Attending a Wedding in Tuscany: The Complete Guest Travel Guide

The invitation has arrived, and it's a good one — someone you love is getting married in Tuscany. Between the excitement and the immediate urge to start browsing linen suits, there's a practical reality: you need to get yourself to the Italian countryside, find somewhere to sleep, figure out what to wear, and navigate a culture whose approach to weddings is gloriously different from what you might be used to back home.

This guide covers all of it. Not the vague, recycled advice you'll find on most travel blogs, but the specific, tested knowledge that comes from years of helping couples plan weddings across Tuscany — and watching hundreds of guests make the journey. Whether you're flying in for the weekend or turning this into a proper Italian escape, consider this your briefing document.

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Getting to Tuscany

Tuscany is well connected by air, but your best route depends on where in the region the wedding is being held. The two main airports are Florence Airport (FLR), formally Amerigo Vespucci, and Pisa Airport (PSA), Galileo Galilei. They serve different purposes and different areas.

Florence Airport (FLR)

Small, efficient, and just fifteen minutes from Florence city centre by tram. Florence is the natural gateway if the wedding is in the Chianti hills, the Mugello valley, or anywhere in the northern half of the region. The airport handles mostly European routes — direct flights from London, Paris, Amsterdam, and several other major cities. It's compact enough that you can be in a taxi within twenty minutes of landing.

Pisa Airport (PSA)

Pisa is the larger of the two and handles a broader range of carriers, including more budget airlines. It's the better choice if the wedding is on the Tuscan coast, in the Maremma, or in the western hills around Volterra and San Gimignano. A direct train connects Pisa airport to Florence Centrale in about an hour, so it also works as a Florence gateway if the flight options suit you better.

Rome Fiumicino as an Alternative

Don't overlook Rome Fiumicino (FCO), especially if you're coming from further afield or want more flight options. Italy's main international hub has connections to virtually everywhere, and the high-speed Frecciarossa train from Roma Termini to Firenze Santa Maria Novella takes around two and a half hours. It's a comfortable, scenic ride — and if you time it right, it can be more convenient than a connecting flight through a European hub.

If you're already elsewhere in Italy, Trenitalia's high-speed network makes Florence accessible from Milan (1h40), Bologna (35 min), Rome (1h30), and Naples (3h). The trains are frequent, modern, and often cheaper than flying when booked in advance.

For a full breakdown of every route, carrier, and booking strategy, see our complete guide to getting to Italy.

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Where to Stay

Accommodation in Tuscany during wedding season — roughly May through October — books up fast, particularly near popular venue areas. The single most important piece of advice: book early. As soon as you RSVP, start looking.

Stay Near the Venue

This sounds obvious, but in Tuscany it matters more than usual. Many wedding venues are in the countryside, accessible via winding roads that are beautiful by day and poorly lit by night. Staying within a short drive — or better yet, within walking distance — means you can relax and enjoy the evening without worrying about the journey back. If the couple has suggested accommodation options, take them seriously.

Agriturismos: The Quintessential Tuscany Stay

An agriturismo is a working farm that offers guest accommodation, and they are everywhere in Tuscany. They range from rustic and simple to beautifully restored with pools, vineyards, and multi-course dinners using produce from the estate. Staying at an agriturismo is, for many visitors, the defining experience of Tuscany — waking up to olive groves, eating breakfast with honey from the property's bees, watching the light change over the hills in the evening. Expect to pay €80–150 per night for a good double room, sometimes including breakfast.

Boutique Hotels and Town Stays

If you prefer a bit more structure — a restaurant downstairs, a concierge, the ability to walk to a bar after dinner — Tuscany's hilltop towns are full of small, characterful hotels. These tend to run €150–300 per night depending on the town and season. For a luxury experience with full spa facilities and world-class dining, budget €300 and upward.

Where to Look by Wedding Area

• Chianti: Greve in Chianti, Radda in Chianti, Gaiole in Chianti, and Castellina in Chianti all have excellent options within easy reach of most Chianti venues.
• Val d'Orcia: Pienza, Montalcino, and Montepulciano are the classic bases — each a stunning town in its own right, with accommodation ranging from simple rooms above restaurants to converted Renaissance palazzos.
• Florence area: Fiesole and Settignano sit in the hills just above Florence, offering countryside calm with the city a short bus ride away. Ideal if the wedding is at one of the grand villas near the city.
• Maremma: Saturnia (famous for its thermal springs) and Scansano are good bases for weddings in Tuscany's wilder, less-touristed south.

Many wedding venues in Tuscany offer on-site accommodation — converted farmhouses, guest suites, or separate villas within the estate. This is often the best option if available, putting you right at the heart of the celebration. But these rooms fill quickly, so enquire the moment you receive the invitation.

