How To Plan A Perfect Day Trip From Florence To Cinque Terre

Can you do a day trip from Florence to Cinque Terre? You can! Indeed, a day trip from Florence to Cinque Terre is a great and easy way to explore one of the most unique landscapes of Italy.

While you can go on many day trips from Florence, the one to Cinque Terre, remains one of the most popular day trips from Florence.

This gorgeous stretch of coast in northern Italy is part of the region of Liguria, which borders Tuscany, and Florence is centrally located making it convenient to get there.

I have visited the Cinque Terre – a National Park since 1999 – extensively. My most recent trip to the region was with my sister, and we had a blast despite the bad weather. We actually spent a few days hiking around. But I have also been there for quick visits.

If you are looking for information to help you plan your visit, worry not: I am ready to share my expertise and shower you with useful information.

I will answer questions such as “how far is Cinque Terre from Florence?” and how to get to Cinque Terre from Florence. I will show you the best things to do to make the most of your day trip to Cinque Terre from Florence. I will even share some money saving tips.

With my guidance, planning your day trip from Florence to Cinque Terre will be a breeze.

Is A Day Trip From Florence To Cinque Terre Worth It?

Your first questions will likely be “is a day trip from Florence to Cinque Terre worth it?” and “can you do a day trip to Cinque Terre from Florence?”

Yes, it is totally worth it and yes, if you plan well it is doable.

Some will advise against visiting Cinque Terre on a day trip. I partially agree with them: such a breathtaking place deserves more than a day.

But if you can only carve a day from your trip to Florence, I think you should still go and get a taste, and perhaps plan a longer trip for another time.

So, what’s so special about Cinque Terre and why should you visiti?

Cinque Terre is a National Park since 1999, and it is one of the most incredible places to visit in Italy. Part of Liguria, this is a place like no other in the world, with unique landscape (picture vineyards on terraced hills, overlooking the bluest Mediterranean Sea), traditions and culture.

The five (“cinque” in Italian) colorful villages of the Cinque Terre – Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza and Monterosso al Mare – are beautifully perched on the hills, connected by a net of hiking trails that provide many an adventure and creating something so unique that they have been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Ready to discover this breathtaking part of Italy? Continue reading as I share everything you need to know before visiting the Cinque Terre.

How To Get From Florence To Cinque Terre

The first thing you need to consider when planning your day trip is how to get from Florence to Cinque Terre. You mainly have two options:

• Join one of the many available day tours from Florence to Cinque Terre;
• Travel independently.

If you decide to travel independently, there are various ways to travel to the Cinque Terre from Florence.

Guided tours from Florence to Cinque Terre

The easiest way of getting to Cinque Terre if you have limited time is on a guided tour. Be prepared though, as you will be away for 13 hours!

Organized day tours from Florence to Cinque Terre will spare you all the organizational issues – you won’t have to worry about fitting everything into your schedule; you won’t have to bother checking the train timetable as the tour will include roundtrip transportation; etc.

To top this off, you will have an English and Italian speaking guide who will be telling you about the history, culture and architecture of the places you will be visiting; including tips on the best photo and lunch spots.

The guide will assist you during the tour and take care of any possible issue there may be.

Of course, you need to pick a good company, and keep your budget in mind – some tours are definitely more expensive than others. I recommend Ciao Florence, which offers a good day tour from Florence to Cinque Terre.

There are many more options for day tours from Florence to Cinque Terre. For example you could consider a guided group tour if you are watching out for your budget, or a private day trip from Florence to Cinque Terre if money is not an issue.

Tours also vary in terms of what they include, the activities and even the places you visit.

I have selected a few options that are easy to book on GetYourGuide, my favorite tour provider which has a very flexible cancellation policy (and 24/7 customer service) and Viator, another very reliable company.

Here are the best options:

Private Day trip from Florence to Cinque Terre and Pisa – This is one of the best tours of Cinque Terre from Florence. It may seem expensive, but you get to see a lot in just one day! It includes a stop in Pisa to admire the leaning tower, as well as hotel pick-up and drop-off in an air-conditioned minibus. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance.

If all you want to do is hike, check out this Cinque Terre National Park Guided Hike: the tour includes transportation to Manarola, from where you’ll begin a panoramic hike to Corniglia and Vernazza. From there, you’ll take the train to Monterosso al Mare, where you will hop on a ferry to Manarola. The tour does not include a stop in Riomaggiore, but you could go there on your own during the lunch break.

