Did you know one of the best things to do in Florence is to leave and go from Florence to Cinque Terre? Well, at least this is my opinion because Cinque Terre is hands down one of the most stunning places I’ve ever been.
I planned an Italy trip for my mom and I, and knew that after visiting Rome and Florence, some time at the seaside would be needed. The first time I went, I drove with a friend from Milan, so this time, I needed to figure out the best way to get from Florence to Cinque Terre (without a car!).
So if you’ve also been wondering the best way to get from Florence to Cinque Terre, I’ve outlined all of the options so you can see what fits your Italy travel plans best, including travel by car, train, transfers, and tours.
In addition, you’ll also find some handy tips and information about Cinque Terre to help plan your visit.
You cannot skip this view in Cinque Terre: Manarola
Fun Facts about Cinque Terre
- In Italian, Cinque Terre means “Five Lands” – which fits perfectly as there are five villages to explore.
- You won’t see cars in the villages. You can reach them by car, but you’d have to walk to each village!
- The pesto here is famous! You can even take a fresh pesto making class (with amazing sea views).
- It’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- The lemons here are amazing. Try the lemonata if it’s in season!
The Five Villages of Cinque Terre
Cinque Terre is home to five charming, colorful, and historical villages that will have your jaw dropping.
If you can visit for a few days, then you’ll easily be able to visit all five of them. Of course you can visit all five in a day, but I find it too rushed. If you decide to make it a day trip, then the breakdown of the villages below will help you better plan which ones to go to!
Manarola
Delicious Bruschetta & Aperol at Nessun Dorma
Manarola stands out for its long and rugged coastline with colorful homes perched on top. There’s also some impressive and massive rocks people dive off of there! To make the most of it, visit Nessun Dorma in the evening for bruschetta and wine – the view will forever be embedded in your head.
Riomaggiore
One of my favorite views in all of Italy.
Riomaggiore is one of the most unique-looking villages, tucked into towering cliffsides. To get there you can walk through the tunnel from the train station or take the longer, scenic route along the cliffs. It’s a village known for its fried seafood. I recommend trying the seafood frito misto (which means “fried mixed”).
Corniglia
Don’t forget to try the basil (and basil lemon) gelatos at Alberto Gelateria
Corniglia is the smallest of the villages, and there are A LOT of stairs to get there from the train station. But if you're really determined to visit, try to catch the shuttle that goes up to the village!. Even walking down the stairs took about 10 minutes!
This village is known for its basil gelato. Yes, I tried it, and yes, it was delicious.
Monterosso del Mar
The place for a quintessential beach day in Italy
This village is the only one with a long sandy beach and is as picturesque as it gets with blue and orange beach umbrellas lining its coast. You have to pay for the beach chairs, but they are worth it if you want a full beach day.
Vernazza
The hike for this view is 100% worth it.
Vernazza has a bit of it all, including food, souvenir shops, views, and sunbathing spots (yes, you can also swim!). My main recommendation would be to hike to the stunning viewpoint. It’s a pretty steep hike up the stairs, but trust me, the stairs won’t be the only thing that takes your breath away.
Klook Tip: You can technically swim in all of the villages except for Corniglia. Monterosso is the only village with a sand beach while the others are rocky.
Ways to Get to Cinque Terre from Florence
There are multiple ways to go from Florence to Cinque Terre, including private transfers, driving, and public transit. Depending on how long you plan to stay and your adventure style, one of the options below is bound to tickle your fancy.
By Private Transfer or Tour
Our wheels to Cinque Terre for the day (starting in Florence)
If you have limited time but can’t miss Cinque Terre, the most efficient option is a private transfer. When I was staying in Florence, my mom and I visited Cinque Terre on a day trip that included a round-trip transfer from Florence Santa Maria Novella Station and back.
The driving time is about 2.5 hours each way, but it’s SO worth it.
The booking (shown below) included a tour add-on option, which could be useful for first-timers in Cinque Terre. Since it was my second visit, we chose the “transfer only” option, and I took my mom to my favorite spots on our own time.
By Car
Chances are you’ll only drive from Florence to Cinque Terre if you’re road tripping through Italy. With this, let’s hit the gas!
As it’s hard to park cars in the actual Cinque Terre National Park, your best bet is to book accommodation in La Spezia, park there, and take the train into Cinque Terre. From Florence to La Spezia, the drive is about 2 hours.
As for some scenic stops, there are two main driving routes that pass through some must-see sights in Italy, including the Leaning Tower of Pisa.
