Last Updated on November 30, 2022 by Helen E. White
Best Place to Stay in Tuscany: Traveling to Tuscany is always a pleasure for all the senses. Its landscape painted in green, surrounded by beautiful hills and vineyards is unique. Its main cities are home to art in abundance. The accommodation offered in Tuscany is very varied, so the visitor can consider many alternatives about where to stay.
Tuscany is located to the northwest of central Italy. Its capital, Florence, is for many the cradle of Renaissance art. We will mark an itinerary with the main tourist points that the visitor cannot miss. Among them are the Chianti area, the Orcia Valley and Siena.
See More: Where to Stay in Tuscany, Italy
If the visitor wants a more cultural route, Florence is his destination. It is a small city but with a large number of museums and art spaces. In Chianti, you will find an unparalleled oenological offer and excellent gastronomy typical of the area. Or if you prefer a more contemplative trip, in the Orcia Valley you can admire some movie landscapes.
4 Best Place to Stay in Tuscany
In the south of Tuscany is Montepulciano, a charming medieval town and finally Siena, a city of contrasts that is worth visiting.
1. Chianti
The Chianti Valley is located between the provinces of Florence and Siena and is known worldwide for the production of high-quality wines made in the area. In each town, there are wineries where you can do tastings and gastronomic tastings with typical Italian dishes. It is an ideal place for those who want to take a different trip between vineyards, hills and picturesque medieval towns.
In the Tuscany area in general and Chianti specifically, it is very common to stay in farmhouses. They are used to being impressive medieval villas, fully restored, with all kinds of equipment. This accommodation is perfect for large families or groups of friends. In addition, the privileged location of Chianti makes it a great base camp to later move to other parts of Tuscany. The hotel offer is not that extensive, because the authenticity of this area is sleeping either in these villas or in adapted wineries and even on farms.
2. Orcia Valley
From the southern hills of Siena to Monte Amiata stretches the Orcia Valley. It is one of the tourist destinations par excellence in Tuscany and was declared a World Heritage Site by Unesco in 2004. This area is made up of large hills, streams and medieval villages. The best known is Pienza, which is the most representative town in the Valley. Montalcino is located on a hill and is very popular for its wines and monuments. And Radicofani, a medieval town of great beauty for its fortress and gastronomy.
These municipalities, together with Castiglione d’Orcia and San Quirico d’Orcia, make up the Val d’Orcia Artistic, Natural and Cultural Park. For most movie buffs, important films have been shot in these lands such as The English Patient, Gladiator, and Romeo and Juliet, among others.
Both Chianti and the Orcia Valley are two strategic points to stay at since the distance to the main cities of Florence or Siena is very short. It is always very pleasant, after a marathon day of visiting museums, to be able to rest in a quiet area. You will find a great selection of villas and agrotourism houses at very reasonable prices and you can enjoy great views of the valley.
3. Florence
Firenze as the Italians calls it is the biggest tourist destination in Tuscany. Its streets breathe history, and art and above all many travelers are surprised by the beauty of this place. Just get lost in its streets, meet the Ponte Vecchio, visit the Uffizi or Accademia Gallery, have a cappuccino in Piazza Della Signoria or simply admire the impressive Duomo and the Baptistery doors. Florence is the city of art in capital letters. The best of all is that any visitor, depending on his route, can see it either in a couple of days or in a week, if he has more time.
Florence is possibly one of the cities in the world with the most hotel beds per capita. It is estimated that there are more than 500 hotels and a wide variety of other types of accommodation. The prices are not as exorbitant as in Rome or Venice, so it is quite easy to find hotels, depending on the economy of each one.
We recommend staying in any hotel that is less than 15 minutes from the historic center since the distances are very short but there is a lot to visit. Florence also has many apartments for rent, hostels and campsites. Obviously, the sooner you make your reservation the better, it is always a good time to travel to the cradle of Renaissance art.
4. Siena
It is one of the most visited cities in Italy for its charm and history. This place preserves great architectural wealth from medieval times. Its galleries, museums, historic center and Cathedral are sites that one should not miss. Declared a World Heritage Site by Unesco, Siena combines a part of the tradition and a more modern and cosmopolitan part. Getting lost in its streets, contemplating the old mansions, shopping in the stores of the great Italian designers… In Siena, you will find all the leisure you can look for. In addition, its gastronomy is also very popular, specifically pastries and wines.
Siena’s hotel offer is very complete. Depending on the requirements of the visitor, you can stay in luxury hotels, five stars and below. The good hotels in this city are usually very beautiful since they are located in old mansions of nobles. If you prefer a cheaper place, you will also find a wide variety of apartments and B&Bs at more affordable prices.