We first did the trip from Florence to Cinque Terre by car in 2019. It was part of our honeymoon, and it was the first time we’d visited either place.
Florence and Cinque Terre were part of a bigger trip we were doing through Italy. For four weeks we rented a car and traveled from Rome to Puglia to the Amalfi Coast, to Tuscany, to Liguria, to the Italian Alps, and finishing up in Milan. A HUGE and exciting trip that included our wedding in Positano!!!
Now we live in Italy, we continue to do a lot of driving but also use the train to visit the main cities. Using the train means we avoid parking issues and costs. AND there’s really no need for a car since public transport in Italian cities is usually convenient and affordable.
In this article, I share our travel tips for getting from Florence to Cinque Terre. Both places have excellent public transport options, but I’ll also include information on travelling by car.
How to Go to Cinque Terre from Florence
The great news is that you have several options to get to Cinque Terre from Florence including:
- Train
- Car
- Bus
- Tour
- Private Transfer
What’s the best way to get from Florence to Cinque Terre? Well, that depends on your own circumstances and preferred method of transport.
I’ll cover each of the popular methods so you can make the best decision to suit your needs, itinerary, and budget.
If you’re heading to Cinque Terre you may also like our specific Cinque Terre content:
The Five Cinque Terre Villages Explained
10 Memorable Things To Do in Cinque Terre
Top 10 Cinque Terre Day Trips from Florence
You may also like our ready-made Cinque Terre itineraries for 1, 2, and 3-day trips. When you use a premade Cinque Terre itinerary, you’ll be set to go sightseeing, soaking in local culture, and eating delicious food. Cinque Terre itineraries are designed to be flexible, with optional activities, transport guidance, and an interactive map. Everything you need to enjoy a stress-free day.
How to Get from Florence to Cinque Terre by Train
If you don’t have time to read through this article you may prefer to watch our YouTube video covering this topic in full.
Train Schedule & Costs
More good news! Trains regularly leave from Florence to Cinque Terre, and you can get there in less than 2½ hours! You can get tickets for as little as €20 if you book in advance and travel in the low season. Otherwise, tickets are typically around €40 to €60.
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Train Stations & Connections
Most trains going to Cinque Terre from Florence depart from Florence Santa Maria Novella but there are also a few high-speed trains leaving Florence Campo Di Marte. So, don’t rule out this as a departing station.
You will normally have a train change at Pisa Central and/or La Spezia Central stations.
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Savvy Travel Tips: If you want to stop at Pisa to visit the Leaning Tower, then you’ll need a minimum of 2½ hours. This gives you enough time to walk from Pisa Central Station to the Leaning Tower, take in the view, snap some photos and walk back to catch your next train. If you want to climb the Leaning Tower, then you’ll need more time.
Detailed Info: At La Spezia you’ll be getting on a Cinque Terre Express train. The Cinque Terre Express line runs between La Spezia and Levanto and stops at all Cinque Terre towns in between; Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza, and Monterosso al Mare.
Adding a Cinque Terre Card to Your Trip
If you’re planning on visiting more than 2 Cinque Terre villages in one day, then you can save time and money with a Cinque Terre Multiservice Treno Card (Cinque Terre Pass).
The Cinque Terre Pass gives you access to:
Unlimited rides on the Cinque Terre Express
Access to the famous SVA (blue) hiking trail
Wifi, designated toilets, special park activities, and some buses within the national park.
Discounted tickets at some La Spezia museums.
Savvy Travel Tips:
If you plan on buying a Cinque Terre Card then:
- You should get a Florence to La Spezia Central train ticket and then switch to using the Cinque Terre Card between La Spezia and Levanto.
- Buy your Cinque Terre Card online to skip the queue. There are no booking fees if you buy directly through Trenitalia.
More reading that may be of interest to you:
How to Get from Florence to Cinque Terre by Car
Route by Road
Driving to Cinque Terre from Florence takes around 2½ hours. The quickest route is the A1 onto the A11(E76) and A12(E80) towards La Spezia. Then from La Spezia:
- If you are going to Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, or Vernazza then you need to follow the SP370 for Cinque Terre.
- If you are going to Monterosso al Mare, then continue past La Spezia on the A12 and follow signs to Pignone (SS1) and Monterosso (SP38).
An alternative route uses the SGC highway (known as the Fi-Pi-Li) that connects Florence, Pisa, and Livorno. From the SGC you can take the A12/(E80) to La Spezia.
If you want to avoid the toll roads, then add an extra hour to your trip. (You can change your settings in Google Maps to avoid toll roads).
Possible Stops between Florence and Cinque Terre
The first time we made the trip between Florence and Cinque Terre we drove a hire car.
We decided to make the most of our time in Florence and on our last day we drove to Piazzale Michelangelo, to experience the famous panoramic view of the city. It was well worth it, but it meant we left late in the day and didn’t have time to add any other stops.
But, if you happen to leave Florence in the morning, and have time for a stop somewhere, then I suggest either Lucca or Pisa:
Lucca is a medieval city that has been well-preserved but has a modern trendy vibe. It’s becoming more popular with expats and everyone we know who has visited Lucca raves about this place. Us included! A popular thing to do is hire bikes and cycle around the old city walls. 3-4 hours is a good amount of time for a quick sightseeing stop in Lucca.
Getting to Lucca is easy and the city is busy but small. We’ve been a few times to Lucca and often get free parking at Via dei Pubblici Macelli, but there are several parking options close to the city walls.
Pisa doesn’t need much introduction. The main attraction is the Leaning Tower at the Piazza dei Miracoli (Miracle Square). 2 ½ hours is a good amount of time to make a quick stop in Pisa. If you want to climb the Leaning Tower, then allow 4 hours (depending on the queues).
