Tuscany in Spring: best places to go, best things to do, why you’ll love it

All you need to know about visiting Tuscany in spring is the spring weather, the best places to see, what to do and the essentials about Easter in Tuscany. 

Tuscany is one of my favorite regions in Italy, a place I find myself returning to over and over again, like you return to a beloved childhood escapes, and spring is one of my favorite times to enjoy it.

Spring is one of the best times to visit Tuscany on many accounts.

From late March, the famous rolling hills of Tuscany start regaining their iconic shades of green, making for stunning landscapes, the famous wineries of the region start welcoming visitors more consistently, and the season for farm-to-table meals starts again.

While sightseeing is always possible in Tuscany, spring in Tuscany means you can enjoy it with fewer layers, and, as the season progresses, the sun will be with you! 

Spring sees the weather changing significantly as you progress in the season, and often also day by day.

Depending on when in the season you come, Tuscany in spring offers cozy interiors and moody landscapes (have you seen those stunning photos with the mist coming up the hills? Morning in early spring can be like that!), lovely opportunities for days out and excursions and, of course, endless options to visit Tuscany’s pretty towns.

I absolutely adore spring here, Tuscany has so much to offer, it is hard to think of a place with more enjoyable options than here. This is my guide to enjoying Tuscany in spring.

When is spring in Tuscany 

Spring in Tuscany lasts from late  March to late June and looks very different depending on when you arrive in spring.

March to late April are months with hit-and-miss weather, possible rain and a need for layers. While winter fades the further you get into the season, you still need layers and some indoor time. 

After mid-April and as you get into May and June, the temperatures rise and while rain is still possible, it is usually more sporadic.

While you’re likely not able to enjoy pools or swimming until very late in the season (mid-June onwards), this is a much warmer time when you find yourself mixing time in short sleeves with time with extra layers. 

Month	Temperature Range	Rainy days
Late March	5C-16C / 41- 61F	12
April	8C-20C / 46 – 68F	12
May	12C -24C / 54 – 75F	11
Early June	16C -29C / 61 – 84F	9

Best Places to Visit in Tuscany in spring

Florence

Florence, the capital of Tuscany, is one of the most beautiful cities in Italy, and spring is one of the best times to experience it, especially if you can come outside of the Easter weekend (crowds are intense then, see below).

The city’s squares and museums offer great sightseeing in spring’s changeable weather. An art-filled space to escape the rain is never too far in Florence!

While the city is not very green, it has some stunning gardens that give their very best in spring: Boboli rose garden are stunning in this season. 

You can read here >>> my guide to the best things to do in Florence

If you are visiting Florence with kids, this is a great time to visit some of the kid-friendly museums of this city such as the fun selfie museum, Leonardo Interactive Museum or to take a gelato class!

Siena

Siena is one  of the most beautiful towns in Tuscany must-see city in spring. 

Its iconic Piazza del Campo is so unique you think you have stepped onto a movie set, and spring is the best way to enjoy it: sitting on its sloped terrain and basking in its beauty.

As I always say, the best thing to do in Siena is to just be!).

Siena is a lovely place to explore and wander at leisure: my favorite places are Siena Cathedral and the beautiful frescoes in the Museo dell’Opera del Duomo and the lovely Orto de’ Pecci (park), lovely in good weather and a fantastic stop if you are visiting Siena with kids.

Chianti in Spring

Between Siena and Florence lies the Chianti region, famous for its vineyards and picturesque castles, which are great spring destinations. 

The area has hills covered by rows of vines that slowly come back to life in spring and make for incredible views and backdrops for wine-tasting events.  

Greve in Chianti and Montefioralle are lovely to visit in spring but for me it is the castles and vineyard that make this place special: not to be misses are Brolio, Verrazzano and Castello di Ama castles, while e if you are visiting Chianti with kids a day at Fattoria La Palagina is a wonderful spring activity.  

Val d’Orcia

Val d’Orcia is a stunning area in the province of Siena, and the place many associate with the iconic views of Tuscany: here is where you find rolling hills ans cypress trees! 

I have a personal love for this area, and spring (and fall!) are just magical here. 

In spring, Pienza offers wonderful views and easy walking option to the gladiators cypresses and Chapel of Vitaleta. 

Montepulciano is ideal for wine tasting and biking (you can get bikes in the town and explore the area), and the area has lovely hot springs such as Bagno Vignoni and Bagni San Filippo that are perfect at this time. 

