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Best experiences:

Last updated: 24 November, 2023
Expert travel writer: Nicky Swallow

Famed for its rich tapestry of earthy hues, undulating hills dotted with cypress trees, fertile vineyards, and silvery olive groves, Tuscany charms the visitor like no other region of Italy, if not the world. Its landscapes are a testament to a rich agricultural heritage, thriving under the Tuscan sun. Life here moves with the seasons, rooted in tradition, where history is etched into every stone of its Renaissance cities and medieval villages filled with tales of art, power, and innovation.

For the visitor, Tuscany offers an immersive journey through time and taste. Here you can roam through Renaissance art in Florence, sip world-class wine in the vine-laced Chianti region, unwind in the thermal baths of Saturnia, or join a hands-on pasta-making class. It’s a place for leisurely afternoons on sun-soaked piazzas, and a slow-paced exploration of the region’s cultural and culinary soul.

See below for a list of the best things to do in Tuscany, recommended by Italy expert and leading travel writer Nicky Swallow.

Leaning Tower of Pisa

Pisa, Tuscany, Italy

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Bucket List Experience
Leaning Tower of Pisa

One of Italy’s most popular sights, an astonishingly beautiful but leaning belltower dating back to 1173, doomed from the outset having been built on unstable sand and clay.

Adult price: £15

Best for ages 13+

Palio di Siena

Siena, Tuscany, Italy

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Bucket List Experience
Close up of horses going around a bend in the Il Palio di Siena horserace

The most famous bareback horserace in the world, Il Palio is an extraordinary spectacle that sees horses and riders gallop three times round Siena’s glorious, medieval Piazza del Campo.

Best for ages 18+

Duration: 3 hours

When: 2 July & August 16

Frequency: annually

Chianti Wine Region

Chianti, Tuscany, Italy

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Bucket List Experience
Chianti Wine Region

Home to some of Italy’s best wines, the DOCG Chianti Classico stretches across 177,500 acres of undulating, vine-striped land between Florence and Siena.

Best for ages 18+

A day in the Val d’Orcia

Val d'Orcia, Tuscany, Italy

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Bucket List Experience
Beautiful view of the green hills and villa in the valley of Val d'Orcia.

One of the most beautiful areas of Tuscany, the Val d’Orcia is a ravishing expanse of open, undulating farmland, dotted by atmospheric hill towns and dominated by Monte Amiata, an extinct volcano.

Best for ages 18+

Field of Miracles

Pisa, Tuscany, Italy

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Bucket List Experience
Cathedral and leaning tower at Piazza dei Miracoli in Pisa, Italy.

Pisa’s Field of Miracles is an extraordinary complex of historic buildings set on a wide green lawn, encompassing the iconic Leaning Tower, the Cathedral, the Baptistery and the Campo Santo.

Best for ages 18+

Tuscany’s best food & drink

Tuscany, Italy

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Bucket List Experience
Tuscany’s best food & drink

Tuscany expert Nicky Swallow’s summary of the typical foods, ingredients and flavours, cooking styles, dining scene and best foodie experiences in Tuscany.

Best for ages 18+

Duration: -

Truffles in Tuscany

Tuscany, Italy

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Bucket List Experience
Truffles in Tuscany

Learn about these extraordinary tubers – the most highly prized of Tuscany’s rich food harvest – on an expert-led truffle hunt in traditional Tuscan countryside. Hunts are often combined with truffle-based lunches or cooking lessons with truffles.

Best for ages 13+

Duration: -

Natural spas and hot springs in Tuscany

Tuscany, Italy

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Bucket List Experience
Natural spas and hot springs in Tuscany

Tuscany is full of natural hot springs or terme, many of which date from Roman or even Etruscan times and whose waters, originating from deep within the earth’s crust and emerging at around 35°-37°C, have long been known to have therapeutic properties.

Best for ages 13+

Duration: -

A day in Siena

Siena, Tuscany, Italy

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Bucket List Experience
Beautiful view of Dome and campanile of Siena Cathedral, Duomo di Siena, and Old Town of medieval city of Siena in the sunny day, Tuscany, Italy

Arguably the most perfect medieval city in the world, Siena is a glorious ensemble of red brick buildings and exquisite monuments, famous for its fan-shaped Campo and Il Palio horse race.

Best for ages 18+

A day in San Gimignano

San Gimignano, Tuscany, Italy

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Bucket List Experience
A day in San Gimignano

Sometimes dubbed ‘Tuscany’s Manhattan’ for its clutch of slim medieval towers (visible for miles around), iconic San Gimignano is the region’s most famous (and most visited) hill town.

