Balloon rides · ITALY HOT AIR BALLOON RIDES
Dawn slots are finite and the good baskets go weeks ahead, especially in high season. These 15 italy hot air balloon rides tours are the ones to book early, with what each price actually covers once you are on the ground again.
Meet in San Casciano Val di Pesa, watch the balloon inflate, then float above Tuscan vineyards, castles, and cypress hills for about an hour. Pilots such as Raphael, Luigi, Oliver, and Pasquale are part of the operating team. After landing, enjoy sparkling wine, water, and a light breakfast with local products.
“We had the best time! Definitely recommend this experience!”
Meet Balloon Team Italia near San Casciano Val di Pesa for a sunrise flight over Chianti. Captain Gigi, Rafael, Renato, and the crew handle safety and launch details, while you enjoy vineyards, castles, and a picnic breakfast. Hotel transfers are available for an extra fee.
“Ride was great. The staff was very professional and accommodating to everyone. It was great experience”
Meet pilot Roberto or Francesco in Bargino, about 20 minutes from Florence, for a sunrise balloon flight over Chianti. Expect a calm one-hour ride above vineyards, olive groves, and wooded hills, followed by prosecco, pastries, cured meats, schiacciata, fruit juice, and water.
“Great balloning experience. Professional crew and looked after us during the experience. Back on the ground, we had a lovely breakfast”
Meet the crew at Cantina Dionigi at 6:30 am for a safety briefing and roughly one hour in the air above the Umbrian Valley. Captain Peter provides commentary on Assisi, Perugia, art, and local history. After landing, return to the winery for breakfast and Sagrantino wine tasting.
“By far the best experience we have had in Italy so far. The early morning was worth it! Watching the sun come up from 4500 feet in the air is spectacular. Our pilot Peter is serious when in the balloon but an absolute joy to chat with when on the ground. The champagne, breakfast and wine tasting after is just beyond!! And probably the best cappuccino I have had in Italy so far!! This is the tour to take for sure!! Bring a baseball cap, your head gets very hot and a light jacket, the morning is chilly but once in the air it is very warm. We were blessed…”
Rise over Tuscany in a shared balloon with an expert captain and crew, flying for about an hour at heights shaped by the day’s wind. Expect sunrise views, vineyards, castles, a gentle breakfast toast, and a small group of up to 10 people. Hotel transfers from Siena cost extra.
“The team were fantastic and so well organized. Meet point was easy to find. The balloon ride itself was amazing and the pilot constantly kept us informed with interesting information. It’s strange how much ‘control’ in direction with height changes could be achieved! The views over the valleys with sun rising will not be forgotten. The balloon basket can spin through 360 degrees so everyone got a view. Had a sporty landing with a couple of bounces which was a fun! And just to top it off some prosecco when we landed with fresh bread and bakery treats for a final debrief. They kindly organized a lift back to Siena…”
Meet Balloon Team Italia near San Casciano in Val di Pesa, about 20 minutes from Florence. After a safety briefing, your captain guides a shared flight above Chianti vineyards, olive groves, castles, and villages. The outing ends with local breakfast, sparkling wine, and a ride back to the launch site.
“An unforgettable experience!! Amazing views over the Chianti region. Very professional team who made this experience even more special. Would highly recommend 👌”
Meet pilot Roberto, Francesco, or the team at Terzo Giardino before sunrise. Fly for about an hour above Florence, the Arno, and the Tuscan hills, then land in the countryside for Prosecco, schiacciata, cured meats, sweets, fruit juice, and water.
“Robert was a wonderful pilot, cracked excellent jokes and kept us all happy, with a perfect take-off and landing. His teammate in the car must have had a hilarious journey following us around in every possible direction. The views over the city and the countryside were stunning and the whole experience was so very special. Really made our trip to Italy something to remember. Ended with a delicious breakfast!! Would definitely do it again! Immortalised in tattoo form on our return by Lorenzo Amuleto at his tattoo place on the Via de Seraglio - that is how good it was... (Brilliant tattoo too)!”
Meet at Porta San Niccolò for a roughly three-hour balloon adventure above Florence or, when winds require it, the Tuscan countryside. Your one-hour flight includes transport, ground support, insurance, and a post-flight drink with a croissant. Pilots may include Orlando or Frederico.
