From Livorno to the Beauties of Tuscany and Florence

The one of Livorno is among the biggest ports in Italy today and in the last years many cruise lines decided to dock here and let their passengers discover the wonders of Tuscany. Indeed, Livorno represents a real Gateway to Tuscany (and Florence). From here, it is possible to reach famous destinations like Pisa and Florence within a day. Moreover, you can visit other amazing destinations in Tuscany from Livorno. From the north west coast of Tuscany, you can get to Lucca, to the well-known Chianti wine area and to many historical places like San Gimignano and Siena. Below you find some interesting info about this departing point and some possible places to visit starting from Livorno.

Some info about the Port of Livorno

The Port of Livorno is actually the third biggest port in Italy and in the last years it also became an important cruise Gateway to Tuscany and important cities like Florence.

Looking at the Italian map, we can say that Livorno is located on the Tyrrhenian coast between the major ports of La Spezia and Genoa (in the Region of Liguria) and Civitavecchia (in the Region of Lazio, only one hour from Rome).

From the Cruise Terminal, you can easily reach the Railway Station by taxi in about 15 minutes.

In case you prefere to stay in Livorno, you can find some interesting attractions in a walking distance. Otherwise, you can reach some other charming places with a short drive. Probably Livorno can not be compared to more stunning places like Pisa, Florence, Lucca or Siena. However, if you have already been to the most famous destinations in Tuscany, you can still spend a lovely day in this maritime city.

What to see in Livorno

Due to its glorious commercial role in Italy and abroad, Livorno was destroyed during the WWII. Indeed, Livorno lost most of its historical palaces and it looks today as a pretty modern city. One of the oldest districts is the socalled Venezia Nuova, still conserving the historical landmarks of how Livorno looked like before the war.  Here, you find part of the old canal system of Fosso Reale or Fossi Medicei. They follow the old defensive city borders and due to the charming atmosphere the picturesque waterways have been inscribed in the UNESCO’s World Heritage List since 2002. You can join a boat tour and explore this area of the city. The district is pretty close to the cruise terminal. Here you also find the beautiful Fortezza Vecchia, an old fort dating back to 1500. From the fortress, you can enjoy a nice view over the Porto Mediceo.

The Mercato delle Vettoglie is also worth a visit: a huge architectural structure from the XIX century hosting the biggest food market in town. Surely you should not miss Terrazza Mascagni. This panoramic terrace was built in 1925 over the previous fortress Forte dei Cavalleggeri dismatled in 1872.

There is much more to discover in Livorno, but we absolutelly recommend you to try the Cacciucco alla Livornese, a specialty from here strictly connected to the city maritime tradition.

Other attractions in proximity of Livorno

The coast area around Livorno is very intersting and it can be the chance to spend a relaxing day. A very nice spot is La Meloria Tower. Only 7 km off the coast of Livorno, you can find a beautiful light house standing totally isolated in the sea and dating back to the 18th century. Driving south for approaximately 20 minutes you can admire the imposing castle on the cliffs of Cala Leone on the Tyrrhenian Sea. Close to this area, you also find the Sanctuary of Montenero, a famous Tuscan religious compleax built on the top of a hill. If you keep driving south, you can reach the charming Costiera degli Etruschi (the Etruscan riviera) and discover the Etruscan history with the old village of Populonia and the archeological park of Baratti. If you like wine, we recommend you to visit the magical village of Bolgheri and join our Supertuscan wine tasting in a selected winery. Travelling north insead, you can easily get to Viareggio and Lido di Camaiore and enjoy a relaxing walk along the characteristique promenade on the coast.

