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Cinque Terre Day Trip from Florence with optional Hiking Tour

4417 Reviews
If you love an outdoor adventure, our Cinque Terre tour is sure to add a little something special to your Italian holiday. Join us and explore some of the country’s most beautiful coastal towns and admire the stunning landscapes on a guided tour you’re sure to remember for life.

Highlights

A magical tour along Cinque Terre’s rugged coast

Exploration of local villages boasting beautiful scenery and architecture

Free time in the villages for wine tasting and souvenir shopping

A scenic boat ride along the Riviera (end of March to end of October only - weather permitting)

Voted #1 Day Trip in the World
2020 Tripadvisor Travelers' Choice

Full Itinerary

Depart from Florence

The group will meet at the front of Santa Maria Novella train station and depart Florence at 7.30am, travelling by coach to enter the National Park at the village of Manarola and get a first glimpse of the colourful buildings and verdant vineyards that characterise the area on a panoramic walk. Here you will hop on the train to begin the Cinque Terre tour at Corniglia. An expert guide will lead the group throughout the tour, so getting lost needn’t be a concern!

Explore Corniglia

Upon arrival in Corniglia it is time to test out your walking boots – there are 380 steps from the train station to the clifftop village, but we promise the picture-perfect views of the sea and surrounding hillside are ample reward for your exertions!

For ONLY €15 we can arrange for you a hearty two-course meal at a family-run restaurant in Corniglia

Venture to Vernazza

After lunch comes the real adventure: a hike of approximately two miles along the medieval mule trails that skirt the cliffs and connect the hilltop towns of the Cinque Terre (if you choose the tour option without hiking, the train will be used instead to move between villages). You will leave the trail when you reach the village of Vernazza, one of the prettiest and most characteristic areas you will see on the Cinque Terre tour. Here you will have some free time to sit in one of the cheerful bars and cafés or even have a cooling swim in the sea – it’s the perfect time to get refreshed and prepare for the next part of the tour.

If you do fancy a swim, don’t forget to bring suitable clothing and a towel. You don’t want to be completing the rest of the Cinque Terre tour in soggy clothes!

Wine and Shopping in Monterosso

After departing Vernazza, the group will take a short train ride to Monterosso, a village renowned for its beautiful beach and artisan shops. Here you will have the option to relax on the golden sands, browse the shops for souvenirs or even sample some local wine.

A Scenic Boat Ride

Depending on the weather conditions the next part of the experience is a boat ride along the coast to Riomaggiore, where we finish the Cinque Terre tour. We guarantee that the approach from the water will have you reaching for your camera to capture the town’s quintessential Cinque Terre beauty.

Return to Florence

After a quick train trip you will arrive in La Spezia, where a coach will take the group back to Florence. Though your legs might feel tired, you’re sure to have a spring in your step after experiencing this fantastic tour – there’s nothing quite like the Cinque Terre tour!

MEETING POINT

The meeting point is in Piazza Stazione. Your guide holding a WALKABOUT sign, right by the taxi stand at Santa Maria Novella train station across from the outside McDonald's

Departure Time: 7:30am

Departure from: Florence

Frequently Asked Questions

You MUST have suitable walking shoes if you have chosen the hiking tour option; sneakers with closed toe shoes with non slip soles are acceptable. Flip-flops, sandals or high heels are not suitable!

If you would like to stay over in the Cinque Terre area, you will be able to bring your luggage with you on the coach, where it can remain all day (locked up in the hold underneath). Then you can collect your luggage from our driver at the end of the tour when the rest of the group returns to Florence.

We run our tours with any number of people, rain or shine as we don't want a little bit of rain to ruin the chance for you to experience the beautiful places we take you to. If in extreme circumstances we have to cancel a tour, we will refund the price paid for the tour.

We do not organise hotel pick-ups for difficulties with parking and scheduling, but our meeting point at Florence's main train station is very central and should be easy to get to. Many hotels are located within easy walking distance of the train station, otherwise a taxi (you could ask your hotel to book it for you) would be the fastest option, dropping you off right at our meeting point.