Best for ages 18+

A day in Volterra

Volterra, Tuscany, Italy

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Bucket List Experience
A day in Volterra

Steeped in history, the fortified hilltop town of Volterra offers glimpses of Etruscan and Roman life, among streets dating back to the 12th and 13th centuries.

Best for ages 18+

Walk from Montalcino to Sant Antimo

Montalcino, Tuscany, Italy

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Bucket List Experience
Walk from Montalcino to Sant Antimo

A beautiful 3-hour walk (just over 8 miles) that takes you through farmland and Brunello wine country, passing old farmhouses and tiny stone hamlets that have remained unchanged for centuries.

Best for ages 18+

Duration: 3 hours

Truffle hunting at Savini Tartufi

Montanelli, Tuscany, Italy

Truffle hunting at Savini Tartufi

Four generations of the Savini family have hunted truffles, and their ‘Truffle Experience’ tours take guests into the woods to watch the highly-trained dogs at work before returning to feast on truffle-based specialities. Can also be combined with wine-tasting at the nearby Monterosola winery.

Adult price: £100

Best for ages 13+

Duration: 4 hours

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Etruscan history in Tuscany

Tuscany, Italy

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Bucket List Experience
Etruscan history in  Tuscany

Tucked away in the south-eastern corner of Tuscany, Pitigliano, Sorano and Sovana offer a unique glimpse of the Etruscan period, with many necropolises, expansive museum collections and the mysterious Vie Cave.

Best for ages 18+

Garden of Villa La Foce

Arezzo, Tuscany, Italy

Garden of Villa La Foce

Villa La Foce was once home to Marchese Antonio Origo and his Anglo-American biographer wife Iris who, in 1925, commissioned renowned English architect Cecil Pinsent to make a garden. The glorious result overlooks the Val d’Orcia and Monte Amiata and is open to visitors.

Adult price: £9

Best for ages 18+

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Siena Market

Siena, Tuscany, Italy

Siena Market

Siena’s principal market, held each Wednesday morning, is one of the best in Tuscany. Stalls are set up at La Lizza, filling the streets around the Fortezza. Apart from excellent produce (cheeses, charcuterie, olive oil and wines, fruit and vegetables), you’ll find clothing, shoes, bags and household items.

Best for ages 13+

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National Pinacoteca Siena

Siena, Tuscany, Italy

Pinacoteca Nazionale exterior entrance door

A 15th-century palazzo housing more than 1,500 artworks, one of Italy’s foremost collections includes an array of dazzling Sienese fondi d’oro paintings (with gilded backgrounds). Expect works by Guido da Siena, Lorenzetti, Sodoma and Beccafumi.

Adult price: £7

Best for ages 18+

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Montalcino Wine Region

Montalcino, Tuscany, Italy

panorama of the Brunello wine lands in the spring with hills covered with soft green grass in the town of Montalcino

Known for its highly-prized (and often expensive) DOCG Brunello wine, Montalcino is one of the most famous wine-growing areas in Tuscany. Many of the local wine estates are open for tastings; among the best are Casato Primedonne, Casanova di Neri, Biondi Santi Tenuta Greppo and Castello di Banfi. Visits must be booked in advance.

Best for ages 18+

Duration: -

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Cortona

Cortona, Tuscany, Italy

Cortona

Made famous by Frances Mayes’s Under the Tuscan Sun, Cortona is a delightful hill town perched above the Val di Chiana packed with sights (the Duomo, the Museo Diocesano, the Palazzo del Popolo) and excellent restaurants.

Best for ages 18+

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Bolgheri Wine Region

Bolgheri, Tuscany, Italy

Bolgheri Wine Region

The Bolgheri region was where the first so-called ‘Super-Tuscan’ wine was made in the 1980s, and it continues to be exported around the world. The village of Bolgheri is postcard pretty; wine estates to visit include Ornellaia (book well ahead), Podere Sapaio and Le Macchiole.

Best for ages 18+

Duration: -

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Bagno Vignoni

Bagno Vignoni, Tuscany, Italy

Bagno Vignoni

This small, enchanting village, situated on a hill above the Val d’Orcia, is famous for its central square, which is a large pool filled with hot springs water. You can’t bathe in it these days, so head for Hotel Posta Marcucci instead.

Best for ages 18+

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Cucina Giuseppina Cooking School

Certaldo, Tuscany, Italy

Cucina Giuseppina Cooking School

An excellent cooking school based in Certaldo (southwest of Florence) offering truffle-hunting experiences in the Chianti woods, followed by a truffle-based lunch or cooking lessons with truffles.

