Private car transfer
from Florence to Montepulciano

A Florence to Montepulciano transfer is only about an hour and a half if you travel by private car transfer with a door-to-door service like Daytrip. Despite the short distance, there is much to see and do during this time, starting with a tour of San Gimignano. This UNESCO-protected town is one of Italy’s hidden gems, which is often disregarded by those traveling between these two places. It's a town that has been meticulously maintained with towers, horses, and walls dating back to the Middle Ages.

After your tour of San Gimignano, you should visit the city of Colle Val d’Elsa. This city dates back to the 4th millennium BC and has much history to explore. Then there is Monteriggioni to wander. This scenic walled-in city is an inspiring place to explore and has been featured in numerous movies and games, including ‘Dante.’

These are only a few of the places you should consider exploring with an English-speaking driver during your trip. You can speak with your driver about what's worth seeing and what isn’t. They’ll be more than happy to give you a few insights, especially about the civilized and beguiling city of Montepulciano, which has an eclectic mix of Renaissance palaces and quintessential Tuscan wine bars.

Many find Montepulciano the loftiest of all Tuscan towns not only because it sits atop a volcanic ridge more than 2,000 feet above vineyard-carpeted valleys but also because there is so much to explore. Despite its small size, you can enjoy vineyard tours, underground cave tours of wine cellars, church tours in ancient Renaissance-style buildings, and the town's delicious food.

If you’re not one for too much outdoor exploring, just hop from one restaurant to the next. The valleys surrounding the town supply it with fresh fruit and vegetables, so you’re guaranteed authentic cuisine. Not to mention, the valley also supplies Montepulciano with Chianina cattle. This cattle meat is what is used to make Florentine steaks!

Unsurprisingly, the town is most famous for the wine it produces, so you would be remiss to visit without trying the two types it is famous for. Since the 14th century, the town's grapes have been earning notoriety and helping the town become an established destination. The reds this town produces that have gained significant fame in Italy are the Rosso do Montepulciano and the Vino di Montepulciano.

After you’ve tried the wines, you can immerse yourself in the town's medieval alleyways, Renaissance palaces and churches, and spectacular natural landscapes.

Consider traveling with a private car service

Driving is the best option for traveling to Montepulciano. Although some prefer to rent a car, this can be tricky in Italy since there are several rules surrounding age and international driving permits. That’s why it's best to consider driving with a private car service like Daytrip.

Not only will the trip be convenient and offer flexibility time-wise and trip-wise, but you can also stop and sightsee along the way. When you drive with Daytrip, you‘ll pass by charming vineyards, villages, and incredible countryside views and stop and explore cultural and historical landmarks.

Sightsee and allocate enough time

It's only natural that you’ll want to sightsee when completing a Florence to Montepulciano transfer. That’s why it's crucial to make sure you allocate enough time. If you drive, the trip will only take about an hour and a half, but when you add sightseeing to the mix, this quickly increases how much time you’ll need to plan into your itinerary.

We recommend adding at least an hour or two to your travel plans if you want to stop and explore places like Colle Val d’Elsa, Monteriggioni, and Siena. Each of these places has much to offer travelers, from wine cellars and beautiful piazzas to Gothic cathedrals, medieval architecture, and stunning valley views.

Try to travel to Montepulciano from Florence early

We know traveling early isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but if you want to explore as much as possible in one day between Florence and Montepulciano and in the town itself, you need to leave early. Unfortunately, this can be hard to achieve with public transportation, so you should consider a door-to-door travel service like Daytrip.

With Daytrip, you’ll get to pick the time you travel and can trust that your local driver will know the route. So try to leave Florence by 8 AM, and you should be able to undertake a leisurely journey, especially if you’re traveling when the weather is pleasant in spring or fall.