Best Activities to Experience in spring in Tuscany

Go wine tasting

Spring is the perfect time to visit Tuscany’s vineyards, as the weather is mild and the vines are beginning to bud.

Many wineries in the Chianti and Montalcino regions offer tours so you can learn about the wine production process, stroll through the vineyards or the cellars, and enjoy tastings of some of Italy’s finest wines: Chianti Classico, Brunello di Montalcino and Morellino are all from Tuscany. 

Places I love for wine tasting are Castello di Brolio, La Volpaia, Castello di Meleto, Castello di Ama.

With kids, I love La Palagina which has both wine tasting and kids’ activities. You can read here >>> how I like to go wine tasting in Tuscany with kids.

Enjoy a farm to table experience

Spring is the perfect time to enjoy farm to table meals and make the most of the glorious produce and cooking tradition of this area.

My absolutely favorite place to experience this is Tenuta Chiudendone, where you can also relax and chat with their lovely owners and feel like you really belong.

Other lovely places we enjoyed for a meal are Podere il Casale (make sure you book for lunch as it is quite isolated and you don’t want to go there and then be turned away), Fattoria di Maiano, Locanda Dementra, La Foce and all the wineries mentioned above.

Cycling and Hiking

Spring is a lovely time in Tuscany if you love to cycle or hike. 

Bikes are available in many Tuscan towns and come in many forms.

In Lucca and Pisa, you can get family bikes to cycle along Lucca’s walls (A very popular thing to do if visiting Lucca with kids) or Pisa’s city centre streets, or in Montepulciano or Fiesole, you can get bikes to explore the countryside. 

Just be careful about the weather as rain is possible, but the intense sun at lunchtime is also a thing, later in the season! 

I recommend you get bikes last minute on a day of good weather rather than make rigid plans in advance so you can pick the best day (bikes are usually available last minute usually, so you can normally keep is casual) countryside.

Lovely places for a walks are the hills of Val D’Orcia where you can for instance enjoy a walk to the Gladiators’ Cypresses or the Vitaleta Chapel.

Cooking Classes

Tuscany is renowned for its cuisine, and spring is an ideal time to take a cooking class.

Many local chefs offer hands-on lessons where you can learn to prepare traditional Tuscan dishes such as ribollita (a hearty vegetable soup), pappa al pomodoro (tomato and bread soup), and pappardelle with wild boar ragu. 

Some I personally recommend are Locanda Demetra,  Juls’ Kitches and the communal cooking at Tenuta Chiudendone mentioned above (kid friendly).

Thermal Springs

Tuscany is home to several natural thermal springs, and spring is a great time to visit as the outside temperature makes the hot water a welcome treat.

Depending on what you like, you can go to free wild ones like Saturnia if more structured elegant spa environments such as Theia Spa in Chianciano.

You can find here >> my essential guide to hot springs in Tuscany  

Easter in Tuscany – need to know

Easter is a busy time in Tuscany and Easter weekend in particular is one of the most crowded in the regions top cities so you need to be aware you’ll be very much in the thick of it, if visiting at this time.

In Florence, the Easter Sunday is marked by the Scoppio del Carro (Explosion of the Cart), a centuries-old tradition that involves a large cart filled with fireworks being ignited to ensure a good harvest. While this is an unforgettable experience, it does attract crowds to Florence’s historic center, especially around the Duomo, where the event takes place.

Since Florence is so compact, it is very hard to escape crowds in the center so if a tranquil Easter is your aim, you may be better off in other destinations.

Smaller towns like Volterra or offer a more peaceful Easter experience, while still  equally rich in culture and history, but are far less congested than Florence or Siena during the holiday.

If you want a country stay, then escaping crowds is easy! The  Chianti Hills or Val d’Orcia are ideal are rural, so you can easily find a place where you can retreat after sightseeing an absolute peace.

Places we love are Agriturismo Terre di Nano, Agriturismo Diacceroni, Volpaia, Castello di Meleto, Fattoria di Maiano and Tentua Chiudendone.

If you are in Tuscany with kids, you can find here >>> out recommended places to stay in Tuscany with kids.

Tuscany with kids in spring

Spring is a lovely time to visit Tuscany with kids, but it is important to keep expectations in check as this is not a time for pool time, water parks or swimming.

At this time, the best things to do with kids are classes (gelato, cooking, paper making etc), kid friendly museums, hot springs and, on good days, adventure parks. You can find here >>> my selection of the best activities to do with kids in Tuscany.

I hope you enjoyed this essential guide to Tuscany in spring. Safe travels!

Tuscany in Spring visitors’ guide – pin this!