Classic Chianti: Florence to Siena
- Experience Tuscany’s Chianti at your own pace with a mix of hiking & time at leisure
- Explore the two great medieval cities of Florence & Siena
- Surround yourself with timeless landscapes of vineyards, olive groves & cypress trees
- Sample the premium, world-class wines of the region, such as Montalbano
- Hike into the glorious medieval city of Siena, a Gothic open-air museum
- Stay in hand-picked accommodations all in enchanting locations
Gallery
Itinerary
Day 1 Arrive Florence and overnightFlorence is easily accessible from Florence or Pisa Airports by tram, bus or train. A short bus or tram ride from Florence Airport (15mins) or a bus or train from Pisa Airport (1 hour).
Welcome to the heart of the Italian Renaissance where beauty, art, history and culture is the essence of everyday life. Wander the old streets of Florence where magnificent Baroque and Gothic churches, fortresses and cathedrals pose in every direction. Explore 13th-century Basilicas, the Ponte Vecchio, the Uffizi Gallery and the Pitti Palace, where the House of Medici shaped Florence into a helm of arts and humanities.
Finish your day with a “passeggiate” (evening walk), an Italian social ritual within the Piazza Della Repubblica for fantastic people watching and osterias boasting gourmet Italian cuisine.
Casa dei Tintori is a restored 13th century family guest house is only a few minutes’ walk of Florence’s major sights, cafes and bars. Situated within 400 metres of Palazzo Vecchio and 700 metres of Ponte Vecchio, B&B La Casa dei Tintori has city and inner courtyard views, and is 500 metres from Piazza della Signoria. The property is 400 metres from Uffizi Gallery, and within 700 metres of the city centre.
A lovely, cozy downtown accommodation rich with Florentine history. This family-owned hotel is modern in it’s amentities, but timeless in atmosphere. Enjoy a full breakfast in the morning and a complimentary glass of wine in the evening. Popular points of interest near the accommodation include Santa Maria Novella, Strozzi Palace and Pitti Palace.
This morning take a self-guided walking tour of Florence following the route on the Macs Smartphone App. You will spend a fascinating morning exploring world-famous artwork and Florence’s top attractions. Discover Palazzo Vecchio, the infamous fortress and town hall of Florence, navigate Accademia Galleria for Michelangelo’s “David,” and be awed by the exterior of Florence’s Cathedral “Duomo.”
Enjoy a free afternoon for further exploration of this magical city.
Ascent/Descent: 114m/114m
Casa dei Tintori is a restored 13th century family guest house is only a few minutes’ walk of Florence’s major sights, cafes and bars. Situated within 400 metres of Palazzo Vecchio and 700 metres of Ponte Vecchio, B&B La Casa dei Tintori has city and inner courtyard views, and is 500 metres from Piazza della Signoria. The property is 400 metres from Uffizi Gallery, and within 700 metres of the city centre.
A lovely, cozy downtown accommodation rich with Florentine history. This family-owned hotel is modern in it’s amentities, but timeless in atmosphere. Enjoy a full breakfast in the morning and a complimentary glass of wine in the evening. Popular points of interest near the accommodation include Santa Maria Novella, Strozzi Palace and Pitti Palace.
After breakfast take a private transfer to Radda in Chianti (approx. 1.5 hours). Stay tonight in this spectacular medieval town, perched high upon a hilltop and surrounded by the stunning landscapes of Sangiovese vineyards.
Walk directly out of town from your hotel and you will immediately be immersed within famed Chianti vineyards. Walk uphill to Castelvecchi, where there is a vineyard on top of the rise and where you will also pass the Church of Pieve di Santa Maria Novella. Take a small wooded trail which comes out to full views of the valley and arrive in Volpaia, an adorable hamlet, with a winery and a café that serves delicious lunches in the piazza. Walk through rows of cypress trees until Radda comes into view again.
Tonight select a delightful restaurant in which to eat some homemade pasta and enjoy a glass of the world-famous red wine, Chianti Classico.
Ascent/Descent: 506m/506m
Set in the picturesque town of Radda in Chianti, Palazzo San Niccolò is an elegant hotel offering a large garden and interesting interiors with original frescoes and antique furniture. There are three swimming pools and a spa with a sauna. Your day at San Niccolò Palazzo begins with a large buffet breakfast featuring homemade pastries and a wide variety of food.
A beautifully renovated manor house dating from the 1700s, Relais Vignale is the perfect place to relax after a long day in the saddle. The hotel has a lounge with fireplace, garden, outdoor heated swimming pool, enoteca, and restaurant with panoramic terrace.
Set off on today’s hike which goes through a range of scenery including a dense concentration of vineyards, olive groves, orchards, terraced slopes, and wooded valleys.
