Italy · CINQUE TERRE TOURS
This is the shortlist you would send a friend who lands on Friday: 15 cinque terre tours that repay the money, each with its cost and the one thing to know before you commit.
Set out from Florence with guides such as Claudia, Chris, JoJo, or Alessandro for a 13-hour Cinque Terre day. Choose guided hiking, train travel, or a Pisa combination. Expect steep steps, free time, a possible boat ride, and a small group of up to 25 people.
“Best day trip to the region of cinque de terra. Well planned with very knowledgeable guide . Well worth a visit.”
Join Walkabout Tours for a 13-hour English-language trip from Florence to all five Cinque Terre villages. Guides such as Chris, Claudia, Emma, Manuel, and Noemi lead the train connections, coastal walk, optional Corniglia to Vernazza hike, and seasonal boat ride. Expect a fast pace, steep steps, and striking sea views.
“Ado and Luca were excellent guides. Ado knows so much about the history of the area and is very passionate about sharing his knowledge with the group. The bus was excellent, very new and comfortable and the driver was excellent; drove very safely. My daughter (21) and I did this tour. The day was packed full with moving from one village to the next, and was a little too busy to try going for a swim but the beauty is incredible and I couldn’t have negotiated trains and sightseeing on our own, so this was a great option! We got it all in!!”
Travel from Florence to Cinque Terre by coach, train, and, from April through October when seas are calm, boat. With guides such as Gabriele, John, Alex, and Costantino, you visit Manarola, Monterosso, Vernazza, and Riomaggiore. Choose the street food lunch, or explore independently. Expect a beautiful, fast-moving 12.5-hour day with plenty of walking.
“Great all day experience exploring 4 villages of Cinque Terre. Lots of walking and each village was very beautiful. Took the train between villages. Fredericko our tour guide was great!”
Spend eight hours aboard the Lord Byron, cruising from La Spezia through the Gulf of the Poets to Riomaggiore or Portovenere, Monterosso, and Vernazza. A multilingual guide explains the coast while you explore each stop independently. Bring swimwear, expect stairs, and arrive early for a good seat.
“It was a beautiful day in the morning … unfortunately after Monterosso, we were informed the sea was rough that our next stop @Vernazza have to cancelled 😞. Anyway we were happy to stop longer in Portovenere until 17.10pm with a glass of Cinque Terre white wine & apéritif spritz to end our boat journey here.”
Spend 12 hours exploring Cinque Terre from Florence with Ciaoflorence Tours & Travel. Ride a coach, local trains, and a seasonal boat between Manarola, Vernazza, Monterosso, and Riomaggiore. Guides such as Alex, Federica, John, and Lorenza keep the day organized while you enjoy free time, seafood villages, and a swim.
“Our tour guide was amazing and always made sure everyone knew what times we had to be back and made sure everyone was present.”
Travel from Florence in a Mercedes minivan with a group of up to eight. Explore Riomaggiore, Manarola, and Vernazza by boat and train, with an optional hike, then stop at Pisa’s Piazza dei Miracoli. Drivers such as Sara, Claudius, Alberto, and Diana are praised for clear instructions and helpful local tips, but expect a long day with plenty of stairs.
“This tour was the perfect way to experience Cinque Terre for the day from Florence! Our driver, Claudius, was professional, knowledgeable, funny, and made the transfer process seamless. Van, train, ferry, another train, then back to Read more”
Travel from Florence to Cinque Terre and Pisa with an English-speaking guide, coach transport, train tickets, and park entry included. You’ll explore Manarola and Monterosso, with time for food, photos, and beach relaxation. The optional 45-minute walk crosses olive groves and vineyard terraces. Guides such as Dani, Nathan, and Lorenzo are known for clear directions and good humor.
“A great day! Everything was well organised and the day was fun”
Travel from Florence to four Cinque Terre villages with a multilingual escort, then use trains and, in good weather, a ferry to move between them. Guides such as Emma, Marco, Laila, and Hillary help with meeting points and connections. Choose transport only for freedom, or add train, ferry, and food options.
