Best Places to Stay in Tuscany

Florence: the right base for art, food and day trips

Florence is the obvious starting point and, for a first visit to Tuscany, still the right one. The Uffizi, the Duomo, the Oltrarno neighbourhood, the covered market of San Lorenzo – all of it is walkable, and all of it is extraordinary in a way that familiarity has not dulled. From Florence you can reach Siena by bus in just over an hour, San Gimignano in ninety minutes, and the Chianti wine country in under an hour by car. Hotiday has several properties in the city: Hotiday Firenze Guidoni, Hotiday Firenze Peretola and Hotiday Firenze Vespucci cover different parts of the city and different price points. One practical note: driving in Florence is heavily restricted. If you’re planning a road trip through Tuscany, pick up the car on the way out of the city rather than navigating in.

The Tuscan coast: Versilia, the Etruscan Coast and beyond

The Tuscan coastline is longer and more varied than most people expect. Viareggio and the Versilia in the north are classic Italian beach towns – long sandy beaches, beach clubs, a lively promenade. Hotiday Lodge Viareggio is a good base here, particularly for families. South of Livorno, the Etruscan Coast runs down through Cecina, Bibbona and Castiglioncello – quieter, with pine forests behind the beaches and a more local atmosphere. Hotiday Marina di Bibbona and Hotiday Lodge Cecina are well-positioned on this stretch. Hotiday Castiglioncello Suite and Hotiday Villa San Domenico sit on the rocky coast near Castiglioncello, which has clear water and a much more understated feel than the resorts further north. For the southern coast, Hotiday Relais Costa degli Etruschi and Hotiday Apartments Costa degli Etruschi are good bases for exploring the coast between Piombino and Grosseto.

The Maremma: Tuscany without the crowds

The Maremma is the part of Tuscany that most visitors skip, which is exactly why it’s worth going. The southern coastal strip between Grosseto and the Argentario peninsula has some of the least-developed beaches in the region – the Parco Regionale della Maremma protects a long stretch of dunes and coastal forest that you walk through to reach the sea. Inland, the area around Massa Marittima and the hills south of Grosseto is the Tuscany of thermal springs, wild boar, Morellino di Scansano wine and near-empty medieval towns. Hotiday Massa Marittima put you in a genuine Tuscan hill town with thermal baths a short drive away. Hotiday Lodge Castiglione in Castiglione della Pescaia gives you the coast without the resort atmosphere. Hotiday Lodge Orbetello sits near the Orbetello lagoon – flamingos, fresh fish and one of the most underrated corners of coastal Italy.

Elba and Pisa: two additions worth knowing about

Elba is technically part of Tuscany and often overlooked as a result – people assume it means a ferry and extra planning. The ferry from Piombino takes less than an hour and lands you on an island with granite mountains, clear water and a fraction of the visitors that Sardinia or Capri attract. Hotiday Apartments Portoferraio is our property on the island, in the main town and ferry port. Pisa is worth more than the afternoon most visitors give it: the Piazza dei Miracoli is genuinely one of the most striking public spaces in Italy, and the city itself, once you leave the tourist orbit of the tower, has a university town energy that Florence lacks. Hotiday Room Collection – Pisa makes it a practical overnight rather than a day trip from Florence.

Tuscany rewards slow travel more than almost any other region in Italy. Pick one part of it, stay long enough to get comfortable, and the rest follows naturally. Explore all Hotiday hotels in Tuscany and book direct for the best available price – members save an additional 5% at checkout.

Tuscany by the sea · Spa Hotels Tuscany · Family Hotels Tuscany · Lake Como · Italy Vacation Ideas 2027