Reach Vertine, a hamlet with a castle and medieval walls. Inside these walls is the Church of San Bartolomeo a Vertine, dating back to the 11th century with Renaissance frescoes by the Florentine School inside. Vertine also has a winery, so there’s the opportunity to stop for a tasting, should you wish.
Then hike downhill into Gaiole in Chianti and to your hotel for the evening.
Ascent/Descent: 359m/527m (1,178ft/1,729ft)
This adorable B&B on the outskirts of Gaiole in Chianti has great views. It is located within a restored stone farmhouse and at the end of your walk you can relax by the outdoor pool. It is a 5-10 minute walk fom the centre of town.
Centrally set in Gaiole in Chianti surrounded by a nice garden. All bedrooms and bathrooms are acoustically insulated for maximum privacy. Buffet and Italian breakfast options with fresh pastries, fruits and juice are available every morning at the bed and breakfast.
The hotel overlooks the central square of Gaiole: here in a few steps you can find bars, restaurants, shops selling handicrafts and typical products. Paradiso in Chianti has a garden, a terrace, and a bar. The area is popular for cycling, and bike hire is available at the accommodation.
This loop hike out of Gaiole in Chianti reveals the variety of Chianti landscapes as it journeys through woods, vineyards, and olive groves. Make a stop at the stunning monastery of Badia a Coltibuono. Monks took over this monastery in the 12th century and established a tradition of expert viticulture. It offers spectacular views over the Tuscan countryside from its lofty hillside look-out. On the way to the monastery, the road to Montegrossi passes the Castello di Montegrossi high on the cliffs above the roadside. Wander through the lovely little hamlet of Montegrossi and take the forest tracks skirting the hillside.
Perhaps stop at the Riecine Winery where it’s possible to arrange a wine tasting in the afternoon (please note they are not open on Sundays and only offer tours after Easter so please check your dates before confirming your booking). At this winery, there have been generations of winemakers since Etruscan times and their objective is to create the very best wines from Sangiovese, the indigenous grape of the Chianti Classico region.
The hike heads back into Gaiole to return to where it begins at the Church of San Sigismondo.
Ascent/Descent: 335m/335m (1,099ft/1,099ft)
This adorable B&B on the outskirts of Gaiole in Chianti has great views. It is located within a restored stone farmhouse and at the end of your walk you can relax by the outdoor pool. It is a 5-10 minute walk fom the centre of town.
Centrally set in Gaiole in Chianti surrounded by a nice garden. All bedrooms and bathrooms are acoustically insulated for maximum privacy. Buffet and Italian breakfast options with fresh pastries, fruits and juice are available every morning at the bed and breakfast.
The hotel overlooks the central square of Gaiole: here in a few steps you can find bars, restaurants, shops selling handicrafts and typical products. Paradiso in Chianti has a garden, a terrace, and a bar. The area is popular for cycling, and bike hire is available at the accommodation.
Two-thirds of Chianti’s 70,000 hectares (270sq. miles) are still covered in oak woods and are home to boar, hares, deer and pheasants. You may be lucky enough to spot one of these wild animals en route.
Today, pass through Lecchi in Chianti, a quaint, stone village that has origins dating back to the medieval age. Several characteristics from this period, such as its narrow alleyways, can be seen, and this offers a lovely and ancient atmosphere. If you are staying at Le Pozze di Lecchi, your hike already ends at km9.3/mile5.8 before reaching Lecchi.
Ascent/Descent: 297m/237m (974ft/778ft)
Located in a very quiet environment in the heart of Chianti region, Hotel Le Pozze di Lecchi offers two outdoor pools with panoramic views over the Tuscan hills and vineyards. The restaurant Monna Ginevra serves traditional and regional cuisine prepared in a style lounge. On sunny days, guests can enjoy meals on the outdoor terraces.
There are two potential hikes today that you can choose from, the above distances are based on the short option. This involves transferring to Pieve di San Giovanni Battista a Pievasciata to start the hike from here. Alternatively you can transfer to San Sano for the longer hike.
Either way you'll then follow the same route as you make your way on foot to Siena, making the most of your day hiking through this pristine and timeless landscape. As you approach Siena you will walk past the Basilicata dell’ Osservanza from where there are fantastic views over this glorious medieval city.
La Chicca B&B is run by the Garavini family. The accommodation is situated in an old villa in the San Prospero area, just outside of the historic Siena’s walls. Offering a garden and a terrace, La Chicca Siena is located in Siena, a 5 mins walk from the Piazza Campo and a 15-minute walk from the Cathedral.
Set in a 13th-century building, Hotel Alma Domus offers rooms in the historic centre of Siena, a 2-minute walk from Basilica Cateriniana San Domenico Church. Many of the rooms have balconies offering city views and they are all stylishly decorated.
