What is the easiest way to get from Florence to Cortona?
The easiest way to reach Cortona without having to navigate foreign bus and train timetables is to hire a private driver. Daytrip makes it quick and easy to book your transfer and add sightseeing stops to other beautiful Tuscan hilltowns.
Can you take a train to Cortona, Italy?
Yes. The Camucia-Cortona train station is the closest to Cortona, 2 miles (3 km) from the hilltown. If you travel by train, hire a taxi or take the bus for the last 10 minutes of the journey up to the city center.
Is it worth visiting Cortona?
Yes! Cortona is the perfect distance for a day trip from Florence. It is among Italy’s most famous hilltowns and is layered in history from the Etruscans to the modern day. Take winery tours, stroll ancient streets, and experience the countryside within two hours of Florence.
How do you get from Florence to Cortona?
Cortona is a 90-minute drive south of Florence and can easily be reached by private vehicle and mass transit. Traveling by train or bus requires at least one transfer in Camucia-Cortona or Arezzo, but with Daytrip you can sit back and relax for the whole ride.
What is the fastest way to get from Florence to Cortona?
Driving is the fastest way. You can reach Cortona from Florence in just 90 minutes with a private driver from Daytrip. Having a door-to-door private transportation service saves time and energy from navigating the multiple transfers on Italy’s trains and buses.
How much time do you need in Cortona?
Three to 7 hours is the perfect amount of time to see Cortona. Arrive early in the day to take advantage of the long days in Tuscany’s wine region. Enjoy a meal or two in between walking tours and photo opportunities with the classic Tuscan countryside backdrop.
Italy isn’t just luxury beaches on the Amalfi coast and major cities like Rome and Florence. It has a vast array of landscapes and ways of life. Taking a trip to the famous Tuscan wine country gives you a taste of Italy unlike any other. As you leave the chaos of Florence to Cortona, the city melts away and is replaced with rolling vineyards overlooked by Etruscan hilltowns.
With only 90 minutes of driving time between Florence and Cortona, a sightseeing stop or two can turn this transfer into a full tour of Tuscany. Lucignano and San Gimignano are typically more difficult to reach in a timely manner on mass transit, but with Daytrip, they are a click away!
The winding road up to Cortona is lined with cypress trees, and as you ascend, the views of the valley below and horizon in the distance are simply breathtaking, so have your camera ready! Upon arrival, you’ll be greeted by Cortona’s ancient stone walls and narrow streets, inviting you to enjoy a slower pace of life in Tuscany.
About Cortona
Cortona is a relatively small hilltown that has risen to international acclaim in recent decades for features on the television show Conan for its fantastic food and lifestyle. It was also the backdrop for Frances Mayes’ memoir, _Under the Tuscan Sun. _It is one of Italy’s smallest travel hotspots in terms of size, but not in heart!
Cortona is one of many Etruscan hilltowns found in Tuscany. These bedrocks of Italian civilization were built high in the hills to protect themselves and gain a line of sight across long distances. They were built to anticipate invasions, with thick city walls, fortresses, and all of the necessary amenities needed for society: a church, shops, residential homes, and wells.
Like ancient times, the farmland surrounding Cortona still provides wine, meats, cheeses, and produce that Tuscany is known for, but today it is for a wider market. The recipes remain the same as they pass through family lore, but are combined with more efficient, modern farming practices.
With industrialization and urbanization, the Tuscany hilltown populations have been dwindling as the youth move to cities for jobs. However, after Cortona gained international fame in 1996 from Under the Tuscan Sun, travelers turned their sights towards Cortona to experience its romantic, rustic beauty.
From Florence to Cortona: travel tips
Before heading out of your hotel for your Florence to Cortona transfer, double-check your outfit and belongings!
Wear comfortable shoes
As a typical hilltown, Cortona has very few flat streets. Expect to do a lot of walking up and down hills and staircases as you explore the town. Leave the flip flops at home and opt for comfortable, supportive shoes with a heel strap. When in doubt, bring a pair of socks and bandaids for any shoe-related emergencies.
Come prepared for photos
Cortona is incredibly photogenic and a great contender for this year’s family photos. It’s easy to see why Cortona was chosen as the setting for Under the Tuscan Sun. Have your camera (or camera phone!) fully charged with memory space for plenty of photos, videos, and memories.
How to get from Florence to Cortona
Cortona is located about 72 miles (117 km) south of Florence. It is in the heart of Tuscany and is an excellent example of an Etruscan hilltown. These hilltowns were built as defensive fortresses high in the hills. With that in mind, most train stations are several miles from the actual town and require either a car or bus to ascend the winding roads to the top.
