The quickest way to learn how to get to San Gimignano from Florence is to know one fact first: San Gimignano has no train station. Your options are the bus via Poggibonsi (about 2 hours), a train to Poggibonsi plus a local bus (about 2 hours), or a car, which covers the roughly 56 km in under an hour.
Here is what each involves, and how to choose.
Is there a train to San Gimignano from Florence?
No, there is no train station in San Gimignano; the nearest is Poggibonsi, as Discover Tuscany points out. You take a train from Florence to Poggibonsi, sometimes with a change in Empoli, and then a local bus up to the town.
Door to door, Rome2Rio puts the train-plus-bus route at about 2 hours 8 minutes. Check the bus connection before you leave, because a missed bus can add a long wait in Poggibonsi.
How to go to San Gimignano from Florence by bus?
Take regional bus 131 from Florence to Poggibonsi, then change to bus 130 for San Gimignano. The combined journey takes about 1 hour 54 minutes, according to Rome2Rio.
Line 131 is the same Florence–Siena route that stops in Poggibonsi and Colle Val d’Elsa; Autolinee Toscane lists its stops and timetable here. Discover Tuscany notes that the 130 runs at least two buses an hour in the morning; check the afternoon times for your return before you set off.
How far is San Gimignano from Florence?
San Gimignano is about 56 km (35 miles) from Florence, roughly 53 minutes by car, per Rome2Rio. By public transport, the same trip takes about twice as long because of the change in Poggibonsi.
The drive follows the Florence–Siena road south and leaves it at Poggibonsi Nord, then climbs through vineyards to the town, as Discover Tuscany’s directions describe.
Which way to San Gimignano is best for you?
| Option | Journey time (one way) | Changes | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bus 131 + bus 130 | About 1 h 55 min | 1 (Poggibonsi) | Lowest cost |
| Train + bus 130 | About 2 h 10 min | 1–2 (Empoli, Poggibonsi) | Travellers near SMN station |
| Driving yourself | About 55 min, plus parking | None | Freedom to stop in Chianti |
| Private driver | About 55 min, hotel to town gate | None | Families, groups, combining towns |
Is a day trip to San Gimignano from Florence worth it?
Yes. At under an hour each way by car, San Gimignano leaves plenty of the day for the towers, lunch and a slow walk around the walls.
Where it gets interesting is combining it with somewhere else. By public transport that means another bus change; by car you can add Monteriggioni, Volterra or a winery on the same day.
Can you tour Siena and San Gimignano from Florence in one day?
Yes, and the two towns make a classic Tuscan pairing. With a car or driver you go straight from one town to the other; by bus you need separate connections through Poggibonsi, which leaves little time in either town.
Our private Siena, Monteriggioni, San Gimignano and Chianti tour does exactly this, and our Chianti, San Gimignano and Volterra wine tour swaps Siena for Volterra and the vineyards. Wine tastings and meals are not included in the tour price.
How do we book a private driver to San Gimignano?
Send us your date, hotel and group size through our booking form and we will reply with a quote. We pick you up at your Florence hotel and plan stops around what you want to see.
