35 Epic Things To Do In Tuscany (With Hidden Gems) For your Bucket List!

Italy

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Planning your perfect Tuscany trip but not sure where to start? Let us whisk you away to a land where Renaissance masterpieces meet rolling vineyards, and ancient hilltop towns touch the clouds.

Sorano Tuscany Italy

From Florence’s artistic treasures to hidden thermal springs, discovering what to do in Tuscany is like opening a book of endless possibilities.

Ready to explore Italy’s most beloved region? Dive into our curated list of must-visit destinations and the best things to do in Tuscany below.

35 Best Things To Do In Tuscany For Your Bucket List

Manciano Tuscany Italy

We’ve gathered the most unforgettable experiences for your Tuscany itinerary.

Ready to start planning your Tuscany trip? Discover our handpicked list of unforgettable experiences and what to see in Tuscany below.


1. Begin your perfect Tuscany vacation at Florence’s Uffizi Gallery and Accademia, where you’ll meet Botticelli’s Birth of Venus and Michelangelo’s David face-to-face.

2. Climb Florence’s iconic Duomo for breathtaking city views – those 463 steps are worth every huff and puff!

Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, Florence

3. Experience Siena’s heart-pounding Palio horse race, where medieval tradition comes alive in Piazza del Campo.

4. Add this Tuscany travel adventure to your list: explore San Gimignano’s “medieval Manhattan” and reward yourself with the world’s best gelato.

San Gimignano

5. Make your Tuscan bucket list dreams come true in the Chianti wine region, where castle-wineries welcome you for tastings of liquid gold.

6. Cycle Lucca’s Renaissance walls and climb the quirky Guinigi Tower topped with ancient oak trees.

7. Strike your pose at Pisa’s Leaning Tower, then explore the magnificent Duomo and Baptistery.

best towns to visit in tuscany - Pisa with kids

8. Wandering the medieval streets of Cortona with views to Lake Trasimeno.

9. Time your trip for truffle and chestnut festivals in medieval villages.

10. Float in Bagno Vignoni’s ancient thermal waters.

Further Reading: Best Tuscany Places to See

11. Sip Brunello wine in Montalcino’s medieval fortress overlooking sun-soaked hills.

12. Drive through Val d’Orcia’s postcard-perfect hills, where cypress trees line winding roads made for your Instagram feed.

Tuscany in Italy, rolling hills

13. Find peace at the Abbey of Sant’Antimo, where Gregorian chants float through stone arches.

14. Watch alabaster craftsmen at work in Volterra’s historic workshops.

15. Discover Montepulciano’s underground wine cellars and famous Vino Nobile.

Further Reading: Best Time to Visit Tuscany

16. Escape to Elba Island for snorkeling, hiking, and Napoleon’s exile villa.

Elba and the Tuscan Archipelago

17. Add beach-hopping along the wild Maremma coast to your Tuscany bucket list.

18. Learn pasta-making secrets from a local nonna while sipping Tuscan wine.

19. Find tranquility at the Certosa di Pisa monastery away from tourist crowds.

20. Explore Pienza’s romantic streets and famous pecorino cheese.

best small towns in tuscany - Pienza

21. Complete your Tuscany bucket list at Montecatini Terme’s elegant thermal baths.

22. Get lost in Villa Gamberaia and Villa La Foce’s romantic gardens.

Further Reading: Tuscany’s Best Hidden Gems

23. Marvel at Carrara’s glowing marble quarries where Michelangelo chose his stone.

24. Walk Monteriggioni’s complete medieval walls (gelato stops encouraged).

Monteriggioni Tuscany Italy

25. Taste authentic local cuisine in Garfagnana’s mountain villages.

26. Explore Florence’s historic center and the iconic Ponte Vecchio bridge lined with glittering jewelry shops and hidden courtyards.

Best Area to Stay in Florence for First-Time Visitors

27. Visit charming Greve in Chianti with its distinctive triangular piazza lined with artisanal food shops.

28. Experience the grandeur of Florence’s Palazzo Vecchio with its crenellated tower and secret passages.

29. Stroll through the magical Boboli Gardens behind Florence’s Pitti Palace, where Renaissance statues hide among manicured hedges.

