Discover some of the highlights of Tuscany on this day trip from Florence by coach. Visit historical hill towns Pienza, Montalcino, and Montepulciano; admire the gorgeous, vineyard-covered scenery of Orcia Valley (Val d’Orcia); and enjoy cheese and wine tastings as you stop at local wineries and other venues. It’s a great day out in the Italian countryside.

Visit hill towns Montalcino, Montepulciano, and World Heritage–listed Pienza
Enjoy a scenic drive through the hilly vineyard landscape of Val d’Orcia
Taste regional wine varietals Brunello and Vino Nobile and sample local cheese
Round-trip transportation included for an added convenience

What's Included

Journey by fully-fitted GT Coach with Free Wifi on board
Expert multilingual Tour Leader
Free time in Montalcino, Pienza and Montepulciano
Visit to a wine cellar in Montalcino with tasting of the world-famous Brunello wine
Visit to a winery in Montepulciano with tasting of the famous “Vino Nobile" and cheese pairing

Lunch
Gratuities
Hotel pickup and drop-off
Attractions tickets not included in the product

Meeting and Pickup

Meeting point

Piazzale Montelungo, Firenze FI, Italy
TOURS & NEWS KIOSK AT PIAZZALE MONTELUNGO BUS TERMINAL Located at 5-10 minutes walking distance from Santa Maria Novella Train Station. Look for our staff wearing a FUCHSIA CIAOFLORENCE JACKET and holding a CIAOFLORENCE CLIPBOARD!

Start time

08:00 AM

End point

Piazzale Montelungo, Firenze FI, Italy

What To Expect

Board your air-conditioned coach at the central Santa Maria Novella train station in Florence and take in views of the Tuscan countryside as you travel through the UNESCO-listed Val d’Orcia. Once you arrive at Montalcino, follow your guide through the medieval old town to a local cellar to learn about its history and production and sip premium Brunello wine.

Enjoy a bit of free time in Montalcino to explore the town and relax over lunch (own expense) before boarding the coach for Pienza. Stroll through its Renaissance historic center at your own pace, stopping to sightsee, shop, and sample artisan “pecorino” cheese.

Next, head to Montepulciano by way of the iconic Madonna di Vitaleta rural chapel. Explore its picturesque hilltop old town for about an hour before meeting back up with the group for a winery tour and Vino Nobile di Montepulciano tasting. Take one last walk around to pick up souvenirs before the return coach ride back to Florence.

Val d'Orcia

2 hours • Admission Ticket Free

Montalcino

1 hour • Admission Ticket Free

Fortezza di Montalcino

1 hour • Admission Ticket Free

Pienza

1 hour • Admission Ticket Free

Il Duomo di Pienza

10 minutes • Admission Ticket Not Included

Cappella della Madonna di Vitaleta

10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Montepulciano

2 hours • Admission Ticket Free

Florence

2 hours • Admission Ticket Free

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Not wheelchair accessible
Stroller accessible
Minimum drinking age is 18 years
May be operated by a multi-lingual guide
Please advise any specific dietary requirements at time of booking
Near public transportation
Infants must sit on laps
Vegetarian option is available, please advise at time of booking if required

Please show up 20 minutes before the tour departure
Infant seats available
No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
English and Spanish are always guaranteed. In order to confirm the excursion in Italian, German, Portuguese or French a minimum of 4 pax is required
The order of the visits may change and Montepulciano could be the first stop
Disinfected radio units will be provided, and headphones will be single-use. Showing your voucher on your phone will be enough; it is not necessary to print it out.
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 45 travelers

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.

Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.

Traveler Photos

Featured review

Christopher_S

The trips to all 3 towns were terrific. We had just about the right amount of time at each location. The towns were beautiful. The first winery, Tolusa in Montopulciano was really cool. It was not the winery but where they age the wine and do wine tasting. Wine was excellent. Pienza was a great place to walk around and get lunch. Last was a visit to the Padelletti winery in Montalcino and the wine and views were spectacular. The tour guide and driver were very friendly. Highly recommend for the price.

Reviews

4.5

438 reviews

Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews

Reviews by Viator travelers.

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Showing 1-10 of 438 reviews

Worth every penny!

Gary_S, Apr 2024

I enjoyed this tour and can highly recommend it. The tour guide whose name evades me was spot on... he was concise and did a great job herding the tour group from location to location which is not always easy! I have traveled a lot over the years and I am doing more of these tours...they are convenient and cost worthy when you consider the cost and aggravation of renting a car and getting lost! BUT now that I've seen some of the major spots I can rent a car and just get lost in Tuscany on purpose! ...FYI I am not a wine drinker but found the wine tasting interesting and enjoyable.

Fabulous trip with AMAZING guide

jennifer_k, Apr 2024

Gabriel was the most genuine and kind tour guide! We learned so much from him, and enjoyed his company so very much. This is a must do!

