Attractions in Italy

Located in central Italy, Tuscany is one of the most beautiful regions in Italy. Full of rolling hills, vineyards, olive groves and medieval towns, you could spend unlimited time seeing the sites, tasting amazing food and wine, and experiencing all that Tuscany has to offer. Some of the most popular destinations in Tuscany include Florence, Siena, Pisa, San Gimignano, Arezzo, Lucca and the famous Chianti region. On our first trip to Italy we spent a week in Tuscany, and it was barely even enough time to scratch the surface of this amazing place.

Getting to Tuscany

If you're flying into Tuscany, the main airport is in Florence, however you can also fly into Pisa. If you are traveling from other parts of Italy, the train is your best option, unless you have already rented a car.

Transport

Just like the rest of Italy, Tuscany has an excellent public transport system, and you can get to most main destinations on the train, and smaller towns on buses. This however, can restrict you to only seeing the towns and cities of Tuscany. I found that the best transport option was to hire a car to travel around. Car hire in Italy is fairly cheap, and it gives you the freedom to go where ever you want and truly experience the beautiful Tuscan countryside. It also makes traveling to small towns a lot easier as you don't have to worry about changing trains and buses, which can be a bit of a hassle. Along with this, driving on the roads with the Italians is quite an experience!

Accommodation

All main towns and cities in Tuscany offer a wide range of accommodation. Hostels and inns are very affordable, and there are all ranges of hotels available as well. One of the best options however, is to rent a villa or apartment to stay in during your time in Tuscany. This is a great way to experience Tuscan life and it can be very affordable, especially if you are staying for a week or more. We rented a villa in the countryside south of Florence, and it was a fantastic experience. Tuscany is small enough to base yourself in a central location, and do day trips from your villa or apartment. You can also save money on meals by cooking your own food in your kitchen. This will give you an excuse to buy some of Tuscany's fantastic produce, and shop with the locals.

So the best way to travel through Tuscany? I'd have to say hire a car, rent a villa and truly experience this wonderful place. Let yourself fall in love with Tuscany!