Have you gone clueless because you don’t know how to design your day trips from Florence without a car?
Is it because you do not have a driving license yet in Florence, or your four-wheeler isn’t in good condition, or you just don’t have a car and are not willing to spend on the expensive car rentals on your fabulous Florence itinerary?
If so, then you’ve just hit the right article, as today we’ll help you explore your no-car tour and reveal the most admirable places in this super walkable Florence while saving both your time and money.
So grab your coffee mug, and let’s dig into our free travel guide without further ado!
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1. Siena
Okay, so before you fall in love with the best day trips from Florence without a car, let me tell you that Florence is a highly walkable city, it barely takes a 30-minute walk to reach from one end to another if you’re at the city center.
So, when you’re on a carless venture, I recommend staying at a hotel in central Florence since you’ll get the amenities within walking distance, making your experience of day trips even smoother.
Apart from walking, some other car alternatives in Florence are:-
1. E-bike
2. Taxi
3. Hop on, hop off the bus
4. SITA bus
5. Train (High speed and regional)
6. Vespa
7. Tram
8. Bicycle
9. Ferries
Now that you’ve learned about how to roam around Florence, it’s time to indulge in the beautiful Siena weekend trips.
With only a 1.5-hour SITA bus ride (costs €6 to €9), you can reach this ethereal Gothic city, where you’ll see a vast range of restaurants, iconic medieval streets, and Duomos, and of course, the happening fan-shaped main square, Piazza del Campo.
The not to be missed ones in Siena are 88 m tall bell tower with 400 steps, Torre del Mangia, for its jaw-dropping vistas from the top, the incredibly decorated Siena Duomo, the vault of ancient frescoes, Museo Civico, the artisanal crafts shops, boutiques, the red-bricked Fortrezza Medicea and the illuminating orange walls of the streets.
And I’m sure each of the moments in Siena will undoubtedly be worth your time!
But what gives Siena the claim of fame? It’s the biannual Palio di Siena horse race!
So, if your itinerary is during July or August, you might be lucky enough to witness the most hyped horse racing event with no entry fee!
Lastly, remember to savor some Siena special delicacies from Antica Trattoria Papei, some gelatos (Italian ice cream) from local stores, and the must-have dessert Panforte di Siena (cinnamon-flavored fruitcake).
All in all, if you’re looking for an artistic day trip to discover, your stop should be Siena. Also, you can combine the charming Monteriggioni trip with Siena since it is close to it, so yeah, Siena makes for one of the pleasant half-day trips from Florence too!
2. Pisa
So, an excursion, without exploring the no-car day trips to Pisa from Florence, would feel like having a spoonful of pasta without salt and pepper!
I mean, who on earth isn’t a fan of the hyped Leaning Tower of Pisa?
As soon as you reach Pisa via a regional train ride (ticket costs €8.9 with a travel time of about 50 minutes) from the Firenze Santa Maria station, ensure you get a cheesy selfie with the Leaning Tower, the 8-story (if you wish to reach the top, you gotta make the reservations) famous landmark smack-dab in Pisa’s center.
Pisa isn’t only about this tower; it has a lot more!
Just near it, in the heart of Campo dei Miracoli square, there’s the bronze-doored Pisa Cathedral, the 55-meter-long Baptistery, the iconic Monumental Cemetery, Campostano, which features an ancient botanical garden along with many scenic frescoes.
Apart from that, there are rows and rows of cute food trucks and goodies shops, too, so no worries about the food and shopping supremacies!
I tried Pisa’s famous, Bordatino, a bread, and kale-based soup though the bread tasted a bit weird for the low salt quantity.
Also, remember to take a stroll near the soothing Arno River and the local Park, Giardino Scotto, check out the low-key artistic masterpieces at the Chiesa di Santa Maria della Spina, the Bamboo Forest, and let the charm of nearby colorful houses entice you!
And Tada! You surely don’t need a car for your excursion from Florence to Pisa since trains for Pisa are relatively frequent too!
3. Cinque Terre
Are you looking for a place to get some killer cliffside hiking and cute fishing seaside sites but worried as you don’t have a car along?
Then the day trips from Florence to Cinque Terre are what you need!