Go with a Chianti wine tour instead…

Olivia_D, Apr 2024

I think the biggest let down of this tour is that there is NO vineyard. We were really looking forward to a photo surrounded by a vineyard, but the first stop was a winery built into the first town. (We actually missed this first tasting because of a communication error, but I’m not taking any points off for that, but based off the reviews from the other group members the wine wasn’t good (only reds btw)). The second town with free time was beautiful!! That’s where that picturesque photo in the ads is taken, but again, it’s not actually a vineyard. The third stop is another winery built into the town, it has great views but you can’t go explore them, they’re in the distance… and again, the wine was all reds and didn’t taste that good. The guide was very good but there are so many other wine tours you can do that have the views, multiple types of wine, and go to cooler vineyards. And dare I mention, I think Chianti wine is much better than this region’s….

Would recommend

Brianna_H, Apr 2024

Ciao Florence's day trip to val d'orcia was fantastic. This was a lovely sight seeing day and all three towns were picturesque and interesting. Both wineries were good as well as the lunch location recommended. The tour guide Constantino and driver Claude were both great. Would recommend.

Take this tour, you'll love it!

Wendy_A, Apr 2024

Such a beautiful area to visit - don't miss it! A comfortable bus and a very knowledgeable tour guide will make it a memorable experience. We tasted wines and cheese and learned some of the history of the hill towns. My only caution would be, be prepared to walk up and down steep streets and stairs. The guide walked quickly and I was glad I wasn't the only one who had trouble keeping up. The younger people seemed to have no problem 😅. The guide was very careful to count heads when leaving each destination so no one was left behind. I really enjoyed my day in the countryside, it's too beautiful to miss.

Would recommend!

MeriKathryn_S, Apr 2024

Great trip! Knowledgable hosts and tour is exactly as described! On this trip, you will have the chance to see multiple Italian villages and try some great Italian wine! Would definitely recommend! Very easy to get to from Florence!

Tuscany Winery experience - great day!

Linda_I, Apr 2024

The views, the lovely Tuscany villages and the Talosa Winery experience in Montepulciano. Truthfully both winery experiences were wonderful and special in their own ways. Great day!

Memorable

Brigitte_K, Mar 2024

Brilliant and very knowledgeable tour guide. Amazing wine and wineries, can’t wait for my wine to arrive.

Wonderful day in the Val d’Orcia

Michelle_T, Dec 2023

Our group was small, and we fit into a small bus. Our tour guide, Stanislava (apologies if I misspelt it!), was warm and clear in her explanations. The wine & cheese tastings at Montalcino and Montepulciano were very well done by the wineries who brought the history of their wines to life. Montalcino, Pienza and Montelpulciano are lovely, as are the stunning views of the Val d’Orcia at the stops and from the bus. There was enough time to walk around the towns. We had a fantastic lunch in Pienza, at a restaurant which wasn’t the one that our tour guide arranged. There was a lovely Christmas market at Montelpulciano. It was a wonderful day around the Val d’Orcia and was a highlight of our trip in Italy.

A beautiful and most enjoyable tour

Sally_L, Nov 2023

Jacobo was an excellent tour guide as he provided helpful information about the itinerary and the history of the towns. We were most grateful when he stopped the bus so that we can take photos of a certain scene from the movie, Gladiator. The tour itself was well arranged with sufficient amount of stops between beautiful towns and time to explore them. We really enjoyed both of the wineries too.

A must do trip when in Tuscany.

David_F, Nov 2023

Breathtaking scenery from all 3 locations visited. Roberto, the host, was excellent and Paulo the driver was super professional and safe. A very highly recommended trip.

Tuscan Hills Postcard, way too long and strenuous

Pamela_B, Nov 2023

We chose this tour because we have always wanted to go to Montepulciano. This tour is 11 hours and 30 minutes long. The first two cities were Montalcino and Pienza were great. Pienza was our favorite. When we arrived in Montepulciano the bus parked and since it is a hill town, which we knew it was, It was a very long steep climb up to a very small winery We walked up about 5 flights of steep steps before arriving at the winery. The steps on the short tour were dark, damp and not safe. One person did fall down. We have walked up several hilltop towns while in Italy and Montepulciano was the most strenuous.

Response from Host, Nov 2023

Dear Customer, We are so sorry to read that you didn’t enjoy this tour that much. The Val d’Orcia area is very uphill and Montepulciano can be especially challenging for people with mobility issues. In the fall and winter seasons, the early sunset often leaves the last stop nearly in darkness, making it more challenging to fully savour your experience. Nonetheless, prioritising safety is our utmost concern. Rest assured that if there were any potential danger, we would have promptly adjusted the itinerary. Anyways, we really hope that you liked the rest of the tour and the amazing panoramas that the Val d’Orcia region has to offer. We hope to see you soon in another of our activities. Have a lovely day, CiaoFlorence Staff

Beautiful views from the top!

