Tuscany's hidden gems: San Gimignano, Volterra, St Galgano Abbey
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September 2026
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Who is going?
Adults
Age 13 and over
Children
Age 12 and under
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Non-refundable booking. Same price on Viator, Outty earns a commission.
Traveler rating
4.6/5
Based on 11 traveler reviews. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Quick answer
Is Tuscany's hidden gems: San Gimignano, Volterra, St Galgano Abbey worth booking?
Tuscany's hidden gems: San Gimignano, Volterra, St Galgano Abbey is a 11.5-hour experience in Florence, Italy, from $165 per person. It scores 56 out of 100 on the Outty Ranking, which we label “Worth a Look”, based on a 4.6/5 rating across 11 reviews. This booking is non-refundable, so pick your date carefully. Same-day spots are currently showing.
- Outty Ranking
- 56 / 100
- Rating
- 4.6/5 (11)
- Duration
- 11.5 hours
- From
- $165 per person
Fall for the charm of 3 hidden treasures of Tuscany: discover San Gimignano, Volterra and San Galgano Abbey. Relax on our fully-fitted GT Coach and enjoy the drive to the most authentic area of Tuscany, with its medieva
What you get
About this experience
Fall for the charm of 3 hidden treasures of Tuscany: discover San Gimignano, Volterra and San Galgano Abbey. Relax on our fully-fitted GT Coach and enjoy the drive to the most authentic area of Tuscany, with its medieval towns and postcard landscapes. The journey begins in San Gimignano, the so-called “Manhattan of the Middle Ages” due to the high ancient towers that stand out along the city center. Wander through its cobblestone streets and let the stunning views of the surrounding hills amaze you. The second stop is the scenic Volterra in all its medieval charm. Perched on top of a hill, from Volterra you will enjoy a breathtaking view that will leave you in awe. Your final stop is the mysterious San Galgano Abbey, just about one hour drive from Volterra. Of the 13th Century Cistercian abbey only the walls remain: it is empty and roofless, above it only the sky. Prepare to travel with your imagination as you step inside and let the grandeur of the gothic architecture inspire you.
What's included
Included
- Small group tour
- Roundtrip journey by fully fitted GT Coach
- Free time in San Gimignano, Volterra and San Galgano
- Expert English speaking tour leader
- Entrance fee to San Galgano Abbey
Not included
- Food and drink
What you'll see and do
Florence
This tour is indeed a tour which will suit everyone, from those who adore Tuscany’s diverse landscapes and its remarkable works of art, to its illustrious history and legendary tales. It is certainly a tour which the entire family will love. There is no time to waste when exploring the stunning Tuscany hills! Meet your tour guide at Piazzale Montelungo Bus Terminal early in the morning. Piazzale Montelungo is located 5-10 minutes walking distance from the Santa Maria Novella train station. Hop on the comfortable coach bus, choose your seat, and relax before departing on your journey! The drive to San Gimignano will take about one hour. During the journey, your guide will entertain you with plenty of interesting information about San Gimignano!
120 minutes here
San Gimignano
Your journey to discover Tuscany's hidden gems will start with San Gimignano, known as the "town of towers," because of its fascinating medieval towers still perfectly intact. The drive will take about an hour, and you will see the stunning "medieval skyscrapers" from a distance as your bus pulls into the historic town. Your guide will lead you past an incredible panoramic viewpoint of the Tuscan hills, then through the ancient city doors. You will have an hour to independently explore the town - walk the picturesque alleyways, visit the Duomo, or climb the tallest tower!
60 minutes here
Piazza Della Cisterna
During your free time, do not miss to explore Piazza della Cisterna with its triangular shape with a slight natural slope and the nearby Piazza del Duomo. The pavement is brick and the piazza is surrounded by houses and medieval towers. There are presently 5 towers onto the square or very near it and the bases of other five are visible on the facade of the various palaces.
60 minutes here
During your free time in San Gimignano, don't miss the opportunity to stop by one of the most famous Gelato Shops in Italy, the award winner "Gelateria Dondoli"! Let yourself be enchanted by the flavours and colours of their delicious home made ice creams and recharge the batteries for the rest of the day!
15 minutes here
Strada Statale 222 Chiantigiana
Sit back and relax, the journey by bus from San Gimignano to San Galgano Abbey will last approximately 1 hour. You will literally cross the heart of Tuscany, and you will admire the most pristine landscape made of cypresses, vineyards and rolling hills
60 minutes here
Volterra
The last stop of your Tuscan tale will be Volterra, a walled mountaintop town characterized by a Medieval and Etruscan charm. Its history dates from before the 8th century BC and it has substantial structures from the Etruscan, Roman, and Medieval periods.
