Scent of the Sea: Cinque Terre Park Full Day Trip from Florence

Make the most of your time in Cinque Terre... Meet your tour guide at Piazzale Montelungo Bus Terminal early in the morning. Piazzale Montelungo is located 5-10 minutes walking distance from Santa Maria Novella train station. Find your seat on the comfortable coach bus, sit and relax, and prepare to depart for your journey to the nearby coastline! The drive to Cinque Terre will take about two hours. Throughout the drive, your guide will entertain you with plenty of interesting information about the famous views and villages on the way, as well as Cinque Terre and what to expect upon arrival. If you have any questions, your guide will be there to assist you.

After about two hours, you will arrive in La Spezia, the closest city to Cinque Terre. Here, your bus driver will drop off the group at the train station. Your guide will lead the group through the small train station, and your group will get on the first train to Manarola. The train takes about ten minutes, and then you will arrive in the stunning coastal town!

Manarola is an ancient fishing village famous for its brightly colored homes and pristine white wine! Enjoy marvelous views of its sparkling blue sea, the impeccable homes stacked upon each other, and the green grapevines towering in the distance. Your guide will happily point out the best viewpoints for photos (Manarola is very famous on Instagram, its views are incomparable!). You will have about an hour of free time to explore this picturesque town as you please.

The train ride to Monterosso will take about ten minutes. When you arrive, your guide will give plenty of recommendations for how you can spend your time in Monterosso. This historic fishing town is most famous for its wide, white sand beaches with crystal-clear water. Spend some time exploring the ancient town and indulging in some pesto pasta or delicious seafood for lunch. Then, find a spot on the pristine coastline to relax under the sun, take a dip in the incredible sea, and take some memorable photos! You will have plenty of free time in Monterosso to relax and to feel the marine breeze on your skin.

From Monterosso, you will enjoy a 10 minutes boat ride to head to the nearby town of Vernazza. The boat ride will take place only if weather/sea conditions will be considered safe by local organizers and will give you the opportunity to admire the fishing villages from another perspective! Admiring the Cinque Terre hills reflecting on the crystal clear waters of the Ligurian sea will be an experience you will not forget! You will have about 1 hour of free time in this lovely waterfront town. Make your way to the small, picturesque harbor, also called "the Pearl of Cinque Terre." If you are lucky, you will witness the local fisherman arriving back from their morning fishing in small blue boats. Enjoy the characteristic (and famous) views of Vernazza's emerald water and colorful homes. Spend some time strolling through the ancient streets smelling of fresh focaccia and pesto. If you need any recommendations, your tour leader will be happy to help!

Meet your tour leader at the train station to reach Riomaggiore, where you will be welcomed by more brightly colored homes stacked on striking cliffs. Enjoy about an hour of free time to explore the beachy alleyways, purchase any last-minute artisanal souvenirs, and admire the lovely views. When it is time to depart, you will see the sun starting to settle and what seems like gold flakes over the sea, as small boats pull into the port after their days at sea.

Your train back to La Spezia will take less than ten minutes. Follow your guide back to the bus, where you will depart for Florence.

Relax on the comfortable, air conditioned bus after your incredible day of exploration and beauty. You will arrive back in Florence in the early evening.