Cinque Terre Hiking Trip – This is one of the best day trips to Cinque Terre from Florence if you want to be able to walk. It is sold on Viator – keep in mind that hiking is optional.

Cinque Terre day trip with Transport from Florence – This is the most budget friendly tour from Florence to Cinque Terre. You won’t have a guide when visiting the villages, so it’s great if you would rather explore independently.

You can find more excellent tours of Cinque Terre from Florence on Hellotickets, another reliable tour provider.

Train from Florence to Cinque Terre

Taking the train from Florence to Cinque Terre is very budget friendly – depending on the option you pick, it can cost less than €20 one way.

However, there are a few considerations to make.

First of all, there is no direct train to Cinque Terre from Florence, which means the journey ends up being quite long.

If you are wondering “how long does it take to get from Florence to Cinque Terre by train?” I am afraid there is no straightforward answer.

If you catch all the connections, the trip will take around 2 hours and 45 minutes. But it most typically takes more than 3 and at times even 4 hours.

If you are convinced that taking the train from Florence to Cinque Terre is a good idea, you have two main options.

REGIONAL + INTERCITY

From Firenze Santa Marina Novella (SMN) station, catch the Regional Train (Regionale Veloce) to Pisa Centrale. There is one every 30 minutes and the ride lasts about one hour.

Once in Pisa, hop on an Intercity Train to La Spezia Centrale (they are the ones going to Milan). The ride lasts another hour.

From La Spezia, catch a regional train which makes stop at the various villages – Riomaggiore is the closest one and it is just 10 minutes away. The furthest village is Monterosso al Mare, a 25 minutes train ride.

There are some trains traveling from Pisa directly to Monterosso al Mare. They are convenient as this means you don’t have to change in La Spezia. You don’t necessarily save much time though.

You can check the timetable and prices of the trains from Florence to Pisa and La Spezia on the website of Trenitalia or on the Omio App.

FRECCIARGENTO + REGIONAL

Another – perhaps easier – option is to take the direct Frecciargento train from Firenze Campo di Marte Station to La Spezia. Depending on the time you depart, it takes just one your and 49 minutes. Once you are in La Spezia, take the regional train to Riomaggiore.

For the departure times and the cost of tickets of the trains from Florence to Pisa and La Spezia you can check the website of Trenitalia or the Omio App.

It’s better to buy your ticket to the Cinque Terre villages directly at the station in La Spezia, in case your train arrives in La Spezia late: once you have a reserved ticket, you will be tied to the train you booked (even though seats are not assigned).

Driving from Florence to Cinque Terre

If you are thinking of driving from Florence to Cinque Terre, you will likely have two questions. Let me answer them.

How far is it from Florence to Cinque Terre? It’s roughly 198 km (123 miles) – that’s the distance from Florence to Monterosso al Mare, the only village you can reach by car.

How long does it take to get from Florence to Cinque Terre by car? The drive from Florence to Monterosso will take you around 2.5 hours. However, this is an estimate and the actual time it takes depends on traffic (and there are some tolls along the way).

Now that you know how long of a drive it is, and how long it takes, let me tell you that driving to Cinque Terre from Florence isn’t a great idea – this simply isn’t the best way to get to Cinque Terre from Florence.

Let me explain why.

The villages are quaint and beautiful but the the streets are terribly narrow – which can be scary for drivers from North America or Australia, accustomed to wider roads. In addition, there is a persistent lack of parking space.

If you still want to do it, you will need to drive from Florence along highway A11 to Viareggio; then change to take A12 northbound to La Spezia and Genova. It will take you about 2 hours to drive to La Spezia in ideal conditions. Once in La Spezia, you have three options:

PARK YOUR CAR IN LA SPEZIA AND TAKE THE TRAIN – Leave your car at the train station parking lot for a fee, and take the train to one of the Cinque Terre villages.

CONTINUE DRIVING TO LEVANTO AND TAKE THE TRAIN – This small town is just outside the Cinque Terre National Park on the farthest side, and a great base to explore the area. There are direct trains to Monterosso, which is just 5 minutes away.

DRIVE TO MONTEROSSO – This is the only village you can reach by car, and the farthest. It will be an additional 30 minutes drive there from La Spezia. Looking for a parking spot may be a hassle.