Adult price: £120

Best for ages 13+

Duration: 3-4 hours

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San Quirico d’Orcia

San Quirico d’Orcia, Tuscany, Italy

San Quirico d’Orcia

An atmospheric hilltop town dating back to Etruscan times, a tangle of medieval streets lies between the fortified walls, home to historic churches and a clutch of excellent restaurants and cafes.

Best for ages 18+

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Cooking classes at Jul’s Kitchen

Colle di Val D'Elsa, Tuscany, Italy

Dish of home-made creamy Tuscan chicken

Colle Val d’Elsa Food writer/blogger and photographer Giulia Scarpaleggia and her husband run the excellent ‘Jul’s Kitchen’ offering a range of hands-on cooking classes alongside courses in food writing and photography. Classes are held in their house in the countryside between Siena and Florence.

Adult price: £70

Best for ages 13+

Duration: 3 hours

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Siena Cathedral

Siena, Tuscany, Italy

The facade of the Siena Cathedral in the sunlight and the circular window

The magnificent Gothic, zebra-striped Duomo houses a celebrated polychrome floor, often covered for protection but normally visible in August and September. Look out for Nicola Pisano’s superb marble pulpit and the young Michelangelo’s Piccolomini altar.

Best for ages 18+

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Olive oil tasting at the Chiarentana Estate

Chianciano Terme, Tuscany, Italy

Olive oil tasting at the Chiarentana Estate

The Chiarentana Estate lies in a magical setting overlooking the Val d’Orcia to Monte Amiata and produces superb Extra Virgin olive oil. Book a tasting in advance or drop by to purchase oil. Many of the wine estates in Chianti also produce excellent olive oil

Best for ages 18+

Duration: -

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Maremma Regional Park

Tuscany, Italy

Maremma Regional Park

A 20-km stretch of unspoilt, wild beaches backed by the wooded Monti dell’Uccellina and a nature reserve, with superb hiking, cycling and riding trails. From mid-June to mid-September there are guided tours only.

Best for ages 4+

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St Martin’s Cathedral

Lucca, Tuscany, Italy

St Martin’s Cathedral

The most important church in Lucca. Begun in the 11th-century, it has a magnificently carved marble façade and houses the tomb of Ilaria Carretto, a beautiful work in marble by Jacopo della Quercia.

Best for ages 18+

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Civic Museum of San Gimignano

San Gimignano, Tuscany, Italy

Civic Museum of San Gimignano

The picture gallery houses a collection of 12th- and 15th-century paintings from Florence and Siena. Look out for a 13th-century painted crucifix by Coppo di Marcovaldo, and paintings by Benozzo Gozzoli and Filippino Lippi.

Best for ages 18+

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Greve

Greve, Tuscany, Italy

Greve

Medieval Greve-in-Chianti lies at the northern end of the Chianti Classico area and is a bustling market town with pretty arcaded central piazza. Generally considered the centre of Chianti wine-making, it hosts a huge, annual Festa del Vino, usually on the second weekend of September.

Best for ages 18+

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Etruscan Guarnacci Museum

Volterra, Tuscany, Italy

Etruscan Guarnacci Museum

This museum houses an important collection of Etruscan and Roman artifacts – look out for the famous ‘evening shadow’ statuette.

Adult price: £7

Best for ages 18+

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Gelateria Dondoli

San Gimignano, Tuscany, Italy

Gelateria Dondoli

Dondoli has earned world-wide acclaim for the quality of its gelato, made from seasonal ingredients and the best local eggs, milk and cream. High season queues are insane, but it’s worth persisting to try unusual flavours such as Santa Fina (saffron and pine nuts) and Champelmo (pink grapefruit and champagne).

Best for ages 4+

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HZERO Model Railway Collection

Florence, Tuscany, Italy

HZERO Model Railway Collection

An ex-cinema houses the fabulous private model railway collection belonging to the late Marchese di San Giuliano. The centrepiece is a 280-square metre model, one of the largest in Europe; the landscaping (from mountains to seascapes) is exquisite.

Adult price: £12

Best for ages 4+

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Civic Museum of Siena

Siena, Tuscany, Italy

exterior of the The Pubblico Palace in Siena

A must-see for its collection of paintings by Lorenzetti, Simone Martini and other Sienese masters. One of the highlights is Simone Martini’s Maesta fresco (1315); another is Lorenzetti’s fresco cycle The Allegory of Good and The Effects of Bad Government (1338-40).

Adult price: £8

Best for ages 18+

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Giacomo Puccini Museum

Lucca, Tuscany, Italy

Giacomo Puccini Museum

Opera buffs shouldn’t miss the small museum dedicated to Giacomo Puccini, Lucca’s most famous son. He’s regarded as the greatest and most successful proponent of Italian opera after Verdi.