We always love to hear feedback about the tour! You can leave us a message on our Facebook page wall (find us at Walkabout Florence) or find us on TripAdvisor by searching for the Walkabout Florence Tours.

The ride to the Cinque Terre is about two hours.

The tour is open to all ages from the age of 8.

Only if you choose the tour option with the Cinque Terre Hike! The hiking part of the tour for people of above average fitness who enjoy trail walking. Although we do not cover long distances, there are many steps, steep slopes and the walk can be strenuous at times, especially in the heat of the summer. We are unable to accept anyone with walking difficulties or wheelchair users.

Our tours leave from and return to the main railway station in Florence, so if you are travelling on by train, bring your luggage with you in the morning and take the train in the evening directly after the tour. You will save both time and money by not having to use the luggage deposit! We recommend that you book any rail travel from Florence after 9pm to allow time for any traffic delays. We cannot be held responsible for any loss or extra expense incurred in the unlikely case of delays due to unforeseen circumstances beyond our control.

The tour is designed as a one day tour starting from Florence. Unfortunately, with last minute changes in timings and itinerary due to traffic or train delays, or unexpected path closures due to maintenance work it is not possible to have you join us along the way.

Once you have made your reservation and made the payment by credit card through our secure website, you will be able to print the information or save it to your mobile device to bring with you to the check-in.

If you would like to change the day of your tour, you may do so (depending on availability) up to 24 hours before the start of the tour with no extra fees.

Please dress appropriately for the day. Suitable walking shoes are essential and remember to bring something waterproof in case of rain. The summer months can be very hot; a hat, sunglasses, sunblock, a water bottle and comfortable clothes are highly recommended. If you want to take a refreshing swim in the sea during your free time make sure you remember to bring swimmers and a towel with you! Don't forget your camera!

We offer a full refund to any cancellation up to 24 hours before the departure time of the tour.

WHY BOOK DIRECT WITH US?

At Walkabout Florence, we're passionate about creating unforgettable, unique experiences for our tour guests. Our small selection of handcrafted tours offer a fantastic insight into life in Tuscany and cater to various interests, so you’re bound to find something to suit your taste. Book online today and support our independent business.

Easy instant secure booking

Free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance

Mobile ticket accepted

WHAT'S INCLUDED?


Air-conditioned coach travel


Full-day guided tour


Entry to the National Park


All-day train ticket


Boat trip along the Riviera (end of March to end of October only - weather permitting)

THINGS TO NOTE

  • Because of the nature of the tour, we are unable to accept small children or anyone with walking difficulties
  • Suitable walking shoes are mandatory: sneakers, walking boots or closed toe shoes with non-slip soles - no flipflops!
  • In case of unexpected closure of the paths for unforseen events, alternative routes will be taken instead

PRIVATE TOURS

We can offer our group tour as a private tour and we can change the itinerary according to your desires and needs.

To find out more about possible combinations and prices please call us on
+39 055 2645746

or if you prefer you can email us at
info@walkaboutflorence.com

or just fill the contact form below

TALK TO US

If you've got a question, we're happy to help. Just fill in the contact form below.

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Reviews of this experience from Tripadvisor