The Hotel Duomo is located in an antique mansion, whose history can be traced to the 12th century. It was restored on the old foundations in 1726 with the façade in the Renaissance style. The furniture of the hotel is modern, with some traces of the past still visible in the wood beams and the brickwork in the breakfast room. On the terrace, above the sienese roofs, you can sun yourself in total relaxation.
Today your hiking adventure ends. From Siena you can easily access Pisa, Florence and Rome by train.
This trip has a carbon score of 4kg per person per night, meaning it’s one of our best trips! For comparison, a carbon count of 4kg is equivalent to 2.5 avocados. Here at Macs, we pride ourselves on being a responsible travel company and continue to adopt, develop and innovate ways to positively impact the environment. Find out more information about how we've carbon counted our trips.
Other Information
Is it for me?On this tour not only will you have the chance to explore the two great medieval cities of Florence and Siena, but you will also take hikes following trails through classic and timeless Chianti landscapes. It's perfect for anyone who hikes regularly and wants to explore at their own pace. There are plenty of places of historic interest to discover amidst picture-postcard scenery, and many chances to visit vineyards along the way, all coupled with comfortable and welcoming accommodation, and mouth-watering food and wine. There are ups and downs to the hill towns, due to the nature of the rolling Tuscan scenery. It’s best to train ahead of time to do some with practice hikes that include stairs and ascents and descents like those you will experience on the trip while carrying your day bag. There are a couple optional loop hikes that can be sat skipped if a rest day is needed. If time allows, then we’d suggest adding an additional day at the end of the trip in historic Siena to soak up the atmosphere and rejuvenate before continuing with onward travel.
Slower Adventures | Where walking and cycling meet easy-going exploring, our Slower Adventures are the perfect combination. Most days are filled with picturesque journeys with some free time to dive into the destination and experience the people, local food and culture as you go.
Inn to Inn Walking | Walk from place-to-place changing accommodations each night. Generally staying in B&Bs, inns, and guesthouses.
Solo Travellers, Families with Teens
The minimum age for this tour is: 12 Years
This trip is graded ‘easy to moderate’ overall. The terrain is hilly with regular ascents and descents, and summer temperatures can be high. You should therefore be in good physical fitness to fully enjoy the hiking on this trip. Most of the route follows gravel and farm tracks and trails, and minor roads from time to time. It’s best to train ahead of time and do some practice hikes including stairs and ascents and descents like those you will experience on the trip while carrying your day bag. The walks are an average of 15-16km (9.3-10mi) each day and a couple of them are optional and could be skipped if an additional rest day is required. However, should you also wish to skip a hike between towns then you will be responsible for taking a taxi or bus (if possible) to the next place.
Stay in charming small hotels, guesthouses and agriturismos. We carefully select small and friendly accommodation that offers great value, so you enjoy every minute. All are located in glorious settings, be it a town, a hamlet, or the wonderful city of Siena
Additional Nights
Many of our hikers choose to add extra nights along the hike to sample more of the wonderful hiking and attractions available in Chianti. If time allows, then we would recommend adding an additional night at the end of the tour in Siena to further explore this iconic city.
Solo Hikers & Single Rooms
This trip is available to solo hikers, although there is a supplement due to the fact that some of the costs (such as transfers) are not shared. Single rooms are available on request and a supplement is payable.
Meals
The delicious Chianti food and wine are undoubtedly a highlight of this vacation.
Breakfast is included each morning and normally consists of a traditional European style continental breakfast or buffet breakfast that often includes coffee, tea, yogurt, granola, meat, cheese, and baked goods. In some cases, a hot dish (eggs, pancakes, etc.) will be served or offered.
Lunches and dinners are not included in this trip. We recommend finding cafés or restaurants located in the towns or along the walking route, or to purchase snacks and a picnic lunch to bring along on the hikes from local supermarkets and markets. Alternatively, most accommodations will be happy to provide a packed lunch on request and this can be booked on arrival. Dinner is available either at your accommodation or nearby restaurants. Further details can be found within your Information Pack and the Macs Adventure Smartphone App.
The route is not waymarked, except for some sections on dedicated trails. However, we provide the Macs Adventure Smartphone App making it simple to follow the route using a smartphone. Rest assured that by downloading the route maps in our app, that this will continue to work even in areas without any mobile or internet reception.
- Accommodation in en suite rooms in charming hotels, guesthouses and agriturismos on a twin share basis
- Daily breakfasts
- Door to door baggage transfers as per your itinerary
- Transfers as per itinerary
- Access to maps, GPX tracks and daily route information with the Macs Adventure smartphone navigation app
- All your trip documents including a detailed information pack provided digitally through your online Macs “My Account”
- Telephone support from our offices in the event of a problem
- Travel insurance (recommended)
- Travel from the tour finishing point
- Lunches, dinners, drinks, and snacks
- Tourist taxes (charged locally at hotels)
- Any additional transfers or public transport required to shorten the walks or skip a stage
- Additional nights before, during or after the tour
- Private transfer from the end point of the tour to the airport
- Room upgrades
This trip is available to start anytime between April and October.