Adult price: £2

Best for ages 18+

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Abbey of Sant’Antimo

Castelnuovo dell'Abate, Tuscany, Italy

Abbey of Sant’Antimo

The beautiful Benedictine abbey of Sant’Antimo lies in open countryside close to Montalcino and dates from the 8th century; the resident monks sing Gregorian chants each evening.

Best for ages 18+

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Bathe at the Cascate del Mulino

Saturnia, Tuscany, Italy

aerial view to hot spring and old mill in Tuscany in Italy

If you want to wallow for free, join the locals at this hotspot between the towns of Saturnia and Montemerano. The steaming waters flow down a series of terraces forming natural pools; it’s particularly atmospheric by moonlight.

Best for ages 13+

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Collegiata di Santa Maria Assunta

San Gimignano, Tuscany, Italy

View of the Collegiate Church of Santa Maria Assunta, iconic basilica and major landmark in the historic centre of San Gimignano

The 12th-century Collegiata church has superb frescoes and a glittering interior, its vaults decorated with golden stars. The Santa Fina chapel is painted by Domenico Ghirlandaio.

Best for ages 18+

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Arezzo Antique Market

Arezzo, Tuscany, Italy

Arezzo Antique Market

Held on the first weekend of each month, this huge market with stalls selling everything from vintage postcards to Renaissance paintings is laid out in and around Piazza Grande, attracting vendors and buyers from all over Italy.

Best for ages 13+

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White Truffle Festival

San Miniato, Tuscany, Italy

White Truffle Festival

Annual festival celebrating local white truffles in the ‘City of Truffles’; local trufflers supply restaurants, hotels and specialist shops all over Italy. The festival takes place over the last three weekends in November with tastings, markets and prizes for the biggest truffle.

Best for ages 18+

Duration: 3 weekends

When: November

Frequency: annually

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Volterra Pinacoteca

Volterra, Tuscany, Italy

Volterra Pinacoteca

The star attraction in Volterra, in the Pinacoteca, is Rosso Fiorentino’s fabulous, seminal altarpiece Deposition, which demonstrates the artists’ astounding use of colour.

Adult price: £5

Best for ages 18+

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Lucca Flea Market

Lucca, Tuscany, Italy

Tourists and residents fill a busy market in the Tuscan town of Lucca

On the third weekend of the month, Piazza San Martino and the surrounding streets host a sprawling antiques market with everything from furniture and pictures to coins, jewellery and vintage clothes.

Best for ages 13+

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Volterra Cathedral

Volterra, Tuscany, Italy

Volterra Cathedral

Volterra’s Duomo may be rather dull-looking on the outside, but bypass it and you’ll miss Mina da Fiesole’s intricate Renaissance tabernacle over the high altar and some beautiful woodcarving. There’s also a marble pulpit by the Pisano family.

Best for ages 18+

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Tarot Garden

Pescia, Tuscany, Italy

Tarot Garden

French artist Niki di Saint Phalle’s sculpture park is filled with her whimsical artworks, set near the pretty town of Capalbio. Some of the 22 monumental, colourful figures tower above the surrounding olive trees; together they represent the major arcana of the Tarot deck.

Adult price: £12

Best for ages 8+

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Santa Maria della Scala

Siena, Tuscany, Italy

Santa Maria della Scala

This ex-hospital building was founded in the 9th century (making it one of Europe’s oldest), and only closed relatively recently; the author Italo Calvino died here in 1985. It houses an excellent archaeological museum and the wonderful ‘Pilgrim’s Hall’ decorated with 15th-century frescoes depicting the history of the hospital.

Adult price: £8

Best for ages 18+

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Podere Casale

Siena, Tuscany, Italy

Podere Casale

Set in glorious countryside close to Pienza, this farm produces pecorino cheese and runs courses in cheese, bread, pizza and fresh pasta-making, alongside more generic cooking classes and truffle-hunting. There’s also an excellent restaurant with menus based on local organic ingredients.

Best for ages 18+

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Abbey of San Galgano

Chiusdino, Tuscany, Italy

Abbey of San Galgano

This roofless, abandoned 13th-century Cistercian abbey is known for its ‘sword in the stone’ legend. Dissolved in 1600, subsequently the roof, marble façade and bell tower collapsed, leaving beautiful travertine columns and pointed arches. It’s a romantic, hugely atmospheric spot.

