The best things to do in Volterra and surrounding area for a Tuscany stay you’ll love

All you need to know to make the most of your stay in Volterra and surrounding area: the best things to do in Volterra, the best day trip in the Volterra region, my recommendations for restaurants, accommodation, tours and experiences,based on my own travels.

The historical town of Volterra is one of the most beautiful villages in Tuscany and a fantastic place to call home while vacationing in Tuscany.

Volterra is a delight.

Historic yet real, it is all you imagine a Tuscan town to be: a mix between an open air museum and a gorgeous small center where to live the slow life.

But what makes Volterra even more special is its position: perched in the northern part of Tuscany, Volterra is surrounded by glorious rolling hills, it is close to many additional pretty centers and it is even close to the coast!

By staying in Volterra area, you have pretty much the best of Tuscany at your fingertips!

I love this area: over the course of the years, I have come here more timed than I can remember and I always recommend Volterra to all my friends, as a town to visit and as an area to explore.

Based on my own family’s  experiences, this is my guide to the best things to do in Volterra and surrounding area!

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Travel guide to Volterra TL;DR

• Volterra is one of the most beautiful historic small towns in Tuscany 
• The area around Volterra is blessed with beautiful rolling hills, wineries, and country stays and it is perfect to relax and unwind
• Volterra is a great base for exploring urban centers, countryside and the coast, all within short distances from the town
• The best way to visit Volterra and surrounding area is by car. I recommend renting one via Discover Cars, which allows to filter by size/ deposit / type of card etc
• The best way to enjoy this area is by finding accommodation in a a country stay, so you can immerse yourself in the Tuscan landscape, escape the crowds of this popular area and have easy access to all Volterra area has to offer. Some I love are  Tenuta Chiudendone, Diacceroni and but see below for additional suggestions
• My favorite experiences in this area are town hopping, farm to table day with cooking at Tenuta Chiudendone, vineyard visits, cooking classes and day trips to the beach
• The best seasons to go are spring and fall; summer is hot but enjoyable if staying in the countryside in a property with a pool. Winter has some seasonal events yet is more limiting in terms of outdoor experiences and farm visits. 

Where to stay near Volterra

My shortlist of places to stay in Volterra area:

Name of Accommodation	Kid friendly	Activities on site	Meals*
Agriturismo Diacceroni	Yes	Yes, plenty	Mostly self catering
Tenuta Chiudendone	Yes	Farm to table experience, truffle hunting	Mostly self catering
Agrihotel il Palagetto	Yes	Yes	Restaurant on site
Molino del Prato	Yes	No	No, self catering
Podere Marcampo	Yes	Cooking class, wine tasting	Self catering but with breakfast option

Best cooking classes and structured activities in Volterra

Volterra is a lovely area for structured activities such as cooking classes and experiences. Over the course of the years, we have tried many and these are those we recommend the most.

When relevant, I have listed separately different providers, so you have the most options

Activity name and link	Kid friendly	Description
Farm to table day at Tenuta Chiudendone	Yes	Lovely day in a local country home: the hosts show you the estate, you pick vegetables with them, cook, wine and dine together and you have free time to lounge at the pool
Truffle hunting in Tenuta Chiudendone	Yes	In the fall, Tenuta Chiudendone hosts truffles days when you hunt for truffles, learn about them and of course taste the findings from your expedition
Truffle Hunting in Diacceroni	Yes	In truffle season, a lovely way to get in touch with the land, learn about truffles and enjoy a meal with the fruit of your labor. Lovely for dog lovers!
Pasta making class in Diacceroni Farm	Yes	A fun cooking experience in a stunning local farm with incredible views
Pizza Class in Diacceroni farm	Yes	A really fun, super kid friendly class to learn to make pizza from scratch
Cake and Biscuits cooking class for kids (age 4 and up) in Diacceroni farm	Yes, for kids	Super cute and super delicious activity for families in countryside setting

The best things to do in Volterra

Visit Volterra Town 

A stay in the Volterra area cannot overlook Volterra itself, one of the most beautiful and ancient towns in Tuscany.

Originally an Etruscan settlement, the town flourished during late Roman times and became an important center during the Middle Ages, as its architecture and city layout still shows.

Walking around Volterra is a delight: the city is compact and pretty, and it has that quintessential open air museum feel historic Tuscan towns do so well.

It it also has something unique: a local production of alabaster that is peculiar to this town only and is wonderfully showcased in the local alabaster museum and in the many artisan shops of the area. Alabaster crafts are a wonderful souvenir from Italy, if you are looking for something truly special to bring / ship back home.

The best things to see in Volterra are:

• See Palazzo dei Priori, the ancient municipality palazzo towering over the city. Notice its its tower, ‘Torre del Porcellino’ (Piglet tower). if you have kids (or not!) get them to try  spot the stone of top and guess why it has such a nickname!

