Cinque Terre day trip from Florence: Train, boat & villages

Five villages in one day: you move between them by train, then see the coast from the water on the way back.

A full-day tour from Florence to Cinque Terre, a UNESCO-protected stretch of five villages clinging to the Ligurian coast, with a multilingual guide, train tickets between villages, and a ferry boat ride along the shoreline. You travel by bus from Florence in the early morning, spend free time in each village to eat and explore, and return to the city center by evening. Choose between a guided tour with street food tastings or a transfer-only option where you move through the villages at your own pace.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Cinque Terre villages

• Depart from Florence city centre
• Travel to Cinque Terre by train
• Visit Monterosso al Mare village
• Visit Vernazza and Corniglia villages
• Visit Manarola village and relax
• Visit Riomaggiore village
• Return to Florence city centre

The experience

The bus leaves Florence city center in the early morning and drives toward the coast, arriving at Levanto: the gateway to Cinque Terre and the starting point if you pick the transfer-only option. From there, the guided tour moves you by train through Monterosso al Mare, the westernmost village anchored in a natural gulf; Vernazzo, tucked into a bay between steep cliffs; and Manarola and Riomaggiore, fishing villages whose original cores date back centuries, their houses stacked vertically above the water. The train connects all five, so you step off at each one with free time to wander the narrow streets, taste local dishes like pasta al pesto or focaccia, browse the shops, or swim in the Mediterranean if the season allows.

In the afternoon, you board a motorvessel that runs along the entire Cinque Terre coast: the view from the water shows you how the villages sit between the sea and the steep mountain range that rises behind them, a perspective you cannot get from land. The boat ride is included in the guided tour option. If you choose transfer only, you arrange your own return. The guide speaks English, Spanish, Portuguese, or Italian depending on the option you select, and the group stays small enough that you hear them over the engine noise and the wind.

The street food option adds tastings of local specialties during the day, though this is not available from November through March, when the boat service also stops running. The transfer-only option gives you the bus ride and the freedom to explore the villages on your own schedule, without a guide or the train and boat tickets. You buy those separately if you want them, or you stay in Levanto and the surrounding area. Either way, you meet at the Sightseeing Experience Visitor Center inside Florence's Santa Maria Novella train station and return to the same spot by evening.

What’s included

• Bus transport from Florence city center with Wi-Fi.
• train tickets between the five villages.
• ferry boat tickets along the Cinque Terre coast.
• a multilingual guide (English, Spanish, Portuguese, or Italian).
• free time in each village to explore, eat, and swim.
• street food tastings if you choose that option at checkout.

Options for this experience

12 options

Portuguese Transfer Only06:50Transfer only: includes the bus from Florence and free time to visit Cinque Terre. Does not include the ferry, train tickets or a host

English Transfer Only06:50Transfer only: includes the bus from Florence and free time to visit Cinque Terre. Does not include the ferry, train tickets or a host

Italian Transfer Only06:50Transfer only: includes the bus from Florence and free time to visit Cinque Terre. Does not include the ferry, train tickets or a host

See 9 more options

Spanish Transfer Only06:50Transfer only: includes the bus from Florence and free time to visit Cinque Terre. Does not include the ferry, train tickets or a host

English-language Classic Option06:50English tour with boat and train: this option includes transfers, a host, and boat and train tickets (depending on weather conditions)

Portuguese-language Classic Option06:50Portuguese tour with boat and train: this option includes transfers, a host, and boat and train tickets (depending on weather conditions)

Italian-language Classic Option06:50Italian tour with boat and train: this option includes transfers, a host, and boat and train tickets (depending on weather conditions)

Spanish-language Classic Option06:50Spanish tour with boat and train: this option includes transfers, a host, and boat and train tickets (depending on weather conditions)

Street Food Option in PortugueseAvailable from 26 Oct 2027Portuguese street food tour: this option includes bus, tour, train and ferry tickets (depending on weather conditions), plus a street food tasting

English-language Street Food Option06:50English street food tour: this option includes bus, tour, train and ferry tickets (depending on weather conditions), plus a street food tasting

Spanish-language Street Food Option06:50Spanish street food tour: this option includes bus, tour, train and ferry tickets (depending on weather conditions), plus a street food tasting

Italian-language Street Food Option06:50Italian street food tour: this option includes bus, tour, train and ferry tickets (depending on weather conditions), plus a street food tasting

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

Before you book

Days and timesMonday, Thursday, Saturday and SundayDeparts at 06:50

Book up toStart time

AgesAdult (13 and older) · Child (4 to 12 years) · Infant (under 4): free

GroupUp to 50

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, Italian and Portuguese

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 today

Good to know

Moderate physical effortPets welcomePublic transport nearbyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Sightseeing Experience

Is this one for you?Book the guided tour if you want the villages explained and the timing arranged so you see all five in a single day without building the schedule yourself. Choose transfer only if you prefer to move through the villages at your own pace and decide which ones to linger in. You'll need to buy train tickets separately, but the freedom to skip stops or stay longer is yours.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, Italian and Portuguese.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 12 years); Infant (under 4): free.

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.

Can I do Cinque Terre without a guide on this tour?

Yes, the transfer-only option includes the bus ride from Florence to Levanto and back, but no guide, train tickets, or boat tickets. You explore the villages at your own pace and buy train or boat access separately if you want it.

What are the five villages in Cinque Terre?

Monterosso al Mare, Vernazzo, Corniglia, Manarola, and Riomaggiore. The tour visits all of them by train, and you have free time in each one to eat, swim, or walk around.

Do I get to see Cinque Terre from the sea?

Yes, the ferry boat ride along the coast is included in the guided tour option. You see how the villages sit between the water and the mountains, a view you cannot get from the villages themselves.

Is the street food tasting included?

Street food tastings are available as an add-on option in English, Spanish, and Portuguese, but only from April through October. From November to March, this option is not available.

How long is the full day?

The tour runs approximately 13 hours from early morning departure in Florence to evening return, including travel time, free time in the villages, and the boat ride.