Five cliffside villages on the Ligurian coast, about two and a half hours from Florence by road. Tours link Monterosso, Vernazza and Manarola by train or boat; some add Pisa.
Last update:
Free Tours in Florence
Accademia Gallery Tickets
Uffizi Gallery Tickets
Florence Duomo Tickets
Florence Duomo Climb Tickets
Wine Tours
Pasta Making Classes
Uffizi Gallery Tours
Uffizi and Accademia Tickets
Tuscany Bike Tours
Gelato Tours
Leonardo da Vinci Museum
Night Tours
Olive Oil Tours
Palazzo Vecchio Tours
Pitti Palace and Boboli Gardens Tickets
Renaissance Tours
Santa Croce Tours
Vespa Tours
Other Experiences
The five villages of Cinque Terre, Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza and Monterosso al Mare, cling to the Ligurian cliffs roughly 2.5 to 3 hours from Florence, and the round trip takes around 6 hours of travel. Most of the trips we describe last about 12 hours. We list 21 day trips from Florence to these villages. Travellers have rated the Cinque Terre trips shown here 4.6 out of 5 on average, across more than 13,688 reviews. Across the whole Cinque Terre listing, a trip runs between 10 and 13 hours.
On a guided coach day, a tour leader or escort travels with the group from Florence, and the hours on the coast are shared between free time in the villages and the trains or boats that join them. One of these gives "Free time in Vernazza, Monterosso, Riomaggiore and Pisa (if Pisa option is selected)", as its listing puts it, with an optional hiking choice and a coastal boat ride paid on the day if the weather allows; its rating is 4.9 out of 5.
Street-food options appear on other coach days from Florence, and they differ mainly in how they move you along the coast. One names four of the five villages, Monterosso, Vernazza, Manarola and Riomaggiore, adds a boat ride and time on the beach, and guides in English and Spanish, at 4.5 out of 5. Another, of about 13 hours, lets you pick a train or a ferry ticket between the villages, with an escort speaking English, Spanish or Italian; travellers rate it 4.6 out of 5.
A small-group day covers the same distance from Florence by coach, with a smaller party sharing one tour leader. This version leaves free time in Monterosso to swim or shop, runs along the coast by boat or train, and offers an optional traditional lunch and an optional Pisa stop with Leaning Tower entry. It guides in English and Spanish and holds 4.4 out of 5.
Boat days put a ride along the Ligurian Riviera at the heart of the outing from Florence. This one adds free time in Vernazza for lunch, shopping or swimming, a light walk through the vineyards of Manarola and a stop in Pisa to see the Leaning Tower from outside, with an English-speaking escort and a rating of 4.8 out of 5.
A private day swaps the shared coach for a minivan from Florence that carries only your own party. This version, of about 13 hours, includes a Cinque Terre Card for the trains between villages, a local tour leader with tips and a one-hour stop in Pisa, so the villages are seen at your own pace.
| Type of day trip | ★ | Duration | Includes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Guided coach day, park entry included | 4.9 | ~12h | National Park entry + Free time in Vernazza, Monterosso and Riomaggiore + Boat ride paid on the day |
| Small group by air-conditioned bus | 4.4 | ~12h | Round-trip bus + Tour leader + Train tickets and Leaning Tower entry (by option) |
| Coach day with a coastal boat ride | 4.8 | ~12h | National Park tickets + English-speaking escort + Free Wi-Fi on board |
| Private minivan with a Pisa stop | — | ~13h | Cinque Terre Card + Local tour leader + One-hour stop in Pisa |
From Florence, the day trips we describe differ in group size, in how they move between villages, by boat, train or ferry, and in whether a Pisa stop is part of the plan. Of the tours shown here, "Florence: Cinque Terre Day Trip with Optional Hiking or Pisa" has collected the most reviews, more than 6,291, and a rating of 4.9 out of 5.
Table data is indicative and comes from the GuruWalk catalogue. Each activity's current details, including availability, are the ones shown on its listing when you book.
Driving yourself to Cinque Terre is discouraged: the villages are closed to visitor vehicles and parking is nearly nonexistent. Independent travellers take an early train to La Spezia and the Cinque Terre Express between villages; the trips we describe cover the road from Florence by coach or minivan instead.
Monterosso al Mare, the largest of the five, has the coast's one proper sandy beach. Several of the tours we describe leave free time there or in Vernazza to swim; pack swimwear and a towel if you want time in the sea.
Trofie pasta with local basil pesto is the Ligurian dish to look for. One of our trips leaves free time for lunch in Vernazza, while another offers an optional traditional lunch.
Vernazza keeps a medieval harbour and narrow alleys, Riomaggiore's marina is lined with steep rows of ochre and pink houses, and Manarola has the postcard view of its harbour. "Take a light hike through Manarola’s seaside vineyards", one listing notes, so comfortable shoes help on that day. A Cinque Terre Train Card covers both the trains between the villages and the hiking trails.
Each Cinque Terre day trip we describe offers free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure from Florence. On one coach day the boat ride is subject to the weather, so a look at the forecast before that deadline pays off.
English is on every trip we describe, and Spanish joins it on several coach and small-group days. One coach day with a train or ferry option also lists Italian, so check the language on each listing before you choose.
On several of the tours we describe the park entry ticket is included, though not in the transport-only or semi-independent options where those exist. The private minivan day includes a Cinque Terre Card for train access between the villages.
