Holidays along the Tuscany Coast take you beyond the beautiful gently undulating, tree spiked countryside that is characteristic of this enchanting part of Italy.
As well as the peaceful, artist inspired countryside, there’s a wonderful contrasting coastline to experience. The Tuscany Coast boasts many kilometres of enticing sandy beaches, perfect for those who just want to relax and enjoy the sun, as well as charming restaurants and bars for an early evening Tuscan Negroni aperitif.
Tuscany is renowned for its cuisine; from comforting winter soups made with different types of cabbage and beans, to Panzanella, a popular salad made with bread and lardo di colonnata, which is pork lard cured on local marble.
The Tuscan Coastline offers everything from sunbed and umbrella striped private beaches to free beaches with intimate coves boasting calm, clear blue water. Everything’s on offer here; the peace and tranquillity of beaches surrounded by pine forests and sand dunes or fishing harbours offering bars and restaurants to suit all tastes along. Adventurous travellers will love the water and wind sports which can be enjoyed off the coast.
With 95 years of expertise in providing holidays on Tuscany’s Coast, there are plenty of hidden treasures we can introduce you to. Tuscany’s sandy beaches stretch for many kilometres and for those who like some privacy, a top tip is to seek out single cars parked along the road. You’re likely to find a subsequent steep trail which leads down to a quiet stretch of beach.
The Versilia resorts along the northern coastline favour the archetypal Italian beach, with rows of sun loungers, umbrellas and coast guards on hand. Travelling further south there are pine woods and extensive sand dunes to enjoy in the Migliarino San Rossore nature reserve just east of Pisa. To add variety to your holiday, a trip to the multicultural sea port of Livorno offers the opportunity to hire a bike or a Segway and travel along the Terrazza Mascagni, the black and white chequered waterfront terrace favoured as a meeting place for locals. If you start your ride at the right time of day you can enjoy the panoramic sunset views.
11 day suggested trip
10 day suggested trip
This historic city is one of Italy’s loveliest. You’ll need a full day to do Verona justice, so this excursion is the perfect way to get to know the city, with free time to soak up the sights at your leisure.
You’ll start with a guided tour of Verona’s most famous sights, including the Roman Arena (home of the opera festival), Juliet's balcony, the Scaligeri tombs, Piazza dell' Erbe and Piazza Bra.
There will be plenty of free time to wander, too, so you can discover why Shakespeare chose to set so many plays here. Verona is an elegant sprawl of piazzas and picturesque lanes along the banks of the River Adige, and exploring on foot is the best way to see it. Surrounding the city are leafy hills topped with terracotta churches – perfect for a photo op.
We say: “Verona is so close to Lake Garda that a visit here is definitely worth doing. This excursion is a great way to see the city’s sights, including the Roman amphitheatre, one of the best in Italy (where they hold the Verona Opera Festival).” Lara Crowe, Product Executive
Prices: From £80 per person (depending on resort)
Operates: Tuesday & Friday (All resorts) - Full Day
Duration: Full Day
Start time: 7:30 am - 9:30am approx. (depending on resort)
Included: Guided walking tour, free time in Verona.
Not included: Hotel pick up and drop off, lunch.
To pre-book your excursion please call one of our Italy Experts. Please note that excursions operate seasonally from May - September and are subject to availability and minimum numbers. Start times and departure points shall be reconfirmed once in resort.
Discover the real Tuscany Coast while staying in one of our carefully selected hotels
Enjoying the stunning beaches and enchanting countryside is a big part of a Tuscany Coast holiday, but there’s lots of culture to appreciate too. Take a short trip to Pisa and enjoy the Piazza dei Miracoli, a UNESCO World Heritage site that’s home to the famous leaning tower and the marble striped cathedral, described by the famous Italian poet Gabriele D’Annunzio as architectural ‘miracles’.
An excursion to the Cinque Terre is a must. These five villages are characterised by their pastel coloured houses perched high on the clifftop and set into a dramatic coastline, overlooking the azure sea below. Cars were banned 10 years ago, so the best means of transport between the villages is the train line which cuts through the coast tunnels. You will have time to wander around the villages at your leisure. Seeing this UNESCO World Heritage site by boat is one of the best ways to appreciate the Tuscan Coast.
The majority of international flights arrive into Pisa airport (PSA). Direct flights to Pisa are available from Belfast, Bristol, East Midlands, Leeds Bradford, London Gatwick, London Heathrow, London Luton, Manchester and Newcastle and take approximately 2 hours.
Tuscany is predominantly a summer destination, with the main tourist season generally running from April to October. Temperatures are at their hottest in July and August, this is also when Tuscany is at its busiest. However, Tuscany also enjoys a mild climate in spring and autumn with temperatures rarely going beneath 20 degrees which makes it perfect for visiting at the beginning or end of season too. The coast has wonderful sea breezes and the hilltop towns are much cooler than the lower countryside villages. The best time to visit is during the quieter season, from April to June and September to October when the weather is good, prices are a bit lower and there are fewer crowds. There are many festivals and events throughout the year in Tuscany and Easter and Christmas are always busy.
At the current time, British citizens do not require a visa to visit Italy.
Whilst tipping isn’t embedded into Italian culture it is always appreciated as an acknowledgement of good service. Nowadays people generally round up a bill in a bar or cafe and leave 5-10% extra on a restaurant bill. Taxi bills are usually also rounded up.
On guided tours/excursions, it is customary to leave a token of appreciation for the driver and guide.
On small group escorted tours, it is customary to leave a token of appreciation for the driver and guide at the end of the tour.
The official language of Italy is Italian. English is widely spoken too, so getting by is easy.