Tuscany Truffle Hunting
Tuscany has truffles almost all year, and San Miniato, halfway between Florence and Pisa, is the capital: white truffles from October to December, black summer truffles from June, and hunts with lagotto dogs that end at the table. This page compares the top-rated truffle hunting experiences in Tuscany, explains the seasons so you book the right one, and shows the usual ladder from a simple hunt to hunt-plus-lunch, hunt-plus-wine and hunt-plus-cooking-class.
Know the calendar: white truffles October to December (November is the peak), black winter truffles December to March, bianchetto January to April, black summer truffles from late spring.
Where: San Miniato between Florence and Pisa is the capital; the Crete Senesi south of Siena, the Chianti woods and the Mugello also run hunts.
Choose your rung: hunt and tasting, hunt and lunch, hunt and wine, or hunt and cooking class. Most people are happiest with hunt plus lunch.
Truffle hunting in Tuscany: seasons, places and what to expect
A truffle hunt is two hours in the woods with a tartufaio and a dog, usually a lagotto romagnolo, followed by the reason you came: the truffles you found, shaved over eggs or fresh pasta at a table nearby. Tuscany does it better than most places because it has truffles for most of the year and a town, San Miniato, that has made a living from them for centuries. The season decides everything, so start there.
The truffle calendar
White truffle, Tuber magnatum, the expensive one, runs from October to December with November the peak. Black winter truffle follows from December to March, bianchetto from January to April, and the black summer truffle, scorzone, from late spring to early autumn. The hunt itself is the same in any month; what changes is what the dog finds and what it is worth. If white truffles are the point, come in November.
San Miniato, the truffle capital
San Miniato sits halfway between Florence and Pisa, about 45 minutes from either. Its hills produce some of Italy’s best white truffles, and the town’s Mostra Mercato Nazionale del Tartufo Bianco fills the last three weekends of November with stalls, tastings and the year’s biggest specimens. Most of Tuscany’s hunts happen here, run by families who have done it for generations.
Other places to hunt
The Crete Senesi south of Siena, around San Giovanni d’Asso, have their own white-truffle tradition and a November fair; the Chianti woods and the Mugello north of Florence run summer and winter hunts closer to the city. These suit travellers based in Siena or wanting a shorter transfer.
Hunt, lunch, wine or cooking class?
Operators sell a ladder. The basic hunt includes the walk and a tasting of the finds. The next step adds a truffle lunch, then a wine pairing, then a cooking class where you make the pasta yourself. Prices climb with each rung; for most people the hunt plus lunch is the right balance of time and money.
Getting there from Florence
Many hunts include pick-up from Florence or Pisa, or from San Miniato-Fucecchio station on the Florence to Pisa line, which makes them easy without a car. Allow a full half-day, more with lunch.
What to wear
Closed shoes you don’t mind getting muddy, long trousers for brambles, and a layer; the woods are cooler than the city, and November mornings are damp.
How we choose
We list only experiences with a strong rating over a meaningful number of reviews and free cancellation where available, and we favour small-group and family-run hosts. FindEatLocal earns a commission when you book through GetYourGuide or Viator links on this page; it doesn’t change the price you pay. More about how we choose.
FAQ about Tuscany Truffle Hunting
Frequently asked questions
Why go truffle hunting in Tuscany?
Because it is the rare food experience that is also a walk in the woods with a very good dog, and because Tuscany has a season for it in almost every month.
When is truffle season in Tuscany?
White truffles October to December, black winter truffles December to March, bianchetto January to April, black summer truffles from late spring to September.
Are truffles guaranteed?
No hunt can promise it, but experienced tartufai know their spots and finds are the norm. The tasting afterwards uses the estate’s own truffles, so you eat truffle either way.
How much does a truffle hunt cost?
Roughly 60 to 100 euros per person for the hunt and tasting; 120 to 200 with a full lunch or wine pairing; more for private hunts and cooking classes.
Can children come?
Usually yes; the dog is the highlight for most kids. Check the walk length and the minimum age on the listing.
Can I buy truffles to take home?
Yes. Fresh truffles are sold by the gram and last about a week wrapped in paper in the fridge; truffle oils and pastes travel better.
Tuscany or Alba for white truffles?
Alba in Piedmont is more famous and more expensive; San Miniato’s truffles are the same species and the hunts are easier to reach from Florence and Pisa.