5 days / 4 nights

la Vita e Cucina — Florence

Florence, Chianti, San Gimignano & Siena

Starts Florence · Finishes Florence·Small group · min 2, max 8

Trip highlights

Overview

A short, immersive taste of Tuscany. Four nights in Florence, cooking classes and slow-paced day trips into the Tuscan countryside.

Perfect as a stand-alone break or bolted onto one of our longer Italian tours.

Itinerary

Day 1 · Arrive Florence
Welcome aperitivo on a rooftop overlooking the Duomo.
Day 2 · Market & Cooking Class
Morning at Mercato Centrale, afternoon making pasta with a Florentine chef.
Day 3 · Chianti
Vineyard visit, long lunch and back for a passeggiata.
Day 4 · Siena & San Gimignano
Two of Tuscany's most beloved hilltop towns in a single day.
Day 5 · Farewell
Breakfast and transfer to the airport or on to your next stop.

Fitness & activity level

• You will be expected to carry your own luggage.
• Be able to get on and off trains.
• Be able to walk 30 minutes at a reasonable pace.
• This is a high-activity tour, requiring participants to be fit and active. It is not suitable for those with health concerns or difficulties walking long distances.

What to bring

A soft-sided suitcase you can carry yourself — hard cases don't fit some Italian lifts and cobbled streets.
Comfortable walking shoes already broken in — Italian old towns are cobblestone-heavy.
A light day pack for water, sunscreen, camera and a layer.
Refillable water bottle — Italian towns have public fountains with drinking water.
Adapter for European Type C/F power outlets.
Smart-casual outfit for dinners; a light scarf or shawl for churches (shoulders and knees covered).
Sun hat, sunglasses and reef-safe sunscreen — especially for Amalfi, Capri and Puglia coast days.
A light rain jacket or compact umbrella — Italian weather can turn quickly.
Personal medications in original packaging plus a copy of any prescriptions.
Photocopy of your passport stored separately from the original.
Loose-fitting clothes for cooking-class days — long lunches follow.
A hat and sun protection for the Chianti vineyard and San Gimignano day.

Trip notes

• Bring your passport and check it is valid for at least 6 months beyond your travel dates.
• Confirm your travel insurance is in place before paying your final balance — we recommend Cover-More and can pass on our 10% client discount.
• Contactless cards (Visa / Mastercard / Apple Pay) work almost everywhere; carry €50–€100 in cash for small cafés, markets and tips.
• Italy uses the euro (€). Notify your bank of your travel dates to avoid card blocks.
• Italian sim / eSIM data plans are cheap and reliable — we recommend an eSIM (Airalo, Holafly) for maps and translation on the go.
• Tipping is not expected — round up the bill or leave a couple of euros for great service.
• Restaurants typically open for dinner from 7:30–8pm; lunch 12:30–2:30pm. Book ahead in high season.
• Most churches require shoulders and knees covered — carry a light scarf or shawl.
• Trains: arrive 15 minutes early, validate regional tickets before boarding, and keep an eye on the platform display (binario) as it can change.
• Water taxis and ferries in Venice / Amalfi / Capri run on the day's sea conditions — we adjust the plan if needed.
• Cooking classes are hands-on — please advise dietary requirements at least 4 weeks before departure so the chef can plan.
• The Siena / San Gimignano day is a full day out — pack light and wear layers.

The fine print

• Hotels in Italy are self-rated — ratings do not match Australian standards. Ask us if you'd like more detail on any hotel.
• No early starts — we don't normally begin the day before 8am unless services change at the last minute.
• Travel insurance is strongly recommended before paying your deposit. We use Cover-More and offer our clients a 10% discount.
• Complimentary tour planning is included for all our tour guests for pre or post-tour bookings.

Scenes from this tour

Other tours