Cinque Terre and Pisa day trip from Florence: Private driver

Cinque Terre's five villages sit on cliffs with no road between them. You move by local train and boat.

A private day trip from Florence to Cinque Terre and Pisa with your own English-speaking driver and Mercedes vehicle. Your driver drops you in Riomaggiore and briefs you on train and boat options to visit all five villages at your own pace, then meets you in Monterosso for the drive to Pisa's Leaning Tower before returning to Florence. The route covers two UNESCO World Heritage Sites in a single day with maximum flexibility and no group schedule.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each2 stops

1. Riomaggiore30m
2. Leaning Tower of Pisa30m

Visit Cinque Terre and Pisa

• Drive from Florence to Riomaggiore
• Visit Riomaggiore village
• Take local train to Manarola
• Explore Manarola and Church of San Lorenzo
• Pass by Corniglia village
• Boat ride from Manarola to Vernazza
• Admire Vernazza port and castle
• Train ride to Monterosso
• Walk and explore Monterosso old town
• Meet driver in Monterosso
• Drive to Pisa Piazza dei Miracoli
• Visit Leaning Tower and nearby monuments
• Drive back to Florence

The experience

Riomaggiore is where your driver leaves you after a couple of hours north-west from Florence. From there, you move through the villages using the local train. A short three-minute ride gets you to Manarola, built 70 meters above sea level on a high rock and known for the Church of San Lorenzo, a Gothic Ligurian structure from 1338. Corniglia comes next, an ancient Roman village surrounded by vineyards and terraces on three sides. Between Manarola and Vernazzo, weather and sea conditions permitting, you can take a local boat ride to see Corniglia from the water and reach Vernazzo's tiny port, where pastel-colored houses ring a medieval castle built to defend against pirates. Monterosso, the final village, sits on sandy beaches and splits into two parts: Fegina (the newer section where the train station sits) and the old town with its castle ruins and narrow medieval streets called carruggi.

Your driver remains in the area throughout your Cinque Terre visit and will brief you on how to use the train and boat before dropping you off, answering questions about timing and meeting points. This setup means you explore each village without a guide's pace or a fixed schedule. You choose which ones to linger in and which boat or train rides to take. After you finish in Monterosso, your driver meets you for a 90-minute drive south to Pisa. The stop is brief: you're dropped 20 meters from the Leaning Tower in Piazza dei Miracoli, the square that also holds the Cathedral and Baptistry, giving you time to photograph the tower and walk around the complex before the final hour's drive back to Florence.

The vehicle is a fully equipped Mercedes with air conditioning, WiFi on board, and bottled water included. Your driver speaks English and Italian, handles all fees and taxes, and can adjust meeting times or points if your plans shift during the day. The entire outing runs about ten hours from pickup to drop-off.

What’s included

• Private English-speaking driver and fully equipped Mercedes vehicle with air conditioning.
• hotel pickup and drop-off in Florence.
• briefing on train and boat options to customize your day.
• bottled water and WiFi on board.
• all fees and taxes.

Information

Lasts 10h, runs every day, 5 start times, from € 550 per person, with a live guide in English and Italian, as a private tour and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesEvery day5 departure times: 07:00, 07:30, 08:00, 08:30 and 09:00

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and Italian

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Book up toStart time

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 2 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyInfant seats availablePublic transport nearbyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Prestige Rent

Is this one for you?This tour involves substantial walking on hilly, uneven ground in each village and requires good fitness and health to join. It suits travelers who want to explore Cinque Terre's five villages at their own pace without a guide, moving by local train and boat, rather than following a fixed group itinerary.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Italian.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What is Manarola like compared to the other Cinque Terre villages?

Manarola sits 70 meters above sea level on a high rock and is considered one of the most charming and romantic of the five villages, with the Church of San Lorenzo, a Gothic Ligurian structure built in 1338, as its main landmark.

Can I take a boat between the villages?

Yes, weather and sea conditions permitting, you can take a local boat ride between Manarola and Vernazzo to see Corniglia from the water and reach Vernazzo's tiny port with its medieval castle and pastel-colored houses.

Does the driver stay with me in Cinque Terre?

Your driver drops you in Riomaggiore and briefs you on train and boat options, then remains in the area and available should you need assistance or want to change your meeting point or time. You meet again in Monterosso to drive to Pisa.

What do I see in Pisa?

The Leaning Tower in Piazza dei Miracoli, where your driver drops you 20 meters from the tower so you can photograph it and admire the Cathedral and Baptistry in the same square.

How do I move between the five villages?

You use the local train to travel between villages (a three-minute ride connects Riomaggiore to Manarola, and similar short rides link the others), or take a boat ride between Manarola and Vernazzo if conditions allow.