“The cinque terre, the five villages are absolutely stunning. We visited four of them and unfortunately due to the bad weather we were unable to enjoy a boat ride. Our travel assistant was very helpful and sweet. She gave us interesting information about the places we visited and important tips and suggestions. It was a very pleasant experience at a very beautiful place.”
Travel from Florence to Manarola, Vernazza, and Monterosso in a minivan limited to eight people. Your English-speaking driver escort handles transport, coastal train tickets, and the shared boat ride when weather allows. You get guided support plus free time for lunch, swimming, photos, and exploring.
“Johnny was very informative & courteous. Professional & fun to be on a day trip. Thank you for the expert”
Travel from La Spezia’s cruise terminal to Florence and Pisa by comfortable coach, with maps, Wi-Fi, commentary, and a green-shirted host to keep you on schedule. You get about 3.5 hours in Florence and 1.5 hours in Pisa. Add a walking tour, Leaning Tower ticket, or Accademia Gallery entry for a more structured day.
“Our guide did a fantastic job and was a pleasure to be with.”
Leave Florence at 7:00 a.m. for Manarola, Vernazza, and Monterosso with a guide such as Marta, Sandro, or Federico. Expect coach travel, local trains, optional boat transport, free time, and a long but scenic day on the Ligurian coast.
“Great day trip to see 3 of the 5 villages. Frederico our tour guide was friendly and knowledgeable , kept everyone on schedule, made all our trains on time.”
Meet a green-shirted escort outside La Spezia cruise terminal, ride a comfortable coach to Pisa, and spend about three hours exploring. Choose free time, a city walk, or priority access to the Leaning Tower and Cathedral. Guides such as Martina, Giada, and Alessandro are praised for clear directions and friendly help.
“I liked the fact that I could call the tour guides so I never felt stressed. Also, the bus ride was comfortable, (Martina and excellent driver), and our guide, Alessandro, was helpful, (knew the best ice cream joint in Pisa), and considerate, (gave us his number so we could contact him if there was a problem). It was an excellent experience all round; one I highly recommend”
Meet your English- or Spanish-speaking tour leader at La Spezia Cruise Terminal or La Spezia Centrale. Ride trains to Riomaggiore, Manarola, Vernazza, and Monterosso, with free time in each village for photos, food, shops, and the beach. Guides such as Lara help you manage platforms, meeting times, and the return to your ship.
“It was a far walk to the train station. Our guide Lara was very efficient telling us what platform and what stop to get off at. She took us to a nice restaurant for lunch. A lovely day but exhausting. Lara arranged for a taxi back to the ship.”
From Monterosso, a skipper and English-speaking host take you along all five Cinque Terre villages in about 2 hours 45 minutes. Expect close coastal views, a swim stop reachable only by sea, Ligurian stuffed focaccia, drinks, and a small group of up to 12 people. Hosts may include Amanda, Bruno, Vivian, or Virginia.
“Wear your bathers ready for a swim. Take a waterproof cover for your camera/ phone. Wear easy removable shoes- shoes must be taken off once embarked.”
Spend about 12 hours traveling from Florence to Manarola, Monterosso, and Pisa by coach and train. English-speaking guides such as Elizabeth, Ornella, Nathan, and Sara lead the day, with free time for food, beaches, photos, and the Leaning Tower. Expect a large group, tight timing, and plenty of walking.
“Overall the this day trip did it’s job of showing us the towns. I personally would’ve liked more time perhaps in each town. You have the option of exploring or continuing with the guide. We continue with our guide as she suggested a good lunch spot. However, that reduced our exploring timeframe. Nevertheless, it was nice to be at Pisa and climb the tower right before sunset. That glow was perfect!!”
Pick a ruin, a gallery, a cellar or a boat.