This UNESCO World Heritage Site boasts one of the finest Italian coastlines, with five colorful Ligurian fishing villages (each makes for a stunning day trip on its own), lip-smacking seafood, catchy hiking options (my favorite was the Blue Trail) in the mountains, beachfront wine bars, surreal kayak rides, and swimming spots.
And if you’re coming here during the Christmas season, you’ll see the most anticipated Christmas illumination event that lits over a thousand lamps!
But, if you’ve kids with you, ensure extra safety measures since there are quite a few rough terrains.
Cinque Terre doesn’t have many glamourous placements, but yes, the postcard-like vistas of the supreme green mountains, golden sunset hues, and heavenly blue beach waters are something you shouldn’t miss and should be binging for!
As for your no-car journey, you can take a high-speed train from Florence to La Spezia; here, you need to change the train and reach Cinque Terre within a total travel time of 2.5 hours.
4. Fiesole
With only a 25 minutes Route 7 bus ride (costs a mere €1.5 each way) from Santa Maria Novella station, Fiesole is one of the amazing yet easy day trips from Florence without a car because this cute little town sits atop a picturesque hill.
And the best part is, if you’re into hiking, you can even reach Fiesole solely by climbing up the lush green uphill ways, starting your journey from Florence (it’ll take about an hour if you’re taking the hiking route).
But trust me, each moment during the walk will give you some spectacular experience since during the journey; you’ll see the scenic series of cypress trees, white-washed buildings with cute red roots, and of course, the vistas of green hills dotted with villas.
And when in Fiesole, be sure to visit the ancient spa and Roman ruins in the Roman Theatre, the hyped olive groves, the exquisite Villa Peyron, which features a museum with stunning gardens, The Duomo (Italian Cathedral) of Fiesole, which has an eye-catching bell tower, and the charming Bandini Museum for its whopping collection of Terracotta crafts and Florentine arts.
While you capture some beautiful snaps of the incredible archeological sites from the top of San Fransisco Monastery, don’t forget to visit the Piazza Mino for some uber-cool shopping and eating (but watch out, Fiesole souvenirs are a bit pricy!).
If you happen to plan your itinerary for summer, then congratulations, as Fiesole hosts an eclectic annual event called the Summer in Fiesole, where you can enjoy a fantastic concert and jaw-dropping dance performances.
Last but not least, if you’ve got some extra time in hand, take a 12 minutes taxi ride, head to the luxurious Uffizi Gallery, and witness the iconic interior, historical treasures, and impressive sculptures of this must-visit museum of Florence!
And I’m sure this will take your no-car day trip experience to an even higher level of satisfaction!
5. San Casciano
If you want to take a break from the busy and bursting day trips and looking for something calm and peaceful, it is your place!
Located only at a mere distance of 40 minutes by SITA bus, San Casciano is a small charming village encircled with lush green hills and filled with various restaurants and stores, making it one of the best no-car Florence day trips for you!
Don’t worry; these 40 minutes ain’t going to be boring for you since San Casciano is the start region of the stunning Chianti, offering panoramic vistas during the journey.
So, if you’re heading with family and friends, there can’t be a better option than San Casciano since it is much lesser crowded than the other popular and hyped towns.
While this day trip might be much underrated by many, I would say this is a hidden gem because this has a lot to offer you!
From the several Instagram-worthy medieval small castles and picturesque vineyard-covered mountains to stunning churches like Santa Cecilia and San Pancrazio and top-notch wine and olive oil collections, this day trip ensures you have an excursion filled with gorgeous memories!
And if you happen to visit this place on Monday, Voila, you’ll see the weekly Monday Market, where you can buy some authentic goodies (from fresh fruits to homewares, shoes, and clothes, there’s everything at a low price)!
The show stopper of the San Casciano itinerary is the Giuliano Ghelli Museum, which is inside the historical Santa Maria del Gesu church, boasting a massive troupe of 7th-century BC artifacts and arts.
6. Bologna
Home to the posh Lamborghini, Ferrari, and Ducati factories, this without-car day trip from Florence to Bologna is also the perfect choice for food fanatics like me!
Start your itinerary by taking a leisure walk in the medieval streets of Bologna, especially in the Portico di San Luca.
