Best of Tuscany in 3 Days — Self-Launched
3 days · Tuscany, Italy
Tuscany Untouched Tours charges £1,050
No-markup version: ~£372 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched take on Tuscany Untouched Tours' 3-day "Best of Tuscany" loop from Florence: San Gimignano and Siena, a Chianti Classico wine day via Greve in Chianti, and the Val d'Orcia with the free San Filippo hot springs and a Montalcino winery. Instead of a private vehicle and guide, you use regional buses (Florence–Siena, Siena–San Gimignano, Florence–Chianciano/Buonconvento), a local bus to Bagni San Filippo, and self-booked winery tastings at Verrazzano/Casaloste, Fattoria San Donato or Solaria. Costs are approximate budget-traveller estimates in GBP.
Day-by-day
Florence → San Gimignano → Siena
San Gimignano & Siena
Leave Florence by regional bus from the SMN station area (Florence–Siena line, or the 131R via Poggibonsi), roughly 1h45 to Siena. Drop bags at a hostel/hotel near Piazza del Campo (e.g. Ostello Casa Giubileo or a cheap Siena centro guesthouse), then take the Siena–San Gimignano bus (~1h15, £4) to wander the medieval towers via Piazza della Cisterna and the Collegiata. Book a farmhouse-style lunch and Vernaccia di San Gimignano tasting directly with Fattoria San Donato or a similar Vernaccia producer near San Gimignano (email or GetYourGuide, ~£28). In the late afternoon bus back to Siena and tick off Piazza del Campo, the Duomo (Siena Cathedral — buy the OPA SI Pass online ~£15 and skip the queue), and optionally climb Torre del Mangia (~£9, 400 steps, 400-person cap so go at opening or late). Evening: aperitivo and a cheap trattoria dinner in Siena.
🚌Florence SMN → Siena regional bus ~£6 (1h45); Siena ⇄ San Gimignano bus ~£8 return
🛏Hostel or budget guesthouse in Siena old town (~£30/night)
- →San Gimignano old town walk (free)
- →Vernaccia wine tasting + farmhouse lunch at a local producer (~£28, book direct)
- →Siena Cathedral & OPA SI Pass (~£15 online)
- →Torre del Mangia climb (~£9, optional)
- →Piazza del Campo
Chianti Classico wine day from Siena
Greve in Chianti & the Chianti Classico hills
Take the Siena–Florence 131R bus or the small SITA/Chianti regional bus (~1h from Siena, from Florence Fiumicino/SMN ~1h) and get off at Greve in Chianti. Wander the arcaded Piazza Matteotti, the famous butcher's/deli (Antica Macelleria Falorni) for pecorino and salami, then walk or book a short local transfer to a winery. Self-book tastings directly at two to three estates instead of a private tour — e.g. Castello di Verrazzano (Greti, book the cellar tour + tasting online ~£25–30), Casaloste or Lamole di Lamole for a vineyard and cellar walk (~£20–25 each, plus extra-virgin olive oil tasting). Pre-bookings matter: walk-ins often get turned away or pushed to a pricier slot. Budget for a set-menu vineyard lunch (~£22) and check the last bus back — usually around 19:00–20:00, so plan the third tasting early. Sleep back in Siena.
🚌Siena ⇄ Greve in Chianti regional bus ~£10 return; short local taxi/transfer to estates ~£8
🛏Hostel or budget guesthouse in Siena (~£30/night)
- →Greve in Chianti market square and butcher's/deli (free)
- →Castello di Verrazzano cellar tour + Chianti Classico tasting (~£28, book online)
- →Second winery vineyard walk + tasting (~£22)
- →Extra-virgin olive oil tasting
- →Set-menu vineyard lunch (~£22)
Val d'Orcia: San Filippo hot springs & Montalcino
Bagni San Filippo, Montalcino & Florence
Check out early from Siena and take the bus towards Chianciano Terme / Monte Amiata (via Buonconvento, ~1h30), then the local service or a short taxi to Bagni San Filippo (~£5–8). The Fosso Bianco outdoor hot springs are free — a 20-minute woodland walk reaches the travertine pools and waterfalls; bring a towel, water shoes and cash for the small lockers. Lunch at a local trattoria in Bagni San Filippo (~£14). In the afternoon continue by bus to Montalcino (~45 min, ~£4), browse the fortress and enoteca, and self-book a Brunello di Montalcino tasting at Solaria or another small estate (~£25 including a few pours; booked ahead by email or GetYourGuide). Catch the bus back to Siena and change for the regional bus or a regional train (via Siena/Empoli) to Florence, arriving around 19:00–20:00.
🚌Siena → Chianciano/Bagni San Filippo bus ~£6; local shuttle ~£6; Montalcino bus ~£4; Montalcino/Siena → Florence ~£12
🛏None — returns to Florence (book your own hostel there)
- →Fosso Bianco / San Filippo hot springs (free)
- →Woodland waterfall walk
- →Trattoria lunch (~£14)
- →Brunello di Montalcino tasting near Montalcino (~£25)
- →Val d'Orcia scenic bus ride (free with ticket)
Self-launched vs. Tuscany Untouched Tours
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Tuscany Untouched Tours | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£372 | £1,050 |
| Duration | 3 days | 3 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £678 per person (65%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Tuscany Untouched Tours-style trips? Check them out here.~£372
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Best of Tuscany in 3 Days — Self-Launched cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £372 per person for 3 days in Tuscany, Italy. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with Tuscany Untouched Tours?+
Yes — Tuscany Untouched Tours charges around £1,050 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £372 — a saving of roughly £678 (65%) per person.
How long is the Tuscany, Italy trip?+
This itinerary runs 3 days, covering 3 day-by-day stops through Tuscany, Italy.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a foodie, culture, budget trip through Tuscany, Italy, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
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