Feedback on 10-day Tuscany itinerary with kids

Hi there,

I’ll be traveling to Tuscany with my family (my wife and two kids, aged 6 and 8) from April 26 to May 5. Here’s a rough draft of our potential itinerary—I’d love to hear your thoughts and suggestions so I can tweak and improve it. We haven’t finalized our accommodations yet, but they’ll likely be near Florence (2 nights), Lucca (2 nights), Monteriggioni (2 nights), Pienza, Montalcino, and Greve in Chianti.

- April 26: o Arrival in Florence around 12:00 PM - April 27: o Florence - April 28: o Florence – Pistoia – Lucca - April 29: o Lucca – Pisa – Lucca - April 30: o Lucca – Volterra – San Gimignano – Monteriggioni - May 1: o Monteriggioni – Siena – Monteriggioni - May 2: o Monteriggioni – Abbey of Santa Maria di Monte Oliveto – Baccoleno – Castelmuzio – Chapel of Madonna di Vitaleta (San Quirico d’Orcia) – Pienza - May 3: o Pienza – Montepulciano – Montichiello – Abbey of Sant’Antimo – Bagno Vignoni Thermal Baths – Montalcino - May 4: o Montalcino – Castellina in Chianti – Radda in Chianti – Badia a Coltibuono – Volpaia – Montefioralle – Greve in Chianti - May 5: o Greve in Chianti – Florence airport

Thanks for any insights! 😉

Your itinerary reminds me of friends who visited the Loire Valley castles with their dad from eastern France in just two days. They "did" Orléans, Chambord, Blois, Cheverny, Amboise, Chenonceaux, Azay-le-Rideau, Villandry, and I’m forgetting some... The car, a DS back then, would stop right in front of or near the castle, the kids would look, and off they went to the next one. They saw it all!

I love Tuscany, where I often go, and I’m happy to answer your questions and illustrate them with my photos... but here, you’ve listed everything there is to see without even estimating travel times with a GPS app, and no info about your tastes or those of the kids who’ll be with you (poor things). It’s too much! You need to put in some work! I checked your profile—you ask questions but never chime in to help other travelers. A forum is only useful when people share information. I’ll pass this time.

I can’t help you since I’ve never been there, but it was on my radar, and your itinerary reminds me a lot of the one I’d jotted down. With 2 kids, I think it’s ideal! !

😉 Thanks Soniaif

Our itinerary is based on two guides, including this really well-made one:

https://expatravelife.com/road-trip-en-toscane-10-jours-itineraire/

Have a great day

Hi there, here’s a version of the itinerary including travel times (+15 mins for traffic and parking, +15 mins for returning the car) and estimated visit durations. It’s packed, but we can always skip one or two stops if needed.

Tuscany circuit from April 26 to May 5, 2026: - April 26: o Flight BRU–FLR: 09:40 to 11:30 o Florence - April 27: o Florence - April 28: o Florence until 12:00 o Florence–Pistoia: 50 mins – 39 km o Pistoia from 12:50 to 15:45 o Pistoia–Lucca: 1h00 – 45 km o Lucca from 16:45 - April 29: o Lucca until 10:00 o Lucca–Pisa: 45 mins – 22 km o Pisa from 11:00 to 17:45 o Pisa–Lucca: 45 mins – 22 km o Lucca from 18:30 for dinner and overnight stay - April 30: o Lucca until 09:30 o Lucca–Volterra: 1h50 – 74 km o Volterra from 11:20 to 13:35 – panini o Volterra–San Gimignano: 1h00 – 31 km o San Gimignano from 14:35 to 17:20 o San Gimignano–Monteriggioni: 0h50 – 26 km o Dinner in Monteriggioni from 18:10 to 20:30, overnight stay near the village - May 1: o Departure from accommodation around 10:00 o Monteriggioni–Siena: 35 mins – 16 km o Full day in Siena o Siena–Monteriggioni: 35 mins – 16 km o Second overnight stay near Monteriggioni - May 2: o Departure from accommodation around 10:00 o Monteriggioni–Abbazia Santa Maria di Monte Oliveto: 1h10 – 53 km o Abbazia Santa Maria di Monte Oliveto from 11:10 to 12:40 o Abbazia Santa Maria di Monte Oliveto–Baccoleno: 0h15 – 7 km o Baccoleno (viewpoint) from 12:55 to 13:15 o Baccoleno–Castelmuzio: 35 mins – 16 km o Dinner in Castelmuzio from 13:50 to 15:15 o Castelmuzio–Cappella della Madonna di Vitaleta: 30 mins – 13 km o Cappella della Madonna di Vitaleta from 15:45 to 16:30 o Cappella della Madonna di Vitaleta–Pienza: 25 mins – 7 km o Pienza from 16:55, dinner in Pienza o Accommodation near Pienza