As the city is donned up with golden, pink, and orange hues, you’ll get many stunning places to make cool reels.
If you’re up for some adrenaline rush, hike the gorgeous 498 steps of the leaning twin towers, Asinelli, and Garisenda Tower, you’re sure to get a view of the city that is more than amazing.
For history buffs, Bologna has the Teatro Anatomico, the world’s oldest university, Basilica di San Petronio, the beautiful church from 1390, the library of Archiginnasio, and the mysterious hidden canals behind some of the buildings.
I loved wandering about the Neptune Fountain, the narrow, soaring towers, and Bologna porticoes (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) as they were the perfect Insta eye candy for me!
Bologna isn’t only for adventurers or history admirers since the Piazza Maggiore(main square) is there to quench your shopping fantasies (you’ll find many cute walk-up cafes here too)!
But are you wondering what’s so special about Bologna? Well, it’s the electrifying range of cuisines it offers!
Bologna is truly a food haven for food fanatics, from the locally produced Lambrusco (semi-sweet grape wine), bolognese pasta sauce, fresh parmigiano reggiano of the storehouses, traditional balsamic vinegar of the small farms, signature lasagnas to the juicy Italian delicacies of the Quadrilatero there’s something in Bologna for every kind of foodie!
A must-have is the Torta di Riso (cake made of liquor and almond) from the Paolo Atti e Figli since nothing beats the feeling of devouring a delicious dessert after a happening day trip.
And you aren’t required to get a car to enjoy all these, just hop on a high-speed train from Florence, and you’ll reach Bologna in 35 minutes (though regional train ticket prices are cheaper €12, the travel time can be as long as 2 hours!).
7. Rome
Hey, did Rome remind you of the old school days quote, “Rome wasn’t built in a day”? Surely it did!
Well, the name “Rome” itself is so hyped that it’ll be unfair if I do not let you know about this iconic day trip.
And to remind you, Rome only requires a 1.5-hour high-speed Frecciarossa train ride (I won’t recommend the regional trains as they take an entire 3 hours each way!) from Firenze S.M. Novella with the train ticket costing only €16-25, so absolutely no car supremacies to reach Rome!
As you roam around the royal Rome, let your soul soak the unparalleled views of the archeological wonders of this Eternal City, watch the terrific arts of the Musei Vaticani (requires reservations), have an ice cream from any of the many stunning ice cream parlors near the happening Parco Dell’EUR, or just like the cute Rome locals make a wish while strolling and throwing a coin in the popular Trevi Fountain, you’re sure to get some astounding experience here that’ll never fade away!
If you’re ready to witness some breathtaking views while walking, opt for the serene Giardino Degli Aranci, the funky Trastevere neighborhood, the elliptical amphitheater Colosseum, the Roman beauty, Pantheon temple and the exclusive fashion shopping hub, Piazza Di Spagna (more commonly known as the “Spanish Steps”).
I would say Rome is best explored by foot because this beating heart of Italy will not only impress you with its scenic vine-draped streets, but the entire charming ambiance of it will give you the true spirit of a perfect tour.
Also, remember to take some snaps near the heavenly Palatine Hill. And yes, don’t forget to devour Rome’s extraordinary cuisine, Saltimbocca alla Romana, from the top-notch restaurant Armando Al Pantheon.
On the whole, you should at least make a two-day itinerary plan here to explore the beauty of Rome entirely because this city of Renaissance has a lot of treasures to cherish, making it one of the top day trips from Florence without a car!
Conclusion
Mamma Mia, there you’ve it all!
So, when it comes to day trips from Florence without a car, the options are endless, and even tough to decide which one to go first, but we’re sure you’ll get the most treasured itinerary memories here since now you’ve completed your dose of knowledge from our guide.
Apart from the ones we mentioned, Florence has other iconic no-car beauties, from the Moon Bridge of the floating treasure, Venice (though travel time can be significantly high) to the unique vino windows of the Santo Spirito neighborhood, you’re sure to get diverse itineraries in Florence.
But remember, Florence doesn’t facilitate Uber, so the local Trenitalia website might be your savior to check out the public transport schedule.
Also, Florence gets too crowded during high season; there also might be a rush in the public transportation, so you might need a car rental in that case!