• Enter the beautiful Duomo and Baptistry, where you find significant artwork attributed to Della Robbia.

• The Etruscan Museum to learn about the fascinating Etruscan civilization
• Peek into the Etruscan necropolis, comprising of two Etruscan tombs, interesting to visit, especially as a complement to a visit to the museum

• The Roman theater  – stunning, as you can still clearly see the outline of the cavea and the impressive stage backdrop – not overly common to see (Taormina in Sicily is another good example)

• The pinacoteca, a worty stop for art lovers

• The museum of alabaster  and the many shops showcasing the great alabaster craft of this area.

In Volterra, eat at: Osteria della Pace, map >> https://g.co/kgs/GU7pv4k | Enoteca del Duca, map >> https://g.co/kgs/i714cAH

Visit Siena

Siena is one of the most beautiful towns in Italy, a place where time stood still and you can immerse yourself in the Middle Ages (while still having all modern comfort at your fingertips, Siena is very much a real town too!

Top tip! While you do not need a tour to enjoy Siena, if you are interested in history and keen to learn more about what makes Siena special (for instance, the story of its contrade and the Palio), taking a walking tour like this one with a local guide that also includes Duomo entrance is a good idea. 

In Siena, I recommend you seek out:

• Piazza del Campo is one of the most famous landmarks in Siena and one of the most beautiful piazzas in the whole it Italy. 

Located right in the heart of Siena, Piazza del Campo is a vast piazza with a peculiar shell shape. Its focal point is Palazzo Pubblico and its medieval tower Torre del Mangia, but the square fans out all around it, as it offering a cavea from whereto admire it. 

The palazzo is open to the public, tickets can be bough on the day or from the official online ticket office. If you are fit and not afraid of heights, you can also climb the tower: it is 87 meters tall and has over 400 steps but the view from above, they say, is stunning (as a person with a fear of height, I didn’t go but the photos are amazing!

The Piazza also has a fabulous fountain worth seeing: Fonte Gaia, carved with beautiful sculptures decorating its frame.

• Duomo di Siena Only a short walk from Piazza del Campo you will find the other jewel of Siena, the stunning Siena Duomo.

The Duomo of Siena is one of the most important examples of the Romanic-Gothic style in Tuscany and beyond and one of the most churches in Italy. Its façade has beautiful golden panels decorated with intricate sculptures and it glimmers under the Tuscan sun. 

The bell tower has white and dark green  marble stripes, a color combination and a pattern that makes it almost unique in its genre, and it is sure to capture your attention (if you are visiting with young kids yes, they will scream ‘it’s a zebra!) and the inside is as impressive.

Inside the duomo, you will find again the dark green and white pattern of the towers, you will be to admire the works of art of many artists of the caliber of Donatello, Nicola Pisano, Pinturicchio and Michelangelo and you may even be lucky enough to be here when the Duomo’s floor is on show. 

The pavement is decorated with 56 marble panes with carved an equal number of scenes and is an attraction in itself!

It is worth taking the time to visit the Museo dell’Opera del Duomo, inside the cathedral itself, to learn about the peculiar challenges and techniques this type of decoration posed to its creators.

• Santa Maria della Scala Just in front of the Duomo you will find Santa Maria della Scala, the old Siena hospital.

Hospital, in this case, means ‘place of hospitality’ and it was a location for the poor, abandoned children and the Pilgrims walking the Via Francigena to rest and regain strength. 

Santa Maria della scala is now a museum and it is worth visiting for the incredible spaces, frescoes and treasure it contains. 

• Tip for those of you visiting Siena with kids!

Siena’s city center is stunning but like all medieval towns tends to lack green spaces, unless you know where to look for them! In the case of Siena, the place to look is Orto de’ Pecci, a large park close to the center that is fantastic for a quiet break and for views over the cities. I highly recommend it as a stop especially if you are visiting Siena with kids (click for the guide, it also has a list of playgrounds and tips!)

In Siena, eat at:  Taverna di San Giuseppe |  La Finestra |  Le Logge

Take a scenic drive to the coast

Volterra is perched high on the hills overlooking the Tyrrhenian Coast and the drive to the sea is scenic, and as worth as the destinations themselves!

The northern coast of this area is called Versilia and is a beautiful stretch of coast with wide sandy beaches and an upscale feel.

Top places to visit for the day are:

• Viareggio – one of Italy’s best-known seaside resort towns and a trendy summer getaway loved by upscale locals and foreigners alike.

Blessed with large, long sandy beaches dotted with lidos, Viareggio also a beautiful town center with Liberty-style architecture unique in the area. Eat at: MaMe (Michelin rated), Map >> https://g.co/kgs/CwN8Vxu

• Lido di Camaiore is immediately north of Viareggio and is popular with visitors of all ages including families with kids thanks to  gently degrading beaches and shallow waters that make it perfect for beginner swimmers and children.