Driving from Florence to Cortona
Hiring a private driver is the fastest and easiest way to reach Cortona. You won’t need to build a transit plan across multiple companies or take on the responsibility of driving a rental car. Just let your local Daytrip driver take you door-to-door seamlessly from your accommodation in Florence to your address in Cortona!
Hilltowns are, by their nature, isolated. It is difficult to see several hilltowns in a single day or even on a single vacation to Italy with mass transit. Daytrip not only makes it easy to book your transfer, but you are also a click away from adding stops to other famous hilltowns like Siena and Loro Ciuffenna. Trips start at $61 (€56) per seat.
Trains and buses from Florence to Cortona
There is no direct route via public transportation from Florence to Cortona, but it is still possible to make the trip in about two hours. Most routes require two transfers, but in order to only make one transfer, you’ll need to take a train from Florence to Camucia-Cortona, then take a 10 minute long bus ride up the hill to the old city center.
Camucia-Cortona is the closest train station to Cortona, however, it is still necessary to take a bus up the steep hill, as the train station is 2 miles (3 km) from the old town. The buses arrive and depart frequently, but it is also possible to hire a taxi for the last leg of this journey.
The timetables and prices for the aforementioned train and bus change with the season and days of the week, so it is crucial to approach this transfer with flexibility, especially during weekends, holidays, and the off-season. Expect to pay $30 to $45 (€27.50-€41) for the train and bus tickets together.
Things to do when you get to Cortona
The great thing about hilltowns is their compact nature. All of Cortona’s major sites are located in a very small area. After your transfer from Florence to Cortona, start at Piazza della Repubblica, the heart of Cortona. This lively square is surrounded by historic buildings, including the Palazzo Comunale, and is a perfect spot to soak up the town’s atmosphere before heading to your top picks around Cortona.
Walk to the Fortress of Girifalco
Located at the highest point of Cortona, this fortress offers panoramic views of the Val di Chiana and Lake Trasimeno. It has been protecting Cortona since the 5th or 6th century during the Etruscan period and the views are worth the hike up the hills.
Admire the Basilica of Santa Margherita
This neo-Gothic church is dedicated to the patron saint of Cortona, Saint Margaret. Her remains are interred at one of its altars, and it is an important pilgrimage site for Catholics. As you tour Cortona, it can be hard to imagine that the basilica and the Girifalco Fortress are only a few yards apart, but they are 1,000 years apart in age.
Savor Tuscan Cuisine
Don’t let the simple ingredients and rustic presentation fool you! Tuscan cuisine is among the most savory and flavor-forward in all of Italy. Indulge in local specialties like ribollita, pici pasta, and bistecca alla fiorentina at one of Cortona’s many excellent restaurants.
Truffles have a controversial flavor, but if you love these unique mushrooms, Cortona has many dishes with gourmet, local varieties.
Tuscany’s focus on high-quality ingredients over complicated cooking or baking techniques makes it an accessible introduction to Italian cooking. Don’t be afraid to pick up a cookbook as a souvenir from Cortona and replicate your favorite dishes at home.
Become a sommelier
The long, sunny days in Tuscany are perfect for vineyards. Shops in Cortona sell obscure wines from local wineries that you won’t find anywhere else in Italy, much less in the international aisle at the supermarket back home. Book a wine tasting to sample local specialties and find your next favorite bottle!
When is the best time to visit Cortona
The best time to visit Cortona, Italy, is during the spring (April to June) and early fall (September to October). The weather is perfect for hiking trails, attending winery tours, and exploring this quaint Tuscan town. Spring brings blooming flowers and lush greenery, while fall offers the beauty of the changing foliage and the grape harvest season.
Avoid visiting Cortona in July and August. Being under the Tuscan sun in the summer is intense for visitors who want to spend their day walking around the plazas and touring the sights around town.
沿途参观这些景点
Loro Ciuffenna
Built around a picturesque gorge, this charming village hasn’t changed in centuries - it even still uses its medieval watermill. The Flow of Time
Pieve di San Pietro
One of Tuscany’s finest medieval churches is filled with fascinating carvings atop its columns, each telling a different story. Capital Storytelling
San Gimignano
The meticulously maintained houses, walls, and towers of this UNESCO-protected town will bring you back to the Middle Ages. Towers of Power
Siena
From one of the country's most beautiful Gothic cathedrals to an exciting urban horserace, life in this UNESCO-listed hilltop city revolves around the central square. The Treasure of Tuscany
Lucignano
At the heart of the concentric rings of medieval streets stands a 13th century town hall, home to the magnificent Golden Tree. Where Gold Grows on Trees
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