Slow Travel in Tuscany: The Villages, Vineyards & Vistas

If there’s ever been a place that practically begs you to take your time, it’s Tuscany. This isn’t a region to rush through with a checklist—it’s one to sip, stroll, and savor. Slow travel in Tuscany means swapping tight itineraries for long lunches, quiet villages, and golden-hour drives through rolling hills. Whether you're there for the wine, the architecture, or just the peace and quiet, here’s how to truly soak up Tuscany’s charm.

1. Start Small: Embrace the Hilltop Villages
Skip the crowds of Florence (just for a bit) and dive into the lesser-known gems. Villages like Pienza, Monteriggioni, and San Quirico d’Orcia are small enough to explore on foot but packed with character. Think cobbled lanes, flower-filled balconies, sleepy piazzas, and local bakeries that still ring a bell when you enter.

2. Let the Vineyards Set Your Pace
Tuscany is wine country royalty, but slow travel means sipping, not sampling. Visit family-run vineyards in Chianti or Montalcino, where tastings are intimate, and you’re just as likely to meet the winemaker as the sommelier. Stay for lunch, take the tour, ask questions. This is wine with a story—and plenty of views.

3. Drive the Val d’Orcia (Slowly)
If Tuscany had a movie set, it would be Val d’Orcia. Rolling green hills, cypress-lined roads, and golden light that feels almost unreal. Drive slowly, stop often. Take that photo. Visit tiny towns like Castiglione d'Orcia or Bagno Vignoni, and don’t be surprised if time just… stretches.

4. Eat Like You Live There
Slow travel means slow food. Skip the rushed tourist menus and find the local trattoria where nonna is still in the kitchen. Order the pici pasta, the wild boar ragù, the seasonal vegetables. Linger over wine. Say yes to dessert. This is how the Tuscans do it—and it’s worth every minute.