Cinque Terre Day Trips from Florence
These colorful and picturesque villages hanging from cliffs overlooking the sea will add a special touch to your trip. Here's how to visit them
Cinque Terre coastal landscape | ©Richard Mortel
Cinque Terre is an idyllic coastal area of the Italian Riviera, 170 kilometers from Florence. This region encompasses five picturesque villages, perched on impressive cliffs: Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore.
Cinque Terre Day Trip from Florence
Travel comfortably to Cinque Terre with a professional guide
Discover the picturesque villages of Monterosso, Vernazza, Manarola and Riomaggiore on a bus trip from Florence accompanied by a professional guide.
With this excursion to Cinque Terre from Florence, you will visit one of the most beautiful natural areas of the Mediterranean, home to the villages of Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore, located approximately 200 kilometers from Florence.
On this tour, which you will travel by bus from Florence, you will be accompanied by a professional guide who will tell you all about the history and architecture of each town. In addition, you have the option to include lunch in the excursion - don't hesitate! It's a trip that is a must.
The best time to travel to Cinque Terre is in the warm months to enjoy its beaches, but you have to keep in mind that in July and August there is a lot of tourism.
Recommended if... It is a must if you travel to Florence, especially if your trip coincides with the spring and summer months, a natural paradise!
The best excursions to Cinque Terre from Florence
The Cinque Terre area is easily accessible from Florence and there are organized tours that get you there and back in the same day.
My favorite option is the Cinque Terre Getaway from Florence - from $64
Cinque Terre from Florence
With this 12 and a half hour day trip to Cinque Terre from Florence, you will get to know the four most important towns that make up Cinque Terre: Riomaggiore, Manarola, Monterosso and Vernazza in one day.
You will be accompanied by a guide who will tell you all about the history and architecture of these beautiful villages, but you will also have time to explore on your own the narrow streets of Riomaggiore, the olive groves of Vernazza and the medieval relics of Manarola. In addition, you have the option to include both a typical local lunch in a restaurant overlooking the ocean to recharge your batteries along the way, as well as all transportation by bus, train and boat.
Tip: Bring your swimsuit and you can swim in the turquoise waters of Monterosso's beaches!
What is included in this tour
- Round trip transfers by fully equipped bus.
- Visit to Monterosso, Vernazza, Manarola and Riomaggiore.
- Lunch (optional).
- Trains and boats in Cinque Terre (optional).
Itinerary
- Manarola
- Riomaggiore
- Monterosso
- Vernazza
Private tour of Cinque Terre with visit to Manarola, Vernazza and Corniglia
Enjoy the most beautiful villages of Cinque Terre in a more exclusive way is also possible, with this private tour from Florence to Cinque Terre. A private vehicle will pick you up from your hotel in Florence and take you to discover the wonders of Manarola, Vernazza and Corniglia. Along the way you will make a stop to see the famous Carrara marble quarries.
This option is ideal if you prefer to invest in a more exclusive experience without having to share the day with other travelers, this is the best option. The best thing about this tour is that you can also include an additional stop in the Tuscan city of Pisa, which I highly recommend for you and your companions to see the famous Leaning Tower of Pisa.
Why I like this tour
If you prefer to invest in a more exclusive experience without having to share the day with other travelers, this is the best option. The best thing about this tour is that you can also include an additional stop in the Tuscan city of Pisa, which I highly recommend for you and your companions to see the famous Leaning Tower of Pisa.
What this tour includes
- Private day tour to the towns of Manarola, Vernazza and Corniglia
- Hotel pick-up and drop-off at the accommodations within the city of Florence
- Private transportation in minivan or air-conditioned car
Itinerary
- Manarola
- Vernazza
- Corniglia
- Carrara marble quarries on the road to Cinque Terre
- Possibility to stop in Pisa
Why is it worth visiting Cinque Terre?
On your excursion to Cinque Terre from Florence you will be amazed by the colorful facades of the old houses. This is probably the best known and most remarkable aspect, but not the only one. Made up of four villages bathed by the Mediterranean, Monterosso, Vernazza, Manarola and Riomaggiore, and one inland, Corniglia, the Cinque Terre is an unforgettable place dotted with natural landscapes, unique architecture, exotic beaches, hiking trails, exquisite cuisine and sites of cultural interest.
