Rolling hills blanketed in vineyards. Hilltop towns crowned by medieval towers. Slow meals under olive trees, and sunsets that melt into Chianti. Tuscany isn’t just a destination — it’s a feeling. One that lingers long after you’ve left, and one that draws travellers back, again and again.

For many Australians planning a trip to Italy, Tuscany sits high on the dream list. And for good reason. It delivers on all fronts: culture, cuisine, landscape, and soul. Whether it’s your first time in Italy or your fifth, Tuscany offers a layered experience — both postcard-perfect and quietly profound. This is where slow living meets deep history. Where the days unfold with purpose. Where beauty is never far away.

Here’s everything you need to know to plan a holiday to Tuscany that’s rich in detail, full of flavour, and curated for lifelong memories.

Where Exactly Is Tuscany?

Tuscany (Toscana) is a central Italian region stretching from the Apennine Mountains to the Tyrrhenian Sea. It borders Umbria to the east, Liguria to the northwest, and Lazio to the south. Its capital, Florence (Firenze), is one of Italy’s cultural icons, but Tuscany is a region of villages, vineyards, and coastal escapes as much as it is of Renaissance masterpieces.

The landscape is famously varied: think cypress-lined drives, thermal springs, coastal dunes, and vineyard-covered hills that look like they were painted by hand. Tuscany is both accessible and expansive — the kind of place you can visit again and again, always discovering something new.

When to Go

Tuscany changes with the seasons — and each offers something unique:

• Spring (April–June): Lush and blooming, ideal for walkers and wine tasters. Wildflowers carpet the countryside, and local festivals (sagre) return to town squares.
• Autumn (September–October): Arguably the best time to visit. It’s harvest season — truffles, wine, chestnuts, and olive oil — and the countryside glows in golden tones.
• Summer (July–August): Hot and busier with European tourists. Great for coastal escapes and festivals, but book well in advance and opt for properties with pools.
• Winter (November–March): Quieter, and perfect for cultural cities like Florence and Siena. Fireside wine tastings, uncrowded museums, and fewer queues.

How to Get There (and Around)

• Fly: Most international travellers land in Florence Airport (Peretola) or Pisa International Airport (Galileo Galilei). Pisa often has better connections for long-haul flights and is just over an hour from Florence by car or train.
• Train: Italy’s high-speed rail network makes Florence easily accessible from Rome (1.5 hours) or Milan (2 hours).
• Drive: To explore Tuscany properly — the countryside, the coast, the hill towns — renting a car is essential. The region is made for meandering.

Tip: Skip driving in Florence itself — it’s better explored on foot, and parking is notoriously tricky. Begin your road trip once you head into the Val d’Orcia, Chianti, or coastal areas.

Where to Base Yourself

Florence

Begin here. Even if the Tuscan countryside is your focus, Florence is unmissable. Birthplace of the Renaissance, home to Michelangelo’s David, and packed with churches, palaces, galleries, and impossibly good food.

Stay: Choose a boutique hotel or historic palazzo within the city centre. Consider AdAstra, set within Europe’s largest private garden, or Hotel Brunelleschi, a luxe stay blending medieval architecture and modern interiors.

Don’t Miss: The Uffizi Gallery, Ponte Vecchio at sunset, aperitivo hour in Oltrarno, and a quiet climb to Piazzale Michelangelo for panoramic city views.

Chianti

The name alone conjures up glasses of red wine beside stone villas. Located between Florence and Siena, Chianti is all rolling vineyards, castle stays, and vineyard lunches.

Stay: Book a stay at a wine estate like Castello di Ama or Borgo San Felice — both offer elevated, artful experiences in stunning surrounds.

Don’t Miss: Private wine tastings, drives through Greve and Radda, and long lunches that stretch into the afternoon.

Val d’Orcia

This UNESCO-listed valley is the Tuscany of your imagination. Towns like Pienza, Montepulciano, and Montalcino sit among wheat fields and vine-striped hills. It’s cinematic, especially at sunrise.

Stay: Consider La Bandita Townhouse in Pienza for boutique charm, or Rosewood Castiglion del Bosco for an ultra-luxe countryside experience.

Don’t Miss: The Pecorino di Pienza cheese trail, thermal springs at Bagno Vignoni, Brunello tastings in Montalcino, and golden-hour photo stops on SP146.

Lucca & Pisa

Less frenetic than Florence, these western Tuscan cities offer history without the crowds. Lucca is encircled by Renaissance walls perfect for bike rides; Pisa delivers more than its famous tower.

Stay: Opt for a restored villa just outside Lucca or a design-led guesthouse in Pisa’s San Martino district.

Don’t Miss: An afternoon cycling Lucca’s walls, the Piazza dei Miracoli in Pisa, and canal-side dinners without the tourist bustle.

The Tuscan Coast

Often overlooked, Tuscany’s coastline is surprisingly sophisticated. Bolgheri and Castiglione della Pescaia are favourites for their beaches, seafood, and wine scenes (Sassicaia, anyone?).

Stay: Check into L’Andana, a former Medici hunting lodge turned countryside resort, or a beachside villa near Forte dei Marmi.

Don’t Miss: Fresh seafood lunches by the water, beach clubs with vintage umbrellas, and wine tasting in Bolgheri’s Super Tuscan estates.

What to Eat and Drink

Tuscany is a region that respects simplicity. Ingredients are seasonal, local, and rich in flavour — no need for flourish.

Must-try dishes:

• Bistecca alla Fiorentina: Thick-cut T-bone, traditionally from Chianina cattle.
• Pici Cacio e Pepe: Hand-rolled pasta with cheese and pepper.
• Ribollita: A hearty peasant soup of beans, cavolo nero, and bread.
• Panzanella: A summer salad of stale bread, tomatoes, and olive oil.

Cheese & Wine:

• Pecorino Toscano: Often aged and sharp, especially from Pienza.
• Chianti Classico, Brunello di Montalcino, and Vino Nobile di Montepulciano dominate the reds.
• Vernaccia di San Gimignano offers an elegant white option.

Tip: Book a long, slow lunch at a family-run winery. The best meals in Tuscany happen when you’re not watching the clock.

Experiences Worth Travelling For

• Hot air balloon over the Val d’Orcia at dawn
• Truffle hunting in San Miniato in autumn
• Artisan workshops in Florence (bookbinding, leather, ceramics)
• Private cooking class at a country villa
• Tuscan garden tours in places like Villa Gamberaia or La Foce
• Olive oil tasting near Arezzo during the November press

What to Pack

Tuscany’s terrain and weather vary — pack for both city and countryside.

• Comfortable, stylish footwear for cobblestones and country walks
• Light layers: linen in summer, scarves and a good coat for autumn/winter
• Swimwear and sandals if heading to the coast or thermal springs
• A tote or backpack for market days and wine hauling
• Camera or smartphone with space — trust us, you’ll want to document every moment

Tuscany, Always

Tuscany isn’t the kind of place you tick off a list. It’s a place you return to — sometimes physically, often in memory. It doesn’t demand attention with grand gestures. Instead, it lingers in the details: the way morning mist hangs over vineyard rows, the echo of footsteps in an empty piazza, the exact shade of terracotta at golden hour.

Tuscany is more than a beautiful escape — it offers rhythm, perspective, and a certain kind of clarity. Whether you spend your days roaming Renaissance streets or simply watching the light shift across a stone wall, time in Tuscany feels well spent.

It won’t be the most dramatic part of your journey. But it might be the part that stays with you longest.