Home > Siena > Small-Group Montepulciano and Pienza Day Trip from Siena
USD $161.00
Small-Group Montepulciano and Pienza Day Trip from Siena
Siena, Italy
Experience the heart of Tuscany on this guided small-group tour day trip to the charming towns of Pienza and Montepulciano. Travel through the beautiful clay hills south of Siena and take in the idyllic UNESCO-listed landscapes of Tuscany's charming Val d’Orcia region. Explore the beautiful towns, enjoy lunch and taste Pecorino cheese on a local farm!
Numbers are limited to eight people on this small-group tour, ensuring you'll receive personalized attention from your guide.
Meet your friendly guide in central Siena and head out of town in a comfortable minivan on one of Tuscany's panoramic roads, passing through the characteristic clay hills known as the Crete Senesi. Arrive first in the beautiful town of Pienza, which was entirely planned out by Pope Pius II, the humanist pope, to be the ideal Renaissance town.
Pienza is rightly considered the gem of the Val d’Orcia region; the town and the entire Val d’Orcia are World Heritage Sites. You'll have time to spend at leisure here, so make the most of it by shopping or exploring the pretty alleyways of this small town at your leisure. As you leave Pienza, enjoy the fantastic views of Tuscany’s famous picture-perfect scenery.
Your next stop is a local dairy farm, where you’ll feast on a wholesome and refreshing lunch (included) of fresh ingredients mostly produced on the farm. You’ll also enjoy a tasting of Italy’s salty Pecorino cheese, hear about the cheese-making process, visit the farm’s animals and learn about the lifestyle of the area.
In the afternoon, travel to Montepulciano, one of Tuscany’s biggest hill towns, located on a steep hill overlooking the amazing landscape of the Tuscany-Umbria border. With your guide, take a short walk around town to see the Piazza Grande at the top of the hill. You’ll then have free time to visit the town’s many stores, palaces or churches. On request, visit a winery to enjoy a tasting of Montepulciano’s renowned wine and tour the wine cellars before your relaxing ride back to Siena.
The trip was amazing! Pienza is a beautiful town! Our tour guide Elena was excellent, so knowledgeable and so nice. The lunch destination was almost heaven! Delicious food and the best views in all of Tuscany! I highly recommend this tour you will not be disappointed!
Review by: Tat A, January 2018
A combination of sightseeing and wine tasting. Loved it.
Review by: Angela L, December 2017
Beautiful views, delightful lunch, good guide. A small van tour is much p
Review by: Dabay, October 2017
Wow - if I could give more stars, I would! This was definitely the highlight of our trip to Italy across Rome, Venice, Florence, and Siena. Corrado was an amazing guide, and took us through the rolling countryside of southern Tuscany, to small towns I'd only dreamed of. The views were breathtaking, and the farm lunch was so perfectly quaint and yet awe-inspiring the views were unreal! Visiting Pienza and Montepulciano was my dream come true, and I wish I could have spent more time in both beautiful towns. I can honestly say this was one of the top 5 days in my life - it was a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and the tour company took all of the guesswork out of the equation so we could truly relax and enjoy. I cannot recommend this tour enough.
Review by: Vickie C, October 2017
What a fantastic day. Would highly recommend as the small group makes it so nice and personal. We had a great day seeing all the beautiful scenery and a WONDERFUL farm to table lunch in a fantastic spot. Nice to have a bit of free time to shop and walk Pienza as well.
Review by: bills, October 2017
Beautiful tour and very friendly guide. 2 very special places you must see and the countryside drive is very pleasant.
Review by: GLENN M, October 2017
Fantastic tour, would do it again! ALSO, STIBBERT MUSEUM IS THE QUIETEST PLACE IN FLORENCE WITH A TRULY OUTSTANDING AND ENORMOUS ARMS AND ARMOUR COLLECTION.
Review by: Cynthia J, July 2017
We had a wonderful guide - Elena - who was fun, friendly, considerate and very knowledgeable. She was an excellent driver. But we did feel that this tour was over priced. The midday farm meal was not generous and we had to wait for a long time to be served at each course. By comparison with other tables, our portions were smaller, including the wine. We assume that this was down to the sum paid by the company to the restaurant. Bear in mind, too, that although the guide gives you the history of both towns, it is not a guided tour as such and you are left on your own to explore. It would have been better value for money if the 2 towns were guided and then some time left free in each. There is, however, a very short guided tour of a Wine Cellar in Montepulciano and the option to taste. We were lucky enough to be the only people on this small-group tour but it would have been even less value for money if the group had been full. As I said, this is not a reflection on Elena because she was one of the best guides we have ever had.
