8 Best Day Trips from Florence by Train

Base yourself in Florence and half of Tuscany — plus Bologna's food scene — is a cheap regional train away. No car, no parking ZTL fines, no stress.

Pisa

50 min – 1 h · €9.30 fixed

The Leaning Tower is 25 minutes' walk from Pisa Centrale. Combine with Lucca for a two-town day.

1 h 30 min · €10.60 fixed

Medieval streets and Piazza del Campo. Train via Empoli, or the 131R bus straight into town.

1 h 20 min · €8 fixed

Rent a bike and ride the Renaissance walls. Sleepy, walkable, underrated.

37 min · from €14.90

37 minutes by Frecciarossa. Go hungry, return happy.

2 h 20 min to La Spezia · from €14

Regionale to La Spezia, then the Cinque Terre Express between the five villages. Long day, worth it.

1 h 32 min · from €19.90

Yes, Rome as a day trip: Colosseum at 10, Trastevere lunch, Pantheon, home by nine.

1 h (Regionale) · ~€9

Piero della Francesca frescoes and the antiques fair on the first weekend of each month.

1 h 30 min (train + bus) · ~€12

Train to Poggibonsi, then a 20-minute bus to the towers. Check return bus times.

What is the best day trip from Florence by train?

Pisa is the strongest single pick — The Leaning Tower is 25 minutes' walk from Pisa Centrale. Combine with Lucca for a two-town day.

Do I need to book trains in advance for day trips?

For high-speed trains, yes — 2–3 weeks ahead for the best fares. Regional trains have fixed prices; buy on the day.

Are these trips doable without a car?

Every trip on this page is chosen specifically because the train (or public transport) does the whole job.