Montecatini Terme day trip from Florence or Lucca or Pistoia
A day trip to Montecatini Terme from Florence, Lucca or Pistoia: a walk along Viale Verdi past the Liberty-style spa buildings, almond wafers at Cialde Bargilli and the old funicular up to Montecatini Alto for lunch on Piazza Giusti, then back down to Terme Tettuccio and the Parco delle Terme. Every stop has a typical visit length.
How long do you have?
Map: 1 days
Montecatini Terme in 1 day
Day 1
Viale Verdi (Liberty-style spa boulevard)
The spa town's grand avenue, lined with Liberty-style buildings, spa establishments, hotels and cafes, ideal for a slow morning stroll.
Cialde Bargilli
Historic shop making cialde, Montecatini's thin round wafers with almonds, sold fresh in tins; closed on Mondays.
Montecatini Funicular
Funicular opened in 1898, climbing from the spa town through olive groves to the old village of Montecatini Alto.
Montecatini Alto (Piazza Giusti)
Medieval hill village above the spa, whose square of cafes and restaurants looks out over the Valdinievole plain.
Terme Tettuccio and Parco delle Terme
The town's most famous spa, with colonnades, frescoed halls and mineral water fountains, set in the large park of the spas.
Watch: Montecatini Terme
A one-minute look at the plan: every stop, day by day, with the map.
Getting there
Montecatini Terme station is on the Florence–Lucca railway, about 50 minutes from Florence, 30 from Lucca and 15 from Pistoia; the spa district is a short walk from the station. By car, the Firenze–Mare motorway has an exit for the town.
Staying in Florence or Lucca or Pistoia? This day fits into those city plans, and in the Trip Builder it is one click under each of them.
When to go to Montecatini Terme
Spring and early autumn are the best seasons, mild for walking in the parks and with the funicular running. Summer is hot in the valley but cooler up in Montecatini Alto. In winter the funicular stops and many spa hotels are quieter.
Plan the rest of your trip
- Where to stay: hotels in Montecatini Terme on Booking.com or Trip.com
- Skip-the-line tickets: museums and sights in Montecatini Terme on Tiqets
- Tours and day trips: things to do in Montecatini Terme on GetYourGuide
- Data on arrival: an eSIM for Italy from Airalo
Some of these are affiliate links: we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Tips for Montecatini Terme
- The funicular to Montecatini Alto runs only in the warmer months; at other times go up by bus, taxi or a steep footpath.
- Montecatini is one of the UNESCO Great Spa Towns of Europe; the Tettuccio's halls can be visited and its mineral waters tasted.
- Buy the thin almond wafers called cialde fresh from the shop; they keep well and travel easily.
- Lunch in Montecatini Alto has the view over the Valdinievole; book a terrace table at weekends.
- Combine with Pistoia or Lucca on the same railway line, or with nearby Collodi and its Pinocchio park by car.
Make it your own
Open the guide in Andiamo Places to see every stop on a map with walking directions, move places between days, check opening hours for your dates, and add your own finds. After the trip, your photos become a journal and, if you like, a printed photo book.
Guides are made with the help of AI and public sources such as Wikipedia, and may contain errors. Opening hours and prices change, so check before you go. Spotted a wrong photo, a pin in the wrong place, a missing stop or a better one? Write to andiamotravelapp@gmail.com: the e-mail opens with this guide filled in.
Photo credits
- Montecatini Alto (Piazza Giusti): kajikawa, CC BY 3.0
- Montecatini Funicular: Pradigue, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Terme Tettuccio and Parco delle Terme: Francenanni, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Viale Verdi (Liberty-style spa boulevard): Lucarelli, CC BY-SA 3.0
Opening hours change; check before you go. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
