10 of the best things to do in Tuscany

18.10.2024 - 13:01 / lonelyplanet.com / Maria Di-Santa

Oct 17, 2024 • 9 min read

When conjuring a mental image of Tuscany, most people will think of grassy hills, endless sunflower fields and geometrical rows of vineyards. A quick online search will fetch similar results. After all, that dreamy countryside is a large part of the region and its global appeal – this is a place where one can be immersed in nature and relax, perhaps while sipping on a floral-scented glass of red wine. However, as accurate as that portrayal may be, there is so much more to Tuscany than its beautiful countryside. Visit enchanting medieval hamlets (borghi), have unique gastronomic experiences, get to know ancient local customs and tour cities bursting at the seams with art and culture, many of which escape international fame.

So, go beyond the mainstream destinations and escape the ever-growing problem of overtourism with this guide to the top experiences to have on your next trip to Tuscany.

The island of Elba, the biggest in the Tuscan Archipelago, is big enough to contain two souls: one equipped with countless hospitality services, and its opposite side of the coin, where wild nature still reigns supreme. During your time on Elba, you can enjoy a splendid seaside vacation, snorkeling in aquamarine waters and eating fresh seafood on the beach, as well as embark on adventures in nature and trek to the highest peaks of the island. Elba is reachable year-round with ferries from Piombino.

Planning tip: If you are looking to unwind and unplug, rent an apartment in a remote hamlet on the island, such as Poggio, or a seafront view room at Hotel Antares on the beach of Capoliveri. 

If you have never been, Florence is a must; an open-air museum, with its stunning Renaissance architecture of churches, bridges, palazzi (mansions), and public statues. Immerse yourself in the triumph of art that is the Galleria degli Uffizi, where you can see Botticelli’s masterpiece the Birth of Venus, among hundreds of other artworks. Michelangelo’s David awaits you at the Galleria dell’Accademia. You also can’t miss Florence’s Duomo, Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore, with its enormous dome designed by Brunelleschi, along with the adjacent Baptistery. That’s not even scratching the surface of what Florence has to offer.

Planning tip: Florence deserves to be visited during low season, so you can avoid waiting in line at every turn. You shouldn’t see it all in a day, so plan to stay at least a weekend to take your time through the main sites.

Connect with the land through the animals that inhabit it, like the Tuscans of old. There is an ancient tradition of wild camaraderie between horses and humans in the plains of the Parco Regionale della Maremma. For millennia, horseback-riding shepherds called butteri