Best Places to Stay in Tuscany for All Budgets | From the Villas in Tuscany to Castles

Tuscany is a magical destination in west-central Italy, rich with stunning vistas, incredible cultural heritage, well-preserved ancient architecture, and historical wonders.

Walking through the streets of the medieval towns in Tuscany is akin to traveling back in time to experience an entirely different era. The idyllic countryside and hilltop towns are charming with the preserved ancient piazza, old city walls, classical Tuscany villas, endless hilly landscapes with vineyards and olive groves.

With a long list of places to explore and memories to create, the big question becomes “where to stay in Tuscany?” This can be especially difficult to figure out if you’re visiting Tuscany for the first time. But don’t worry because I got you.

As a passionate traveler who has been to Tuscany several times, I put together this detailed guide on the best places to stay in Tuscany without breaking the bank.

Stay tuned to discover my recommendations on the best towns to stay in Tuscany and accommodation options that fit your budget.

Enjoy these Best Places to Stay in Tuscany and have safe Travels!

Whether you’re visiting Tuscany for a brief 2-day trip, a 2-week vacation, or an extended holiday, you need a place that is comfortable, provides easy access to the city center and major destinations, and also falls within your budget. In a moment, I will discuss the best areas to stay, but first here’s a breakdown of how my recommendations for the best places to stay in Tuscany are structured.

• Overall top pick: these are the best accommodation options for each town in Tuscany. Our recommendations for the overall top pick are the hotels with the best locations, easy access to the main attractions in town, and highest rates by guests.
• Best Value: these are the best accommodation options with great rates, affordable prices, and also provide very comfy rooms and  everything you’d need to enjoy your stay in Tuscany.
• Best Villa: our best villas in Tuscany are very traditional accommodation options in the Tuscan countryside with stunning views of the expansive and breathtaking hillside. You can rent a room or a whole villa for you and your family or friends.
• Top Luxury: these are elegant castles and luxury accommodations for enjoying a lavish vacation in Tuscany, if you have the budget for it.

FLORENCE: Best place to stay in Tuscany for art & history experience

Florence is the third-largest city in Italy and the capital of the Tuscany region. It is fondly called the “Cradle of the Renaissance,” and with good reasons. This gorgeous city is home to a great deal of historic architecture and an incredible collection of Renaissance art, including a long list of museums and art galleries.

Some of the best sites in Florence include the Florence Cathedral with terracotta-tiled dome, the Uffizi Gallery with an incredible collection of ancient paintings and sculptures, the Galleria dell’Accademia; an art museum best known for displaying Michelangelo’s “David” sculpture.

Florence isn’t just about history and art, the locals are very warm, and the city comes alive every evening with lots of eating, drinking, and chattering.

The Tuscan capital is very welcoming to tourists with beautiful seasonal weather, and you can easily connect to other cities in the region for the ultimate Tuscany experience.

PROS	CONS
Great weather	Price can be a little steep
Spacious pockets for storing essentials hiking items
Very breathable and stretchy fabric does not limit movements
The thick silky fabric provides sufficient protection from scratches and bug bites

If you’re planning to spend a few days in Florence and wondering where to stay, here’s my recommendation for the best places to stay in Florence:

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SIENA: Best place to stay in Tuscany to experience the taste of the Renaissance History

While Florence ushers you into the world of Renaissance history and art, Siena takes it up a notch with the true taste of tradition. Siena is a lovely medieval city stretched across a Tuscan hill, right in the heart of Tuscany, and it’s the perfect destination to experience medieval Italy.

This picturesque town is centered around authentic Italian culture and historical treasures, and the city is studded with magnificent medieval architecture, medieval art, gothic paintings, enchanting frescoes, and medieval cityscapes.

It’s no doubt an incredibly beautiful city, and you can discover most of the attractions on foot. Siena is also popular for the traditional Palio horse race that dates back to medieval times and is still held twice each year at one of the most beautiful piazzas in Italy (Piazza del Campo).

PROS	CONS
Great weather with mild temperatures	Gets very crowded during the Palio horse races
Great destination to experience Tuscan tradition
Many incredible tourist attractions

Despite being a small city, Siena has a lot to offer, and if you find yourself in this enchanting medieval town, here are some of the best places to stay:

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LUCCA: Best place to stay in Tuscany for family & for the medieval experience

Lucca is an old Italian city surrounded by well-preserved medieval city walls and sports an impressive number of historic monuments and spectacular renaissance architecture. It’s a nice and intimate city, with recreation areas and shaded picnic tables perfect for families with children.

Lucca is also known as the city of a hundred churches and has some of the most beautiful medieval churches and iconic buildings in Tuscany. There are many incredible sites to behold in this city, like the massive Guinigi tower with holm oaks growing on its top, the Roman Amphitheater, which was originally built in the second century, and the medieval engineering marvel across the Sergio river; the dramatic Ponte Della Maddalena.

PROS	CONS
Less tourist traffic	Some popular attractions may be closed
Lots of splendid ancient sites to visit
Close to Pisa, and Florence

This old town has very welcoming locals and a great atmosphere for tourists, it’s less popular than Florence and Siena, so you can find excellent accommodation options at great prices. If you’re planning to vacation in this city, here are some of the best places to stay in Lucca.