You can find parking close to the city or if you want to avoid the city traffic then Pisa also has park-and-ride options such as the one at Via Pietrasantina.
Savvy Travel Tips: Some of the busier cities and tourist towns have restricted traffic zones (“ZTL”) in the city center. If you enter a ZTL zone with a vehicle then you will probably get a fine. If in doubt look for a park and ride option.
Parking in Cinque Terre
On our honeymoon trip in 2019, we had prearranged parking about a 10-minute walk from our accommodation in Riomaggiore. We didn’t realize it at the time, but we were among the lucky few!
If you are staying in Cinque Terre, then I can’t stress enough how important it is to secure a parking spot BEFORE arriving.
Parking is very limited in Cinque Terre. But if you arrive early, then your chances of getting a spot are significantly better.
Otherwise, you can park in La Spezia (or Levanto) and catch the Cinque Terre Express from the train station.
Related Posts:
Where to Rent a Car in Florence
We’ve always found the train stations and airports to be the most convenient places to rent cars from. This is especially true when we’ve had a lot of luggage or just stepped off a long-haul flight.
Florence has car rental options at Santa Maria Novella train station and Peretola Florence Airport.
Important Advice: For some nationalities, the Italian car rental agencies require an International Driver’s Permit. You should check the requirements ahead of time and if necessary, get this issued in your local country.
Costs for Traveling by Road
In addition to car rental, you need to factor in a few other costs:
- Fuel
- Tolls
- Daily parking
A good rough estimate for a medium sized car is 60 Euros for this one-way trip.
Florence to Cinque Terre Tour
Most of the day trips from Florence to Cinque Terre will pick you up at a central spot in Florence (usually the train station) and take you by minibus to La Spezia. From La Spezia, they transfer you onto the Cinque Terre Express train to visit 2 or 3 of the 5T towns before taking you back to Florence.
These three tours all depart from (and return) to Florence
What the Tours Offer
Some of the tours don’t include any cultural or historical information and don’t give you enough time to experience the villages. They’re kind of just acting like (expensive) chaperones and not adding any value.
Savvy Travel Tips: The better Cinque Terre tours include:
- an experienced and informative guide
- multi-lingual guides
- a stop at least 3 of the Cinque Terre towns
- a boat ride along the UNESCO coastline
- a chance to experience local foods
We recommend Get Your Guide and Tiqets for booking tours and trips in Italy. Both booking platforms have a lot of tour options and make their cancellation and refund policy very clear.
Cost of Tours
A small group tour from Florence to Cinque Terre is usually in the range of €120 to €250. For a more bespoke and personal tour then you can expect to pay upwards of €400.
Further Reading:
Bus from Florence to Cinque Terre
There are a few bus companies that will get you from Florence to La Spezia. From La Spezia, you can either get a boat or train to Cinque Terre.
Some of the buses can take 6 hours or more. For a quick two-hour transfer, Marinobus is a popular option that has comfortable coach-style seating and wifi on some buses.
Most buses depart from Scandicci, Florence Villa Costanza which is conveniently right next to the Tram station.
Pros and Cons of Bus Between Florence and Cinque Terre
The advantage of a bus is that it can be affordable with some tickets costing under 20 Euros. Also, the Marinobus drop off point is by La Spezia harbor, so an excellent choice if you want to get a boat to Cinque Terre.
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The disadvantages of getting a bus are they are less frequent than trains AND if you want to catch the Cinque Terre Express then you have a 20 minute walk to the train station OR a 10-15 Euro taxi ride.
Private Car from Florence to Cinque Terre
For a door to door service that is hassle free, then you can opt for a private driver from Florence to Cinque Terre.
If money isn’t an object, then it’s a convenient and comfortable option. You can expect to pay over 400 Euros.
Savvy Travel Tips: Some private transfer vehicles are luxury-style minibuses. If you are in a group of 6 or more, then a private transfer could work out cheaper than individual train tickets especially if you factor in taxis to/from your accommodation and the train station.
How to Book a Private Car from Florence and Cinque Terre
I’ve only used a private transfer once between Venice and Verona and made my booking through my airline. But there are also other booking services like Daytrip and Transfeero.
Wrap Up
Florence to Cinque Terre is an easy trip and you have several transport options including:
- Train
- Car
- Bus
- Tour
- Private Transfer
In this blog post, I’ve shared my experience AND given you some additional ideas to help make your travel planning as easy as possible.
If you have questions, feel free to comment below.
FAQ
How can I get from Florence Airport to the city center?
There are several options for getting from Peretola Florence Airport to the city:
- Taxi
- Florence Tram – using T2 tram line (follow the sign in the airport) to the city
- Shuttle bus (near the taxi rank)
What is the distance from Florence to Cinque Terre?
The distance between Florence and Cinque Terre is about 165km (105 miles) by road but only about 130km (80 miles) as the crow flies.
If you travel by road, you can take freeways between Florence and La Spezia. This part of the journey can be done in around 2 hours.
From La Spezia to Cinque Terre the road is small and windy in some sections. The travel time is between 30 minutes and 45 minutes depending on which village you want to arrive at.
Parking is limited at Cinque Terre. So many visitors choose to park their car in La Spezia and use the Cinque Terre Express train between La Spezia and Cinque Terre.
Can you do a day trip to Cinque Terre from Florence?
Yes, absolutely. An easy option is to do a day tour (see above section). Otherwise, you can do a self-drive or train trip.
For a self-drive day trip, I suggest you park at La Spezia and use the Cinque Terre Express to get around the villages.
Allow around 13 hours for a day trip:
- 5 hours of travel
- 1 to 2 hours in each village
