Road Trip from Florence to Rome: Explore Tuscany and Beyond

Luxury Outlets @ The Mall Firenze

Just 30 to 40 minutes outside Florence is the mecca of luxury outlets. The Mall is sprawling and quite beautiful, with enough stores to keep you busy for an entire day. From Italian designers like GUCCI, Prada, Fendi, Ferragamo, Valentino, Versace and Dolce & Gabbana to international brands like Yves Saint Laurent, Bottega Veneta, Balenciaga, Chloe, Celine and so many more, if you love shopping or you’re looking for a special souvenir from your trip, this is a stop you shouldn’t miss!

Chianti Bike Tour

Biking through the hills, vineyards and villages of Chianti is such a fun way to see the sights and immerse yourself in the beauty of the region. There are mountain bike tours for any hardcore biking enthusiasts and e-bike tours for those (like me) who prefer to take in the sights in a slightly less strenuous way!

Tuscan Cooking Class

The cooking class I did in Tuscany was by far one of the highlights of my entire trip. There are so many to choose from, and often hotels will offer them on-site. Personally, I recommend Podere il Casale — Sandra, one of the owners, is a delight and both an incredible hostess and cook. They offer basic cooking classes, pasta or pizza-making classes, and even truffle hunting cooking classes—you really can’t go wrong.

Il Borro Estate

This little estate is owned by the Ferragamo family and is home to a hotel, winery, several restaurants, artisan shops, a farm and botanical gardens. It’s a beautiful place to stop for several hours and explore. Their wine tasting tours are also fabulous!

La Foce

About midway between Florence and Rome, La Foce is a large estate in the Southern Tuscan region of Val d'Orcia. The private garden of the estate is considered one of the most beautiful in all of Italy, and guided tours are offered only on Wednesdays and Sundays. Note that tickets must be booked in advance!

Medieval Village Hopping

Take your rental car and hit the road for a day of DIY sightseeing. You’d be surprised how many villages and towns you can see in a day! While staying in Montefollonico I visited Pienza, Bagno Vignoni, San Quirico d’Orcia and Montepulciano all on the same day.

Winery Tour & Tasting

There are too many wineries to count in Tuscany and Umbria, so you should have at least a couple of winery tours and tastings on your itinerary. Don’t miss the opportunity to try Chianti Classico in Chianti, a Montepulciano in Montepulciano or an Orvieto Classico in Orvieto! Get out of your comfort zone and try local grape varietals not commonly found outside of Italy like Grechetto and Trebbiano.

Visit Orvieto

Give yourself at least half a day to explore Orvieto—I recommend booking a walking tour to really absorb the history of the city. The Duomo di Orvieto is breathtaking, and both the Orvieto Underground and the Pozo de San Patricio (St Patrick’s Well) are worth a visit as well.

Civita di Bagnoregio

Just south of the Umbria/Lazio border lies this tiny but majestic town set on the top of a dramatic cliff. Even if you don’t stay the night there (although I cannot recommend Corte della Maesta enough), it’s worth a visit. Pro tip: arrive early in the morning or visit for dinner around sunset time to avoid the crowds.

Spend a Day on Lago di Bolsena

Lago di Bolsena (Lake Bolsena) is the largest volcanic lake in Europe, and a beautiful place to spend a half day or even a full day out on the water. You can find very reasonably priced boat rentals at several marinas around the lake, or have your hotel arrange one for you (with a driver or not) in advance. The lake is clean and perfect for swimming on a hot day!

Santa Elisabetta

This two Michelin star restaurant in Florence is worth the splurge!

All’Antico Vinaio

No trip to Florence is complete without a sandwich from All’Antico Vinaio. The good news—despite the hype, they’ve managed to keep lines short by opening up several shops all right next to each other.

Antica Macelleria Falorni

This butcher shop and restaurant in the main square of Greve in Chianti is a great lunch stop. The owners have perfected their butchery techniques over nine generations and you can taste the quality. They serve mostly cold preparations like sandwiches, salads, crostini and charcuterie boards. They also have self-serve wine tastings which is a fun way to try lots of wines from the region alongside your meal.

Calibro 22 Taproom

If you find yourself craving a beer after a long day exploring, this taproom in Figline is a hidden gem that serves local craft beers.

Podere il Casale

This restaurant is part of an organic farm set in the heart of Tuscany. Their food is truly farm-to-table, with 90% of what they grow and raise being served onsite, which means everything is seasonal and incredibly fresh. For the full experience it’s worth doing a cooking class here, but if you don’t have time be sure to stop in for lunch or dinner (and be sure to book ahead!).

Follonico

The food at Follonico was some of the best I had in all of Italy, but the catch is, you only get to eat it if you stay there and they only serve dinner for guests on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays. So plan your trip accordingly—I promise you won’t regret it!

Golosi di Gelato

If you find yourself in San Quirico d’Orcia, do yourself a favor and stop into this tiny shop for some truly spectacular gelato!

Alma Civita

This restaurant in the heart of Civita di Bagnoregio serves delicious modern Tuscan cuisine.