From Florence to Montepulciano by bus

Most people who choose to travel from Florence to Montepulciano by bus choose to book with Flixbus. The trip takes about two and a half to three hours, and tickets cost between $10 and $20 (€9-€18), depending on when you book. Although Flixbus is one of the better bus lines and is affordable with direct routes, it can still be an uncomfortable way to travel and is the slowest way to get between these two places in Italy.

From Florence to Montepulciano by train

Train travel from Florence to Montepulciano is quite popular since it's convenient and scenic. However, it is more expensive than bus travel and doesn’t offer too many more benefits. On average, a ticket costs between $15 and $30 (€14-€27), and the train trip takes about an hour and a half.

However, you will also need to account for a transfer from Florence to Chiusi, and it takes about 45 or more minutes by taxi or bus to get to Montepulciano. This is because the train does not go the entire way, which can frustrate many travelers.

From Florence to Montepulciano by door-to-door private transfer

Door-to-door private transfers are a preferred travel choice for many people. However, they are not as popular as train or bus travel because they tend to be exorbitantly expensive. But what if we told you this isn’t the case with Daytrip? Unlike other local door-to-door transfer services, Daytrips booking fees start at only $61 (€56), which is far cheaper than other private services.

In addition, Daytrip can drive you from Florence to Montepulciano in only an hour and a half in a comfortable car with an English-speaking driver who doesn’t mind sharing his or her knowledge. You can quiz them to your heart's content about the places you want to visit along the way – of which there are many, including the beautiful Siena.

You can also cancel within 24 hours of departure if plans change, and if you want to travel with your furry companion, Daytrip can accommodate this. It also doesn't hurt that the trip is scenic by car and that you can relax and enjoy yourself without worrying about navigating foreign roads.

Museo Civico Pinacoteca Crociani

The Museo Civico Pinacoteca Crociani might be small, but it doesn’t diminish the fact that it is renowned in Italy. This museum and art gallery holds a vast collection of artworks from the beautiful Renaissance period to the contemporary period.

Some of the highlights you can expect when you visit include masterpieces by artists like Pietro da Cortona, Caravaggio, and Luca Signorelli. You can spend hours in the museum and gallery exploring collections spanning several genres, including landscapes, religious art, and portraits.

Tempio di San Biagio

If you’ve had visiting a Renaissance-styled church on your bucket list for some time, you’ll want to tick it off by visiting the Tempio di San Biagio. This Renaissance church can be found just below Montepulciano’s city walls, nestled in nature at the end of beautiful cypresses. The legendary Antonio Sangallo designed this church, a domed masterpiece from the early 15th century.

With its honey-colored travertine and incredible interior, it's an eye-catching sight. Many have said that a walkthrough makes them feel like they are in the Pantheon in Rome rather than a small Tuscan church because of its mighty presence.

Since it's found outside of the town, it's unencumbered by other buildings, so you’ll get to admire it in all its glory. Just be sure to prepare for a walk if you’re not going to drive the short distance.

Piazza Grande

If you want to see one of the grandest things in Montepulciano, you’ll visit the Piazza Grande. This piazza is often used for summer festivals and open-air concerts; occasionally, it even made its way into the movies. The square itself is large and is the highest point in the town geographically.

So if you visit, you will want to walk the Piazza Grande, especially considering there is so much to see around it. The Palazzo Mommunale, or town hall, is a gorgeous miniature version of the Palazzo Vecchio in Florence. There is also a huge 16th-century mansion known as the Palazzo Contucci to see.

This mansion features a Florentine design with Gothic touches that make it memorable. There's even more surrounding the square that you can visit if you know where to look.

Not to mention, the countryside is bursting with beautiful colors and life, with green valleys, fields, and healthy crops. In comparison, the fall is more subdued, but there are fewer crowds—depending on when you visit—to contend with, and prices are lower.

However, the worst time to visit Montepulciano is likely during the winter. During this time of year, the weather is gray and bleak, with the unpaved country roads muddy and the town looking moody. It's not the best time to visit the outdoors.