Chianti starts almost at Florence’s doorstep. Here’s how to actually get there if you’re not renting a car.
Closer than most people expect. The Chianti hills basically begin at Florence’s southern edge — San Casciano Val di Pesa is about 20 minutes away by car, Greve in Chianti around 40. None of the estates on our map sit on a train line, though, so “without a car” really means choosing between two realistic options.
The most reliable no-car option. Organized minibus day tours leave central Florence regularly, usually visiting two or three estates with tastings included. Book directly through a winery’s own tour desk when one exists, or a reputable local operator — and confirm exactly which estates are on that day’s itinerary before you pay, since operators rotate partners by season.
More flexible and more expensive, but it lets you pick exactly which estates from our map to see instead of following a fixed tour route. Splits reasonably well across two to four people. Agree the stops and return time with the driver before you set off.
Marchesi Antinori’s estate in San Casciano Val di Pesa is the most tour-friendly on our map, with a large modern visitor center built for groups — tastings still require a booking. Castello Nipozzano, the Frescobaldi family’s thousand-year-old castle in Chianti Rùfina, is only about 20 minutes east of the city and offers private-cellar tastings by appointment, with four rooms if you want to stay. Castello di Ama, in Gaiole in Chianti, sits at the premium end of our price scale with hours that vary by season. Ricasoli’s Castello di Brolio, where the Chianti “recipe” was written in 1872, opens its castle grounds daily from March to December — cellar tastings need a reservation. Panizzi, in the medieval town of San Gimignano, pairs a tasting with a walkable, tower-lined historic center.
Planning a full day with your own car instead? See our Chianti day-trip itinerary.