Boboli Gardens

30. Take in Florence’s sweeping views from Piazzale Michelangelo, especially at sunset when the city glows golden.

31. Marvel at Siena’s stunning zebra-striped cathedral (this wasn’t explicitly highlighted in the first list).

32. Discover the port town of Livorno with its Venice-like canals in the Venezia Nuova quarter.

33. Explore Arezzo’s antique-filled Piazza Grande and the stunning frescoes of Piero della Francesca.

Arezzo, Italy

34. Visit the elegant resort town of Forte dei Marmi.

35. Visit the surreal Devil’s Valley (Valle del Diavolo) near Larderello, where geothermal activity creates an otherworldly landscape of steaming geysers and fumaroles.


Best Places To Visit In Tuscany

Here is a list of the prettiest Tuscany places to visit during your trip.

Florence – The birthplace of the Renaissance and Tuscany’s capital, with its stunning Duomo, Uffizi Gallery, Ponte Vecchio, and countless artistic treasures making it the region’s absolute must-visit destination.

Florence

Siena – A perfectly preserved medieval city famous for its bi-annual Palio horse race, stunning striped cathedral, and the shell-shaped Piazza del Campo widely considered Italy’s most beautiful square.

Siena Italy - Best places to visit in Tuscany

Pisa – Home to the iconic Leaning Tower and the magnificent Campo dei Miracoli complex, including the stunning cathedral and baptistery.

pisa-cathedral-complex Andoreia

San Gimignano – The “Town of Fine Towers” known for its medieval skyscrapers, world-famous gelato, and beautifully preserved medieval architecture.

San Gimignano Tuscany Italy

Saturnia Hot Springs (Cascate del Mulino) – Natural thermal waterfalls where you can soak in steaming pools carved into white travertine rock formations.

Saturnia Hot Springs

Val d’Orcia – A UNESCO World Heritage landscape of rolling hills, cypress-lined roads, and iconic farmhouses that represent the classic Tuscan countryside everyone dreams about.

Val d'Orcia Italy

Montepulciano – A stunning hilltop town famous for its Vino Nobile wine, Renaissance palaces, and underground wine cellars built into the rock beneath the city.

Montepulciano in Tuscany italy

Lucca – A charming city surrounded by perfectly preserved Renaissance walls perfect for cycling, with beautiful churches and piazzas within.

cozy cafe on the old streets of Italian cities - Lucca

Chianti Region – The famous wine region between Florence and Siena, dotted with castles, vineyards, and charming villages like Castellina and Greve in Chianti.

BEST WINE TOUR FROM FLORENCE

Volterra – A dramatic town known for its Etruscan walls, Roman theater, medieval buildings, and traditional alabaster workshops.

Things to do in Volterra

Pienza – The “ideal” Renaissance city with perfect architecture, romantic streets, and spectacular views over the Val d’Orcia.

best small towns in tuscany - Pienza

Final Thoughts on What to See and Do in Tuscany

From Renaissance masterpieces to rolling vineyards, thermal springs to medieval festivals, Tuscany captures the very essence of Italy’s dolce vita.

This beautiful region proves that some places don’t just live up to the hype – they surpass it.

Ready to plan your Italian adventure? Dive deeper into our comprehensive Italy Travel Guide for insider tips and local secrets.

And don’t miss these essential reads before your trip:

→ New to Italy? Check out our “Best Regions in Italy to Visit for First-Timers” guide
→ Avoid common mistakes with our “Things Not to Do When You Travel to Italy
→ Get inspired by our complete guide to the “Top 100 Tourist Attractions in Italy

Tuscany Bucket List
What to do on Your Tuscany Trip
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Jolene Ejmont

Originally from South Africa, now living in Australia, Jolene is a wife and a mother to three beautiful daughters. Together with her family, she is embarking on a journey towards changing her current stress-filled life to one focusing on her dreams and her passion for travel. She wants to share her stories in the hope to inspire you to chase your own dreams!