Review by: Shiree R, May 2017
Elena was such a great tour guide. Our pickup was easy, the tour was informative and very interesting in all 3 locations. We stopped in an enchanting small village on the way to Pienza, it was gorgeous. There was enough time to walk about on our own in both Pienza and Montepulciano. The farm to table restaurant we had lunch at was absolutely stunning. I thoroughly recommend this tour to anyone.
Review by: courtneyb1981, April 2017
Loved this tour, our tour guide Elena was awesome, She was fun, knowledgeable and helpful. We loved the tour of the Tuscan countryside, what gorgeous, picturesque landscapes. We really enjoyed the town of Pienza, the whole town smells of cheese!!! In a good way : After Pienza, we went to an organic farm that made everything we ate and drank, it was delicious! We then went to Montelpulciano for a wine cave tour and a wine tasting. The wine was fantastic, so happy we ordered some!_br/_ the whole day was lovely!
Review by: Ruth F, April 2017
Elena was well-informed, enthusiastic and ensured we had a good time. The food/drink was excellent and the views beautiful. We had a wonderful day.
Review by: Stephen K, March 2017
Thought the owner/driver who picked us up and took us around was excellent...he was interesting, spoke perfect colloquial English and was ultra-knowledgable, which is refreshing and was well-received by my wife and myself. The tour highlights the two areas, Pienza and Montepulciano, with an amazing, organic lunch on the way and lots of knowledge to soak in. No fluff, all fun. Just right
Review by: Larry K, March 2017
My husband and I went on this tour on a rainy day last week. Despite the weather, the scenery was beautiful, towns were enchanting and lunch was spectacular. Milo was a great tour guide, giving us interesting information and pointing out fantastic sights.The family who provided us with a delicious, organic lunch were lovely and very warm and welcoming.
Review by: Jillian W, March 2017
A beautiful day in the Tuscan countryside, exploring fascinating villages, walking the cobbled streets. We were well looked after by our guide and our transport was very comfortable. Our day was foggy to start, but the scenery along the way was quite beautiful. Our lunch at a local farm was delicious, all made from food produced on the property. Plenty of free time to visit the local shops, all decorated ready for Christmas. Highly recommended!
Review by: Lisa O, January 2017
Elena was a fantastic tour guide. Fortunately, my boyfriend and I were the only people on the tour that day so we got a lot of undivided attention. We definitely felt like we'd gotten the special treatment! _br/_ Elena met us, on time, at our designated pick-up spot and quickly whisked us off toward Pienza. We stopped at a little village along the way for a cup of coffee she refused to let us pay and a bit of sightseeing. From there we headed to a farm for lunch one of our favorite locations/experiences of our entire two weeks in Italy and then into Pienza proper. What a beautiful town! Elena walked us through the town, giving us great historic information, and then allowed us to wander leisurely for the rest of our time there. _br/_ On our way to Montepulciano, Elena was kind enough to pull over, allowing me to capture some of the breathtaking landscape with my camera. Once we arrived in Montepulciano she again walked with us to give us historical insight, but then gave us time to take in the town at our own pace._br/_ Upon our return to Siena she was kind enough to drop us off closer to our apartment rather than the designated drop off point which was so appreciated after a long day of touring._br/_ Do not miss these two towns when you're in Tuscany - and this Viator tour was the perfect way for us to experience them! We never felt rushed and we probably wouldn't have seen half of the wonderful sights we were shown had we driven there on our own.
Review by: Judy G, January 2017
This is my second attempt to post a review. My husband and I are still raving about our wonderful tour with Sylvia in October. It was a fabulous day and one of the highlights of our entire trip. The tour was perfectly timed, beginning with a coffee stop in charming little Chiusure, anchored by an unforgettable meal at the biodynamic farm, and finishing just as the rain began in Montepulciano. Sylvia was a delightful host and the tour exceeded our expectations.
Review by: erichard, December 2016
My favorite trip in Italy. The towns of Montepulciano and Pienza were charming. And the farm/restaurant was amazing -- some of the best food we had in all of Italy. Very enjoyable trip.