Our suggestions to visit Florence from the Livorno

If you have an entire day at disposal, we can suggest you our Private Tour from Livorno to Pisa and Florence. This way, you can combine the visit of Pisa to the one of Florence. On this tour, we will show you around the old town of Florence, full of art and unique masterpieces. You will discover the magical Piazza Duomo with its majestic Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore and Giotto’s Bell Tower. Also, you have the opportunity to take a walk on Ponte Vecchio to visit its local boutiques and artesans’ shops. If you wish, you can visit the world wide famous Uffizi Galleries or the Accademia Museum. A view over Florence that you can not miss is the one from Piazzale Michelangelo. This is a huge panoramic terrace, from where you can admire the entire city in one shot. Remember that the old town of Florence is a World Heritage Site from UNESCO. If you do not like museum, you can join our Florence, Pisa and Chianti Wine Tour instead. This way, you will visit Pisa and Florence and add a unique wine tasting experience to your day.

We remind you that all our tours can be customized and adapted to your needs.

Do not miss the opportunity to discover Livorno as the perfect gateway to Tuscany and Florence.

Explore the Tuscan Beauties from the Cruise Port of Livorno

However, the most popular destinations from the Port of Livorno are Pisa and Florence. In fact, most of the  tours bring tourists to world-wide famous attractions like the Leaning Tower in Pisa or the incredible Ponte Vecchio and the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore in Florence.

It takes only 30 minutes to get to Pisa by car or train, while it takes about 1 hour and a half to reach Florence. The historical Lucca is only 40 minutes by car from Livorno and around 1 hour if you take the train. Train connetions are more complicated if you wish to reach the heart of Tuscany from the coast within a day, but if you travel by car or join a private tour, you can easily spend your day in magical places like Siena, San Gimignano, Volterra and the Chianti wine district.

Thanks to its location on the coast, Livorno is not only a gateway to Tuscany and Florence, but it also gives you the chance to explore the Ligurian coast and the romantic Cinque Terre. Indeed, you can get to the nothernmost of the Five Lands in less than 2 hours by car. Getting there by train is possible, but you need to rely on train schedules. To be honest, that could make your day less relaxing than it should.

How to visit the Cinque Terre from Livorno

Travelling by train is practical and cheaper. Since 2001, it is possible to purchase a Cinque Terre Train Card and travel within the National Park at good rates. You can buy the ticket for one day only or for a maximum of three days. The Card allows you to travel between Levanto and La Spezia and to take the buses running within the Park. Additionally, you have access to all areas and trails and you can get discounts on some museum entrances. You can purchase the Cinque Terre Train Card online or at all welcome centres of the Cinque Terre National Park. On the Trenitalia website, you can have a look at the daily train schedule.

Once within the National Park, another way to get from one village to another is by ferry-boat. This allows you to enjoy the view over the villages and the landscape when approaching to the coast. Indeed, the view from the train is limited due to the presence of many tunnels. Moreover, the charming village of Portovenere can be reached more easily by ferry, since no train station is available there. On the contrary, the village of Corniglia is not served by the ferry system. This is the only of the Five Lands on the top of a hill and not along the coast.

Our suggestions to visit the Cinque Terre from the Port of Livorno

Surely, a good chance to visit the Cinque Terre is on our private tours. In fact, we can pick you up at the  Terminal and bring you back in time for your departure. This way, you will enjoy your day with the comfort of a private vehicle at your disposal.

Have a look at our website to discover our Private Tour from Livorno to Cinque Terre. If you wish to enjoy a more exclusive experience in Cinque Terre, we even organize a special Private Boat Tour from Livorno.

Get to Florence from the Cruise Port of Livorno

As we mentioned, the port of Livorno is also a real gateway to Florence, capital city of Tuscany. You can get to Florence by train in about 2 and half hours. The timetable is always available on the Trenitalia website.

Otherwise, you can reach the Cradle of the Renaissance by car. In this case, it will take you less than two hours.

Florence is located in the very heart of Tuscany, a region full of surprises and rich in culture and history. If you are planning to spend a few days in Tuscany,  we recommend you to have a look at our website. So you can get an idea of the several tour combinations including Florence from Livorno.

Discover more about what to do in Livorno in one day.