Tuscany, or Toscana in Italian, is an area of western Italy made up of 10 provinces that include the cities of Florence and Pisa. Tuscany also is home to the Chianti wine growing region. Fodor's describes Tuscany as having gorgeous views at every turn, from its rolling hills to its miles of coastline. Tuscany's cities and small rural villages make a combination of transportation options necessary to fully explore the entire region.

Book Your Flight

Fly into one of the international airports in Tuscany. Pisa International Airport Galileo Galilei and Florence Airport Amerigo Vespucci are the two international airports in the region. If you are flying from the United States, you can take a direct flight to Pisa on Delta from JFK airport in New York. Alternatively, air travelers can fly into Milan or Rome and get transportation from there to Tuscany, about a three-hour drive by car from either direction.

Getting to Tuscany

Use the train to travel through Tuscany. The main train stations are located in Grosseto, Pisa and Florence. These cities, as well as Siena, Lucca, San Gimignano, Arezzo and Volterra, can be reached easily by train. Train tickets can be bought at any train station, or a rail pass can be purchased in advance from Rail Europe if you are traveling from the U.S. A rail pass will give you unlimited train travel for a set period of time. Some train stations also have a connecting bus service that can take you into some of the more rural areas.

Tip

It is advisable to learn a little Italian for the more rural areas, as you are less likely to encounter English speakers.

Exploring on Your Own

Rent a car to leisurely explore Tuscany. While there are major cities in Tuscany, the majority of the area is made up of small towns and villages that are best traveled to by car. Major car rental companies, such as Hertz and Avis, are available from the airports in Tuscany. The Auto Europe website is a good place to look for discount car rentals in Tuscany. Keep in mind that manual transmission cars are the norm in Europe; when you book your rental car, be sure to check for an automatic option if you need it.

Tip

Get an international drivers license if planning to drive in Tuscany.