Piazza dell’Anfiteatro, which is an oval shaped space shaped by an ancient Roman amphitheatre. It's also the birthplace of Puccini (Madama Butterfly) and an extraordinary medieval tree tower!

- Train tickets cost around €7.50 each way

Siena

Image by Giorgos~ (Flickr/Creative Commons)

Tuscany’s second city is one of Italy’s finest and has a treasure trove of Renaissance artworks and historical palaces. You can reach Siena by train or bus, although the latter is better as it takes you directly to the city’s medieval gates. Once inside you’ll go back in time to the Middle Ages.

Siena’s enormous Piazza del Campo is the home to the summer horse-race, Il Palio, and attracts visitors all year round. The thirteenth century city was one of the Europe’s most prosperous strongholds and is home to the world's oldest bank.

- Train tickets cost each way cost around €6-10. Bus tickets cost €7.80.

San Gimignano

Image by Bernd Thaller (Flickr/Creative Commons)

No holiday to Tuscany can take place without visiting the enchanting ‘city of towers’ San Gimignano. Forming part of a pilgrimage route from Cantonbury (England) to Jersualem, the hilltop town is famous for its medieval towers that dominate the landscape for miles. Such is the town's remoteness, there is no train station so you’ll have to take the bus.

- You can either take the train or bus to Poggibonsi from SMN station for about €7. Once you arrive you then have to take a local bus direct to San Gimignano. This costs no more than €3 each way.