- May 3: o Departure from accommodation around 9:00 o Pienza–Montepulciano: 25 mins – 14 km o Montepulciano from 9:30 to 11:45 o Montepulciano–Montichiello: 30 mins – 12 km o Dinner in Montichiello from 12:15 to 14:00 o Montichiello–Abbazia Sant’Antimo: 1h00 – 34 km o Abbazia Sant’Antimo from 15:00 to 16:30 o Abbazia Sant’Antimo–Terme Bagno Vignoni: 45 mins – 22 km o Swimming at Terme Bagno Vignoni from 17:15 to 18:30 o Terme Bagno Vignoni–Montalcino: 40 mins – 20 km o From 19:10, dinner in Montalcino o Accommodation near Montalcino - May 4: o Departure from accommodation around 09:00 o Montalcino–Castellina in Chianti: 1h30 – 65 km o Castellina in Chianti from 10:30 to 11:40 o Castellina in Chianti–Radda in Chianti: 20 mins – 11 km o Dinner in Radda in Chianti from 12:00 to 13:40 o Radda in Chianti–Badia a Coltibuono: 20 mins – 9 km o Badia a Coltibuono from 14:00 to 15:10 o Badia a Coltibuono–Volpaia: 30 mins – 14 km o Volpaia from 15:40 to 16:50 o Volpaia–Montefioralle: 40 mins – 19 km o Montefioralle from 17:30 to 18:45 o Montefioralle–Greve in Chianti: 10 mins – 2 km o Greve in Chianti, Castello Di Verrazzano o Accommodation near Greve in Chianti - May 5: o Greve in Chianti–Florence Airport (1h00 – 41 km) – flight FLR–BRU

Tuscany itinerary from April 26 to May 5, 2026: - April 26: Flight BRU – FLR: 09:40 to 11:30 Florence - April 27: Florence - April 28: Florence until 12:00 PM Florence – Pistoia: 50 mins – 39 km Pistoia from 12:50 PM to 3:45 PM Pistoia – Lucca: 1 hour – 45 km Lucca starting at 4:45 PM - April 29: Lucca until 10:00 AM Lucca – Pisa: 45 mins – 22 km Pisa from 10:45 AM to 5:30 PM Pisa – Lucca: 45 mins – 22 km Lucca starting at 6:15 PM for dinner and overnight stay - April 30: Lucca until 9:30 AM Lucca – Volterra: 1 hour 50 mins – 74 km Volterra from 11:20 AM to 1:35 PM – panini Volterra – San Gimignano: 1 hour – 31 km San Gimignano from 2:35 PM to 5:20 PM San Gimignano – Monteriggioni: 50 mins – 26 km Dinner in Monteriggioni from 6:10 PM to 8:30 PM, overnight stay near the village - May 1: Departure from accommodation around 10:00 AM Monteriggioni – Siena: 35 mins – 16 km Day in Siena Siena – Monteriggioni: 35 mins – 16 km Second overnight stay near Monteriggioni - May 2: Departure from accommodation around 10:00 AM Monteriggioni – Abbey Santa Maria di Monte Oliveto: 1 hour 10 mins – 53 km Abbey Santa Maria di Monte Oliveto from 11:10 AM to 12:40 PM Abbey Santa Maria di Monte Oliveto – Buccoleno: 15 mins – 7 km Buccoleno (viewpoint) from 12:55 PM to 1:15 PM Buccoleno – Castelmuzio: 35 mins – 16 km Dinner in Castelmuzio from 1:50 PM to 3:15 PM Castelmuzio – Cappella della Madonna di Vitaleta: 30 mins – 13 km Cappella della Madonna di Vitaleta from 3:45 PM to 4:30 PM Cappella della Madonna di Vitaleta – Pienza: 25 mins – 7 km Pienza starting at 4:55 PM Accommodation near Pienza

