Essential information for Tuscany

When to go

Tuscany is a beautiful part of Italy that enjoys blazing hot summers and mild springtime weather, as well as autumnal sunshine. The months between late November and early March prove the coldest, with temperatures often dipping to around 5°C.

Most visitors opt for the warmer months to enjoy beach holidays in Tuscany, with both springtime and the autumn proving popular, when temperatures stay above 20°C. You should be aware that temperatures are frequently above 30°C across Tuscany between June and September, with the hottest days often occurring in August. Record highs can see the thermometer climb to a scorching 38°C at that time, so be prepared if you do opt for a summer break.

Health and safety

As with any holiday, you should take out comprehensive travel and medical insurance to cover yourself and family on your trip.

It’s also a good idea to apply for a free European Health Insurance Card – EHIC before leaving the UK as this entitles you to emergency medical treatment on the same terms as Italian nationals. It won’t, however, cover you for medical repatriation, ongoing medical treatment or non-urgent treatment.

If you’re visiting Italy specifically to take part in sports or watersports, including hiking, you should make sure your insurance covers this. See our holiday extras page for more information and for the latest health and safety information visit www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/italy/health.

Passports and visas

British citizens don’t need a visa to enter Tuscany or Italy as a whole, but must have a valid passport. By law, you must carry your passport with you and may need to show it when paying by credit card. For the most up-to-date passport and visa info, visit www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/italy/entry-requirements.

Getting around

Tuscany is a large region of central Italy and its road links are excellent. In less than 20 minutes you can depart from Florence International Airport to the city’s train station, which offers efficient services that can whisk you to Pisa, Siena or other areas in short order.

Taxis are readily available in most cities, as well as towns by the coast. There are also opportunities to hire bicycles, as well as the popular rental scooters that will let you whiz around like the locals.

Advice for travellers with children

Family values are big in Italy, and those traditions are even stronger in Tuscany. As such, it’s a hugely kid-friendly place and is ideal for families keen to enjoy package holidays to Italy, with plenty of history to appease curious young minds.

Activities are also in plentiful supply, with good examples being places like the Prehistoric Park of Peccioli, where dinosaurs tower over visitors, as well as of course the enticing beaches of the Tuscan coast.

Electricity

Connector type: European standard two-pin plug

Voltage Info: 220V

Emergency information

Call 112 for all emergencies and the operator will put you through to the police, fire brigade or ambulance service. The line is operated in five languages including English.

British Consulate

If you’re a victim of crime or affected by a crisis overseas, or if something happens to a relative or partner, contact the British Consulate in Milan. Please be aware that you might find information about a British Consulate in Tuscany or Naples online, but that information is outdated, because those offices closed in 2011 and 2012 respectively. The British Consulate General of Milan handles all consular activities for the Tuscany region nowadays.

Address: Via S. Paolo, 7, 20121, Milan

Phone (from within Italy): 02 723 001

Phone (from the UK): +39 02 723 001

Hospitals

Florence is the capital of the Tuscany region, and it’s here that the most advanced hospitals will be found during your stay. Ospedale Santa Maria Nuova in central Florence is a well equipped facility that is trusted by tourists as much as locals.

Ospedale Santa Maria Nuova

Address: Piazza di Santa Maria Nuova, 1, 50122 Firenze (Florence)

Phone: +39 055 69 381

Florence is also home to a walk-in centre specifically catering to tourists, complete with a full complement of English-speaking specialists.

Guardia Medica Turistica

Address: Vicolo Degli Adimari 1, Duomo Square, Firenze (Florence)

Phone: +39 055 212 221