Day trip to Cinque Terre from Florence: everything you should know
A day trip to Cinque Terre from Florence is a great way to spend a day, and the opportunity to add this famous destination to your trip to Italy. It’s so beautiful and unique that has been turned into a National Park in 1999.
Cinque Terre is a wonderful stretch of coast where you can get lost among ancient fishing villages, hike on hills facing the sea, and taste some delicious food. You’ll discover the flavors and traditions of Liguria, an Italian region with totally different traditions from Tuscany.
The name means Five Lands and refers to the five villages overlooking the Mediterranean Sea that make up the National Park. They are Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, Monterosso and Riomaggiore.
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Organizing a day trip to Cinque Terre from Florence
Cinque Terre are close enough to Florence to be reached in less than 2 hours. So it makes a perfect destination for a day trip!
If you want to make a day trip to the Cinque Terre from Florence you have two options:
- A self-planned day trip
- An organized excursion, including transport and accompanied by a tour leader.
If you choose to take a self-planned day trip, the best way to reach Cinque Terre from Florence is by train. I advise against going by car, because in Cinque Terre it is almost impossible to drive and park due to the tiny size of the roads and restricted traffic areas.
How to get to Cinque Terre from Florence by train
To go to the Cinque Terre from Florence by train you will have to leave early in the morning, reach the Santa Maria Novella station and take a train to La Spezia. Most of the trains are regional: they are cheap but slow, and you will have to change trains in Pisa. There are some high-speed trains that connect Florence to La Spezia in about 1 hour and 40 minutes: they leave from Firenze Campo di Marte station (not from Santa Maria Novella), but in the morning in the morning there is only one. Find timetables, schedules and train prices on the Trenitalia website.
From La Spezia you will then have to take another train that reaches Cinque Terre, and which touches all 5 villages, one after the other. The first you will meet along the train journey will be Riomaggiore, then Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza and Monterosso. You will use the same train to get from one village to another. The 5 towns are all very close to each other, and the journey by train from one to the other takes just a few minutes. The train that connects the Cinque Terre runs very frequently, about one train every 15 minutes. In summer the trains are very crowded, you will have to fight to get on board!
To return to Florence you will have to take the train again from one of the Cinque Terre villages to La Spezia, and from La Spezia another train that will take you to Florence.
Full-day excursion to Cinque Terre from Florence with transport
If you don’t feel like taking all these trains and having to organize the excursion yourself, you can choose a small group organized day trip including transport.
An organized full-day excursion to the Cinque Terre from Florence will allow you to visit these places without having to worry about anything: transportation, an expert guide, tickets and transfers by boat or train. All of those are included. It is the perfect solution for solo and low budget travelers, and for those who don’t want to drive a car in Italy.
Please note that those excursions are neither organized nor guided by me personally. they are offered by reliable tour operators with great prices, which I recommend.
Day trip to Cinque Terre from Florence with boat ride and optional hike
This full-day excursion to the Cinque Terre from Florence with boat ride and optional hiking is a great deal!
The meeting point is in Florence, in Piazza della Stazione. From here you will reach the Cinque Terre with a coach trip of about two hours. Once you arrive, you will move from one village to another on foot and by train. Don’t worry, they are close to each other and these journeys do not take long.
During this day trip you will visit all five villages of the National Park, reaching them on foot, strolling along the coast or along easy paths. After visiting Manarola and Corniglia you’ll reach Vernazza, then Monterosso. Then finally, you’ll get to the last village by boat (if time permits, otherwise by train).
You will have some free time to wander in characteristic streets, have lunch by the sea and browse the small shops. And you’ll have enough time to take tons of pictures.
Please note that the tour is not including lunch. This allows the company to keep the price low and lets you to choose where and what to eat.
There is also the opportunity of taking a short but fascinating hike among nature with the guide, but don’t worry if you don’t feel like doing it, because the hike is optional.
At the end of the day the coach will take you back to Florence just in time for dinner.
What’s included:
- expert guide
- Transportation by coach
- Entrance tickets to the National Park
- Train tickets
- Boat ride (wheather permitting)
- Optional hike (weather permitting)
Not included:
- Lunch
- Gratuities
Day trip to Cinque Terre and Pisa from Florence
If you don’t have too much time available but still want to see as many places as possible during your trip to Italy, this Pisa and Cinque Terre day trip from Florence! is a smart option.
The tour lasts about 12 hours, takes place in a minivan and is for very small groups, maximum 8 people. The excursion includes a short ride on a public boat to go from the village of Vernazza to that of Manarola, and the possibility of doing some hiking trails. Before returning to Florence you will make a stop in Pisa to admire the leaning tower in Piazza dei Miracoli.
Entrance to the Leaning Tower of Pisa is not included, but if you want to visit it you can book tickets on your own.
The tour also does not include lunch or the entrance ticket to the Cinque Terre National Park.
With this tour you also have the opportunity to book the pick up and drop off directly at your hotel.
What’s included:
- A minivan with a professional driver
- Pick up and drop off at your hotel
- Bottled water
- Boat tickets
- Train tickets
Not included:
- Tickets for the leaning tower of Pisa
- Tickets for the Cinque Terre National Park
- Lunch
- Professional tour guide
Tips for a day trip to Cinque Terre
I have been to the Cinque Terre several times, so here are my best tips and tricks for visiting that part of Italy!
- Be prepared to walk a lot.
- be prepared for crowds. Especially in summer, and especially on trains.
- Wear comfortable walking shoes (or hiking shoes if your are also doing the hike).
- Dress appropriately for a moderate physical activity.
- Bring sun screen in summer
- Enjoy your day!
Other fun and interesting day trips from Florence:
Hi, are there other beautiful nearby villages to visit, outside the national park?
Ciao Amanda, I definitely recommend to visit Levanto, as beautiful as the 5 villages, nestled on the coast, just across the border of the Cinque Terre National Park. Enjoy your trip!