Pisa Florence Shore Excursion: Private 9-Hour Tour

See the Leaning Tower and walk Florence's bridges in one port day

A private shore excursion from Livorno port takes you by car through the Tuscan countryside to Pisa and Florence over 9 hours, with an English-speaking driver and return timed to your ship. You'll stand in Piazza dei Miracoli to see the Leaning Tower and Duomo, then drive to Florence to walk Ponte Vecchio, explore Piazza della Signoria, and stop at Piazzale Michelangelo for a view of the old town before heading back to port.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each6 stops

1. Piazza dei Miracoli45m
2. Piazzale Michelangelo20m
3. Piazza Santa Croce45m
4. Piazza della Repubblica1h
5. Ponte Vecchio20m
6. Piazza della Signoria20m

Explore Pisa and Florence highlights

• Meet at the ship
• Drive to Pisa
• Visit Piazza dei Cavalieri
• Stroll around Leaning Tower and Duomo
• Drive to Florence
• Stop at Piazzale Michelangelo for views
• Visit Piazza Santa Croce
• Walk and eat at Piazza della Repubblica
• Walk along Ponte Vecchio
• Admire Palazzo Vecchio
• Enjoy gelato
• Drive back to the ship

The experience

The tour starts with a pickup at Livorno port and heads inland toward Pisa. Your first stop is Piazza dei Cavalieri, home to La Scuola Normale Superiore, the university founded by Cosimo dei Medici and rebuilt by Napoleon in 1810. From there you move to Piazza dei Miracoli, the Field of Miracles, where the Leaning Tower stands alongside the Cathedral and Baptistry. You have time to walk around the square and take in the architecture at your own pace. The driver provides commentary from the vehicle but does not enter the monuments themselves, as professional drivers are restricted by local labor agreements.

The drive to Florence takes you through countryside before you arrive at Piazzale Michelangelo, a hilltop stop with a view over the entire old town: the moment most people pull out a camera. From there the route drops into the city itself. You'll walk along Ponte Vecchio, the medieval bridge lined with shops, then move through Piazza della Repubblica where you can grab lunch or a coffee. Piazza Santa Croce, where Michelangelo, Machiavelli, Rossini and Fermi are buried, is another stop on foot. The tour ends at Piazza della Signoria to see Palazzo Vecchio before the drive back to Livorno port, timed so you're back before the ship departs.

The vehicle is air-conditioned and equipped with free WiFi. Your driver speaks English and can answer questions about what you're seeing, though the stops themselves are self-guided walks rather than formal tours with museum entry. The 9-hour window is tight but built around the port schedule, so timing is fixed to get you back on time.

What’s included

• Private transportation from port to both cities.
• air-conditioned vehicle with free WiFi.
• English-speaking driver.
• all taxes, fees and handling charges.
• port pickup and drop-off timed to your ship departure.

Information

Lasts 9h, runs every day at 08:00, from € 959.10 per group, with a live guide in English and Italian, as a private tour and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 08:00

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and Italian

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 2 pickup points.

Book up to12h before

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 6 days ago

Good to know

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

Operated by Tuscany Taste Tour di Maurizio Mancini

Is this one for you?The tour moves at a walking pace through each city, with stops built around exterior views and piazzas rather than museum interiors. If you're comfortable with several hours on foot and want to see the main Renaissance sites without entering every building, the fixed 9-hour schedule fits a port day exactly.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Italian.

What is the Leaning Tower of Pisa actually like when you get there?

The Leaning Tower stands in Piazza dei Miracoli alongside the Cathedral and Baptistry, a white marble structure that leans visibly to one side. You walk around the square at your own pace to see it from different angles and take photographs. The driver does not enter the monuments themselves.

How much walking is involved in Florence during this tour?

You walk through several piazzas and along Ponte Vecchio on foot, covering the main Renaissance sites over a few hours. The pace is self-guided rather than a fast-paced group tour, so you can move at your own speed through each stop.

Will the driver take me inside churches and museums?

No. Professional drivers are not permitted by local agreement to enter museums, churches or monuments, so the tour is built around exterior views and walking the piazzas and streets. Your driver provides commentary from the vehicle and during the walks outside.

Is lunch included, and where do you eat?

Lunch is not included in the tour price. You have free time in Piazza della Repubblica to find a restaurant or café on your own, or you can grab gelato or a quick snack at any of the stops.

How does the return timing work with the ship?

The 9-hour tour is scheduled to get you back to Livorno port before the ship departs. Port pickup and drop-off are included, so the driver coordinates the return to match the ship's schedule.