Best for ages 18+

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Gelateria De’ Coltelli

Lucca, Tuscany, Italy

Gelateria De’ Coltelli

Seasonal fruit, local ingredients and organic milk, cream and eggs are the mainstays of this artisanal ice cream. Flavours vary with the seasons, but look out for the sinful De Bondt chocolate and candied orange peel and the pistachio ice creams, and the refreshing Sicilian-style granitas (almond, maybe) in summer.

Best for ages 4+

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The Legend of the True Cross Fresco Cycle

Arezzo, Tuscany, Italy

The Legend of the True Cross Fresco Cycle

One of the greatest of all Italian fresco cycles is housed in the barnlike church of San Francesco in central Arezzo. Piero della Francesca’s Legend of the True Cross decorates the choir, taking fourteen years from 1452-1466. Recent restoration works mean the frescoes are in superb condition.

Best for ages 18+

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The Madonna del Parto Masterpiece

Monterchi, Tuscany, Italy

The Madonna del Parto Masterpiece

Piero della Francesca’s extraordinary 1445 Pregnant Madonna is housed in the modest town museum in the medieval village of Monterchi. It depicts a weary Virgin in her ninth month, one hand on her swollen belly.

Adult price: £5

Best for ages 18+

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Civic Museum of Sansepolcro

Sansepolcro, Tuscany, Italy

Civic Museum of Sansepolcro

Sansepolcro’s unassuming town museum houses two of the most celebrated works by Piero della Francesca who was born in the town sometime between 1410 and 1420; his Resurrection and Maddona della Misericordia. A must-see for devotees of the artist.

Adult price: £8

Best for ages 18+

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Andrea Slitti Chocolatier

Cintolese, Tuscany, Italy

Gourmet dark milk chocolate truffles hand made by chocolatier

Andrea Slitti is one of the most respected artisan chocolate-makers in Italy. His base is the spa town of Monsummano Terme (in the middle Tuscany’s so-called ‘Chocolate Valley’), where he has a café and shop piled with a tempting array of his products.

Best for ages 4+

Duration: -

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Gelateria della Passera

Florence, Tuscany, Italy

Gelateria della Passera

This hole-in-the-wall ice cream shop (on pretty Piazza della Passera in the Oltrarno) dishes up some of the best gelato in the city centre, all made in small batches from fresh ingredients and without any kind of artificial flavourings. Think pistachio, pink grapefruit, zabaglione and coffee; flavours move with the seasons.

Best for ages 4+

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Pasticceria Dolci e Dolcezze

Florence, Tuscany, Italy

Pasticceria Dolci e Dolcezze

This tiny, off-piste café and pasticceria with its old-fashioned atmosphere and green boiserie makes some of the best cakes and pastries in the city. It’s famous for its divine flourless chocolate cake, but also for fruit tarts, puff pastry sfoglie, buttery croissant and excellent coffee.

Best for ages 18+

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Le Volpi e l’Uva

Florence, Tuscany, Italy

Le Volpi e l’Uva

This small wine bar specialises in wines from small, independent producers and always has something interesting on offer. Order one of the bubbling, melted cheese-topped crostini to soak it up; the one with truffle-infused sausage is particularly good.

Best for ages 18+

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Frequently asked questions

What is the best time to visit Tuscany?

The best time to visit Tuscany is during the spring (April to June) and fall (September to October) when the weather is pleasant, the landscape is beautiful, and there are fewer tourists.

Do I need to rent a car to get around Tuscany?

While Tuscany’s larger cities are accessible by public transport, renting a car is recommended for exploring the countryside and smaller towns at your own pace.

What are the must-see places in Tuscany?

Florence, Siena, Pisa, and the Chianti wine region are must-sees. Don’t miss the medieval towns like San Gimignano and the beautiful landscapes of Val d’Orcia.

Can I visit vineyards in Tuscany?

Yes, Tuscany is famous for its vineyards. Many offer tours and tastings, but it’s best to book in advance. See our guide to the Chianti wine region.

Is Tuscany suitable for families with children?

Absolutely, Tuscany is very family-friendly with activities like pizza-making classes, farm visits, and plenty of open spaces to explore.

What is the traditional food I should try in Tuscany?

Traditional Tuscan dishes include ribollita (a hearty soup), pappa al pomodoro (bread and tomato soup), bistecca alla fiorentina (T-bone steak), and cantucci biscuits, often dipped in vin santo.

Do people speak English in Tuscany?

English is widely spoken in tourist areas and by younger generations, but learning a few Italian phrases is appreciated.

Are there any UNESCO World Heritage sites in Tuscany?

Yes, Tuscany has several, including the historic centres of Florence, Siena, Pienza, and the Val d’Orcia region.

What souvenirs should I bring back from Tuscany?

Popular souvenirs include local wines, olive oil, leather goods, and hand-painted ceramics.