Adamant to drive? I recommend using Discover Cars to check the prices of car rental in Italy. This is my favorite comparison site for car rental and I have used it widely in many countries, including Italy of course.

Travel to Cinque Terre from Florence by train+ferry

Between the end of March and the very beginning of October, you can also get to Cinque Terre by boat from the coast of Tuscany (Viareggio, Forte dei Marmi, Massa and Carrara) or from La Spezia, Lerici or Levanto.

If this is something you want to do, consider traveling to La Spezia by train or car and then take the ferry from there.

Ferries are operated by the Consorzio Marittimo Turistico 5 Terre – Golfo Dei Poeti; they are a hop-on hop-off service and have several daily departures.

Boats stop in Portovenere, Riomaggiore, Manarola, Vernazza, Monterosso and then continue to Levanto. The view of the villages from the sea is stunning! 

Boats depart at regular intervals from La Spezia. You can check the departure times and ticket prices on the Consorzio Marittimo Turistico 5 Terre – Golfo Dei Poeti website.

Keep in mind that since this is a seasonal service, the website is updated right before the season starts so you may not find information if you check during the winter months.

What To Do On A Day Trip To Cinque Terre From Florence

There are many fun things to do in Cinque Terre.

That’s why I started this post by saying that it would be ideal to spend a few days exploring, so that you can appreciate this part of Italy slowly, one bit every day.

Don’t worry though, if you only have a day, you can still experience the best that Cinque Terre National Park has to offer. Take it as an appetizer to then come back for a longer trip!

Here is a selection of the things you can do on your day trip to Cinque Terre from Florence.

Explore the Cinque Terre Villages

Don’t ask me what the prettiest village in the Cinque Terre is, or which one is my favorite. I love them all, for different reasons! All the Cinque Terre villages have something to offer.

Here is a quick overview of each of them – I am listing them in geographical order, starting from the one that is nearest to Florence.

Riomaggiore

Riomaggiore dates back to the early 13th century. Its name comes from the latin “Rivus Major” and refers to the stream that still flows under the main street – you really can’t see the river now, but you can definitely picture it there, flowing to the sea.

The village grew under the Republic of Genoa, and it became known in Europe for the production of wine. It was beautifully isolated until the end of the 19th century, when the railway connecting Genoa to La Spezia was finally built.

Riomaggiore is a fantastic maze of narrow alleys (be prepared as there are also a lot of stairs!), beautiful coastal vistas and colorful buildings. It’s one of the best spots in the Cinque Terre to admire sunset – many people simply grab a drink and sit on the rocks overlooking the bay to enjoy the show.

My post A Quick Guide To Riomaggiore will give you more insights into this colorful village.

Manarola

Famous for its Sciacchetrà wine, celebrated by Italian poet, writer and revolutionary Gabriele D’Annunzio in his poems and now produced in the entire region, Manarola boasts brightly painted houses, medieval relics and the incredible Punta Bonfiglio, from where to enjoy a breathtaking view.

It is supposed to be the oldest of Cinque Terre villages, likely founded in Roman times –  though the present settlement dates back to the 12th century.

The main square houses the Oratorio dei Disciplinati and the Church of San Lorenzo and its beautiful tower. It’s one of the first things you will see if you hike to Manarola from Corniglia, as the trail will lead you straight there.

The harbor area of Manarola is fairly small, but you can walk from there to the Nessun Dorma café, which is located on the hill right outside.

It’s a great spot for a quick meal – they have the most delicious bruschetta. It’s also one of the most popular sunset spots and aperitivo bars in the Cinque Terre! Grab a spritz cocktail and enjoy the beautiful views of the village.

Head over to my post A Short Guide To Manarola for more places to visit and things to do in Manarola.

Corniglia

Lesser visited compared to the other Cinque Terre villages and not often included among the spots visited on organized day trips to Cinque Terre from Florence, Corniglia is the only village in the Cinque Terre that does not have a harbor.

The name of the village comes from Cornelia, the daughter of the Roman farmer who created the settlement.

The village sits on top of a 100 meters (328 feet) high promontory, and can be reached from the train station via the Lardarina, a brick stairway of 382 steps.

There is also a shuttle bus that departs from the station and takes visitors to the historic center for those who don’t want to climb.

Corniglia is fairly quaint – much like the other Cinque Terre villages, the alleys here are very narrow and interesting to explore.

