Cinque Terre and Pisa Day Trip from Florence

Stop by Stop

You depart Florence early in the morning, listed as the way to beat the crowds. The coach runs to La Spezia in about 2 hours and the guide briefs you on Tuscany and Liguria on the way. From La Spezia a local train follows the coast to Vernazza for 1.5 hours of free time, then a second train takes you to Monterosso al Mare, the largest village, where you get the longest block of the day at 2.5 hours.

Lunch happens here on your own account. In the afternoon the coach moves you to Pisa for 1.5 hours, and within that the listing states a 15-minute photo stop at the tower. The last leg is the coach back to Florence, about 1.5 hours.

The listing warns that external factors may extend the day slightly, which on a 12 to 12.5-hour trip is worth planning for.

What Is In, What Is Not

The inclusions are clear: an English-speaking guide all day, the Cinque Terre National Park admission, the Cinque Terre Card train tickets for travel between the villages, round-trip coach transport from Florence, and free time in Monterosso, Vernazza, Fegina Beach and Pisa. Excluded are food and drink, tips, hotel pickup, and the shuttle from the coach park to the Leaning Tower. That shuttle is bought on site and no price is given for it, so expect to walk otherwise.

The table sets out the line items.

Check These Before You Book

The listing says the day is not suitable for wheelchair users and no strollers are allowed, and it involves a fair amount of walking. If mobility is a constraint, the Private Pisa and Lucca Day Trip gives you a car with hotel pickup and your own pace, though its own listing is not suitable for wheelchair users either.

The Leaning Tower climb is not in the price and this day only gives you a 15-minute photo stop. If the climb is the reason you are going, Pisa by Train with Tower Tickets has the tower and Cathedral tickets included, or the Half-Day Pisa Tour by Coach sells the climb as an option. Children under 8 cannot climb the tower anywhere, which matters if a Pisa-only day was the backup plan.

This is a coach group of a long duration, 12 to 12.5 hours with an early start. If a full coach feels heavy, the Small-Group Cinque Terre and Pisa runs a Mercedes minivan of up to 8 with hotel pickup. If you only want Pisa and a short day, the Afternoon Half-Day Trip to Pisa lasts 6 hours and leaves after lunch. And if two villages plus a photo of a tower is not the mix you want, the Cinque Terre Day Trip with Pisa Option covers three villages by train and boat with Pisa as a separate option. All the alternatives sit in the catalog of tours to Pisa from Florence.

Tower Tickets, Slots and the Climb

The Leaning Tower ticket costs €20 with no reduced rate, and tickets are for fixed times and limited in number, so you pick a slot when you buy. A ticket is valid only on the date and time printed on it. Arrive 15 minutes before your time, because late arrivals are refused and not refunded. You can change the time, not the date, up to 2 hours before, and if your slot is sold out online you can try a later time or the on-site ticket offices. The climb is 251 steps on an uneven, slippery floor and takes about 30 minutes, and it is not recommended for people with cardiovascular or muscular disorders.

Children who will not have turned 8 by the end of the year are not admitted. Visitors under 18 must be with an adult and may be asked for ID. The official site states that in 2026 children born in 2019 or later cannot climb.

Bags are the other rule. Hand bags and luggage go in the free cloakroom before the visit, though small bags or backpacks up to 20x30x38 cm are accepted. Items not collected by closing go to the security office and can be claimed the next day.

The Cathedral and the Other Monuments

Any paid ticket includes a free Cathedral pass with no fixed time, and children under 11 with an adult enter free. The Cathedral is a place of worship, so dress appropriately, and during masses cameras are not allowed. The Baptistery, Camposanto, Sinopie Museum and Opera del Duomo Museum are free for children under 11 with an adult, and monument tickets other than the Tower stay valid for 1 year from the chosen date. The Piazza del Duomo has been on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1987.

Hours shift with the season. From 13 November to 20 December 2026 the Tower, Baptistery, Camposanto and museums open 9:00 am to 6:00 pm, and the Cathedral 10:00 am to 6:00 pm. From 22 December to 1 January the hours stretch to 7:00 pm, and from 17 June to 31 August the Tower and Camposanto stay open until 10:00 pm. Hours can change for ceremonies. Bring comfortable walking shoes, a hat, sunscreen and water, as the listing advises. Two pages help with the rest: Leaning Tower tickets, slots, age and bag rules and opening hours and the best time to go. The figures below come from the Opera della Primaziale Pisana and UNESCO. They govern any tower visit at the Piazza, on this tour or on your own.