Liidia_M, Nov 2023

All these views were really like a picture with lovely little romantic villages. The rain spoiled a little, but just a little. More physical activity than usual- stairs and climbing.

Jacob did an excellent...

Valerie_N, Oct 2023

Jacob did an excellent job of sharing his knowledge of the locations we visited and also took the time to chat individually with those of us on the tour.

Response from Host, Nov 2023

Hello! Thank you for contacting us your opinion is important. We are so glad that you enjoyed our tour and our staff! Your feedback is important to us and we'll make sure to say to your tour leader all the positive comments! Can't wait to travel with you again! Have a nice day!

Great taste of Tuscan hill towns

Michael_G, Oct 2023

This was a great full day away from Florence and perfect way to see some great Tuscan hill towns without the hassles of driving and/or booking multiple trains and buses. The time allocated in each town was just enough to do some wine tasting and exploring to see if it would a place to explore further in the future. Our guide, Constantine, was knowledgeable and helpful. Overall, a great trip!

Response from Host, Nov 2023

Dear Customer Thank you for taking your time to leave your feedback. Our tours are organised in order to see three of the most important cities iof theTuscany in a single day. We are glad you enjoyed this tour and the company of our experienced staff! We will for sure to foward your comment to Costantino, he will be happy to know that his work was appreciate! We will be glad if you book with us again one day! Have a nice day CiaoFlorence Team

Beautiful Tuscan countryside!

Liz_B, Oct 2023

I gave this tour four stars because it seemed longer than it should have been. The scenery and the midlevel towns were amazing, but there was not enough time to explore. There was a lot of up hill and stair climbing. Had to hustle to keep up. I felt that one less stop on the tour would have given us more time to take it all in and enjoy the stops.

Response from Host, Nov 2023

Dear Customer Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback about the tour. We appreciate your thoughtful review and are glad to hear that you found the scenery and midlevel towns to be amazing. Tuscany is famous for its hills, and as a result, the cities are often uphill, requiring the climbing of stairs at times to admire the beautiful landscapes it offers. Our local guides design specific tours for each city, aiming to provide participants with the opportunity to see more attractions in just one day. Due to this, our tours are time-restricted to ensure a comprehensive experience. Thank you once again for your valuable feedback. See you soon! Have a nice day! CiaoFlorence Team

Nice towns to visit

Lori_C, Oct 2023

Three towns nice to visit. First wine stop was nothing special. Second one had cool cellars. Tons of steps and climbing in Montepulciano which was ok for us but not sure this was advertised. Lunch was cash only which wasn’t advertised either but we left group and found great place with some others. Then guide scolded us when we met back up. Also guide did not have English as first language and really wasn’t making a lot of sense or giving us valuable info. She should have read from a script instead. It was bilingual tour so I would try to find English only tour next time.

Response from Host, Nov 2023

Dear Customer, Thank you for taking the time to leave your feedback. As written in the description, this is a full-day tour, and there is a lot of walking involved. We emphasize this by specifying that participants should be in good physical shape to fully enjoy the experience. Consequently, we do not recommend it for individuals with impairment issues or for those who may not enjoy extended walks. Lunch is not included in this tour and cannot be purchased in advance. It is an optional extra that customers can buy directly on the bus. Our tour leaders are native Italian speakers proficient in a second language, which may be Spanish or English. Therefore, it is normal for some to have an Italian accent. If you would like to book another tour with us, we can arrange it privately. Please contact us so that we can provide you with the best offer. Thank you again for your feedback. Hope to see you soon! Have a nice day. CiaoFlorence Team

Beautiful Trip

Barbara_L, Oct 2023

Excellent trip even in the rain! So much to see! Hilary our tour guide was great! Delicious wine tasting and just an overall fantastic experience.

Loved it!! Book it!!

Michelle_B, Oct 2023

This day trip was worth every penny! We saw such beautiful countryside along the way through Val d'Orcia to the three towns. Each town had something different to offer and were stunning. The wine tastings were lovely! We met some lovely people from Australia, California and Toronto. Our guide Roberto was fantastic and told us interesting facts along the way. Our driver, Donaldo, got us there safely and was nice enough to stop along the way to take pictures of the classic cypress trees along the driveway up to a Tuscan villa. This day trip was my favourite day of my two weeks in Italy, and convinced me that I need to visit Montepulciano and Pienze again!

wine tasting and shopping in the hill towns of tuscany.

lore_M, Oct 2023

the bus driver marco did a fabulous job on all those narrow streets and Ricardo was an excellent host. we packed in a lot in our 11 hour day and it was well paced and relaxing. well worth the cost. the wine tasting was fun and generous tastings. we had lunch on our own. shopped in each little village and then repeat with the next village. great day.

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