There are a few good eateries (this is a popular lunch stop on the Cinque Terre hike as it is right in the middle) and a gorgeous terrace from where you can admire the rest of the villages of Cinque Terre.

My post A Concise Guide To Corniglia will guide you into what to see and do in this pretty village.

Vernazza

The view of Vernazza that opens up in front of your eyes when you hike from Monterosso al Mare is breathtaking. It’s easy to see why many will say this is the prettiest of the Cinque Terre villages.

Vernazza boasts a nice natural harbor, colorful houses and a piazzetta (small square) where you can go for a stroll.

Its existence was first recorded in 1080, when it was called Castrum Vernation and it was used as a naval base. You can still see some of the fortifications built during Genoa’s rule.

One of the most famous places to visit in Vernazza is the Doria Castle, built in medieval times to protect the village from pirates. It’s an easy walk from the main square, and while there’s not much left of the castle, the view from there is stunning.

Another place you should visit is the 1318 Church of Santa Margherita di Antiochia.

The village is a maze of tiny alleys (called “caruggi”) lined with lovely cafés and craft shops, and a few wine bars. The surroundings of the village are all terraced and used for the cultivation of olive trees (for oil) and grapes (for wine).

As I have said before, the best views of Vernazza are found along the coastal trail that connects it to Monterosso. The trail starts literally outside the center of the village – it will take you around 1.5 hours to walk to Monterosso, which is doable even on a day trip.

If you don’t want to hike the all way, you can simply reach the viewpoint to snap a few photos, then head back down to the harbor to hop on the train or on the boat to head to Monterosso al Mare.

My post A Useful Guide To Vernazza gives you more details on how to reach the castle and the other viewpoints in the village.

Monterosso al Mare

Known as “the Pearl of Cinque Terre” and famous for its beautiful Fegina Beach, Monterosso al Mare is the largest of the Cinque Terre villages. It was even temporarily excluded from the Cinque Terre Trail in 1948 on allegations of being “too large”.

It’s quite an allegation, considering the village is really small – there are no more than 1,500 registered residents, of which only half actually live there throughout the year.

In the past Monterosso al Mare was only accessed via a mule track that connected it to the other villages in Cinque Terre.

Monterosso al Mare is clearly split in two parts. There’s a new village, where the Fegina Beach is located, close to the train station. And there’s the old village, connected to the new village via a tunnel and where to ferry port and another nice beach are found.

The old village has the remains of the old medieval fortifications (Fieschi Castle and Aurora Tower). You can also spot the 13th century Church of St. John the Baptist and the 17th century Capuchin Monastery.

The coastal trail that connects Monterosso al Mare to the other Cinque Terre villages (called Sentiero Azzurro) starts just outside the old village.

Should you decide to spend more than a day in the Cinque Terre, I find Monterosso to be the most convenient place to base yourself in the Cinque Terre. There’s a bigger choice of accommodation and dining options and it’s slightly easier to move around here compared to the other villages.

My post A Useful Guide To Monterosso Al Mare shares more information on places to visit, restaurants and even hotels in Monterosso.

Hike

The most famous hiking trail in Cinque Terre is the Sentiero Azzurro (Blue Trail), a series of four individual paths that go along the coast and connect all the villages and that can be walked in around 6 hours.

Most people prefer walking one bit at a time, and just spend more time exploring the villages – you can do that if you have more than one day in the Cinque Terre.

Otherwise, walking the entire Sentiero Azzuro in one day is doable too – I have done it!

The longest bit of the Sentiero Azzurro is the 3 km (1.86 miles) from Monterosso al Mare to Vernazza. It will take you around 1.5 and 2 hours to walk this part of the trail, depending on how often you stop. There are lots of stairs and narrow passages, but the views are very rewarding.

We found to be the most challenging part of the hike to be the bit that goes from Vernazza to Corniglia. It is quite steep in certain points, and there is a fair amount of ascending and descending along steps that can be quite steep in places – my sister was definitely not a fan of it! It takes about 2 hours to walk from Vernazza to Corniglia.

The most famous trail in the region is the Via dell’Amore (love’s way, in English) that connects Manarola to Riomaggiore. It’s a short and easy trail that offers stunning coastal views.

Unfortunately, the Via dell’Amore has been closed to allow some much needed renovation work after it’s been damaged by the floods in 2012. It is supposed to open again in July 2024.

