An oasis of food and culture, Florence is one of the most magical places you could visit for a real taste of Italian living, where traditions run strong and customary activities have been carried down generations.
If you’ve done the galleries and all the Renaissance sightseeing you could imagine, why not opt for a day out in the countryside with the best truffle hunting tours from Florence?
As one of the top three countries where ‘tartufo’ (the Italian name for truffles) grows naturally, the pricey subterranean fungus has been foraged here for hundreds of years, dating back to the Etruscan and Roman times.
These prized tubers have always had an air of superiority about them; savored for grand banquets. Today, they’re still highly sought-after and are one of the most expensive ingredients in the world, and are considered one of the gems of the culinary industry.
Join an expert truffle hunter and man’s best friend, adventuring through the woodlands in Tuscany, where varieties of white and black truffles grow. Forage for your own tartufo, and then treat yourselves to an Italian lunch where truffles shine in every meal.
Add on wine tastings in Chianti’s rolling hills, or take home a new culinary skill … It’s undoubtedly one of the most unique things to do in Florence!
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Is a truffle hunting tour worth it?
Highly prized in the culinary world, ‘tartufo’ have grown naturally around parts of Tuscany since the Etruscans, and so you’re in a hotspot for a truffle hunting tour!
In fact, throughout the decades, Italia keeps clocking in the prize for the biggest white truffles to ever be unearthed!
If you’re a foodie, don’t think twice, but it’s also one of the most authentic things to do in Florence. You’ll notice a heavy truffle influence in and around Firenze, from truffle-infused olive oils to tapenades and spreads.
Get hands-on under the professional guidance of an expert “tartufaio” (Italian truffle hunter) and their truffle-hunting dog, gaining insider knowledge you wouldn’t elsewhere, not even from books or even documentaries.
From learning age-old foraging traditions passed down generations to kitchen secrets, you’re in for a serious treat! See firsthand where truffles typically grow, how to identify the different species from their exterior and clues on how to spot the underground growers.
Sample the fruits of your labor; some tours include a meal with your foraged treasures, or you can purchase your dug-out truffles instead.
What are the best truffle hunting tours from Florence?
From half-day ventures to a full-day excursion, there are truffle tours paired with wine tastings, others including a traditional lunch and expeditions slightly different from the rest.
Truffle hunting tour with lunch
Nestled beneath the soil of hazelnut, holm oak and pine trees, venture into the woods in either San Miniato or Montefiesole (tour dependent) for a half or full day of truffle-hunting excitement!
With an expert truffle hunter in charge and joined by his trusty truffle-sniffing companion, watch in amazement as your guide dog leads the path to the exact spot where truffles grow underground.
Then, the foraging action begins!
After the truffle-hunting is over (and your knowledge cup is overflowing with new information relative to the world of gourmet Tubers), head to a local farmhouse, winery or truffle shop and prepare for a feast!
Depending on your selected excursion, revel in a three-course meal, for example, where truffles are the star of the show. A typical menu comprises starters (like bruschetta laced with fresh truffles and butter), mains such as tagliolini al tartufo pasta and dessert — think classic Italian tiramisu!
Certain tours elevate the day with a gourmet lunch featuring all sorts of regional specialties and wine pairings.
Truffle hunting tour with wine tasting
Wine connoisseurs: Tuscany is one of the world’s top wine regions!
Corking the truffle hunting experience, opt for a day tour that includes time spent on wine tastings at the Tuscan wineries and exploring vineyards where rows of grape vines grow.
There are tours that choose to start the day at a local wine estate; others prefer to savor this part of the expedition after the truffle-hunting action.
Renowned for its roads with cordons of centuries-old wineries, cruise through the Chianti countryside, where processions of Cypress trees greet you and traditional age-old stone farmhouses have stood for decades.
As you meander around the wine farm, the winemakers educate guests on the wine-manufacturing process, and what goes into producing fine bottles of Super Tuscan and Chianti DOCG wines from grape to bottle.
(Certain tours are accompanied by an expert sommelier.)
Enjoy wine tastings inside ancient cellars, and most of these are matched with delicious food pairings. Specific truffle hunting tours set up lunch at these wine estates, featuring multi-courses of truffle-heavy dishes.
Useful to know: Many truffle-hunting adventures with wine tastings explore the parts around San Miniato close to Florence, while others journey a bit further through Val D’Orcia, and through to Montisi and Montalcino in the Siena province.
See also: Best Chianti wine tours from Florence
Truffle hunting with a cooking class
Combining the best of the Toscana countryside (food, wine and culture), up your culinary game with a foraging voyage coupled with a cooking class using truffles!
With professional, qualified chefs in charge of the kitchen, you’re in the best company for learning how to cook up a traditional Italian storm!
Set up in the Mugello Valley, the chefs await you while you take part in the truffle-hunting side of things with a truffle-hunting guide and dog.
Back at an organic farm, join the cooks and get ready for a short lesson on how to prepare truffles and use them in specific dishes — truffles are rich in both aroma and taste, and don’t necessarily pair with everything that mushrooms do. You’re shown how to clean, cut and cook the tubers or when to use them as shaved garnishings.
With theory aside, you’re guided through cooking a three-course meal featuring traditional Italian delights. Learn how to make three varieties of homemade pasta, knock up a main course (usually a meat-heavy dish) and a classic dessert from the area known as cantuccini (the name for biscotti in Tuscany).