Review by: John K, November 2016
We met our friendly guide in Siena as well as the other 5 _br/_ Travelers. We spent a wonderful day exploring _br/_ Southern Tuscany. Each stop was unique and_br/_ An opportunity to meet local residents and experience _br/_ The ambience of the area. The lunch under the Tuscan sun was_br/_ Delicious and congenial! We loved this our first full day in_br/_ Tuscany!
Review by: David D J, October 2016
An excellent tour led by a guide Elena? who was personable, knowledgeable, energetic, and passionate about the places she took us. The areas we visited were beautiful and interesting, and the tour was easily the best among the ones we took during our three weeks in Italy. Loved the fact that the tour was small, too, and we had a chance to interact with the guide, who seemed happy to answer every question she was asked.
Review by: Brian C, October 2016
Fabulous! We enjoyed the size of the small group tour 7 and give Mary kudos for a job well done. Lunch was amazing! We even visited a tourist-free village!! Had lots of fun and would definitely recommend this trip. The views were breath-taking. Sadly, have tried to post photos without success. JC
Review by: Karen S, September 2016
We had a wonderful day!_br/_ Mare was a delightful guide with lots of knowledge of the area.
Review by: Beverley B, September 2016
An excellent day with a very knowledgeable local guide. Lunch and cheese tasting was delicious. Wine tasting also good. Many opportunities for scenic pictures.
Review by: Marsha M, June 2016
We began this lovely day trip in Chiusure, a very tiny town with spectacular views, winding streets and picturesque houses. Pienza was a very interesting planned Renaissance town, with a fascinating history, which our wonderful guide shared with us in a most compelling way. She knew all the best places to stop so we could get great photos of the quintessential cypress trees and rolling Tuscan hills. We had a fabulous lunch at an agriturrismo farm and finished our day in Montepulciano, with time to explore the city and enjoy a wine tasting at a winery that had an Etruscan cave in the deepest cellar. Everything was just perfect.
Review by: andy, November 2015
This was a beautiful sunny day in November. We spent eight wonderful hours touring Tuscany, two beautiful hill towns and having a stunning lunch at a private residence over looking the Tuscan countryside, a scene out of a movie, and we were in it. Our tour guide was very friendly and informative. We were very lucky to be the only people on our tour off season and had plenty of time to explore on our own. I would highly recommend this tour.
Review by: bob_mich.bethke, October 2015
It was a lovely tour. We especially enjoyed the wine tasting experience, which was informative and entertaining.
Review by: Caroline S, September 2015
It was a very enjoyable tour, with a charming guide. Very interesting extra stops at an Alabaster craftsmen' studio and another small town that was very peaceful and quiet. Fabulous lunch at a farm with local vegetable dishes and wines. When I mixed up the pickup place, the team made sure I was ok. Highly recommended.
Review by: James C, September 2015
Sylvia as our tour hostess was totally awesome! This was the best deal of any tour we have hired in the past bar none. We saw a lot of the beautiful Tuscan country and towns. We had a meal to die for at an organic farm where everything was produced on the farm: wheat/flour/bread, red and white wine, various cheeses, and fresh vegetables. It will be well remembered and talked bout in our household. Thanks Viator!
Review by: Douglas P, September 2015
A beautiful tour on a gorgeous day in Tuscany. Our guide Sylvia was superb! She facilitated what evolved into a wonderful dynamic within our small group of tourists. Please compliment our guide.
Review by: Matthew M, September 2015
After traveling to Italy 14 times, I came across the most knowledgeable, gracious and thoughtful tour guide I have ever known. Bravo Viator!!
Review by: Jennifer N, July 2015
Was with a small group which was an advantage as we could ask many questions. Our guide was great. She was very informative about the region and in particular about the foods and wines of the area which was my main focus. The meal at the farm gave us a taste of the local Italian dishes. Was also able to buy some saffron and a couple of cookery books.
Review by: Lori H, July 2015
Beautiful cities. Too many flies at lunch. I suggest eating inside.
Review by: Lquatrevingt, June 2015
We had a wonderful time!
Review by: Viktoriya B, June 2015
Our guide Elena was amazing-warm, very knowledgable. We learned a lot about the history of the region and enjoyed beautiful sights.
Review by: ES, June 2015
Elena was an excellent and friendly guide. The towns and countryside were beautiful and lunch good cheese was excellent.
Review by: Hilary C, June 2015
Milo was an excellent, informative and entertaining guide, and the trip was a very good mix of drive through beautiful countryside, delightful hill towns and superb leisurely lunch at the organic farm, along with good wine. The wine tasting in Montepulciano was unexpected and very enjoyable.
