If you have any questions, feel free to ask me. Its quite breathtaking. After a few steep steps, youre rewarded with an amazing view of the blue ocean and the rest of the town. It connects to the Blue trail, but it takes a little longer to complete. Arrive in Manarola, the first of the Cinque Terre villages you will visit. Its also a realistic and accessible next stop on your Italy itinerary once you've spent a few nights or longer in Florence (Firenze) - and thats exactly what we did last summer! GetYourGuide. Choose to add lunch on a scenic terrace, and/or a rewarding hike through coastal vineyards. Very nice circuit to discover the Cinque Terres. Next, take the train to Corniglia. First youll have a typical Ligurian lunch, where youll get the chance to taste the handmade pasta trofie with Pesto sauce, and other typical delicatessen. You will spend an unforgettable day discovering one of the most impressive Ligurian landscapes. Hiking the trail will take around 9 to 12 hours. Made The connection stations make little to no difference to you in practical terms, but connecting to the Intercity train in Pisa or La Spezia to Monterosso does increase the ticket coast significantly (i.e .15 increases to 25), so should be avoided. The meeting point differs from tour to tour. However, the surprisingly small Florence Airport, Peretola (FLR) - also known as Aeroporto di Firenze-Peretola AND Amerigo Vespucci Airport - is not a bad alternative. 100.000+ annually happy clients from all over the world! In Pisa you can visit a lot of monuments and beautiful buildings at the Piazza del Duomo. Flying or travelling into Florence and want to know how to get to the Cinque Terre? 20+ years of experience in tours management. Travel time to Firenze Santa Maria Novella train station will be about 15 minutes. Details of Florence is owned by Esther Baardemans and located at. With GetYourGuide Originals, you can enjoy complimentary rescheduling if youre late or plans change, and a full refund if youre not completely satisfied after taking your tour. Today Piazza del Campo acts as an open-air arena for the world famous Palio, a horserace that is organized twice a year (2th of July and 16th of August). Further, the narrow, winding roads which lead to them ain't fun. I might be biased, but Florence is the prettiest city of Italy. Aside from the most affordable and practical way to travel between the two, the train is also the most enjoyable. Siena is undeniably pretty, but it can be a bit overwhelming at times. Missed a train? Although its a 400 steps climb, its definitely worth the effort. This castle was built to protect the village from raids by pirates. Note that the closest village to La Spezia Centrale is Riomaggiore (8 minutes), whilst Monterosso is the furthest (23 minutes). Tours to Cinque Terre from Florence are full day lasting 12h up to 13h depending on your chosen tour. As were slow travel advocates and the Cinque Terre deserves much more than a single day, we don't recommend trying to visit it as a day trip from Florence. The most common and easy way to get from Florence to Pisa is also by train.. Pisa is only an hour away so youll have plenty of time to explore the city! 2-3 days in advance should be ok in most cases but sometimes you can book a tour to Cinque Terre from Florence even a day before the tour. This is not wrong advice, but is slightly misleading. Buy a 5 Terre Express day pass for just 16 at La Spezia Centrale and you can make a stop at every village. The Castle of Riomaggiore is also worth visiting. We assume that most of you reading this article will be choosing to spend a few days in the city first - if so, just skip to the next section. Meet your tour guide in Florence and start a journey that will take your breath away - head by coach to the seaside towns of Vernazza, Monterosso, Manarola and Riomaggiore. Apart from which hike you choose, remember to take your time and explore the lovely towns. What time should I arrive at the meeting point? If the weather allows it, you will then board a boat to navigate along the coast of the Cinque Terre. After youve enjoyed the amazing 360 degrees view of the city, continue your trip to the Civic Museum. The leaning tower of this city is just a 25 minute walk from Pisa Central Station. There are a myriad of ways to reach the station from elsewhere in Florence: the majority of the city's bus lines include it on their route as does the Tramvia tram, it's walkable from several popular accommodation areas, whilst a taxi from central Florence will cost about 13 + 1 per luggage item. 13 Wonderful Things To Do in the Cinque Terre, Cinque Terre Village Guides | Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore, 23 Things to Know Before Visiting Cinque Terre. Me and my husband went on this amazing tour and I must say that Cinque Terre are one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen. A vegetarian menu is available upon request for the