Fastest ~45 min by car (no train)
| 🎫 Tour | half-day/full-day | Minibus wine tours, most practical way to taste at working vineyards |
| 🚌 Bus | ~1h | Route 365 to Greve in Chianti, several times weekdays, reduced weekends |
| 🚗 Car | ~45 min | ~30 km via the scenic SR222 (Chiantigiana); most flexible for hilltop villages |
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Chianti's rolling hills of vineyards, olive groves and stone hamlets stretch between Florence and Siena, and unlike most of this guide's day trips, there's no train to reach them — Chianti's charm lies precisely in being scattered countryside rather than a single town with a station. Here's how to actually get there.
The public transport option: bus 365 to Greve in Chianti
A regional bus service, generally numbered 365 and operated as part of Tuscany's regional network, runs from Florence to Greve in Chianti, the region's main town, taking around 1 hour depending on traffic on the winding SR222 (the "Chiantigiana" road). Services run several times a day on weekdays, with a reduced timetable at weekends, so checking the current schedule before travelling is essential. This is the only realistic way to reach the heart of Chianti by public transport without joining a tour, and it deposits you in Greve's attractive triangular main piazza, surrounded by wine shops and cafés.
The most popular way: an organised wine tour
Given the difficulty of reaching individual vineyards by public transport, the majority of visitors see Chianti on an organised half-day or full-day tour from Florence, typically by minibus, that includes stops at two or three wine estates, tastings, and often lunch, with a guide explaining the region's Sangiovese-based wines and the Chianti Classico designation along the way. These need booking in advance, particularly for well-regarded estates, and are genuinely the most practical option for anyone who wants to actually taste wine at working vineyards rather than just visit a town.
Driving
Greve in Chianti is about 30 km from Florence, roughly a 45-minute drive along the SR222, a scenic route that winds through vineyards and past small stone villages — one of the classic Tuscan drives in its own right. Driving is by far the most flexible way to explore Chianti properly, stopping at individual wine estates, hilltop villages such as Panzano or Castellina in Chianti, and viewpoints along the way at your own pace. As ever with wine regions, plan for a non-drinking driver, or limit tastings to small pours if you're behind the wheel. See our guide to driving in Italy for ZTL restrictions and Italian road rules, which matter more here than on a motorway-only trip since Chianti's villages have their own local restrictions.
Combining Chianti with Siena
Chianti sits roughly between Florence and Siena, and travellers heading onward to Siena by road can reasonably build in a stop in Chianti along the way, either driving the SR222 themselves or joining a tour that combines the wine region with a Siena visit. This is a sensible way to see both without a dedicated separate trip for each, though it makes for a long day if done independently by public transport given the limited bus connections onward from Greve.
What to see and do
Greve in Chianti's central piazza, lined with porticoes and wine merchants, is a good base for tasting without leaving town, and its Saturday market is worth timing a visit around if possible. Panzano, a hilltop village a short drive or taxi ride further south, is known for its butchers as much as its wine and has sweeping views over the vineyards. Individual wine estates throughout the region offer tours and tastings, generally requiring advance booking, ranging from grand historic villas to small family producers — a car or a tour is effectively required to visit these directly.
A realistic day plan
- Morning bus 365 (or drive) to Greve in Chianti.
- Explore the piazza, taste at a wine shop or two, browse the market if it's a Saturday.
- Lunch in Greve, or a short taxi to Panzano for a change of scene.
- Return by the afternoon bus, or continue independently by car to further villages.
Booking and tickets
Bus tickets for the regional network can generally be bought at Florence's main bus terminals or via a regional transport app, and it's worth confirming current timetables shortly before travelling since rural bus frequency can change seasonally. Wine tours should be booked online in advance, especially in high season, since minibus tours to popular estates have limited capacity. If you're arriving in Florence from the airport first, see our guide to Florence public transport for getting into the city centre.
Which should you choose?
A wine tour is the best option for most visitors, since it's genuinely the most practical way to visit actual vineyards and taste at working estates without a car. Bus 365 to Greve suits budget travellers happy to focus on a single town and its surroundings rather than a multi-estate itinerary. Driving gives the most flexibility of all, particularly for combining Chianti with a wider Tuscan road trip. For nearby Tuscan destinations with simpler train logistics, see our guides to Florence to Pisa and Florence to Bologna, and for Italy's rail network more broadly, see Italy by train.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a train from Florence to Chianti?
No — there's no rail line through the Chianti region. Public transport options are limited to a regional bus (route 365) to Greve in Chianti; most visitors use a car or an organised wine tour instead.
How do I visit Chianti without a car?
Bus 365 reaches Greve in Chianti in about an hour, or you can join an organised wine tour from Florence, which is the more practical option for actually visiting vineyards.
How far is Chianti from Florence?
Greve in Chianti, the region's main town, is about 30 km from Florence, roughly a 45-minute drive along the scenic SR222 road.
Can I visit Chianti and Siena in one day?
Yes, by car or on a combined tour, since Chianti sits roughly on the road between the two — it's a long day by public transport alone given limited bus connections.
Sources and further reading:
- Regional bus information: local Tuscan transport authority.
- Route context: The Man in Seat 61.