Review by: beryl.roodt, May 2015
This was an excellent trip and Elena our Tour Guide was excellent. She was very fluent in English and went out of her way to make this an amazing, special tour!!! She was very well versed in all sorts of topics and she was able to answer our many and varied questions. I think the highlight of the day was the lunch in a fabulous restaurant where we ate Italian food and she showed us how to eat it the Italian way. Well done Elena!!!
Review by: Robert L, May 2015
If you are in Siena, you have to take this tour! The visit to the dairy farm was wonderful. Silvia, our tour guide, made the experience personal and unique.
Review by: jonesy, May 2015
Did this tour last year and enjoyed it so much came back for more_br/_
An absolute must to see the best of the Tuscan hill towns and enjoy an excellent lunch with all produce coming from their own farm_br/_
Elena was both helpful and knowledgable
Review by: rgiboney, May 2015
Lot's of fun and informative!
Review by: Sidney J, November 2014
We found our trip extremely worthwhile. Milo was knowledgeable, pleasant, and we learnt a lot regarding Montepulciano, Pienza and Italy in general. He knew his subject well and had a fun way of imparting this. Would recommend this trip to everyone._br/_
S. and J. Jacobsohn
Review by: mel, October 2014
This was so much fun! I absolutely loved Pienza. Montepulciano is pretty nice but Pienza was the real highlight for me. The farm restaurant that we had lunch at was fantastic. We had some really delicious food - and lots of it too! Our guide was Daniel and he was very friendly and knowledgeable.
Review by: jw, October 2014
Susanna and Leonardo were great guides on this day long Tuscany tour. The small farm we visited for lunch was idyllic and beautiful. The stops at the various places were fairly short...but that is nature of trying to fit so much into one day. We had a great time!
Review by: Ironhead, October 2014
This tour is totally worth it, while you travel along the contry side of Tuscany...under a sunny weather...and the highlight of this tour is a relaxing tour in one of the organic farm ...to stay in Pienza is only 30 minute..although Pienza is such a small town...I heard a lot of people wished they could spend more time there
Review by: Jobella M, October 2014
It was wonderful. Susanna the guide was fun friendly and informative.It was hard to leave Siena.I will never forget it! Jobella
Review by: Wayne M, October 2014
This was an all day tour and with 6 people all up. Tour guide was very quiet and difficult to hear at times when travelling in bus. In general a good day but need to be more informative. At the stops we were left to do our own thing and left us with little understanding of the places.
Review by: Ann C, October 2014
Great tour: Outstanding Tuscan scenery, lovely light lunch with wine al fresco at a local farm, informative guide Daniel, pleasant wander through fascinating streets of picturesque Pienza and Montepulciano.
Review by: Debra Jane D, August 2014
what a great day out. Our Guide was very friendly, well informed and couldn't do enough for us. We ensured we were looked after, and knew exactly what we were doing and when. There was a situation on this trip (a guest was not picked up and arrived late, he and his family were very angry), however, the guide was great, she apologised, 'took' the flax and remained friendly, it was through her manner that the chap 'thawed' and was able to enjoy his day out.....he later apologised. The day out was fantastic exactly what we thought the Tuscany would be, we loved visiting the first small village it was just great.....
Review by: Catherine Y, July 2014
This tour was excellent and we highly recommend it. We wanted to experience the Tuscan countryside and we were able to see some delightful small villages with amazing views. The lunch at the hilltop farm under the grape vines was perfect. Also, our guide, Milo, was friendly, informative and amusing. We were fortunate indeed to have had such a fantastic tour.
Review by: Celeste J, June 2014
Visiting the heart of Tuscany was like a dream come true. Here the reality was even better than the dream. This tour was the highpoint of our trip to Siena -- even more enjoyable than the great food. Speaking of food, lunch at the Il Casale organic farm was outstanding. We are from northern California, so wine country treats are not foreign to us but this was over the top. Montepulciano and Pienza were just magical. We had just the right amount of time at each stop. Our guide, Corallo, was very knowledgable and pleasant to talk to. Everything went smoothly according to plan. We could not have been more pleased.
Review by: Rachel G, June 2014
Loved loved loved! Such an intimate experience of the rustic hill towns of Sienna/Tuscany with a fabulous guide who knows the area and people well. With Elena, we felt like we were experiencing Tuscany rather than just touring it. The lunch at the farm was amazing. I would do it all again!
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