How to get to Cinque Terre from Florence

There is one region not to be missed if you travel to Florence Cinque Terre. Made up of five villages (Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza and Monterosso al Mare) located in the Liguria region, this area is of unique natural beauty. Believe me, you can't miss it, as it is only 180 kilometres from the Tuscan capital.

Cinque Terre is well connected by road and rail, so you have no excuse to get to this Italian treasure. However, depending on how comfortable you want to be, you may want to opt for an organised tour, but if you don't mind changing trains or buses, you can always take a train or bus.

You are in Florence and you want to go to Cinque Terre? No wonder, it's a very beautiful area of the Italian coast. If I may give you a piece of advice, the best way to get to Cinque Terre is with an organised excursion. Not only will you have a comfortable and direct means of transport to get there in just two hours, but you will also find it easier to move between the villages, as these tours include visits to Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore.

The truth is that the Liguria region was declared a World Heritage Site for one reason: its beauty, ranging from culture to nature. I would not miss the opportunity to book an excursion to Cinque Terre and visit these five villages. Having a specialised guide to explain the most important things about each one is very practical. Moreover, depending on your preferences and budget, you can choose one type of tour or another.

Organised excursion to Cinque Terre by shared transport

A more affordable option for all budgets (approximately from 59 €) is an organised tour with other tourists. Don't worry, groups are usually 20 people or less, so that the experience remains unique and feels personal. The best thing about these activities is that you will travel in a comfortable, air-conditioned vehicle (very necessary in hot months like August in Florence). In addition, the guide who accompanies the group enriches the visit with his explanations.

This tour is very good value for money, as the journey from Florence to Cinque Terre is direct (no intermediate stops) and you will be picked up at a common and central point in the city. Once in the region, you'll be able to move between villages by train or boat, which is most often included in the price. You'll also have free time to explore each town at your leisure.

Alternatively, if you want to forget about finding a place to eat, you can book lunch. It usually costs extra but it's worth it, as it includes drinks and typical local products.

Useful information

• Price: From 59 € approximately.
• Duration: around two and a half hours (approximately 12.5 hours of excursion, no overnight stay).
• Disadvantage: you share the journey with another group of people.
• Recommended if you want to go directly to Cinque Terre without transfers or intermediate stops.

Organised excursion to Cinque Terre by private transport

Can you imagine a tailor-made trip to this scenic treasure? Easy, you can book a private and exclusive tour. Although the price is somewhat high (around 700 €) you will enjoy a personalised tour of the Cinque Terre from minute one, as a car or minivan will pick you up at your hotel in Florence to accompany you during the excursion through the villages.

In total, about 11 hours to get to know this place comfortably. The great advantage of this type of excursion is that you decide the time and the places you want to visit.

Interesting facts

• Price: approximately 700 ¤.
• Duration: about two and a half hours (approximately 12 hours of excursion, no overnight stay).
• Disadvantage: higher price than other options.
• Recommended if you want to enjoy a fully personalised visit to Cinque Terre.

If you are in Florence and want to go to Cinque Terre, you should consider the train. It is a public means of transport and connects both regions quite well. The full journey costs about 14 € (one way) and takes about two and a half hours, so you can see it's worth it. Just bear in mind that the train leaves you in La Spezia, although it's easy to get to the Cinque Terre from La Spezia.

Getting from Florence to La Spezia

The first thing you have to do is go to Santa Maria Novella Station in Florence and take the train from there. It runs every two hours, so if you want to make sure you get a seat it is best to buy your ticket in advance from the official website.

It may happen that the train requires you to change trains in Pisa. Bear this in mind and buy a ticket that is direct, but if it is not, don't worry as the journey time will only increase by about 15 minutes.

Getting from La Spezia to Cinque Terre

Once you get to La Spezia, if you are travelling between March and October, I recommend you get the Cinque Terre Card; this ticket costs about €15 and includes all the routes between the two places, so you can use it for the whole day to get around the five towns. If you're only going to one or two of them or you're out of season, you'll have to buy tickets individually (about €4 each way).

The other option is the boat; the price is higher (about €30) but if you buy it to go from La Spezia to one of the Cinque Terre villages then you can also use it to go between Vernazza, Manarola, Riomaggiore and Monterroso. Please note, it is only available between April and October.

Interesting facts

• Price: about 30 € (in total).
• Duration: about three hours.
• Disadvantage: transfers are necessary.
• Recommended if you are looking for good value for money.

If you were waiting for a public bus from Florence to Cinque Terre, I'm sorry to say that there are no bus lines that cover this route. However, you always have the option of buying a ticket from one of the private companies that leave from Piazzale Montelungo (a few metres from Santa Maria Novella Station in Florence) and drive to La Spezia, the closest town to Cinque Terre. The trip costs about €20 (return trip) and takes about three to four hours, although in traffic it can be even longer.

Once you get to La Spezia by bus, you'll have no choice but to take a regional train to one of the five towns (about €4 each way). If you prefer, you can buy the Cinque Terre Card and, for around €15, you can travel from one village to another in the spring and summer months.

Interesting facts

• Price: between 10 € and 20 € approximately.
• Duration: about three hours.
• Disadvantage: Only local and private companies operate.
• Recommended if you want to save on your trip.

I don't recommend renting a car just to make the three-hour drive from Florence to Cinque Terre, although if you have a rental car (about 30 euros per day) during your trip to the Tuscan capital, you can use it to make the journey. Remember, you'll need a driving licence from an EU country.

Although visiting the Liguria region by car has the great advantage of being able to adapt the trip to your own time, you should bear in mind that you cannot drive into any of the five towns (Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore). Therefore, you will have to park at the roadside. Another option is to find a car park in La Spezia, which is a larger town, and then take the regional train to Cinque Terre.

Interesting facts

• Price: about 30 € (one day rental).
• Duration: about three hours.
• Disadvantage: driving and parking is difficult due to the quality of the roads.
• Recommended if you want to move freely around Cinque Terre.

Are you thinking of taking a taxi from Florence to Cinque Terre? It is indeed an option, although it is more expensive. The fare will be around 200 € one way, and the price of an Uber-type VTC is similar. However, you can consider it if you are travelling with a group of friends and you share the cost, as you can adapt the departure times to your needs.

How to call a taxi in Florence? There are several companies, but the main thing is to make sure that it is an official taxi, one of those with a city licence number on the bodywork. If you are travelling with children in Florence, remember to book in advance in case child seats are required. If you prefer to use a VTC, the Uber application works perfectly well.

Useful information

• Price: approximately 200 € (one way).
• Duration: about two and a half hours.
• Disadvantage: high price.
• Recommended if you are travelling with a group of people and do not want to depend on timetables.

Have you already planned your visit to Cinque Terre? If you leave from Florence you can see that you have several options to complete the tour, some of them quite comfortable and fast.