So you’ve booked your dream vacation to Italy and chosen Florence as your home base – good call. You can spend forever day tripping around the Tuscan countryside.

Within a short train, bus, car, bike, or moped ride are destinations that combine food, wine, culture, history and insane natural landscape beauty.  Here are the top five places to visit and the best way to plan on getting there:

1. San Gimignano: a Tuscan hill town with incredible views of the countryside.  Can be over-run with tourists, but go during the offseason, but a bottle of Vernaccia and take in an afternoon in one of the cozy piazzas.  Accessible by bus or an easy drive from Florence.

2. Siena: home of the world famous Palio horse race, the longtime rival of Florence is also one of those places to go to just relax and take in the architecture, art, and piazzas.  Get there from Florence by train.

3. Fiesole: this Roman camp in the hills above Florence provides amazing views of the city and the Arno River Valley. Look for trails that lead out of town and take a short hikes into the forests for more views. Ride the short bus from Santa Maria Novella.

4. Radda in Chianti: quintessentially quaint and Italian.  Slightly off the beaten tourist path, you’ll find the pace of life is a little slower here.  Rent a car and slowly drive through the countryside on your way to Radda.

5. Greve is another one those places that you might stumble upon on your way to somewhere you’d see in one of the glossy magazines.  Stop, and take some time hike around the hills outside of town for some gorgeous panaroma views.  Rent a moped in Florence, and stay off the autostrada.