Cinque Terre Day Trip from Florence with Hiking & Pisa Option

Five villages, one unforgettable day on the Italian Riviera

You travel by coach and train through five coastal villages, with the option to hike the cliffside trails between them or take the train instead. Free time in each village lets you swim, eat local food, and explore narrow streets. A scenic boat ride to the final village runs April through October if weather permits. The Pisa add-on swaps your return journey for a stop at the famous tower and cathedral before heading back to Florence.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Cinque Terre villages from Florence

• Depart Florence by luxury coach
• Coach journey with guide commentary
• Arrive La Spezia and board train
• Explore Manarola village
• Optional walk to panoramic viewpoints
• Visit Corniglia village
• Free time for lunch in Corniglia
• Hike or train to Vernazza village
• Free time in Vernazza for swim or café
• Train to Monterosso village
• Relax on Monterosso beach or shop
• Optional boat ride or train to Riomaggiore
• Explore Riomaggiore village
• Optional visit to Pisa and Piazza dei Miracoli
• Return to Florence by coach

The experience

You'll spend most of the morning on a coach from Florence, which sounds like dead time until your guide starts talking: stories about Lucca, the marble quarries you pass, the five fishing villages you're about to walk through. By the time you reach La Spezia and board the train, you've already got the shape of the place in your head. Manarola arrives first, the one with the stacked pastel houses that look like they might slide into the sea. If you want, there's an optional walk that climbs above the village through the terraced vineyards. The views from up there are the kind you keep thinking about weeks later. If not, you stay in the piazza, sit at a café, watch the water.

Corniglia comes next: the only village that doesn't touch the coast, perched high on a rocky point surrounded by vineyards. It's quieter than the others, which means you actually hear the sea and the wind in the vines. You'll have time for lunch here, a real meal at a local restaurant, not a rushed thing. Then the real part starts: if you chose the hiking option, you walk the medieval mule trails that connect the villages, roughly two miles of cliffside path with the Ligurian Sea below. It's not casual (you need decent fitness and proper shoes, no flip-flops), but the trail is the reason people come to Cinque Terre. If you didn't pick hiking, the train moves you between villages instead. Either way, you reach Vernazzo, which is genuinely one of the prettiest towns on the coast, narrow lanes and a small harbor where you can swim if you brought a towel. Monterosso has a beach and shops. Then, if the weather holds and you pay extra same-day, there's a boat ride to Riomaggiore: the southernmost village, the one with the iconic cascading houses. If the sea's rough, you take the train instead.

If you added the Pisa option, you don't head back to Florence yet. Instead you stop at the Piazza dei Miracoli, the UNESCO square with the Leaning Tower, the Cathedral, the Baptistery: all of it sitting on green grass like it's been waiting for you to photograph it. You get time to walk around, stand under the tower, feel how strange it is that it's still standing. Then the coach takes you back to Florence in the evening, and you've seen two completely different sides of Tuscany in one day.

What’s included

• Your day includes coach transport from Florence to La Spezia, train rides between the five Cinque Terre villages, entry to Cinque Terre National Park, a professional English-speaking guide, and free time to explore, swim, and eat in Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazzo, Monterosso, and Riomaggiore. If you choose the hiking option, you walk the medieval mule trails connecting the villages.
• if not, the train moves you between them. The optional boat ride along the coast (April–October, weather permitting) costs extra and requires same-day confirmation. The Pisa add-on replaces your direct return to Florence with a stop at the Piazza dei Miracoli and the Leaning Tower.

Options for this experience

5 options

Transport only: coach travel from Florence to Cinque Terre and back on the same day.Guide in English · 07:20This option covers only the coach transportation from Florence to Cinque Terre and back on the same day.

Cinque Terre tour including hikingGuide in English · 07:20Some hiking is included to move between the Cinque Terre villages. Our tour is offered only in English!

Cinque Terre tour without hikingGuide in English · 07:20The hiking part of the tour is not included in this option. Trains will be used instead to travel between the villages.

See 2 more options

Cinque Terre tour with a visit to PisaGuide in English · 07:20This option includes a visit to three Cinque Terre villages and Pisa. Unlike other multilingual tours, our tour is conducted only in English!!

Including Leaning Tower ticketsGuide in English · 07:20This option covers a visit to three Cinque Terre villages and Pisa, along with tickets to climb the Leaning Tower in Pisa!

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 07:20

Book up toStart time

AgesAdult (18 and older) · Youth (8 to 17 years) · Under 8: can't be booked

GroupUp to 25

Live guideEnglish

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

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 yesterday

Good to know

Moderate physical effortPublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Walkabout Florence Tours

Is this one for you?Right for travelers with moderate fitness who want all five villages in one day without arranging their own transport and park tickets. Plan for a full day out (roughly 12 hours from pickup to return), and bring proper walking shoes. The uneven village streets and optional hiking require them, and the pace doesn't slow for casual footwear.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (8 to 17 years). Children under 8 can't be included in the booking.

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.

How long is the hike between villages?

Approximately two miles along medieval mule trails, with moderate to steep sections. It's optional. You can take the train instead.

What's included in the price?

Coach transport from Florence, train rides between villages, Cinque Terre National Park entry, English-speaking guide, and free time in each village. The boat ride costs extra and runs April–October only.

Can I swim during the tour?

Yes, during free time in Vernazzo, Monterosso, or Riomaggiore. Bring your own towel and swimwear.

What if the weather is bad?

The tour operates in all weather. The optional boat ride may not run if there are strong winds: no refund is issued. Hiking routes may change if paths close unexpectedly.

What should I wear?

Proper walking shoes are mandatory if you're hiking, no flip-flops. Closed-toe shoes with non-slip soles, walking boots, or sneakers work best. Dress for the weather.

How fit do I need to be?

At least moderate fitness. If you're hiking, you need average fitness and the ability to keep pace with the group. The tour is not recommended for people with spinal injuries, poor cardiovascular health, or walking difficulties.

Can I add Pisa to my tour?

Yes, as an option. Instead of returning directly to Florence, you stop at the Piazza dei Miracoli to see the Leaning Tower, Cathedral, and Baptistery before heading back.

What time do I return to Florence?

In the evening, after a full day of travel and exploration across the villages.

Is the guide multilingual?

The tour is in English only to ensure consistent quality and service.