Manarola
Manarola, located on a hill that stretches down to the sea, is the most famous town in the Cinque Terre. It has a pleasant port, where you can enjoy a meal in one of its many restaurants and take some souvenirs from the local stores, and a swimming area called Marina di Manarola.
Among its attractions are its medieval relics, the Church of San Lorenzo and a viewpoint that surrounds a cliff towards Corniglia and from where you can get the best photos of the area, especially at sunset.
Riomaggiore
Known for its local wine, cobblestone streets and houses with pastel-colored facades extending to a charming little port, Riomaggiore is one of the most beautiful villages in Cinque Terre due to its exceptional setting on a steep mountain above the valley of the Maggiore River.
This town, which dates back to the 13th century, has an interesting historic center with the Church of San Giovanni Battista, the Castle and the Church of the Confraternita dell'Assunta. To get the best souvenir of Riomaggiore, go down to the port and look for its stone jetty, from where you will get postcard-perfect photos. Do you want to take the opportunity to take a dip? Follow the small path that leaves the pier, which will lead you to a small and beautiful rocky beach.
Monterosso al Mare
Located in a small natural gulf, Monterosso al Mare is the largest town in Cinque Terre and the best place to stay as a base of operations if you are thinking of sleeping there, as it has a larger hotel offer and therefore more affordable prices than the other towns.
If you like the beach, you will love Monterosso, as it has the longest beaches in the area, bathed by crystal clear waters. Also interesting is its historic center, with outstanding attractions such as the statue 'Il Gigante', emblem of the city, the Aurora Tower and the Church of St. John the Baptist.
Vernazza
Vernazza, surrounded by terraced olive groves that are said to produce some of the best olive oil in Italy, is a village of narrow, colorful streets perched on a hill and can be reached on foot and on a beautiful, if somewhat arduous, trek from Monterroso al Mare.
Among the cultural sites of Vernazza it is worth seeing the church of Santa Margherita d'Antioch, built on a pleasant square, and the Doria Castle, from whose tower you can admire the best views of the village.
Corniglia
You will not reach Corniglia without first climbing its Lardarina, a staircase of 382 steps up to the 100-meter-high hill where the only inland village of Cinque Terre and the smallest one stands. This town is surrounded by terraced vineyards and olive groves, and among its tourist attractions, the churches located in its main square, Piazza Largo Taragio, stand out.
The best beaches in Cinque Terre
One of the best things to do on this excursion to Cinque Terre from Florence is to enjoy its beautiful beaches and swim in the turquoise waters of the Ligurian Sea. Among the various beaches in Cinque Terre are:
- Vernazza. The beach of Vernazza is made of gravel and rocks and is hidden behind a cave.
- Guvano. This natural and wild beach with crystal clear waters is in Corniglia and is one of the most beautiful in Cinque Terre.
- Fegina. It is the only sandy beach of Cinque Terre and the largest and most frequented.
Hiking in Cinque Terre
If you also like hiking and take advantage of your travels to do trekking routes, Cinque Terre will make you fall in love with it because it is one of the best areas of the country to practice this sport thanks to its landscape full of cliffs, postcard villages, vineyards and olive trees.
Cinque Terre has a famous 12 km route, the Blue Trail, which is a marvel because it takes you between the five villages in the area by the shortest and easiest way. To do any of the sections of this trail you must buy the Cinque Terre Card, which costs less than 8€, and go equipped with water and comfortable clothes and shoes.
Other interesting activities in Florence
If this article about how to visit Cinque Terre from Florence has been useful for you, you may be interested in consulting my guide about Tours and Daytrips from Florenceor my guide on Pisa Day Trips from Florence. If you are interested in getting to know Florence in depth, you cannot miss the Duomo and the Uffizi and Accademia Galleries. Here are the links to their guides so you can organize your visit: Florence Duomo Tickets and Tours: how to buy, prices and schedules, Uffizi Gallery Tickets and Tours in Florence: how to buy, prices and schedules y Accademia Gallery Tickets and Tours in Florence: how to buy, prices and discounts.