The ULTIMATE Tuscany Vacation Guide!

Are you thinking of planning a trip in the near future? If you are looking for an idyllic European setting for your next destination, then consider making your next holiday a Tuscany vacation. The Italian region of Tuscany, which extends from the Tyrrhenian Sea to the Apennines, will allow you to experience amazing food, a rich ancient culture, and beautiful scenery. It encompasses dozens of the most famous Italian cities, including Florence, Pisa, Siena, Lucca, Arezza, and Livorno, and with its many famous landmarks and tourist attractions, Tuscany offers countless opportunities for activity that will appeal to every tourist’s tastes during their Italian holidays.  There are also places to stay for people of all budget levels, from hostels, to generic Hotel Italia chain hotels, to luxury Italian villas on the gorgeous countryside.

Tuscany vacations are sure to have something for everyone, and with a relatively temperate climate even during the winter months, it is possible to visit the region at any point during the year and comfortably perform outdoor activities and tours. Popular Tuscany vacation activities for tourists may include bicycle tours, food and wine tours, sightseeing, museum tours, or even just relaxing on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea. All of the above activities, and many more, can be enjoyed in any number of satisfying combinations, and with the easy combination of historical rustic towns and modern, fashionable cities, there is no end to the cultural variety that can be experienced within the area.  And these places aren’t only made up of Italian men and women; you will meet people from all over the world!

If you are interested in witnessing the main tourist attractions of the region, consider purchasing a Tuscany vacation package that includes accommodations and guided tours in the major cities. Be sure not to miss the famous town of Pisa (read our hotel Pisa guide), with its impressive leaning tower, or Florence’s Duomo, bustling piazzas, and the outdoor Mercato Centrale (Central Market), which includes delicious food and a flea market that is an excellent location in which to find souvenirs at reasonable prices.  With all these options, Tuscany holidays are tough to beat!

Other elements that may be included in Tuscany vacation packages include airfare deals, local and rail transportation, and guides or translators to help navigate each city. Such packages are particularly beneficial to first time visitors, or for larger groups that wish to adhere to a strict itinerary. They can either be purchased through travel agents before departure or individually in specific regions. Because of the long list of components that can be incorporated into a vacation in Tuscany, purchasers of packages can often specify to their agent or guide which elements they wish to have included in theirs, creating a custom-designed package that suits their individual needs and tastes, and that stays within a prescribed budget.

If there is a particular region within Tuscany that interests you, it is possible to schedule a longer stay in reasonably priced accommodations, thanks to the availability of Tuscany vacation rentals. Vacation rentals are accommodations that individuals or groups can rent for a given period of time; a week, a month, or longer. Not only is this option an economical one for longer-term visits, it also allows the renters to feel more at home in their environment. With a temporary home base in their chosen city, renters have the freedom of familiarizing themselves with their surroundings, obtaining a more in-depth education and understanding of the area, and learning to assimilate themselves into the culture of that city. For someone attempting to master the Italian language, a Tuscany vacation rental is an ideal means of doing so without spending exorbitant nightly rates at a hotel.

Regardless of the type of accommodation or package that you eventually choose for your Tuscany Italy vacation, it is important to conduct thorough research before beginning to make travel arrangements. Determine what kind of a vacation budget you wish to allocate towards the trip, and then make arrangements that will remain within that budget. Investigate the average price of airfares for specific seasons; you will likely discover that there is a peak season in which travelers choose Tuscany as their destination, and that during that season, airfares will almost certainly be raised in order to satisfy this demand. An additional potential advantage to purchasing a vacation package for the larger elements of your trip, such as airfare and accommodations, is that sometimes pre-determined package deals can be less costly than purchasing all of the elements separately.

Additional research should include determining which cities you definitely wish to visit, which sights you wish to see, and which activities are essential to your Tuscan vacation. When booking accommodations in specific cities, look for additional benefits; inquire whether the Italian hotels or hostels includes breakfast in the nightly room rate, or whether it provides guests with discounts for local activities or tours.

Another option you may want to consider is staying in Tuscany villa rentals.  Italian villas are an extremely wonderful way to experience Italy, and if you can find a good deal, you may end up paying less for a villa for your group than you would have at a hotel!  Another advantage to staying at a Tuscany vacation villa is that you will get a much more genuine feel for what it would be like to live in Italy.

If you decide to go on Italian lakes holidays, you should certainly travel south to the Italian lakes region.  Whether you choose to spend your time sightseeing, hiking, wine sampling, shopping, observing, or any combination of these and other activities, Tuscany Italy vacations are guaranteed to be an enriching and rewarding experience that will remain with you for a lifetime. Book your trip today, and discover all of the special experiences and extraordinary sights that are waiting for you in Tuscany, Italy.