Visiting the beautiful medieval town of Montepulciano and looking for a fun hike? Then the trail to Montefollonico may be for you! Pass through countless vineyards and the rolling hills of Tuscany as a path connects these two beautiful villages. Below we share the best tips and photos of our morning hike from Montepulciano to Montefollonico Italy.
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Montepulciano to Montefollonico Hiking Trail
The first thing you should know is that the hike from Montepulciano to Montefollonico is not an actual trail! It’s more like a dirt road than the traditional hiking path you may be used to. That is until you reach the last section where you will climb through the forest on your way to Montefollonico Italy.
The entire path is 14.7 km (9.13 Miles) round trip but could be longer depending on where you start from in Montepulciano. Another thing to note about this hike is that it is very steep at times. Although the road is not tough to walk on, you’re essentially walking from one hilltop village through the beautiful valley that connects them.
Leaving Montepulciano & Amazing Views
On our way out of Montepulciano, we started walking onto a small dirt road that cut away from the village. The views along the entire Montepulciano hike to Montefollonico are stunning. It honestly feels like you’re walking through a live Tuscan fairy tale as you pass the dreamy villas and vineyards.
As you’re leaving Montepulciano, make sure to turn back for an epic view of town you may have not had yet. We loved getting the shots from both sides of the hike as they are unique in their own way.
Steep Path to Montefollonico
Once you cut through the vineyards you’ll see the small village of Montefollonico getting closer in the distance. Normally a 1.5 hour hike would be nothing, but the hot summer heat of July was definitely wearing us down!
Once you get close to Montefollonico you will reach a fork in the road. There is a small pathway that goes up into the forest that you can take instead of staying on the main road. This will save you some time, but beware as it is pretty steep!
Exploring Montefollonico Italy
At the top of the trail, you will reach the small hilltop town of Montefollonico Italy. It is made up of several colorful streets that spread out over the village. As one of the smaller towns in the region, it isn’t as popular as nearby Montepulciano and Pienza. However, the size doesn’t take away from its rustic beauty! The fortress-like walls will take you back in time in this quiet Tuscan village.
Once we made it to Montefollonico we were tired and certainly worked up an appetite. We ate the sandwiches that we packed made up of local bread and cheese from the market on a small bench near the Chiesa del Triano Chuch. It’s a beautiful spot to take a break or sit and enjoy your meal.
Since it’s small it won’t take you more than an hour to see all of Montefollonico. Before leaving town we stopped at Bar Sport which was the only place open. For a village that was so quiet, we were surprised that almost every table was full! It looked like a mix of locals as well as some cyclists and fellow hikers.
Normally we wouldn’t recommend having a beer halfway through the hike. Yet, they were ice cold, delicious, and just what we needed on a sizzling summer afternoon!
More Tips for the Montepulciano Hike to Montefollonico
Pack Water & Lunch: When we did the hike in the middle of summer there was only the one restaurant we mentioned above open. Luckily, they had water for us to buy in addition to our Peroni beers! If it had been closed we wouldn’t have been able to get any more water or food during the hike. Make sure to bring plenty with you just in case.
Start Early: Even hitting the trail first thing in the morning, we encountered the hot Tuscany heat of the summer. With lunch, viewpoints, and exploring Montefollonico Italy, we didn’t make it back to Montepulciano until past 2pm. If you are hiking in the warm months of July and August we recommend starting as early as possible.
One Way Montepulciano Hike: At the time of our visit, there wasn’t a public bus route between the two villages. The only option was a hop on hop off Tuscany bus that cost 12 Euros and stops at other beautiful towns. If you time it correctly it is possible to take the tourist bus back to Montepulciano after your hike. However, the hop on hop off bus is a lot of fun and you should save it for another day if you don’t mind hiking both ways.
Have any questions about the hike from Montepulciano to Montefollonico Italy? How about your own tips for this scenic Tuscany hike? Let us know in the comments below!
Safe Travels,
Brigitte & Jake
Where in the world are we? Follow our daily adventures on Instagram @nothingfamiliar!
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Where to Stay in Montepulciano Italy
Ultra Luxury – Palazzo Nobile di San Donato – Stay in a historical Renaissance building in the heart of Montepulciano. The beautiful suites include modern amenities with world-class art adorning the walls.
Bed & Breakfast – Il Tosco – This 15th-century property is just a short walk to the main square. Enjoy a delicious breakfast and private parking on site.
Bed & Breakfast – Meublé il Riccio – Have a traditional Italian experience along with some of the best views in town from your patio or balcony.
Guest House – Via Di Gracciano – Perfect location in the center of town with spacious rooms, and walking distance to all the Montepulciano wineries.
Studio Apartment – ManillaHouse – Apartments with full kitchens and living areas. A great alternative to hotels in Montepulciano if this is more your style.
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More Italy Tips
- Planning a Trip to Italy: 10 Step Easy Travel Guide
- 15 Fun Things to Do in Venice on Your First Visit
- Pienza Italy: How to See Tuscany’s Charming Renaissance City
- Bergamo Alta Guide: The Unique Old Town in Italy You Can’t Miss!
- Food Tour in Rome: Why You’ll Love Tasting Your Way Around Prati
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Italy Travel Planning
Flights: We always check Skyscanner and Kayak to search for cheap flights. That’s how we got from Rome to Venice for under $30 USD!
Accommodation: Compare multiple sites to get to the best deal such as Booking.com and Agoda! Also, Hostelworld should be your go-to source if you’re traveling on a budget.
Rental Car: We use Discover Cars to explore when traveling. Consider renting a car in one city and dropping it off in another for an epic Italian road trip!
Tours: Check out Get Your Guide for thousands of activities around the world. Book a Florence winery tour, Capri Boat trip or street food tour with a local guide in Rome!
Travel Insurance: Never travel abroad without protection! We’ve been using SafetyWing for the last few years on the road and they are there when we need them.
Packing Lists: Find all the inspiration you need with our Amazon packing lists. Including our electronics and camera gear, must-have medical items, and long flight essentials!
Hello, nice to hear about your walk to montefollonico. I will also take that hike in near future. Did you start from the churh san bagio? Where there signs which showed you the directions?
Hope to hear from you.
Best regards
Geir Aarskaug from norway
Author
Hi Geir! We hope you like the hike. We started from the opposite side of town because that was where our hotel was, however you can certainly start from Church San Bagio. Once you get onto Via delle Colombelle you will see signs. However, we followed the route using the offline map we downloaded with maps.me which was helpful when the signs were not clear. Enjoy Italy!