optional lunch, please specify any allergies or intolerance at the time of booking. Cinque Terre, WoW! This tour is not wheelchair accessible. Departures run from about 6 am in high season, and all train journeys from Florence to Cinque Terre will require a connection (change of train) at La Spezia Centrale station. However, we do appreciate that some of you may have your heart set on visiting during your time in Italy. Read more, Explore the breathtaking Ligurian coast on a tour of Portovenere and the Cinque Terre, a . It promotes sustainable and responsible travel for the curious modern day explorer. Tip | You may also read that you should just book a train from Florence to La Spezia, and then transfer to the Cinque Terre Express train. Similarly, getting off at La Spezia station and buying an onward single ticket to a Cinque Terre village is often a teeny bit more expensive. Get a c. Along Dusty Roads is a travel blog by British couple, Andrew & Emily. We were very well supported by Tabata Lilo and Junko. What we'd actually recommend is to consider basing yourselves in one of the larger towns outside the Cinque Terre i.e. By using these you are directly supporting Along Dusty Roads to remain an independent travel blog, and to provide you with free content to help you travel more, and travel better. The coast, the five villages and the surrounding hills are a part of the National Park Cinque Terre which is under the protection of UNESCO. You'll also find a few options pop up with three connections, but we'd understand if you've got a bunch of luggage that this may not be worth the hassle! Let your tour leader guide you through the terraced vineyards, the ancient olive groves and the spectacular panoramic views that will stay in your memories forever. The most famous hiking trail in Cinque Terre is Sentiero Azzurro, in English the Blue Trail. Led only by 5-star guides and local aficionados, you can expect intriguing insights, fun facts, and stories from the people who call your destination home. All Rights Reserved, guide to visiting Cinque Terre from Florence, Cinque Terre Tour: The Scent of the Sea from Florence, Cinque Terre National Park: Full Day Tour from Florence, Day Trip to Pisa and Cinque Terre from Florence, Cinque Terre With Ligurian Lunch - Full Day Tour From Florence. However, a quick search of departures on any day will also bring up a variety of routes with two connections, usually in the combination of Florence > Pisa Centrale (1 hour), Pisa Centrale > La Spezia (60-90mins), La Spezia > your final stop in Cinque Terre (8-23 minutes). This part of Cinque Terre has a lot to offer. Once again, take your time to amble around the area on your own and discover everything fate has in store for you. Even the best case scenario of doing it independently, this would involve a minimum of five hours on the train. If you wish to cancel or amend your booking, you can do so without charge by contacting us up to 24 hours in advance of your expected departure time. Sit back, relax and enjoy the scenery: youll get there in about an hour. The Santa Maria della Spina is a much smaller church than the Pisa Cathedral, but this hallmark of 14th century Pisan architecture is definitely worth a visit. I think to much time was waisted on counting passengers and meeting points in each village.In fact we didnt see all 5 villages because we only had lunch in one of them and passed through the train station through the last one. Admire. Here is our list of most recommended tours and activities from Florence: If the tour gets canceled by the tour operator you are entitled to a full refund or you can participate on the tour on an alternative date (subject to availability). We have curated the best stops to offer you the best possible experience. We really loved this day trip and cannot recommend it enough. Handled all the questions, we had well. Note that there are no train connections between Florence Airport and the city. This is the main train station of the city, but do note there are others so be very clear that you're heading to the right one! After that youll enjoy the village of Riomaggiore a small village plenty of several colored houses, defined as tower - houses, developed in height on three or four floors, which follow the steep course of the stream Enjoy some free time before heading back to La Spezia where the bus will be waiting for you. Ferry boat and train tickets (only train in winter season), Free time in Manarola, Monterosso, Riomaggiore and Vernazza **From November 1st to March 31st the boat service is not available so the itinerary will be guaranteed with train**, The tour is confirmed only when the minimum number of people is reached, Travel by minivan 9 seats from Florence to the Cinque Terre. // Regular daily departures by train from Firenze Santa Maria Novella station. All Rights Reserved. These villages are known for their stunning coastal landscapes, which made them a really popular