Another short hike goes from Riomaggiore to the Sanctuary of Montenero, from where there are gorgeous views of Punta Mesco and the Island of Tino.

Finally, you can hike to the Sanctuary of Nostra Signora di Reggio: the views of the bay along the way are stunning.

My post A Guide To Hiking In The Cinque Terre shares lots of information on how to tackle the Sentiero Azzurro and how to prepare for hiking in the region.

Go to the beach

The Cinque Terre are packed with lovely, small beaches and tiny coves with clear waters and if you are visiting in the summer you should definitely pack your swimsuit (and a towel) and go fo for a quick swim to cool down!

Riomaggiore has a small, lovely pebbly beach. Manarola has the best deep water swimming in the area.

Monterosso al Mare is where you will find Fegina, by far the best beach in the region. Also located in Monterosso there are the Spiaggia del Portiglione, which is close to the old village, and the Spiaggia del Gigante, right past Fegina Beach in the new village.

Vernazza harbor is another good place to soak in a bit of sun and enjoy a swim. There’s also a pebble beach to the east of the village.

Guvano beach, not far from Corniglia, is the least crowded beach in the region, though a bit harder to reach so possibly not a good idea if you are only there for a day.

Eat and drink

Even if you are spending just one day in Cinque Terre, you should make the most of the wonderful food (and wine) of this part of Italy.

Here are some of the specialties you could enjoy in Cinque Terre:

• Monterosso anchovies;
• aa turta de risu – a salted rice cake;
• aa menestra de cian – a soup made with potatoes and herbs;
• musculi cin – a dish made of mussels which are stuffed with bread, eggs and parmesan;
• Torta dei Fieschi – a cake made with rice, eggs and cheese;
• Gelato al basilico – basil ice-cream;
• Sciacchetrà wine – a sweet white passito wine endemic of the region;
• Vernaccia di Corniglia – a white wine made with vernaccia grapes.

There are many excellent restaurants and eateries in the various villages, so factor in some time for a nice lunch or dinner before heading back to Florence.

Not sure where to eat? My post The Best Restaurants In Cinque Terre will help you pick the best place, based on my experience.

Other Useful Information

What to wear in Cinque Terre

Your day trip to Cinque Terre from Florence should all be about comfort. If you plan to do a bit of hiking, you will need to wear appropriate footwear. The trails, though well marked, can be challenging and the last thing you want to do is navigating them while wearing flip-flops or sandals.

Here are some recommended items:

• A pair of good water proof hiking boots or alternatively a pair of hiking sandals if you are visiting on the hottest days.
• Hiking pants or hiking shorts: I am a fan of Kuhl Horizon Hiking Pants and Kuhl Horizon Shorts as they are super comfortable and breathable.
• A t-shirt or tank top such as this Juniper tank top. If you are going in the coolest season, you may need a long-sleeve t-shirt such as the Airkuhl Hoody.
• A light sweater such as the Kuhl lea pullover that you can throw on if it cools down, or when you stop for lunch.
• A jacket such as the Styrka jacket by Kuhl is more than enough if you are visiting in the spring.
• A hat to protect from the sun, and a good sunblock and moisture locking lip balm.
• A swimsuit and a quick dry towel.
• A smartphone to take photos!

The Cinque Terre Card

There are two types of cards you can get which may come in handy when visiting Cinque Terre.

TRAIN CARD: It allows unlimited train travel in the Cinque Terre region on the La Spezia – Levanto line for 1, 2 or 3 days, so you can access all the hiking trails. A one day card costs €18,20. The overall saving is great, if you consider that a one-way ride costs €5 already!

TREKKING CARD: It gives you access to all the hiking trails of the national park. It costs €7,50 for one day. You can get it online on the official website or in person at any of the Cinque Terre Info Points that are found in all train stations in the region (including La Spezia).

My post Is The Cinque Terre Card Worth It? explains how the card works and its main benefits more in depth.

Travel Insurance

Wherever you travel, make sure to always get a good travel insurance. My recommended travel insurance is Heymondo – that’s the one I have been using (and loving) in the last few years.

Legal Disclaimer: This post was written in cooperation with Ciao Florence.

Further Readings

Make sure to read my other posts:

• How To Get To Cinque Terre From Milan
• 67 Extremely Useful Travel Tips For Italy
• What To Do And What To Avoid When Planning A Trip To Italy

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