Cinque terre
Cinque terre
838alvaroa
Had an incredible time during the hike. Amazing views, great lunch and a knowledgeable guide Chris. Would love to go again.
The perfect way to experience Cinque Terre
The perfect way to experience Cinque Terre
Ashley F
What a fantastic way to see Cinque Terre! It's much easier/enjoyable to join a tour than trying to do it on your own, trust me. It takes much longer and is more of a hassle trying to get there by train/public transportation. Cris was a wonderful guide. Provided background history and information while also giving us time to do our own thing and explore on our own. Highly recommend!
Cinque Terre with Gabriel
Cinque Terre with Gabriel
MTony8
I had a wonderful day in the Cinque Terre with our great guide Gabriel. Gabriel was very enthousiast, passionate and took great care of everyone of us. He also shares a lot of interesting informations and advices. I loved that day.
Truly an amazing experience
Truly an amazing experience
sarahwN4841EB
you must do this day trip. it is such a good value! our tour guide Chris was very knowledgeable about the area and had many recommendations to do in our free time. I feel like I really saw the best of Cinque Terre because of his recommendations. Check out my Youtube channel "Not Your Average Abroad" for my Epic trip Through Tuscany video to see our time in Cinque Terre. It was so much fun!
MUST DO DAY TRIP
MUST DO DAY TRIP
Nantha M
The combination of coach , train and boat made it picture perfect . It was a very hot day but the experience made it worthwhile. The tour guide Chris was outstanding. His attention to detail was noted - even shared gelato recipes. We could not do the second hike and Chris advised us in detail what to do. This is a must do day trip.
Amazing experience of Cinque Terre
Amazing experience of Cinque Terre
Shreyashish S
This is a perfect trip if you are short on time and want to get the essence of Cinque Terre. Our guide was Gabrielle and he was the perfect guide we could ask for. He made sure to interact with every one of us. He was quite warm to all of us and made sure people who weren't doing the hike had all the info. During the hike, he stayed back for people who were having difficulties in doing the hike and was quite supportive. In each village, he gave us the highlights with a small tour and suggested the things to try. I would totally recommend this trip!
Cinque Terre Day trip from Florence
Cinque Terre Day trip from Florence
439harrieth
We had a wonderful day trip to the Cinque Terre on 9th sept with Alberto as our guide. We booked very last minute as we were let down by another company due to reduced numbers ( thank you Covid) but we were very glad that we did. Not only was this tour less expensive, we had Alberto as an expert guide throughout. I’m sure the capacity is normally much more but we were lucky enough to only have 10 on our tour and of that 6 did the hike. I can’t express enough the importance of good shoes ( trainers or better) for the hike, even on our tour some people didn’t wear the right shoes and it made such a difference. The weather was so hot (30 deg) and made the hike quite challenging but the lemon slushy half way and the gelato in Vernazza made it worth it. Also definitely bring your swim suit and towel for a quick dip. We really can’t recommend this trip enough to anyone wanting to visit the Cinque Terre. Thank you Alberto!
Day trip to Cinque Terre with hiking
Day trip to Cinque Terre with hiking
samperkins79
I booked this trip as a solo traveller and was a little apprehensive. However, I was made to feel so welcome by our fabulous guide Alberto and the lovely group I was part of. We visited each of the five villages, had a lovely two course meal (at an additional cost) of either seafood/mixed salad/cold cuts platter and the pesto pasta as the main - this was delicious! Thankfully the hiking trail was open and we were able to see some amazing views, we took the opportunity to stop off at the peak for a refreshing lemon slush (with or without vodka) and then head down towards the next village. At the last village Alberto recommended we try the mixed seafood cone (I’ve never really eaten seafood but wanted to try it), I surprised myself and ate the majority as it was actually quite nice. Unfortunately due to sea conditions the boat element of the tour was cancelled, but this could not be helped and the day was still fab without it. Thank you for organising such a great day! I thoroughly enjoyed it! I have memories and many photos that I shall treasure forever.
Good program and tour
Good program and tour
Wilbert D
Had an active day, meeting point was well signed, good bus, good explanation of the sights and program by Alexandro, uphill hike in 30+ degrees was sweating but with rewarding sights, Nice lemon slush was a welcome cooling at the highest point stop. Because of covid less crowded which was a bonus. Good tour
Incredible day and experience!
Incredible day and experience!
sara_ch7
Incredible day spent with our tour guide Alessandro! He was really nice to everyone, available for any questions we had regarding Italy, even if they had nothing to do with the tour. We had a great time and it was nice to have someone who spoke english but also french.
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