For a special treat, eat at one of the several Michelin starred restaurants in town

• Marina di Pietrasanta is one of the most exclusive localities in Versilia, perfect if you want an upscale experience and have the budget to afford it.

Found to be ‘the most expensive beach in Italy in 2022’, according to a recent survey, Marina di Pietrasanta has wonderful lidos, but thread carefully if on a budget as exclusivity comes with a pretty high price tag here

• Forte dei Marmi is one of the most famous and elegant localities in Versilia and home to some of the most expensive beach clubs in Tuscany and beyond.

Forte de’ Marmi has become fashionable in the 60s and has been a trend-setting, jet-setting destination ever since, attracting wealthy foreigners who vacation here in their over-the-top villas and yachts. Like other Versilia localities, it is a great place to enjoy the beach especially if you can indulge in day access to one of the local lidos.

• Marina di Massa is a lovely locality near Volterra, perfect especially for families with children who find here a lovely beach, nice lidos and ‘parco dei conigli’ a local park where kids can find rabbits, goats and play equipment

If you go further south, still on the Tuscan coast, you find a different feel and lovely beaches and small shores.

• Some lovely places to check out are Marina di Pisa, Tirrenia, Donoratico (beach) and Castiglioncello, tiny and super cute for a day trip with the kids, tanks to its lovely playground in its shaded pineta (pine tree forest)

Visit wineries 

One of the best things to do in Volterra’s  region is to visit wineries and enjoy the best the terrain has to offer.

The best way to visit these establishments is by car: make sure you have someone to act as designated driver or consider a tour like this one (rather new on GYG, but you can find more reviews here)

Tours are expensive in this area but mean you can relax and all adults can drink so, if budget allows, they are a great resource! One I love is this one which is upscale, brings you to stunning wineries and makes you feel really pampered and can b

Wineries close to Volterra I recommend you check out for a tasting or a meal are: 

• Tenuta Torciano – find reviews here
• Poggio Alloro  – find reviews here
• La Volpaia (stunning!) – find reviews here
• Castello di Meleto – https://www.castellomeleto.it/en/index (we spent a night here and room, meals and wines were excellent!

Tip if visiting with kids: wineries in Italy are kid friendly. Find here >> my guide to going wine tasting in Tuscany with kids

Take a day trip to Chianti

Only a short drive away you also have all the beautiful wineries Chianti has to offer. Some you may like are

• Castello di Verrazzano Castle https://g.co/kgs/9TXLZpf 
• Cantine Antinori https://g.co/kgs/gXrR7Wh
• Castello di Brolio https://g.co/kgs/HYZeUPH
• Castello di Ama https://g.co/kgs/SX8jR1j
• Fattoria La Palagina Farm with winery (very kid friendly as it is also a farn ) Via Grevigiana, 4, 50063 Figline e Incisa Valdarno FI, Italy

• Tip for families! If visiting this area with kids, read my more detailed guide to Chianti with kids here

Have a Farm to table experience Tenuta Chiudendone 

A place I love in Volterra area is Tenuta Chiudenone, a private estate that opens its doors to visitors and offers a wonderful farm to table experience.

The experience is a whole day affair and the best way I can find to describe it is: imagine you have friends with an amazing house in Tuscany and they invite you over for the day. This is just what this experience feels like!

Francesco and Isabella are the owners here and they welcome you as an old friend: they offer you drinks, show you the estate (they have vines, olive trees, vegetable garden and forest areas), they then cook with you, have lunch with you, serve their food, wine and oil and then even offer the chance to stay and lunge in their pool area for the afternoon!

I love this experience because it feels really local and is a chance to immerse yourself in the countryside without stress orthe need to figure out logistics or food (they can come pick you up). The experience is kid friendly!

You can find my full review here

Explore San Gimignano

San Gimignano is one of the prettiest and most visited hilltop towns in Tuscany and with good reason! 

Perched on top of a beautiful hill, San Gimignano is a medieval walled town with a perfectly preserved old center, a staggering amount of medieval towers (it is not called ‘city of towers’ for nothing!) and it is also a lovely place for foodies.

As well as stunning churches and alleys, San Gimignano is famous for the production of saffron and the delicious vernaccia wine: vernaccia di San Gimignano.

The town doesn’t require long to see and is close to Siena, from where is a popular day trip. 

A lovely way to visit, in my opinion, it to come here early in the morning, then have a late lunch in a nearby winery (Tenuta Torciano or Poggio Alloro for instance are very close to the town) and then complete the day with a second stop in Monteriggioni (see below).

