Tuscany has a coast with 33 marinas, landings and moorings, an archipelago of seven islands in a national park, and Medici villas that count among UNESCO’s World Heritage sites. It suits travelers who like to mix a city like Florence with parks, hill villages and a day or two by the sea. Pisa and Florence are the two main airports.
Driving is where the planning matters. Florence runs a restricted traffic zone, the ZTL, that is active from Monday to Saturday, and a new access ban for older vehicles starts on December 1, 2026. Anyone renting a car should read the rules for getting around before picking a hotel in the city.
At a glance
- Main airports: Pisa (Galileo Galilei) and Florence (Amerigo Vespucci, Peretola)
- Main passenger ports: Livorno and Piombino
- Islands: seven in the Tuscan Archipelago National Park
- Warmest months: July and August, with Florence highs of 90°F (32°C)
- Spring events: Daffodil Festival, Cherry Festival and Cantine Aperte, all in May
- U.S. citizens: up to 90 days in Italy without a tourist or business visa
Where is Tuscany and what is it like?
Tuscany reaches from the Maremma hills down to the sea, with a coastline of sandy beaches, cliffs, marshes and pine forests around the Maremma Park. Farther north, the Migliarino, San Rossore and Massaciuccoli park stretches from Versilia to the Pisan coast. Out at sea, the Tuscan Archipelago National Park takes in Elba, Giglio, Giannutri, Pianosa, Capraia, Gorgona and Montecristo.
Inland, the pace slows in small villages. Sorano, Lari, Suvereto, Santa Fiora and Sarteano have all been awarded the Bandiera Arancione. Buggiano Castello is known for the bright red of its façades, called Buggiano red. Villa medicea della Petraia sits on the slopes of Monte Morello with a view over Florence.
Much of what you see in Florence goes back to the Medici. The Habsburg-Lorraine lived there from 1737 and the Savoy from 1865. In Arezzo, the frescoes by Piero della Francesca in the Bacci Chapel were finished in 1466.
Where to go in Tuscany
Florence
Florence is the base for Medici history. Palazzo Pitti houses five museums, the Boboli Gardens belong to the 12 Medici villas declared UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and Fondazione Salvatore Romano is housed in the Cenacolo di Santo Spirito. It suits travelers who want museums and gardens within one city.
Villa La Petraia, just outside the center, has flowering terraces. Florence also hosts events such as the Scoppio del Carro on Piazza del Duomo and 50 Giorni di Cinema, which runs until December 10, 2026. In August the city empties as people head for the coast, so museum days are easier then.
Arezzo
Arezzo is the stop for art. The Bacci Chapel sits inside the Basilica of San Francisco, a church rebuilt between 1318 and 1377. Piero della Francesca’s frescoes there are the reason to come.
The Aperitivo d’Estate returns to the Roman Amphitheater in Arezzo with over fifteen food and wine stations.
Chianti
Chianti is hill country for slow days. The Chianti Sculpture Park is in Castelnuovo Berardenga, and the Eroica gravel route crosses the Chianti hills on its way through the Val d’Orcia and the Crete Senesi. Greve in Chianti is one of the towns that lists lodging by category.
Wineries open their doors for tastings during Cantine Aperte, held the last weekend of May.
Maremma Park
The Maremma Park overlooks the sea and extends to the Maremma hills, so a single visit can mix beach and countryside. It can be explored on foot, by bike or on horseback, which suits families and active travelers.
A walking route to San Rabano takes 5 hours and covers 6 miles (9.6 km).
Elba
Fetovaia Beach is here, and so is the Butterfly Sanctuary. The island suits beach days with a short detour for something different. Snorkelers will find protected seabeds in the coastal parks of the archipelago.
What is there to do in Tuscany?
Medici villas and gardens
The Medici left a string of villas and gardens. Villa medicea della Petraia has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2013, and the Boboli Gardens are also among the 12 declared. The Pratolino Medici Park in Vaglia is dominated by Giambologna’s Apennine Colossus.
The Medici Palace of Seravezza houses the Museum of Work and Folk Traditions of Historical Versilia. Buggiano Castello opens its gardens only every three years as the Borgo degli agrumi, and they include the Baroque Garden inside the ancient Sermolli Villa.
Check the opening schedule of any garden before traveling, because the Buggiano gardens in particular are open only on those rare years. Palazzo Pitti with its five museums is the easy rainy-day choice in Florence.
Walking, cycling and the Naturalistic Itinerary
The Tuscan Naturalistic Itinerary is a network of thematic routes linking more than 70 reserves and areas of interest, crossing 3 regional parks and 4 national parks. It is divided into four routes by area: hills, coasts, Apennines and rivers. Each can be done on foot, by mountain bike or by car.
Walkers can pick by length. The Via degli Dei for Beginners takes two days and covers 17 miles (27 km), while the Via dei Corbezzoli in Cennina takes 4 hours and a half for 8 miles (13 km). The path to the Stagnone on Capraia has 3 legs and covers 3.7 miles (6 km).
Longer pilgrim routes also run across Tuscany. The Via Romea Germanica has 7 legs and 88 miles (141 km), and the Way of St. Jacopo has 6 legs and 107 miles (172.5 km).
Coastal parks, beaches and the sea
In the coastal nature parks you can go trekking and canoeing, and the protected seabeds are open to snorkeling. The Maremma Park is surrounded by sandy beaches, cliffs, marshes and pine forests.
Beach food has its own calendar around Grosseto. Itinerant food sellers are allowed on beach areas without concessions from May 1 to October 31, so a summer day on the sand can include a snack without leaving the shore.
