Florence is undeniably stunning, but it’s also crowded, expensive, and increasingly stressful — and once you’ve done the Duomo shuffle and queued for the Uffizi, you’re kind of done.
These 5 nearby cities are where you’ll actually enjoy Italy, and the fastest one is just 33 minutes away by high-speed train.
5 Cities Near Florence Worth Prioritizing Over Florence Itself
Ranked by which one gives you the biggest step up from the Florence crush.
1. Bologna
If you haven’t been to Bologna, do yourself a favor and go. This is arguably Italy’s greatest food city, and it’s having a serious moment right now.
Wander the porticoed streets and you’ll find tagliatelle al ragù, mortadella, and family-run trattorias around every corner.
There are nearly 40 kilometers of those porticoes, all UNESCO-listed.
Add Piazza Maggiore, two leaning medieval towers, and a fraction of Florence’s crowds. This is Italy at its most lived-in and delicious.
Fastest way to reach it from Florence: Jump on a direct 33 minutes high-speed train from Firenze Santa Maria Novella to Bologna Centrale.
2. Siena
Siena is what Florence used to feel like before the tour groups arrived.
Piazza del Campo is a strong contender for Italy’s most beautiful square, and locals still gather there in the evenings.
The striped black-and-white Duomo rivals anything in Florence.
It’s compact enough to explore on foot in a day, but atmospheric enough to make you want to stay the night.
Fastest way to reach it from Florence: Take the bus. It’s quicker, cheaper, and drops you closer to the action than the train does.
The 131R “Rapida” is a direct non-stop service that gets you there in about 1 hour 15 minutes.
3. Lucca
Lucca is Florence’s Renaissance beauty minus every ounce of the stress. This fully walled city has one glorious quirk that makes it worth the trip alone.
The top of its 16th-century ramparts has been converted into a tree-lined path that runs the whole way around the town. You can walk or cycle it in about half an hour.
Down below, you’ll find gorgeous piazzas, a beautiful cathedral, and streets that actually let you breathe.
Fastest way to reach it from Florence: Direct trains from Firenze Santa Maria Novella run all day long and take about 1 hour 13 minutes.
4. Parma
Parma is elegant, prosperous, and criminally underrated. Think of it as Bologna’s more refined sibling.
It’s best known for the two things named after it: prosciutto di Parma and Parmigiano-Reggiano. Both somehow taste better here than anywhere else on earth.
Add a stunning octagonal Baptistery, a beautiful pedestrianized center, and a serious opera tradition — you’ve got yourself a proper day out.
Fastest way to reach it from Florence: Direct trains from Florence to Parma take as little as 1 hour 44 minutes.
5. Arezzo
Arezzo is the sleeper hit of this list — the one that makes you feel like you’ve actually discovered somewhere.
The sloping Piazza Grande is one of the most beautiful squares in Tuscany. You might recognize it from Roberto Benigni’s Life Is Beautiful.
The Basilica of San Francesco holds an incredible cycle of Piero della Francesca frescoes. And on the first weekend of every month, one of Italy’s best antique markets takes over the whole old town.
Fastest way to reach it from Florence: High-speed trains from Florence take 35 to 40 minutes.
Final Thoughts on the Best Cities Near Florence
Florence deserves at least one visit in your life — but you don’t need to base your whole trip there or endure the crowds every single day.
Use it as a jumping-off point instead. You’ll come home with a much richer sense of what central Italy actually feels like.
Looking for more Italy travel inspiration? Check out these popular reads:
- Best Areas to Stay in Florence for First-Time Visitors
- Best Florence Cooking Classes
- Tuscany Wine Tours From Florence
And you’ll find plenty more destination guides and travel tips over on our Italy travel blog!
