Cinque Terre day trip from Florence: Coastal train & beach

Train through five villages, then swim and eat on the beach

A day trip from Florence to Cinque Terre with an English-speaking guide, round-trip coach transport, and local train rides between the five coastal towns. You explore Manarola and Riomaggiore on foot, pick up fresh pesto pizza and focaccia, then spend four hours swimming and relaxing on Monterosso's white sand beach before returning to Florence at sunset.

Step-by-step itinerary

Cinque Terre day trip from Florence

• Meet guides at Piazzale Montelungo
• Board air-conditioned coach bus
• Drive two hours to La Spezia
• Take coastal train to Manarola
• Explore Manarola and take photos
• Visit Riomaggiore and eat pesto pizza
• Train to Monterosso al Mare
• Relax on Monterosso beach for four hours
• Return by bus to Florence

The experience

The day starts at Piazzale Montelungo Bus Terminal, about five minutes behind Florence's Santa Maria Novella Train Station. You board a fully-fitted coach for a two-hour drive to La Spezia, the coastal city closest to Cinque Terre. Your English-speaking guide briefs the group on the itinerary as the bus heads south. Most participants are college-aged travelers, so the atmosphere is social and informal.

At La Spezia train station, you transfer to the famous coastal train that connects the five villages. The first stop is Manarola, a ten-minute ride where you have about an hour to explore. The town sits between green vineyards carved into the cliffs and the cobalt sea. Your guide points out the Instagram viewpoint and the best spots to dip your toes in the water. Next is Riomaggiore, an ancient fishing village where you stop at a local restaurant to pick up fresh pesto pizza and focaccia, then wander the alleyways down to the natural port. After an hour there, another ten-minute train ride takes you to Monterosso al Mare.

Monterosso is where the day opens up. Your guide leads you to the wide, white sand beach, and you have four hours to swim in the clear water, grab a pina colada, order fresh fried seafood, and simply sit under the sun. If you'd rather explore a different town (Vernazzo has a smaller beach and a different feel), your guide gives you the instructions to get there and back. The return journey is a two-hour coach ride back to Florence, departing La Spezia as the sun sets over Tuscany. You arrive in Florence in the early evening.

What’s included

• Round-trip luxury coach transport from Florence to La Spezia.
• local train transfers between all five villages.
• English-speaking guide for the full day.
• free time to explore Manarola, Riomaggiore, Monterosso, and Vernazzo.
• four hours on Monterosso's white sand beach to swim and relax.

Information

Lasts 12h 30m, from € 115 per person, with a live guide in English and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesNext departure: 3 Apr 202711 departing soon ›

GroupUp to 80

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Book up to2d before

AgesAdult (18 to 25 years) · Under 18: can't be booked

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 10 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortPublic transport nearbyNot recommended with heart problems

Operated by Smart Trip Europe

Is this one for you?Pick this if you want to explore all five villages and the coast with other travelers in your age group, rather than joining mixed-age tours or going solo.

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Top questions

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's the train journey like between the villages?

The coastal train runs about ten minutes between each stop, and you travel with your guide. The route hugs the water, so you see the sea the whole way, and the ride itself is part of the experience, not just transport to the next town.

How much free time do you actually get in each town?

Manarola gives you about an hour to explore and swim; Riomaggiore is also about an hour, including time to eat at the local restaurant your guide takes you to; Monterosso is where the time opens up: four full hours on the beach and in town.

Can you swim at all the stops, or just Monterosso?

You can dip your toes in the sea at Manarola, and Monterosso has the main beach with four hours to swim properly. Vernazzo, the optional fifth town, also has a smaller beach if you choose to go there instead of staying in Monterosso.

What's included in the price?

Round-trip coach transport from Florence, the local train transfers between villages, and an English-speaking guide for the day. Food and drinks are on you. The guide takes you to a restaurant in Riomaggiore for pesto pizza and focaccia, but you pay for what you order.

How long is the whole day, and when do you get back?

The tour is about twelve and a half hours from pickup to drop-off. You leave Florence in the morning, spend the afternoon in Cinque Terre, and return in the early evening as the sun sets.