In August most people crowd the coasts. A beach day in June or September is a calmer option.
Festivals, markets and food
May brings village events, including the Daffodil Festival in Logarghena and Cantine Aperte on the last weekend. The Daffodil Festival is held in early May in Logarghena, and Lari hosts its Cherry Festival from late May to early June. The Valdambra Festival of the Regions takes place May 16 and 17.
For food in autumn, the market exhibition of Mugello white and black truffle runs November 21 and 22, 2026 in Borgo San Lorenzo. Restaurants in the historic center serve snacks and dishes with local truffles. The Festival of Olio Nuovo in San Leolino on November 29 celebrates local extra virgin olive oil.
In Montecatini Terme, the weekly market is on Thursdays at Piazzale Granduca Leopoldo, and the Mercato della Terra is at the Mercato Coperto on Via Mazzini. Art and gardens suit travelers who like to walk indoors and out. Hiking and the coast suit active families. A beach-only stay suits Tuscany less, since the region’s strengths are spread across cities, hills and parks.
Where to stay in Tuscany
Base yourself by what the days will hold. Casale Marittimo has apartments such as Borgo alle Mura, Casa Cerboneschi B&B in the historic center, INTìO Resort and Camping & Residence Valle Gaia. In the province of Siena, Agriturismo La Campana in Asciano offers apartments and a villa with independent entrance and private outdoor space.
Large groups have farmhouse choices. Tenuta Ricrio has independent farmhouses with private pool, each with at least 4 rooms and 8 beds, and Il Moreto is a 400 sqm farmhouse that sleeps up to 15. Agriturismo Poggio Simone is about 5 miles (8 km) from the sea, and its Aurora cottage hosts up to 7 people.
Towns publish per-person charges by lodging type. Greve in Chianti lists 4.00 euros for the first 7 days in 5-star hotels and 2.00 euros in agriturismo and B&Bs. Book coastal stays early for August, when people crowd the coasts.
How do you get to Tuscany and get around?
Tuscany has two main airports: Galileo Galilei in Pisa and Amerigo Vespucci, Peretola in Florence. Smaller airports serve Grosseto, the Versilia and Elba, and others are at Marina di Campo, Lucca Tassignano, Massa-Cinquale, Arezzo and Siena.
Four highways link Tuscany with the rest of Italy and Europe. The A1 connects northern and southern Italy, and the A12 runs along the western coast and on to Rome. Both link to the A11 and the Superstrada Firenze-Pisa-Livorno. Italy’s main railway line crosses Tuscany, and a second line gives access to the coast from Turin, Genoa, Rome and Naples. The main passenger ports are Livorno and Piombino.
Florence’s ZTL is active Monday to Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. and Saturday from 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. It is not active on Sundays and public holidays. A summer night ZTL runs from the first Thursday of April to the first Sunday of October, from 11:00 p.m. to 3:00 a.m. on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
Without a garage inside the ZTL, transit is allowed only for 3 hours to unload luggage, then park elsewhere. There is no on-street parking inside it, only structures and private garages. The Green Shield environmental ZTL has been in force since July 1, 2025, and from December 1, 2026 new bans apply to Euro 1 petrol and Euro 2 diesel vehicles. Fully electric 3- and 4-wheel vehicles can enter with a free authorisation valid for 5 years.
When should you go to Tuscany?
May and June suit most travelers. Florence highs reach 76°F (24°C) in May and 84°F (29°C) in June, and May brings Cantine Aperte. September is also comfortable, with highs of 81°F (27°C).
July and August are the hot months, with Florence highs of 90°F (32°C). Siena runs a little cooler, with highs near 87°F (31°C). In August most people crowd the coasts and Florence empties, so city sightseeing is easier then but beaches are full. Visitors who dislike heat should skip those weeks.
Autumn brings rain. Florence has 9 rainy days in October and 10 in November, with 4 to 5 inches of precipitation each month. That is the season for truffle markets and olive oil festivals, so pack rain gear and plan indoor stops.
What to know before visiting Tuscany
According to the U.S. State Department (travel.state.gov), U.S. citizens can stay in Italy for 90 days without a tourist or business visa.
- Passports must be valid for at least 3 months beyond your planned date of departure from the Schengen area. A 6-month validity is recommended, and passports need 2 blank pages for the entry stamp.
- You will need proof of sufficient funds and a return plane ticket.
- Italy sets a limit of 10,000 euros, or equivalent, on currency entering and leaving the country.
- Level 2, Exercise increased caution in Italy due to terrorism, was issued September 10, 2026.
- Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to get important updates and alerts from the U.S. embassy or consulate, and buy insurance before you travel.
Sources
- ncei.noaa.gov (https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/products/wmo-climate-normals), checked 2026-10-30
- visittuscany.com (https://www.visittuscany.com//en/ideas/top-things-to-do-in-tuscany-in-spring/), checked 2026-10-30
- travel.state.gov (https://travel.state.gov/en/international-travel/travel-advisories/italy.html), checked 2026-10-30
- visittuscany.com (https://www.visittuscany.com/en/how-to-get-here/), checked 2026-10-30
- feelflorence.it (https://www.feelflorence.it/it/dalle-redazioni/auto-firenze-ztl), checked 2026-10-30
- open-meteo.com (https://open-meteo.com/en/docs/historical-weather-api), checked 2026-10-30
- visittuscany.com (https://www.visittuscany.com/en/ideas/sea-and-wilderness-nature-parks-along-the-tuscan-coast/), checked 2026-10-30
- comune.casale-marittimo.pi.it (https://comune.casale-marittimo.pi.it/it/page/115086), checked 2026-10-30