Chianti & San Gimignano Tour from Lucca: Small Group, Guide

San Gimignano's towers still rise above the rooftops after centuries.

A private day tour from Lucca to Chianti countryside and San Gimignano for up to seven travelers, led by an English-speaking driver-guide in a Mercedes minivan with hotel pickup and drop-off included. The tour runs nine hours and covers vine-clad hills, a terracotta workshop or war memorial, a Chianti winery, and the UNESCO hilltop town famous for its medieval towers and white Vernaccia wine. Wine tastings and lunch are arranged separately.

Step-by-step itinerary

Chianti countryside and San Gimignano tour

• Travel from Lucca to Chianti countryside
• Stop at American War Memorial or terracotta workshop
• Visit Chianti producer for cellar tour and wine tasting
• Explore San Gimignano World Heritage site
• Visit Gelateria di Piazza for award-winning gelato

The experience

How do you get the real Tuscany without spending the day on a bus with forty other people? This tour leaves Lucca with a small group, no more than seven, and a single English-speaking guide who drives the minivan itself, so the commentary never stops and you're not herded through a script. The route cuts through gently rolling countryside of vine-clad hills and olive groves, stopping first at either the American War Memorial or a working terracotta workshop where craftsmen shape enormous clay pots by hand. That's the kind of detail most tours skip.

The second stop is a Chianti producer for a cellar tour and wine tasting. This costs extra and you arrange it at checkout, but it's the reason many people book this route instead of a generic Tuscany loop. From there the afternoon settles into San Gimignano, a UNESCO World Heritage site that once had 72 towers rising from its rooftops as symbols of wealth and power. Fourteen remain, and they're still the most striking skyline in the region. The town is also known for white Vernaccia wine and saffron that was cultivated here in the Middle Ages. If you want to know where to find the best gelato (Sergio Dondoli's award-winning shop in Piazza, with a Vernaccia wine sorbet), your guide will know it.

The minivan is air-conditioned and has WiFi on board. Pickup happens directly from your Lucca hotel, apartment, B&B, farmhouse or villa, and the same driver brings you back at the end of the nine-hour day. Bottled water is included. Lunch and wine tastings are not, so you'll budget for those separately and have the flexibility to eat where and when the group wants to stop.

What’s included

• Private transportation in a Mercedes minivan.
• hotel, apartment, B&B, farmhouse or villa pickup and drop-off in Lucca.
• English-speaking driver-guide for the full day.
• bottled water on board.
• WiFi on the minivan.
• air-conditioned vehicle.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and Italian

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 43 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyInfant seats availablePets welcome

Operated by Luccalimo

Is this one for you?The English-speaking guide is the same person driving the minivan, so if you're comfortable following commentary in English, you get the full narrative of the countryside and the towns without the distance of a separate tour leader. Groups stay under eight, so the pace stays leisurely and the van can navigate the narrow streets of San Gimignano without the constraints of a larger coach.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Italian.

What's the difference between this tour and a shared group tour of Chianti?

This is a private tour for up to seven people with one English-speaking driver-guide, not a large coach with a separate driver and guide. The same person narrates the entire route and can adjust the pace and stops to suit your group's interests.

Does the wine tasting at the Chianti producer cost extra?

Yes, the cellar tour and wine tasting are arranged separately at checkout and paid in addition to the tour price. This lets you decide whether to include it or skip it depending on your budget and preferences.

What is San Gimignano and why does it matter?

San Gimignano is a UNESCO World Heritage hilltop town in Tuscany famous for its medieval towers: 14 of them still stand after centuries, rising above the rooftops and forming an unforgettable skyline. The town is also renowned for white Vernaccia wine and saffron that was cultivated there in the Middle Ages.

Can I see a working pottery workshop, or is it always the war memorial?

The first stop is either the American War Memorial or a terracotta workshop where craftsmen work with clay. Your guide will choose based on the day's schedule and your group's interests, or you can request a preference when you book.

Does the tour include lunch?

Lunch is not included in the tour price, so you'll have the freedom to choose where and what to eat during the afternoon in San Gimignano. Your guide can recommend restaurants and help you find a table.

What time does pickup happen, and how long is the full day?

The tour runs nine hours total from pickup at your Lucca accommodation. The exact pickup time is arranged when you book, and the same driver brings you back to your hotel at the end of the day.