Haven’t made it to Pisa yet? Take the SGC Firenze-Pisa-Livorno route and make an hour stop to see the iconic tower.
The other option is to start on E76/A11 from Florence and make a stop in the town of Lucca which is dripping in medieval architecture and Tuscan views.
By Train
Another option to Cinque Terre? Catch the train!
You can journey via train travel from Florence to Cinque Terre in a bit over two hours. The route starts at S.M. Novella, the main train station in Florence, transfers to Pisa and ends in La Spezia.
As someone that typically uses Google for routes, in this case you can’t trust Google because it says Florence to Cinque Terre by train is 3 or 4 hours (which isn’t true)! For the quickest and most accurate train routes, search the Florence to La Spezia route on TrenItalia’s official website.
Visit Pisa on the Way from Florence to Cinque Terre
If you haven’t been to Pisa yet…this is your chance to make it happen!
One of the best stops you can make on the way to Cinque Terre from Florence is Pisa!
If you’re driving, you can make a stop for an hour or so and continue on to Cinque Terre. If you have luggage in the car, keep it out of view if possible and lock your doors. Sadly, car thefts isn’t uncommon in Italy!
What about by train? Well, if you’re going from Florence to Cinque Terre by train, you have to transfer in Pisa, which means you can make a stop.
The Leaning Tower of Pisa is about a 15-minute walk from the train station. If you’re going on a day trip, it might be a bit of a rush to do this option. If you’re planning to stay in Cinque Terre, then you can even use luggage lockers to store your belongings while you explore Pisa before continuing onto Cinque Terre.
Another way to see Pisa and Cinque Terre is on a day trip from Florence. That’s right, sit back and go along with the ride! This day tour from Florence takes you to Monterosso del Mare, Manarola, and Pisa. No planning or navigating required.
Tips to Make the Most out of Visiting Cinque Terre
Buy a Train Pass
Always check the train platform for the most accurate schedules.
The most popular way to travel to all of Cinque Terre’s villages is by the train that goes from La Spezia to Levanto, with the villages in between.
You can buy individual train tickets, but if you take 3 or more rides per day and want to hike, buying a train pass is the best option.
You can buy one to three-day train passes that cover unlimited train rides and the blue hiking trail. You don’t need to scan anything to get on the train; just save the passes to your email (or print them out), and if a ticket checker comes around, show them your passes.
Best Place to Stay Overnight
One of the best places to stay is in La Spezia, which is a city located just below Cinque Terre.
The benefits? It has cheaper food options, more nightlife, and the train from La Spezia to the first village, Riomaggiore, is only 6 minutes.
You can also stay overnight in one of the five villages, but it will be more costly. Many of the villages are loaded with stairs to climb, so be mindful before booking!
Hiking Tips
If you want to hike in Cinque Terre, the most popular path is the blue trail, which connects all five of the villages. You can buy an individual day hiking pass, or if you buy a train pass, it includes access to the blue trail.
The day we chose to go hiking, I packed my shoes because hikers are required to wear closed-toe shoes. The official website recommends hiking boots that cover your ankle, but closed-toe tennis shoes were perfectly fine.
Trail closures can happen, so do check your planned route beforehand!
FAQ About Cinque Terre
What is the best way to travel from Florence to Cinque Terre?
There are multiple ways to travel from Florence to Cinque Terre, which vary depending on your travel plans.
For a day trip to Cinque Terre, booking a transfer/tour or taking the train are the best options.
If you’re renting a car and driving around Italy, you can reach Cinque Terre in just a few hours from Florence and make some scenic stops along the way!
How long is the high-speed train from Cinque Terre to Florence?
If you want to go from Florence to Cinque Terre by train, you can reach La Spezia Station in about 2 to 2.5 hours.
From La Spezia you can reach Riomaggiore, the first village of Cinque Terre in six minutes. Trains depart from La Spezia every 15 to 30 minutes.
Is it worth doing a day trip from Florence to Cinque Terre?
Any day trip that includes fresh trofie al pesto is always worth it.
100%. There’s nowhere like Cinque Terre, from the stunning blue waters to the freshly made pesto.
If you’ve been traveling in Italy and spent most of your time in cities like Rome, Florence, or Venice, it’s an absolute must to change up the vibes, and Cinque Terre does just that. Especially in the summertime, you can reward yourself with a beach day here!
Now that you’ve got all this information, enjoy Cinque Terre and be sure to eat some of my favorite foods there (especially the basil gelato!).
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