There is certainly no shortage of ways to get around Tuscany. However, navigating yourself around the countryside can result in lots of wasted time. Perhaps the best way to see the highlights while you simply enjoy yourself is a guided tour or package tour of Tuscany.

To truly experience the magic of Tuscany in 2026, the best way is to utilize a combination of train travel and a rental car. For the major historical hubs like Florence, Pisa, and Lucca, the train is the "gold standard" because it is fast, affordable, and drops you directly into the historic city centers, avoiding the "ZTL" (limited traffic) zones and the high cost of urban parking. However, to explore the quintessential "postcard" Tuscany—the rolling hills, olive groves, and medieval villages of the Val d'Orcia, Chianti, and San Gimignano—a rental car is essential, as these areas are not well-served by rail. A supportive and grounded peer tip is to use Florence or Siena as a "car-free" base for a few days to see the museums and then rent a car for a 3-to-4-day tour of the countryside wineries and smaller hilltop towns. This "hybrid" approach allows you to enjoy the efficiency of the Italian rail system for intercity travel while still having the "absolute freedom" to stop at a remote vineyard or a scenic overlook on a winding cypress-lined road that buses and trains simply cannot reach.