60 minutes here
Piazza dei Priori
Your tour leader will take you to the heart of Volterra, that is to say the suggestive Piazza dei Priori, the main square of the city and a fine example of medieval Tuscan town squares.
30 minutes here
Abbazia di San Galgano
Your Tuscany's hidden gems quest will continue in the direction of the sublime St Galgano Abbey, a majestic roofless Gothic style building, built in the 13th-century. church still stand. This stunning former Cistercian Monastery is immersed in the most pristine Tuscan landscapes, amongs cypresses and olive groves.
60 minutes here · Admission included
Strada Statale 222 Chiantigiana
It's time to leave this fascinating corner of paradise in the heart of Tuscany to reach the last stop of this search for hidden treasures. The trip by bus to Volterra will take about 1 hour and 15 minutes!
60 minutes here
The return journey to Florence will take about 2 hours, just sit back and relax, while your tour leader takes care of you.
120 minutes here
Where it starts and ends
Meeting point
Florence
TOURS & NEWS KIOSK AT PIAZZALE MONTELUNGO BUS TERMINAL Located at 5-10 minutes walking distance from Santa Maria Novella Train Station. Look for our staff wearing a FUCHSIA CIAOFLORENCE JACKET and holding a CIAOFLORENCE CLIPBOARD!
Hotel pickup
No pickup: everyone meets at the start point.
Ends at
TOURS & NEWS KIOSK AT PIAZZALE MONTELUNGO BUS TERMINAL Located at 5-10 minutes walking distance from Santa Maria Novella Train Station. Look for our staff wearing a FUCHSIA CIAOFLORENCE JACKET and holding a CIAOFLORENCE CLIPBOARD!
Before you book
- Cancellation
- All sales are final. No refund is available for cancellations.
- Languages
- en
- Ticket
- Mobile Only
- Runs on
- Mon, Sat
- Group size
- Up to 15 travelers per booking
- Operated by
- Ciao Florence Tours Srl
Know before you go
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- Please, note that the given order of the visits may change
- Comfortable shoes are recommended
Photos
What travelers are saying
Outty’s summary of the themes that recur across 11 traveler reviews. Written by us, not quoted from reviewers.
The guide
7 mentionsTravelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works.
Knowledge and storytelling
7 mentionsReviewers describe the commentary as informative rather than scripted.
Food and drink
3 mentionsThe tastings and food stops are a highlight for most reviewers.
Small groups
2 mentionsThe group size is repeatedly described as intimate rather than packed.
Traveler reviews
11 verified traveler reviews for Tuscany's hidden gems: San Gimignano, Volterra, St Galgano Abbey. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Tour canceled the day before in the late afternoon.
Do not book this tour at all. It is never carried out. They send a message on WhatsApp the day before at 5 p.m., when it is no longer possible to plan anything else or request a cancellation, and they offer not a refund but another trip to Pisa (easily accessible by train from Florence for a small fee) or cooking classes that are not worth half the amount paid, all this to fill their other buses. The tourist who wants to do something anyway will accept the other proposal of course, that is how they operate. I contacted GYG directly, and they stated they would refund me within 5 days. This is the 2nd time, same process 2 years apart: I hadn't noticed the 2nd time that it was the same company. Do not waste your time and money.
via Tripadvisor (translated)
Fantastic
Fantastic. Luckily there were only 7 of us (a family of 5 and the 2 of us) which meant a standard car was enough (Mercedes Viano). This saved us a lot of time (the car can drive faster and above all can park much closer than a bus). Our guide, Christian, was inexhaustible during the trips: history of the places we were going to visit, ... With the time saved he proposed alternatives: a typical meal for the other family, a longer visit to San Gimignano for us and even an extra stop in Monteriggioni. The icing on the cake, he dropped us off at our accommodation on the way. A thousand thanks
via Tripadvisor (translated)
I want to live in Tuscany forever…
Unforgettable trip… the most informative guide and plenty of free time in each stop. Highly recommended!!!!
via Tripadvisor
Amazing tour of Ancient Tuscany
Lucia and Jon Lucca were our guide and driver, respectively. They were both fantastic! Especially Lucia for her great guiding information on the bus ride and some at each stop, and Jon Lucca for getting us a great view of San Gimignano and deftly handling the super curvy route to each location. We really liked having a smaller group, but could definitely see many people enjoying this trip! And it made sense to take a small bus with this group size, but would be good to be alerted ahead of time if possible so we will know it changed from a large bus with a toilette to a small one without. The views and cities were incredible! The Abbey and Church were also really cool! Only recommendation would be to spend a little less time at the Abbey location so more time can be spent at Volterra and San Gimignamo. It would also be nice to include something in each city, like the church that has a charge or something but not necessary, still overall a pretty good value for easy and a great experience. Oh! And the gelato recommendation in San Gimignamo is the best we've had yet in all of Italy! Overall the whole trip was fantastic! We would highly recommend it!!
via Tripadvisor
Great day!