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Getting Around Tuscany

Here's the honest truth: if the wedding is at a countryside venue — and most Tuscan weddings are — a rental car is by far the best option. Public transport in rural Tuscany is limited, and taxis aren't something you can hail on a country road at midnight.

Driving in Tuscany

Italian driving has a reputation, and some of it is earned. The autostrade (motorways) are straightforward, but once you leave them for the strade provinciali and strade comunali — the provincial and local roads that lead to most venues — things get more interesting. Expect narrow lanes, sharp bends, the occasional tractor, and minimal signage. None of this is dangerous, but it does require attention, especially at night.

A few practical notes: fill up your fuel tank before heading to remote areas, as petrol stations can be sparse and often close early. Many venue approach roads are unpaved — white gravel roads known as strade bianche — so keep that in mind if you're in a very low car. An automatic gearbox is worth the small premium if you're not used to driving a manual on hills.

For the Wedding Day Itself

Even if you have a rental car, consider booking a taxi or private transfer for the wedding itself. You'll want to drink freely, the evening will run late, and navigating unfamiliar country roads after a long celebration is nobody's idea of fun. Many venues can recommend local drivers, or the couple's wedding planner may organise group transport. Ask early.

Trains and Buses

Trenitalia connects Tuscany's major towns efficiently — Florence to Siena, Arezzo, Lucca, and Pisa are all straightforward journeys. But for the final stretch from a town to a countryside venue, you'll need a car or a taxi. If you're staying in a town and only need transport on the wedding day, a pre-booked private transfer is the simplest solution.

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What to Wear

Italian weddings tend to be more formal than their British or American equivalents. Guests make an effort — it's part of the culture, and part of the fun. The invitation may specify a dress code, but if it doesn't, err on the side of dressing up rather than down.

For Men

A lightweight suit is the standard. In summer, linen or a linen-cotton blend in lighter colours — mid-blue, light grey, beige, or stone — works well and handles the heat far better than a dark wool suit. A crisp shirt, open at the collar, is fine for most Tuscan weddings; bring a tie in case the venue or ceremony calls for one. Shorts are not appropriate, regardless of the temperature.

For Women

An elegant dress — midi or full-length — is the safest choice. Italian wedding guests tend toward sophistication: think structured fabrics, considered accessories, and proper shoes. Avoid white, cream, and anything that could be mistaken for bridal. Bright colours and prints are welcome and very much in the Italian spirit.

One essential: bring a wrap or light jacket for the evening. Tuscan summer days can hit 35°C, but once the sun drops behind the hills, the temperature falls quickly. By midnight, you'll be glad of that extra layer.

The Shoe Question

This is where Tuscany weddings trip people up — sometimes literally. Countryside venues mean gravel courtyards, stone terraces, grass lawns, and cobbled paths. Stilettos will sink, slip, or snap. Wedges and block heels are the practical choice. Some guests bring a dressier pair for the ceremony and switch to something more forgiving for the reception. There's no shame in it — Italians do the same.

Summer Heat

Tuscan summers are properly hot. Linen, cotton, and other breathable fabrics are your friends. If the ceremony is outdoors, a hat or fascinator serves double duty as both style and sun protection. Stay hydrated — the couple's bar team will thank you for pacing yourself through the aperitivo.

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Italian Wedding Etiquette and Customs

If you've mostly attended weddings in the UK, US, or Australia, an Italian wedding will feel familiar in its broad strokes but different in its rhythms and details. Here's what to expect.

The Meal

Italian wedding meals are long, lavish, and multi-course. A typical structure runs: aperitivo (drinks and canapes, often an elaborate spread in its own right), primo (pasta course), secondo (meat or fish), contorni (sides), and dolce (dessert, often alongside the wedding cake). The whole affair can last four hours or more, punctuated by conversation, toasts, and sometimes entertainment between courses. This is not a buffet you rush through. It's a meal you settle into.

Toasts and Speeches

Unlike the structured British format of best man, father of the bride, and groom, Italian weddings tend to have toasts throughout the meal — sometimes spontaneous, sometimes planned. Don't be surprised if multiple people stand up to say a few words. If you're asked to speak, keep it warm and sincere. Italians value heartfelt sentiment over rehearsed comedy.

Bomboniere

Bomboniere are traditional Italian wedding favours — small gifts given to each guest, often containing sugared almonds (confetti, confusingly). They're a lovely tradition and a keepsake to take home. Accept them graciously.

Gifts

Cash gifts are perfectly normal and often preferred at Italian weddings. A card with a monetary gift — typically in a sealed envelope presented to the couple or placed in a designated box — is the most common approach. If the couple has a gift registry, by all means use it, but don't feel awkward about giving cash. It's the tradition, not a shortcut.

