The most popular way to explore Tuscany is by car, however, it is not the only way. So this guide is for those who want to travel around the famous Italian area without renting a car.
Florence, Siena, Pisa and Arezzo are some of the main cities in Tuscany, all of them have train stations close to their historic centers, so they are easily visitable by this means of transport. The important thing is to correctly select the order of visit to save money and time and, above all, follow the order of the train routes, which is quite different from what would be done on another means of transportation.
The proposed route begins at Florence and includes the most popular cities in the area: Pisa, Arezzo, Siena. The best thing is that it can be connected with a visit to Cinque Terre or Rome. A complete route of Italy is available here.
The route begins in Florence, because it is one of the best connected cities in Tuscany, with an international airport and train routes connecting from Milan and Venice. The main train station is Santa María Novella and is located in the old town of Florence, so it is not necessary to use any means of transport to start a visit.
🤑 How much does it cost to travel to Florence? Click here.
👉 Do you want to know Florence for FREE? Book a walking tour of the city with a guide here.
🏨 If you want to know where to stay in Florence click here.
Although the center can be seen in a few hours, Florence has some of the most important museums in the world, many churches and different viewpoints from where you can see the city, so to enjoy Florence in peace requires at least two days .
How do I get from Florence to Pisa?
From Florence you take the train to Pisa for less than 10 euros and it is not necessary to buy the ticket in advance because trains leave very frequently: up to every 5 minutes. It is a direct route, so no transfers are necessary.
Travel tip: Visit to Lucca
From Florence, if you have time, you could also stop to visit Lucca before arriving in Pisa. There is a 90-minute direct train for 9 euros. From Lucca you can take a train to continue to Pisa in 30 minutes and for only 4 euros. Compare your transportation with Omnio in Italy here.
Pisa can be visited in one day, since all its attractions are just a few steps away. Pisa has great value, not only for having been the birthplace of illustrious men such as Galileo Galilei, but also for preserving buildings of important artistic value that were capable of resisting the attacks of the Second World War. Its great emblem is the Leaning Tower of Pisa.
👉 Complete guide to Pisa here.
🛏 During my trip I stayed at Safestay Pisa, a hostel where you can get a private room from 50 euros. While beds in a shared room cost from 15 euros. It’s a budget option but definitely don’t expect anything fancy. Details and reservation here.
How do I get from Grosseto to Pisa?
The next stop is Grosseto. From Pisa by train it takes less than 2 hours and costs less than 20 euros (I paid 13 euros in one of the cheapest schedules). It is not necessary to buy the ticket in advance, although you do have to consider the schedules since there is not as frequent as on other routes, approximately one or two trains leave every hour. Compare your transportation with Omnio in Italy here.
Grosseto was a medieval town, whose name may have originated from the words “grosso-roseto” meaning Great Rosseto. It is located in Tuscany, where it became one of its most prosperous cities. It is ideal if you are looking for a destination to relax and walk quietly while enjoying a glass of Italian wine.
🛏 During my trip to Grosseto I stayed in Affittacamere Mazzini 78, an accommodation located right in the center of the city. It has very good ratings and my experience was very good. It is run by a local couple and is very clean. It has double rooms from 70 euros (yes, the price rises in high season and on weekends). More information and reservation here.
👉 More details about Grosseto here.
How do I get from Grosseto to Siena?
You can take a train in Grosseto to travel to Siena. You do not have to buy the ticket in advance and it costs 5 to 11 euros, the cost depends on the time of the journey: from 1:50 hours to 2:10 hours. Compare your transportation with Omnio in Italy here.
Although over the years it has been overshadowed by not having the Renaissance art of Florence or the leaning tower of Pisa, Siena is one of the most beautiful cities in Italy. Narrow streets that become a labyrinth, a church that, despite not having achieved its goal of being the largest in Europe, takes the breath away of more than one and an imposing Plaza del Campo that, due to its inclined structure, invites you to sit with the sole objective of enjoying the day are good reasons to visit this city in the heart of Tuscany. Click here to learn more about Siena and how to plan your visit.
🛏 A great option just 100 meters from the main square of Siena is the Attilio Camere with accommodation from 60 euros for two people. I stayed here and I leave you the details and reservation information here.
How do I get from Siena to Arezzo?
To get to Arezzo from Siena you need to take two trains, since there is no direct route and you have to change in Chiusi Chianciano Terme or in Florence. The cost is 16 to 21 euros, it depends on where you transfer (I recommend Chiusi Chianciano Terme, it is faster and cheaper). There are also local buses and, of course, if you rented a car it will be very easy. Compare your transportation with Omnio in Italy here.
How do I get from Siena to Florence?
