Should I spend 3, 4, or 5 days in Volterra?
Should you spend 3, 4, or 5 days in Volterra?
Most visitors spend one to two days in Volterra when visiting. The historic town offers so many things to see and explore, so you'll want to take full advantage of the limited time you have. Highlights include the historic old town, the food, the museums and landmarks, and the small town charm.
Volterra is a charming hilltop town that has a huge number of historic sights packed into a small and quaint area. It's not as popular with tourists as you might expect, so you can enjoy the atmosphere without the typical crowds. The city is walled and has many great buildings and museums.
Do you have 3, 4, or 5 days to visit Volterra? Here's our comprehensive breakdown of how much time you might need for your trip along with some suggestions for things to do.
Is 3 days enough time in Volterra?
Three days is more than sufficient for an in-depth trip to Volterra, giving you the freedom to set your own pace. Browse around the old town, taste delicious cuisine, browse through museums, and soak up the small town charm on your own schedule. Then, unwind at your hotel or use Volterra as a hub for some nice day trips in the surrounding area.
How to spend 3 days in Volterra
The charming atmosphere and history of the old town area is worth exploring, so spend the day learning about the history and culture of the area. The walled town is perched on a hilltop and dates back to the 8th century BC. Visitors come specifically to explore its winding streets and stunning setting.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Private Tour: San Gimignano Walking Tour ($209)
The culinary scene in Volterra is world famous, and draws visitors from around the globe. Make sure you spend time enjoying breakfast, lunch, and dinner at some of this town's best restaurants. And consider a food tour, too. Many are either a half day or just a few hours, so you can fit one into your schedule easily. The town is surrounded by the region of truffles, so you'll find this item included in all kinds of recipes. Pumpkin sauce is also a specialty of the area and there are also many local cheeses. Many restaurants also have bruschetta as an appetizer.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Wine and food tasting in an organic family winery ($88)
- Tuscan Cooking Class ($126)
- Private Wine & Evo Oil Tasting with Tuscan Meal ($69)
Volterra is a walkable city and easy to explore on foot. With only a day in the town, you'll have no trouble seeing the local sights. Most people explore the town on foot.
A number of fantastic museums and famous landmarks are found in Volterra, so spend at least one full day exploring those that look the most appealing to you. For such a large town there are a huge number of historic sights packed into a small area. Check out the Roman Theater, the Etruscan Museum, and the Duomo.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Chianti and Castle Small Group Tour from San Gimignano ($93)
- Charms from San Gimignano: Chianti and Castles ($93)
Volterra is known to be such a beautiful destination, so just exploring and taking it all in should be one of the top things to do on your list. The quaint town setting with wandering streets and beautiful buildings make this a highlight of any trip to Italy.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Private Tour: San Gimignano Walking Tour ($209)
- Outdoor lunch in the garden ($159)
The small-town atmosphere of Volterra is one of the main reasons that visitors come here. Spend at least part of your day exploring the town to see the many sights and attractions. It's a smaller town with medieval walls and winding alleys. While its definitely not short on tourists, it isn't as popular as many other Italian cities.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Private Tour: San Gimignano Walking Tour ($209)
There are plenty of restaurants you haven't tried yet, so don't miss another amazing meal at local places for lunch and dinner. Try to go out of your way to find the small, locally owned places that offer the charm and ambiance that can only be found in Volterra.
Is 4 days enough time in Volterra?
Four days is more than enough time to see everything that Volterra has to offer. Many visitors prefer to spend one to two days here, so you'll be able to take in all of the historic old town, the food, the museums and landmarks, and the small town charm at your own pace. We have a few suggestions of things to do while you're visiting, and then you can take a day trip if you're looking to explore further around the area.
Old Town Volterra
How to spend 4 days in Volterra
If you have more than 4 days in Volterra, you'll appreciate the added time for everything the town has to offer.
Perhaps the most famous spot in Volterra is the Roman Theater, so make sure you set aside some time to check it out. It might not be at the top of your list, but it's worth experiencing during your trip.
There are plenty of restaurants you haven't tried yet, so don't miss another amazing meal at local places for lunch and dinner. Try to go out of your way to find the small, locally owned places that offer the charm and ambiance that can only be found in Volterra.
Is 5 days enough time in Volterra?
Five days is more than enough time to see pretty much everything in Volterra. You can move at your own pace and relax in your hotel. You could also use Volterra as a base for exploring the nearby destinations. You'll find some great day trips in the region.
How to spend 5 days in Volterra
Having 5 days in Volterra will provide you with more time to take in the best activities in the town.
Shopping in Volterra is very popular, and it's easy to see why. Spend time exploring the many shops and boutiques to find the perfect gift, souvenir, or outfit. Some of the streets are lined with boutique shops and one of the most popular things to buy in town is Alabaster. You'll also find plenty of Italian wine from the nearby vineyards.
There are plenty of restaurants you haven't tried yet, so don't miss another amazing meal at local places for lunch and dinner. Try to go out of your way to find the small, locally owned places that offer the charm and ambiance that can only be found in Volterra.
More Info
If you're looking for more information about Volterra, we have even more advice to help you plan your journey.
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