Timing

Italian weddings run late. The ceremony might begin at 4pm or 5pm, the meal won't finish until 11pm, and dancing and drinks continue well past midnight. This is not an event you leave at 9pm. Plan accordingly — including your transport home and your energy levels. Pace yourself at the aperitivo, because there are many hours of eating and drinking ahead.

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Extending Your Trip

You're already in one of the most beautiful regions on earth. It would be a waste to fly home the morning after the wedding. Even two or three extra days will transform the trip from a wedding weekend into a proper Italian holiday. Here are the best ways to spend them.

Florence

If you haven't been, Florence is unmissable — and even if you have, it rewards every return visit. The Uffizi Gallery holds one of the world's great art collections (book tickets in advance; the queues are punishing). The Duomo and Brunelleschi's dome are staggering up close. Ponte Vecchio at golden hour is as romantic as the postcards suggest. Beyond the landmarks, Florence is a city for walking — through the Oltrarno neighbourhood's artisan workshops, along the river at dusk, up to Piazzale Michelangelo for the view. Two days gives you a solid taste; three lets you breathe.

Wine Country

Tuscany produces some of the world's most celebrated wines, and the estates where they're made are often as beautiful as the wine is good. In Chianti, the rolling vineyards between Florence and Siena are dotted with cellars offering tastings and tours — Antinori, Castello di Brolio, and Badia a Coltibuono among them. Further south, Montalcino is the home of Brunello, one of Italy's greatest reds, and the town itself — perched on a hill with views across the Val d'Orcia — is worth the visit regardless of your interest in wine.

Day Trips

Siena is arguably Tuscany's most beautiful city — its shell-shaped Piazza del Campo and Gothic cathedral are extraordinary. San Gimignano, with its medieval towers rising from the hilltop, looks like something from a painting (arrive early to beat the day-trip crowds). Cortona, made famous by Under the Tuscan Sun, is quieter and no less charming, with Etruscan walls and views across Lake Trasimeno to Umbria.

Thermal Baths

After a long wedding celebration, there's no better recovery than Tuscany's thermal waters. The Cascate del Mulino at Saturnia are free, open-air, and genuinely magical — natural hot springs cascading over travertine terraces. For something more curated, the Terme di Saturnia spa resort offers the full treatment. Bagno Vignoni, a tiny village in the Val d'Orcia whose central piazza is literally a thermal pool, is another wonderful option.

For more on what makes Tuscany such a special wedding destination, including the region's best areas and what draws couples here from around the world, explore our dedicated destination guide.

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Practical Tips

• Currency: Italy uses the euro. Cards are widely accepted in towns, but carry some cash for smaller establishments, tips, and rural areas where card machines can be temperamental.
• Tipping: Not expected in the way it is in the US. A service charge (coperto) is often included in restaurant bills. Rounding up or leaving a few euros for good service is appreciated but not obligatory.
• Water: Tap water is safe to drink throughout Tuscany. In restaurants, you'll typically be offered bottled — naturale (still) or frizzante (sparkling).
• Language: Most hospitality staff in Tuscany speak at least some English, and in tourist areas it's widely spoken. That said, learning a handful of Italian phrases goes a long way: buongiorno (good morning), grazie (thank you), per favore (please), il conto, per favore (the bill, please), and salute (cheers, used when toasting).
• Pharmacies: Look for the green cross. Italian pharmacies (farmacie) are well-stocked and pharmacists can advise on minor ailments. They keep a rotation system, so there's always one open nearby, even on Sundays.
• Emergency number: 112 works across Italy and all of Europe for police, fire, and medical emergencies.
• Sun protection: Tuscan sun in summer is strong. Factor 30 minimum, reapplied often — especially if the ceremony is outdoors. Sunburn and a wedding suit do not mix well.
• Mosquitoes: Countryside evenings can bring them out. Pack a small repellent, particularly if your accommodation is near gardens or water.

For more travel guides, tips on Italian destinations, and planning resources, visit our travel hub.

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A Note for the Couple

If you've landed on this page because you're planning a wedding in Tuscany — not just attending one — welcome. You're making a wonderful choice. Tuscany offers a depth of beauty, food, wine, and warmth that few places on earth can match, and your guests are in for an extraordinary experience.

We can help with the rest. Browse our curated collection of Tuscan wedding venues — from medieval castles and Renaissance villas to olive oil estates and converted monasteries. Read our complete guide to Tuscany's best wedding venues in 2026 for detailed recommendations. And if you'd like hands-on support with logistics, design, and everything in between, explore our wedding planning services.

However you celebrate, make it yours. Tuscany will do the rest.