Peak Season Availability
As Tuscany is a very popular destination, we suggest booking as soon as possible to ensure availability for specific dates. Availability in Siena is very challenging around the times of the 'Palio' horse races, which are held annually in early July and then again in mid-August over the course of 4 days each month.
Time of Year
The Spring months offer warm sunshine, fewer crowds, and pleasant hiking conditions. May is when most wildflowers are coming into bloom. The autumn months of September and October are also a favorable time of year, boasting cooler weather and a striking landscape made up of fall colors. July and August are good months to go but can be very hot for hiking and therefore aren’t best suited for everyone. You will have to start early to miss the heat of the day and carry a lot of water (additional weight) with you. The towns and villages are very vibrant at any time of year, which makes for a great atmosphere, yet as soon as you get on the hikes its relatively quiet and peaceful.
This trip starts in Florence. To reach Florence, we recommend flying into Pisa Airport (PSA) or Rome Airports (FCO or CIA). There is also an airport in Florence (FLR), however, flights in and out of this airport are limited.
If arriving in Florence, you can reach the city center by train or bus within 15-20 minutes.
If arriving in Pisa: From the airport take the PisaMover that departs approx. every 10min to the Pisa Centrale Train Station (takes 5 minutes). After exiting Arrivals, follow the signs for the PisaMover, turning left and walking along the passageway to the little Pisamover station at the end of this passageway. You can either take the stairs up or go up to the platform with the elevator. Once upstairs you can buy a ticket from the machine. From Pisa Centrale Train Station, trains to Florence leave around every 30min, and the journey takes approx. 1H15.
If arriving in Rome (note Rome has two airports): From Rome Fiumicino Airport (FCO), take the Leonardo Express Train that’s located inside the airport and departs every 15min to the central train station Roma Termini (takes about 32min). From Ciampino Airport (CIA), there’s a bus to Roma Termini (takes about 40min). From Rome’s Roma Termini Train Station, trains to Florence leaves several times a day, and the journey takes approx. 1H36.
Please check the Trenitalia website for timetable planning. Please note that not all buses/trains run on a Sunday, or they may have a reduced timetable.
If you’d prefer to avoid public transport from the airport, a private transfer can be requested. Please let us know at the time of booking if you would like to add this option (additional costs apply). Once your trip is confirmed please share your flight information with us, including your arrival time, as soon as you have booked your flights, so that we have those details well in advance and we can arrange the transfer for you ahead of time.
It's easy to travel from Siena by train to the major airports of Florence, Pisa, and Rome.
The Siena Train Station and Bus Station are located in the valley below the city center. (about a 2km/1.25mi walk from the majority of accommodations we use). To make your way to the station you have a few options (each payable locally): 1) take the escalators 2) take a bus or 3) take a taxi.
Approx. total journey times from Siena are:
To Florence 2H15 – 3H15
- The train to Florence Santa Maria Novella station is usually a direct train that goes via Empoli and takes around 1H30. Some trains are direct whereas others go via Empoli.
To Rome 2H15 – 3H20
- To Roma Termini Train Station it’s normally necessary to change trains in Florence or Chiusi-Chianciano Terme and takes around 3H30.
To Pisa 2H00 – 3H15
- To Pisa’s Train Station there is usually a train that departs approx. every 30min that goes via Empoli and takes around 1H45.
Once again it will be necessary to travel from the central train stations in these cities back to the airports (see ‘Getting to the Start’ for further information about this).
Alternatively, we can arrange a taxi from Siena to your departure city or airport. Please let us know in advance if you wish to include this option for an additional fee.
Please check the Trenitalia website for timetable planning. There are also local buses that you can take for your onward travel and you can find the information here. Please note that not all buses/trains run on a Sunday, or they may have a reduced timetable.
One bag of up to 20kg/44lbs per person will be transferred from each accommodation to the next.
At Macs Adventure, we work in partnership with many luggage transfer providers who set a limit on how many bags/suitcases they will transfer per person, and also the weight of the bag/suitcase.Your booking includes transfer of 1 bag per person. It is very important that you read the luggage information specific to your tour before departure. If you do not adhere to these limits, there is a great possibility that you will be charged locally both for extra bags or if they are too heavy. This limitation can be a challenge, especially as airlines generally have limits that are higher. However, our luggage providers have reasons for these limits (usually due to the Health and Safety of their employees), which we must respect.
It is strongly recommended that you secure adequate travel insurance.
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