P.S. Vegetarian cooking classes are available upon request.
See also: Best cooking classes in Florence
Where is the best place to hunt for truffles in Italy?
Did you know that Italy is one of the best (and oldest) places globally for finding truffles, and they grow in various parts of the country?
There are nine varieties of truffles that flourish in Italia, and the different kinds can be discovered in specific areas. There are loads of regions where truffles can be found, but certain destinations guarantee more of a chance of finding truffles during hunts.
Some of Italy’s most popular (and abundant) destinations to hunt for truffles include Piedmont, Tuscany, Abruzzo, Emilia Romagna, Umbria and Sicily. Each location is prized for a certain genesis of truffles, so you will find different types all over the country.
Honing in on Tuscany, popular spots for the best truffle hunting tours from Florence include San Miniato (one hour from Firenze, it’s part of the Pisa region), Crete Senesi, Valtiberina (technically part of Umbria, it borders Tuscany) and Mugello (right near Florence), but you can find them in Arezzo, Siena, Grosseto, Livorno, Lucca and Pistoia provinces too.
What time of year is best for truffle hunting?
The different species grow at different times of year in various areas of Italy, so it all depends on where you’re visiting and in what season.
- Moscato Truffle is harvested between January and March
- Bianchetto o Marzuolo Truffle is harvested between January and April
- Alba White Truffle (Tartufo Bianco) is harvested between September and December
- Burgundy Truffle (Tartufo Uncinato) is harvested between October and December
- Black Winter Truffle (Tartufo Nero Pregiato) is harvested between November and March
- Black Summer Truffle (Tartufo Nero Estivo o Scorzone) is harvested between May and August
Typically, the darker truffles thrive in the colder months, and the white truffles prosper during autumn. From around March to April (spring), you can find the Bianchetto truffle. From May to August is Scorzone season, and September is famed for the highly-prized Tartufo Bianco.
Based in Florence (the capital city of Tuscany), you’ve hit the jackpot, and throughout the year in Tuscany, various kinds become readily available for harvesting.
Popular varieties to find here are White Truffle (October to December), Black Truffle (growing from November to March), Marzuolo Truffle (growing from January to April) and Summer Black Scorzone Truffle (from May to August, and in some areas of Tuscany between June and November).
What should I wear for a truffle hunting tour?
A bulk of this countryside excursion happens inside woodlands, trekking damp grounds and rummaging around tree-laden pathways.
It’s best recommended to wear comfortable clothing and walking shoes, boots or trainers/sneakers, preferably no sliders or open sandals. With the chance of muddy terrain, keep your fancy clothes for another moment.
Long pants will save you later from mosquitos (especially in the hotter months) as well as scratches and itches from tall grass blades. A light rain jacket is also a must!
Depending on the season, dress warmly for the colder months, and if you’re here in summer, you might want to pack a light long sleeve (searching for truffles in a forest; the temperatures are naturally cooler thanks to shady trees). It’s still super fresh in the forest in the early mornings.
Can I customize my truffle hunting tour?
For the ultimate truffle-hunting experience exactly to your liking, customize your day with a private tour over small group endeavors.
Although you’re provided with a basic itinerary as a guideline, this comes with a bounty of extras, and you have more freedom to make amendments to your day.
For example, a private tour guarantees a hotel pick-up and drop-off, and if you need to reorganize your departure time, this usually isn’t a problem.
Travel comfortably in an air-conditioned vehicle, skipping large coach buses and getting to your destination faster.
If there’s a particular destination you’re keen on exploring en route, for example, a special winery, gourmet produce shop or tiny village, let your tour operator know beforehand and this can be inserted into your itinerary.
(Plus, private tours typically include all costs, such as wine tastings, lunch, etc.)
How can I book a truffle hunting tour from Florence?
From foodies to chefs to travelers searching for one-of-a-kind activities, truffle hunting around Tuscany is very popular.
As a result, many tour operators are offering the best truffle hunting tours from Florence, and most are available online. Tour websites have specific selling points, differing slightly in details such as price, inclusions, duration, etc.
Easily compare the different tours, deals and operators using the TourScanner platform, weighing up your options when it comes to prices, reviews, itineraries and any extras.
From here, online booking and payment are easy with a few simple clicks.
Read more: Discover the art of truffle hunting with the complete list of the best truffle hunting tours in Florence, where you’ll learn how to identify, collect, and savor this exquisite delicacy.
Travel tips
- Make sure you wear weather-appropriate clothing.
- Pack insect repellant — there’s nothing worse than returning with dozens of bites — as you will be walking through natural woodlands and forests.
- Bring a small backpack with bottled water, sunblock, and a light rain jacket (although highly unlikely, even on odd occasions in summer, there’s a chance of slight rainfall).
- It’s not always a guarantee that you will find truffles (although there’s a 99% chance of it), so bear this in mind.
- Most truffle hunting tours don’t include taking home the truffles you forage. Remember, these are a super expensive delicacy.
- Certain tours allow you to purchase the truffles for an additional cost if you like.
- A moderate fitness level is required for the hunting part, walking between one to two hours as you search for tartufo.
- Unless there are thunderstorms, the truffle hunting still happens even if it’s raining.