If your idea is not to continue touring Italy, you may prefer to take a train from Siena that will leave you in Florence. In this way you would have done a train circuit through Tuscany that begins and ends in Florence. The time will range from 1 to 2 hours depending on the train or bus you choose. The cost of the train is 10 euros. Compare your transportation with Omnio in Italy here.
How do I get from Siena to Rome?
Another option, if you want to finish the route through Tuscany, is to travel directly from Siena to Rome. There are buses that make the journey in less than 3 hours and for 6 euros. So it’s an option. The other option is to take a train with journeys of more than 3 hours and cost 20 euros. Compare your transportation with Omnio in Italy here.
A city that is not always included in the routes through Tuscany, but it is a highly recommended destination, especially if your idea is to travel to Rome after this route. Since between Arezzo and Rome you can travel in 2 hours by paying 11 euros for a train ticket. Compare your transportation with Omnio in Italy here.
A few hours are enough to discover Arezzo, those types of destinations that are more about enjoying the day. If you are looking for where to stay in Arezzo, here I explain the best options.
How much time should you spend on this route?
You could do this route in a week organizing your trip as follows:
- Florence: 2 days
- Lucca: 1 day
- Pisa: 1 day
- Grosseto: 1 day
- Siena: 1 day
- Arezzo: 1 day
Obviously this would not include small towns and nearby destinations of interest, but it could be a very good route to give you an idea of this area. If you have more time, don’t hesitate to explore the small towns of Tuscany and take a few more days, just to enjoy.
Travel tip. Consider which day you will visit these places on Sunday, since you will most likely find many establishments closed: such as restaurants and shops.
How much does the route through Tuscany cost?
We are talking about 646 euros for a one-week trip through Tuscany, for medium-budget travelers looking to include the main paid attractions and travel the route by train.
- Accommodation: 280 euros
- Food: 210 euros
- Trains: 51 euros
- Public transport: 20 euros
- Attractions: 85 euros
To continue; the details.
How much does a hotel night cost in Tuscany?
A private room in a good accommodation in Tuscany costs on average about 80 euros. If you share you would have to pay 40 euros per night and, therefore, for 7 nights 280 euros per person. In the case of solo travelers, the bad news is that there are not hostels in all destinations in Tuscany, so on many occasions you will have to pay for a room for two people, if you compensate for that with hostel days in places like Pisa or Florence you can keep the price of 280 euros.
👉 One week accommodation: 280 euros
How much does it cost to eat in Tuscany?
You can get lunch and dinner for 12 euros if you are looking for local and affordable options. While in tourist restaurants you have to pay 20 euros or more per menu. In this case we will consider 30 euros per day in food.
👉 In total, 210 euros for food.
How much does the train cost in Tuscany?
For train trips we would consider 51 euros. By the way, the cost of a Eurail train pass would be more than 100 euros, so it would not be suitable for you on this route. Below is the cost breakdown.
- Florence – Lucca: 9 euros
- Lucca – Pisa: 4 euros
- Pisa – Grosseto: 11 euros
- Siena – Arezzo: 16 euros
- Arezzo – Rome: 11 euros
Let’s add about 20 euros to the train to use on public transport in our destinations. And although most distances are “walkable” it is better to have a small margin.
How much do the main attractions in Tuscany cost?
Although there is a lot to see in Tuscany for free, such as its cathedrals, bridges and viewpoints, we must not forget to add expenses such as:
- Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore: To enter different areas you will have to pay, so the simplest ticket costs 15 euros and you can buy it on the official website: https://duomo.firenze.it/en/home/
- Uffizi Gallery: The cost is 20 euros plus 4 euros for online reservation to avoid queues. Total: 24 euros. The official purchasing website is: www.uffizi.it/biglietti
- Academy Gallery: The entrance fee is 12 euros plus 4 euros for the online reservation. The official site is: www.galleriaaccademiafirenze.it/en/visit/
- Pisa’s leaning tower – 20 euros. You can buy on the official website: https://www.opapisa.it/biglietti/prezzi/
Do you want to know Florence for FREE? Start your visit with a free tour of the city. Remember that these tours, available in Spanish, are free of charge and are handled solely by tips. It is recommended to set aside between 10 and 20 euros per person for the guide. Book a walking tour of the city with a guide here.
Therefore, we are talking about about 85 euros, everything will depend on whether you book online before or if you are eligible for a discount.
Where to buy train tickets in Italy?
Tickets can be purchased:
- On the Trenitalia website. Normally they can be purchased 3 months in advance. Another alternative is to use Omnio, to buy all your routes in Italy and Europe, click here.
- In the machines in the train stations you can buy in cash or with a credit card…