Great tour with Lucy and Jean-Luke. Informative with plenty of free time to explore each stop. The abbey was breath taking! Our 6 year old joined us and he did great and enjoyed it as well.
via Tripadvisor
Good to know
- Duration
- 11.5 hours
- Free cancellation
- Non-refundable
- Minimum age to book
- All ages
- Availability
- Bookable today
- Runs on
- Mon, Sat
- Hotel pickup
- No pickup, meet at start point
- Booked in 30 days
- 4
- Verdict
- Worth a Look
Why this scores 56
The Outty Ranking is a weighted composite. Here is how this experience performed on each component.
Tuscany's hidden gems: San Gimignano, Volterra, St Galgano Abbey: questions travelers ask
Practical detail on this experience, plus the wider planning questions for Florence.
How much does Tuscany's hidden gems: San Gimignano, Volterra, St Galgano Abbey cost?
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Prices start at $165 per person. The final price depends on the date, the time slot and the number of travelers, and peak weekends in Florence usually price higher than midweek mornings. Live pricing and remaining availability are confirmed on the booking screen before you pay.
How long does Tuscany's hidden gems: San Gimignano, Volterra, St Galgano Abbey take?
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Plan for about 11.5 hours from start to finish, not counting travel to the meeting point. Most travelers leave another 30 minutes on either side so the rest of the day in Florence is not rushed.
Is Tuscany's hidden gems: San Gimignano, Volterra, St Galgano Abbey worth it?
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It holds an Outty Ranking of 56 out of 100, which we label "Worth a Look". That score blends traveler sentiment (4.6/5 across 11 reviews), the depth of that review evidence, recent booking momentum, value for money against comparable most popular in Florence, and how flexible the cancellation terms are.
Can I cancel or reschedule Tuscany's hidden gems: San Gimignano, Volterra, St Galgano Abbey?
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No. This experience is sold on a non-refundable basis, so only book a date you are confident about. Similar experiences in the city do offer free cancellation if flexibility matters more than price.
Is Tuscany's hidden gems: San Gimignano, Volterra, St Galgano Abbey suitable for kids and families?
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Yes, all ages are welcome. Families should still weigh the 11.5-hour running time, and strollers are easier on the earlier, quieter departures.
How far in advance should I book Tuscany's hidden gems: San Gimignano, Volterra, St Galgano Abbey?
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Around 4 people booked this in the last 30 days, so popular slots go early. Two to three weeks ahead is comfortable in shoulder season, while summer weekends and holidays in Florence can sell out a month out. Same-day spots do open up when other travelers cancel, so it is worth checking if you are already in town.
What should I bring or wear?
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Bring photo ID, your booking confirmation on your phone, a refillable water bottle and comfortable shoes. Dress for the weather in Florence and add a light layer if any part of the 11.5-hour experience runs outdoors or after sunset.
Where does Tuscany's hidden gems: San Gimignano, Volterra, St Galgano Abbey start and how do I get there?
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The exact meeting point and directions are on your voucher once you book, and they sit in central Florence within reach of public transport. Arrive 15 minutes early: late arrivals are treated as no-shows by most operators.
What are the best things to do in Florence?
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On Outty we rank every Florence experience on the same 0 to 100 scale, and alongside this one the highest scorers right now include The Best tour in Florence: Renaissance & Medici Tales - guided by a STORYTELLER, Florence Pizza or Pasta Class & Gelato Making at a Tuscan Farm, Small group Tuscan Wineries, Olive Oil & Gourmet Lunch or Dinner. The city page groups everything into most popular, highest reviewed, last minute and family-friendly so you can build a day around what actually delivers.
When is the best time to visit Florence?
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Booking patterns follow the same curve: prices and queues climb in peak weeks, while shoulder season gives you better availability on the top-ranked experiences and more room to change plans.
How many days do you need in Florence?
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Three full days covers the headline sights without sprinting. A workable rhythm is one anchor experience each morning, such as this one, an unhurried afternoon in a single neighborhood, then a food or nightlife booking in the evening. Five days lets you add a day trip outside the city.
Do I book through Outty or through the operator?
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Outty ranks and explains the experiences, then hands you to Viator to complete the booking with the operator directly. The price is the same as booking on Viator yourself, and Outty earns an affiliate commission on the referral, which is how the rankings stay free to read.
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