destination for tourists. In this blog Ill give you my tips for a day trip from Florence to these three popular destinations. The water is often a bit rough though, so keep that in mind if you suffer from seasickness. The Cinque Terre area consists of five fishing villages and is also known as Italys fabulous five. The first village youll see from the side of La Spezia is Riomaggiore. A private transfer from Florence Airport to Cinque Terre (188 km / 116 miles) will be expensive - at least 250 - and take about two hours. Enjoy free time to explore this beautiful village on your own. Can't find a suitable tour? The lowest price of tours to Cinque Terre from Florence start from 90 per person. After that you will reach Monterosso, known as the pearl of Cinque Terre. Then it is all aboard! as you are taken by train (14 minutes transfer) to the oldest town of Manarola, characterized by its colorful boats and waterfront looking out over the blue-grey rocks to the sea. From Santa Maria Novella station, you'll find regular Trenitalia trains (at least one an hour, sometimes two) to bring you to any of the five Cinque Terre villages in 2.5 - 3.5 hours. After exploring this last village, board the train back to La Spezia and then take the coach back to Florence. Please arrive 15 minutes before the start time of the tour. If that's the case, then you're going to be much better served by taking a guided tour with private transport from Florence. Less stress is always a good thing on road trips! Enjoy exploring an unforgettable paradise called Cinque Terre on this amazing tour. This takes longer and is more convoluted than simply taking the train, with minimal if any savings, so we do not recommend it. The cheapest and most practical option is the Volainbus shuttle service, picking up outside arrivals. Situated on the western edge of the historic centre, you can find it here on Google Maps. There was minimal time to visit Manarola, Corneglia, and Riomaggiore. Read more. Cinque Terre is a collective name given to five small and very picturesque vilages situated on the North-West coast of Italy. Excursions start from. No worries, a new train leaves the platform every hour to take you to Pisa. But it is entirely authentic, we can assure you. Here are some tips to help you find your way through the many cobblestone roads and alleys. Journeys on the Florence to Cinque Terre line will usually be on Regionale trains, which are slower, older, spacious, affordable, and have loads of room for luggage. From the city which forever changed our perception and appreciation of art with the Uffizi Gallery and a moment alone with the flawless perfection of David, it felt right to have a complete change of pace to lazing by the sea, eating locally caught seafood, and walking along dusty roads by steep vineyards on the north-west coast. In case of national railway strikes, we may be forced to change the itinerary and no refund will be issued since it is beyond our control. Get ready to enjoy a day made memorable with unique insider access. At this main square youll find the leaning tower, the Cathedral of Pisa, the Baptistry and much more. Tours however tend to proceed even in light rain - the decision is up to the tour operator. Also, make sure to read 9 Car Rental Tips for Travellers before you book anything online or in person - its guaranteed to save you money. Monterosso. For just 9 you can see the art of great Sienese artists from the 12th century, like Simone Martini and Ambrogio Lorenzetti. Tripadvisor 2019 Certificate of Excellence, Many of our tours offer the best price on the market. Ill happily advise you about visiting Cinque Terre, Pisa, Siena, and Florence of course. No, you havent! There, you will find the meeting point details along with some images, tips, links to Google Maps and GPS coordinates. If you're planning a day trip independently, then you can arrive and begin at any of the villages. Youll first reach Manarola, a tiny urban jewel characterized by Genoese style case-torri. Read more, Discover this 4 charming places on a wonderful tour that starts from Florence. After the hike, you will still be able to enjoy free time in Monterosso. Tuck into a lunch of fresh fish for your 'primo' and homemade pesto pasta for your secondo. Take the bus! If you're focussing on only travelling between the two, then its simply easier and more enjoyable to take the train. Small reservation also on the restaurant included, the Tiramisu comes out of an industrial box (seen by going to the toilet) and the portions are very small. However, if you're already planning on picking up your rental car in Florence and including a few nights in the Cinque Terre on your road trip itinerary, then you just need to plan ahead a little more. If you have selected the add-on, sit down at a local restaurant with a beautiful terrace and sea views. Its actually the second most important church in Tuscany, after the Cathedral of Florence.