Eat at: Fattoria Poggio Alloro | Le Vecchie Mura | Da Pode | Gelato from: Dandoli. 

Find our guide to San Gimignano here. 

Discover Monteriggioni

Monteriggioni is a tiny village perched on the top of a hill,  with something special: pretty perfectly deserved medieval city walls! 

It is the quintessential Tuscan town, surrounded by imposing turreted walls and with views of rolling hills dotted by olive trees as far as the eye can see. 

The town consists of a main square and a handful of streets, and can be visited in a short time: the best things to do here are the walks along the bastions (if you are not afraid of height), having lunch in the medieval square and peek at the local shops. We usually come here as an easy lunch stop or for evening aperitivo. 

If you have kids, a stop at the local museum is fun as you can try on period clothes!

If you can, try and visit the city in early July when the Monteriggioni medieval festival takes place. 

Find here >>> My guide to Monteriggioni

Explore Bolgheri

To the south of Volterra, Bolgheri is a delightful small center wine lovers probably know well thanks to its impressive wine production!

Bolgheri itself is a historic and pleasant village to explore and can can easily be included into a day trip to the coast of this area. A lovely way to explore is to have a wander around the town, then indulge in a lovely meal in the hills of this area, for instance by having lunch in Osteria Magona or Osteria del Tasso, which a wine list suitable to this wine knowing area.

You can find here >> my guide to Bolgheri

Explore Florence

Florence needs no introduction so instead of telling you why a day trip to Florence from Volterra is a great idea (the art, the food, the shopping, the atmosphere…) 

I will do more: I’ll share the itinerary that I believe till allow you to enjoy the best of Florence in just one day! Find it here Florence city center itinerary

Cycle around Lucca

Lucca is a wonderful small town in Tuscany, a gem of a places that manages to steal the heart of anyone traveling here!

The town has Roman origins and has been inhabited ever since the first dwellers made themselves at home here, and this means that nowadays you have in town several attractions from different historical times worth seeing.

The first thing many notice about Lucca are its walls: Lucca is still entirely surrounded by its walls and they are so beautiful and large, you can cycle on them! 

Cycling Lucca’s walls is one of the best things to do in this beautiful small town and a great way to get a sense of what Lucca is all about.

Aside from the walls, Lucca has a stunning main square that has been built of the ruins of a Roman amphitheater, of which you can still guess the shape, and it also has many churches, so many, you may not believe they all fit in such a small city! 

Lucca is a delight to visit and is even special for music lovers since it was the proud birthplace of composer Puccini. 

In Lucca, eat at: PepeRosa |  Buca di Sant’Antonio

You can find here >>> my guide to Lucca | And here >>> my guide to visiting Lucca with kids (it’s lovely for them!)

Bring the kids to a themed park or adventure park

The area of Volterra has some lovely attractions for kids:

• Pistoia Zoo https://www.zoodipistoia.it/en/ – a lovely place for kids open rain or shine, in a local off the beaten path, lovely town

• Castelfalfi Adventure park https://castelfalfiadventurepark.com/# with trails suitable for kids as young s age 3

• Peccioli Prehistoric Park https://www.parcopreistoricopeccioli.it/en/home-en/ which is also a good excuse to visit Peccioli, a lovely small center now arisen to international fame for its beautiful views

• Cecina water park https://www.acquavillage.it/en/cecina-waterpark/

Take a day trip to Pisa

Pisa is a lovely and easy destination to visit for the day from Volterra and both a destination is itself or a nice stop on the way to or from Lucca and the coast.

Pisa if of course best known for its leaning tower; however, the city is more than just this leaning curiosity and a great place to explore if you love architecture as the whole Duomo complex here is truly stunning!

Depending on interest, you can spend here about an hour or a day. Find here >> my tips for spending a day in Pisa.

Where to eat in Volterra and surrounding area

The area of Volterra has outstanding food so it is hard to go wrong pretty much no matter where you go!

Some places that, in my opinion, may deserve a special mention are:

• Papaveri e Papere in San Miniato
• Da Pode, San Gimignano
• Fattoria Poggio Alloro

How to get around Volterra and surrounding area; Where to Park 

The area of Volterra is best discovered by car.

Driving in this area is not hard and does not require any special vehicle; however, I recommend to try and avoid excessively large SUVs as these are harder to handle as you get close to the towns, where roads tend to get a little smaller.You can find here >>> my tips for driving in Tuscany. 

The vast majority of Tuscan towns are not accessible by car, as the center is protected by a ZTL (limited traffic area). 

To avoid driving where you shouldn’t, follow the P signs for parking and leave the car in designated spaces, then explore on foot. You can find here >> my guide about parking in Italy. 

I hope you enjoyed this guide to the best things to do in Volterra and surrounding area it helped you plan your trip. Safe travels!