“The staff was outstanding and extremely friendly. The care and attention to detail required to do their job is truly remarkable.. However what is not disclosed at booking is that the chances of flying over Florence are slim to none. I was extremely disappointed to pay a premium to fly over Florence and not be able to go. Instead the launch site was moved to Tuscany but there where barely any winds and we mostly hovered in one spot. Nice to experience but I would not recommend doing.”
You’ll rise 500 to 3,000 feet above Tuscany for about an hour, guided by an English or Italian-speaking pilot such as Guido, Ollie, or Federico. Expect shifting meeting points, weather-led timing, gentle hills, vineyards, castles, and prosecco after landing.
“What a fun adventure. It’s so gentle and peaceful. The views were stunning. Our pilot and crew were fantastic. Lots of laughs and so helpful. We would definitely book again with these guys.”
Rise up to 2,000 feet above Lucca’s vineyards, valleys, castles, and cypress-lined hills on a one-hour VIP balloon flight. Your exact launch field and time arrive the day before because of wind and weather. The small group has up to eight people, followed by sparkling wine and a shuttle back.
“We set off from Lucca at 5:00 am to meet our guides north of Florence. , which was over an hour drive from Lucca. Our tour meeting point had been changed from 7 minutes from our Airbnb, which was disappointing but couldn’t be helped due to the weather. The balloon ride was smooth and felt safe. We were a bit nervous about getting 17 people off the ground in one basket but both the take off and landing went off without a hitch. Our pilot, Orlando, was very informative and professional. One of our friends is very afraid of heights but said he never felt anxious during the ride. The…”
Meet Firenze Mongolfiere about 30 minutes from Florence for a small-group balloon flight over Chianti. Your English or Italian-speaking pilot, often Roberto, explains the villages and vineyards below. The three-hour outing includes a one-hour flight, landing transfer, breakfast, and a post-flight toast.
“We loved it, and Giorgia, and Roberto were great guides. The view was amazing, and going through the clouds was so cool. Had a great time. The only complaint is that it wasn’t long enough. They provided a great little breakfast with champagne afterwards which was a nice bonus. Highly recommend!!”
Meet near Terzo Giardino for a 2 to 3-hour hot-air balloon flight over Florence and the Chianti hills. You’ll see Brunelleschi’s dome, Ponte Vecchio, Piazzale Michelangelo, and Tuscan wine country from above. Flights run early, depend on weather, and may include paid pickup.
“It was an awesome experience where I learned to trust the pilot and enjoy the panoramic view of Tuscany. The ride was soothing and therapeutic.”
Take an early-morning hot air balloon flight over Sila National Park with pilot Aldo and the Mongolfiere al sud Italia team. The small group, capped at eight, includes a breakfast of local products after the flight. Expect a 1 to 3 hour outing from Camigliatello Silano.
“Made the flight over the Sila, beautiful experience!! Lulled by the wind on a breathtaking panorama.... a feeling of lightness that is difficult to describe.”
Join Balloon Team Italia for a roughly one-hour flight over Tuscany’s vineyards, valleys, lakes, and hilltop castles. The launch site changes with the weather, and the balloon follows the breeze, so every route is different. After landing, enjoy local breakfast, sparkling wine, and a shuttle back to your car.
“Super well organized and professional from booking, having to change date due to poor weather organizing a pick up and a magical flight over the Chianti Region. Breakfast was great too. Thank you to the entire team for a wonderful experience”
Meet pilot Francesco or the Firenze Mongolfiere team in Bargino, about 20 minutes from Florence, for a sunrise flight over Chianti vineyards, olive groves, and woods. After a gentle landing, enjoy prosecco, sweets, cured meats, schiacciata, fruit juice, and water.
“Such a special experience that is hard to put into words. Our pilot Francesco was entertaining and very knowledgeable of the area. The breakfast was such a nice touch with a spread of delicious local food and prosecco. The Tuscan countryside made for a beautiful backdrop to a once in a lifetime experience, cannot recommend this enough.”
Pick a valley, a river or a desert.
