Tuscany Ballooning: the short answer
If you are staying in Florence and want a hot air balloon flight in Tuscany, the Tuscany Ballooning shared flight from its Chianti base is the most logical choice: €270 per person, breakfast with prosecco after landing, and take-off about 13 km south of the city. The other areas cost more, up to €450. The rules are strict and need reading before you pay, because much of the risk from the weather and from changes of plan falls on you.
Hot air balloon rides in Tuscany: prices by area
With this operator the price depends on the take-off point, not on the length of the flight. These are the prices per person on its website when we last checked.
| Take-off area | Price per person |
|---|---|
| Chianti, main base, shared flight with breakfast and prosecco | €270 |
| Siena | €310 |
| Val d'Orcia and Montepulciano | €350 |
| Cortona and Valdichiana | €450 |
| Florence, if conditions allow | €450 |
The flight over Florence is the least certain: it depends on the wind, and it costs €180 more than Chianti. For most travellers, Chianti offers the landscape they are looking for, vineyards, cypresses and castles, at a much lower cost. If you are in the Val d'Orcia or near Siena, it makes sense to fly from there and spare yourself the journey before dawn.
What the morning of the flight is like
- Flights take place at sunrise only, all year round. Later on, the sun warms the hills and the air becomes unstable.
- The flight lasts about an hour, the whole experience 2–3 hours.
- The baskets carry from 4 to 18 people. On a shared flight you will therefore be with other passengers.
- A balloon cannot be steered: it goes where the wind takes it, and the landing spot is not known in advance.
You are free for the rest of the day from late morning. It is an experience that pairs well with an afternoon visit to a winery in Chianti.
Who can fly
The limits are strict and must be taken seriously:
- no children under 4;
- no pregnant women;
- no one with back, knee or heart problems;
- over 105 kg there is a supplement, and your weight must be declared when you book.
Shared flights only go ahead with at least 4 passengers. If the minimum is not reached, the shared flight does not take off.
The weather and the 96-hour rule
This is the point that decides whether the experience goes well or badly.
If you change your mind, you can cancel or reschedule the flight up to 96 hours before. Within 96 hours you pay the full amount. A deposit is required when you book.
If the pilot cancels because of the weather, the flight is moved to another date. A full refund comes only if no suitable date can be found. Additional travel costs, such as an extra night or a changed train, are not covered.
Gift vouchers are valid for 24 months, a generous margin for whoever receives them.
Who is behind it
Tuscany Ballooning works with Balloon Team Italia, its sister company based at via Cassia per Siena 73A, in San Casciano in Val di Pesa, VAT number 06610130483. It states that it is an ENAC-certified commercial operator (ENAC is the Italian civil aviation authority) and that it has been flying for over 20 years. For an activity like ballooning, certification is the first requirement to check.
Contacts: phone +39 338 915 5290, email booking@tuscanyballooning.com.
Other operators fly in the same area: Ballooning in Florence, also in San Casciano, Balloon in Tuscany, in Tavarnelle, and Mongolfiere Italia. The names are similar, but the companies and their reviews are different. Before reading an opinion, check that it really is about Tuscany Ballooning.
Tuscany Ballooning reviews
When we last checked, Tuscany Ballooning had about 350 reviews on Tripadvisor: a smaller volume than the coach-trip agencies, too small to pick out recurring complaints. The main limitation remains the weather, with the rules described above: hence the advice to book early in your holiday.
Alternatives on GetYourGuide
On GetYourGuide you will find hot air balloon flights in Tuscany at similar prices. There is no evidence that they are run by Tuscany Ballooning: treat them as alternatives with their own rules, written in the listing. These prices move often, and we update them accordingly.
On price, the comparison is almost even: on the Tuscany Ballooning website Chianti costs €270, while on GetYourGuide the flight from Chianti starts at €269. Siena and the Val d'Orcia cost €310 and €350 in both cases. Since price is not the deciding factor, choose on the basis of the rules: on the operator's website the 96 hours described above apply, on the platform the terms written in the flight's listing.
Who it suits
Yes if you have a few days to spare in Tuscany, are willing to get up before dawn and want an experienced operator with clear prices.
No if you have only one morning available, are travelling with young children or have back or knee problems.
Four out of five, then: declared ENAC certification, clear prices by area and long-lasting gift vouchers. It doesn't reach 5 because of the 96-hour rule, the longest deadline among the experience operators we review, and because the extra costs of a postponed flight are yours to bear.
For other outdoor experiences, read our appraisals of Tuscany Bike Tours and Florencetown, and for how refunds and support work on the platforms, our review of GetYourGuide.
All the operators, areas and practical tips are in our guide to hot air balloon flights in Tuscany.