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AREZZO: Best place to stay in Tuscany for tradition and culture

Unlike Florence and Siena, Arezzo is off the beaten path of the Tuscan towns most typically visited by tourists. However, it’s a small, charming hilltop city with a serene atmosphere and charming views of the Tuscan landscape. Arezzo is the typical Italian city rich in culture, tradition, art, festivities, and medieval architecture.

Arezzo is a lovely, tranquil city with quiet ancient streets; a truly relaxing place to marvel at the beauty of history and art without the craziness of boisterous crowds. There are more than a few amazing sites in Arezzo. At the heart of the city is the Piazza Grande, one of the most beautiful piazzas in Tuscany with a unique tilted surface. If you love antiques, you’d certainly love Arezzo’s Antique Fairs and the several antique shops scattered around the city.

PROS	CONS
No crowded streets	Not as popular and exciting as Florence
Many exciting attractions and events
Close to population destinations in Tuscany

Arezzo is less crowded and touristy than Florence and Siena, therefore it has more reasonably priced accommodations. If you’d love to stay in this city, here’s my top recommendations for places to stay in Arezzo.

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MOST UNIQUE PLACES TO STAY IN TUSCANY

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Italy is one of the top destinations in the world, and Tuscany should be on your bucket list. Known for its gorgeous countryside, vineyards, old-world charm, and coastline, Tuscany will charm you and provide vivid, lasting memories.

Getting out of the big cities like Rome and Milan, and driving into the countryside, rolling hills, and medieval towns is another way to see and experience Italy.

Traveling to Tuscany from Rome, or any other major city is very easy. You can rent your own car and drive, or there are several tours that you can join that offer great options from a day trip to Tuscany to wine and food taste, to multi-day tours. I have highlighted the top tours you can take in Tuscany to make your life easier.

Now, choosing which Tuscan Villages or small towns you want to visit, is up to you!

After visiting Tuscany a couple of times, I have a piece of advice for you: Whatever you choose to visit Tuscany, you cannot go wrong! Every hilltop town or village in Tuscany is so unique, and you find something magical in each one of them.

I hope you enjoyed this Most Beautiful Tuscany Villages and Small Towns list, and if you have any additional questions, just leave a comment below and I would love to talk to you about a place that I fell in love with: Tuscany!

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You can reach Tuscany by air using the airports of Florence and Pisa.

• PISA INTERNATIONLA AIRORT: with connections to and from all major European cities. The airport is only a few kilometers away from the city center, which you can easily reach by taking the Pisa Mover, the shuttle that connects the airport to the Pisa Centrale railway station. From Pisa Airport you can catch connections by bus to Florence (via Montecatini – Pistoia – Prato), and to Lucca and Viareggio/Pietrasanta with Vaibus.
• FLORENCE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT:  offers connections to and from many European cities. From here, you can reach downtown Florence in a few minutes using the T2 tramway line and by bus with Vola in Bus. The FlyBus service connects the airport to Prato, Montecatini Terme, and to Pisa Airport  (via Prato-Pistoia-Montecatini).

I recommend you browse and compare prices for the BEST DEAL with Expedia or Skyscanner to find the best options for flights.

READ MORE: Best way to travel from Rome to Tuscany: Car, train, bus or private tours

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Driving from Rome to Tuscany is the best way to experience the stunning Tuscan country. It’s a beautiful and relaxing road trip. Highways in Italy are easy to navigate and most of the driving will be on the A1, except for occasional stops in small towns. 

If you are planning to rent a car for your trip to Italy, I recommend requesting a quote and comparing prices from different rental car providers to get the best deal.

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• Trenitalia and Italo Treno chigh-speed trains connect the Firenze-Santa Maria Novella railway station (Florence’s main station) to Milan, Turin, Rome, Verona, Bologna, Naples, Venice, Salerno. From Florence, with Trenitalia direct regional trains, you can reach Pisa, Siena, Lucca, Arezzo, Livorno, Viareggio, Montecatini Terme.
• The company Trasporto Ferroviario Toscano operates rail connections in the province of Arezzo.

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There are many bus companies operating across Tuscany. Most companies operate from the “Firenze Santa Maria Novella” railway station and the airports of Florence and Pisa:

• BusItalia: operates the Vola in bus connections between Florence airport and the city center, as well as local public transport services in the Florence, Arezzo, Siena, Mugello, Valdisieve, Casentino, and Valdarno areas.
• ACV Bus: connects 20 districts of the province of Florence, Poggibonsi, and five districts in the province of Arezzo.
• FlyBus: operates connections between Florence Airport and Prato, Montecatini Terme and Pisa Airport and five districts in the province of Siena

BEST TIME TO VISIT TUSCANY VILLAGES

The best time to visit Italy is during spring and fall when the temperatures are comfortable and there are fewer crowds:

SPRING: Temperatures start to warm up in spring, going from the late teens to mid-twenties, although it’s still advisable to wear layers in case of colder spells.

SUMMER: The summer months of July and August see higher temperatures and visitor numbers reach their peak. Temperatures are normally around 81 °F and often reach over 88 °F at the height of the day.

FALL: Temperatures cool down gradually, so September is still very pleasant, with an average of around 77℉. Expect crisp fall leaves and some sunnier days, but plan for wet weather too.

WINTER: Temperatures in the south remain mild in winter. However, northern Italy is normally wet and cold, and it’s not unusual for snow to fall, especially in the mountains.