- May 3: Departure from accommodation around 9:00 AM Pienza – Montepulciano: 25 mins – 14 km Montepulciano from 9:25 AM to 11:40 AM Montepulciano – Monticchiello: 30 mins – 12 km Lunch in Monticchiello from 12:10 PM to 2:00 PM Monticchiello – Terme Bagno Vignoni: 35 mins – 14 km Terme Bagno Vignoni from 2:35 PM to 3:50 PM Terme Bagno Vignoni – Abbey Sant’ Antimo: 45 mins – 22 km Abbey Sant’ Antimo from 4:35 PM to 6:05 PM Abbey Sant’ Antimo – Montalcino: 30 mins – 11 km Starting at 6:35 PM, dinner in Montalcino Accommodation near Montalcino - May 4: Departure from accommodation around 9:00 AM Montalcino – Castellina in Chianti: 1 hour 30 mins – 65 km Castellina in Chianti from 10:30 AM to 11:40 AM Castellina in Chianti – Radda in Chianti: 20 mins – 11 km Lunch in Radda in Chianti from 12:00 PM to 1:40 PM Radda in Chianti – Badia a Coltibuono: 20 mins – 9 km Badia a Coltibuono from 2:00 PM to 3:10 PM Badia a Coltibuono – Volpaia: 30 mins – 14 km Volpaia from 3:40 PM to 4:50 PM Volpaia – Montefioralle: 40 mins – 19 km Montefioralle from 5:30 PM to 6:45 PM Montefioralle – Greve in Chianti: 10 mins – 2 km Greve in Chianti, Castello Di Verrazzano Accommodation near Greve in Chianti - May 5: Greve in Chianti – Florence airport (1 hour – 41 km) – flight FLR-BRU

Hello,

Cut it in half, enjoy the places, you’ll go back...

What would you cut out?

For example, everything south of Siena can wait for another trip—maybe combine it with Arezzo, Orvieto, Tarquinia, etc. later.

Pistoia might not be worth it if you don’t visit the old hospital (check the opening hours), in my opinion.

Okay, thanks! Yeah, I was hesitating about Pistoia and Volterra too. I imagine that in May the pools at the agriturismos will still be closed, so the idea is not to dawdle at the accommodations. But if we don’t go south of Siena, we’ll be spending a long time in the same areas, and then Val d’Orcia is probably the place I’d most like to see.

Actually, if it were up to me, I’d skip the Pistoia–Pisa–Volterra leg and head straight down to Chianti from Florence, then to Val d’Orcia, but the kids really want to see the Leaning Tower of Pisa

I’m completely clueless about this kind of "full-throttle" trip—I’ve never done it, not with my parents, not with my kids, not even with friends I travel with. I love beautiful landscapes, architecture, museums, markets, and backroads too much... and having the time to really soak them in. This kind of fast-paced tourism exists, and I’d be curious to hear your experiences, but you’ve never taken the time to share them on the forum.

I’ll try to send some feedback after the trip 😉

Hi,

All I can say is that last year, traveling as a family with 5 kids, we did in 5 days: Pisa Lucca Florence San Gimignano Siena Chianti Val d'Orcia

And it was more than enough 😉

😎

By helicopter? 🚁 :)

Hi there, Your itinerary does seem quite packed. Here are a few thoughts and tips based on my many trips with my kids in Italy—I’ll let you decide what works best for you. Those charming villages can get tiring, especially for kids, when you visit them back-to-back. The details start to blur. I’ve only explored Tuscany through stories on my blog, but I’ve visited the Langhe region in Italy with my 10-year-old over 3 days. While the villages are all stunning, by the end of the day, they all start to blend together, and the kids get bored. Unfortunately, there’s no easy way to pick which villages to visit, but the ones that stick with us are usually the liveliest, the least touristy, and the ones where we linger a little longer. Are you used to traveling with your kids? The days sound long, so by the time you arrive in a new town around 5 PM, I’m not sure everyone will feel like exploring. And if you leave before 10 AM the next day, you’ll see an empty town (since Italian shops usually open around 10 AM), but it can be nice to have the place to yourselves! We usually aim for 2 visits/cities per day with the kids, including at least one really fun activity to keep them engaged. I’ll let you think about these suggestions, and feel free to ask if you have any other questions!