2 Weeks in Tuscany

What You Should Know Before Going On A Tuscany Tour

How Big is Tuscany? 

Italy is made up of 20 different regions. Tuscany is the fifth largest region at around 8,900 sq. miles and is just a little larger than the state of New Jersey. While Tuscany is large, you can easily get around with local trains or buses. 

Many Tuscany tour packages include day trips from the major cities of Florence and Siena to the top Tuscan sites since these cities are centrally located. 

Where is Tuscany? 

Tuscany is located on the northwestern coast of Italy between Genoa and Rome. The region shares its borders with the Ligurian Sea and five other Italian regions, including the ones home to Rome, Milan, and Bologna. 

What is the Weather Like in Tuscany? 

With its central location in Italy, Tuscany sees all four seasons. Temperatures can range from over 100 degrees during the summer to below freezing during the winter. 

Tuscany during the summer can be extremely warm. The warmest months are July and August with days full of sunshine and few clouds. These two months can be very stifuling since there is very little rain during July and August. 

The fall is similar to that of fall in the Midwest in the United States. Days are still warm without being unbearable, but you will see rainy days in the late-fall. 

Winter in Tuscany varies depending on where you visit. The days are mild, but the nights get colder. On the plateaus and in the cities of Tuscany the days stay cool, but if you are visiting the mountains you will have to face snow and freezing temperatures. 

Spring is full of flowers, rain, and sun. March is one of the rainiest months in Tuscany so make sure you take an umbrella, but as you get closer to May the days get sunnier and drier. 

Wine Tasting Etiquette in Italy 

If you’ve ever done a wine tasting in California or another part of the U.S., you may be in for a little surprise when doing a wine tasting in Italy. 

Generally, you have to pre-book a wine tasting in Tuscany, whereas in California you can usually just pop in and try some wine. If you make an appointment with a winery, it is extremely important that you keep your appointment. Also, many of the wineries don’t keep normal business hours, so booking a tasting is ideal. 

Drinking wine is a relaxing, longer process in Italy than other countries. Many Italy wine tours only include a couple of wineries so you can get to know more about the wine and the local businesses. 

If you are traveling to Italy for the first time, visiting Tuscany on a tour is a good alternative if you’re not sure where or which wineries you want to see as tour companies have hand selected wineries for you. 

Best Time to Visit Tuscany

It is said you can visit Tuscany at any time of the year. However, there are a few months when you can see and fully enjoy this flavorful region. 

May is considered to be the best time to visit Tuscany. The weather is warm, the days are sunny, and May is right before the beginning of the tourist season. Many small group tours to Tuscany plan their tours for May so you are able to visit all of the major sights before the large crowds arrive. Additionally, going in September is also ideal since it’s cooler out and the tourist season is winding down. 

If you visit Tuscany on a tour during July and August be prepared for a large amount of people, extremely warm weather, and some closings. Like many other cities in Italy during the late summer, Tuscan cities are empty of locals as they head for the coasts to get away from the heat. This means that many stores and shops may be closed during these two months. Also, this is high season for Tuscany and the streets and attractions will be very crowded. 

Don’t forget about winter! Not many can say they spent Christmas in the Tuscan hills. The Tuscan villages are a wonder to see during the holidays and if you are an avid skier or snowboarder, you will have an amazing time in the resorts scattered across the mountains in Tuscany.