Florence Day Trip: Pisa & Cinque Terre Tour Review 2026

Italy: Your Essential Pisa & Cinque Terre Tour

A Day Trip from Florence

Text/Photos ©Haibubu

Florence is truly a beautiful city, but

you might miss out if you only stick to the city center.

That's why I'd like to suggest exploring

Pisa and Cinque Terre, both perfect for a day trip from Florence.

💡 By the way, I'll even share some insider tips for booking affordably below,

so make sure to check them out!

Pisa & Cinque Terre Tour: Our Recommendation

For Pisa, since most people only visit the Leaning Tower,

you might consider taking the train.

However, if you want to visit both Pisa and Cinque Terre on the same day,

I highly recommend a small group car tour (up to 8 people).

With a tour, you can comfortably travel by van,

covering about 340km round trip with ease.

Our guide was a veteran driver,

so you can relax comfortably during the journey!

What's more, Cinque Terre is a region where you can only travel between villages by train,

but moving with a guide meant I had no worries about train schedules or

tickets, making it incredibly convenient.

You can check and book the car tour I used directly below.

>> Learn More About the Pisa & Cinque Terre Tour

Now, let me share my review of the Pisa & Cinque Terre tour I personally took this October!

Pisa & Cinque Terre Trip Review

For the Pisa & Cinque Terre car tour,

our meeting point was around 7 AM near Florence's central station,

at Five Guys.

On the day I took the tour, it was a small group of 7 people in total.

Our guide's van was comfortable, so there was

absolutely no discomfort during our travels!

Plus, there were USB charging ports in the back,

which was great for charging our phones.

Pisa

The itinerary initially listed Cinque Terre as our first stop,

but our guide decided to visit Pisa first, considering the direction of the sun on the Leaning Tower.

(After all, the Leaning Tower of Pisa is essentially a spot for photos!)

This is the kind of thoughtful detail you might miss if you're traveling independently,

and I was really impressed by our guide's thoughtfulness.

Pisa is pretty much all about the Leaning Tower.

When you actually see it, you'll

immediately understand why you absolutely *have* to go.

You can see it tilted so much that you'll wonder

how it even stands.

If you strike some fun poses with the Leaning Tower of Pisa in the background,

your guide will take some fantastic photos for you.

When you visit the Leaning Tower of Pisa, most people are

striking these kinds of poses for photos, and it was

incredibly fun...!

Not knowing when we might return to the Leaning Tower of Pisa,

we also struck various poses and had a blast

taking photos.

It seems to be trendy these days to take photos with McDonald's

fries boxes or cones and the Leaning Tower of Pisa, doesn't it?

There's a McDonald's right by the entrance to the Leaning Tower, so keep that in mind!

Cinque Terre

Next, we took a car and headed to the station

where we would board the Cinque Terre train.

Having a guide meant we didn't have to worry about train times at all,

and not getting stressed about complicated routes was

incredibly convenient.

It was certainly the kind of travel route that made me think,

"This is why you go on a tour!"

Also, I heard that ticket validation machines in Italy often don't work properly,

so self-guided travelers sometimes end up paying fines.

Traveling with our guide meant they checked each and every ticket

to make sure it was properly validated, allowing us

to travel with complete peace of mind.

Cinque Terre is a stunning region made up of

five beautiful villages.

On the tour I took, we visited Vernazza and Manarola,

considered the most beautiful among the five villages.

Cinque Terre: Vernazza

The first village we visited among Cinque Terre's five

was Vernazza.

Stepping off the train, we immediately entered the village, and the

colorful buildings were truly impressive.

Just a short walk from the village entrance, you'll find a beautiful harbor

with a wonderful atmosphere.

If you take photos at the photo spots on either side of the harbor,

you can truly capture some once-in-a-lifetime shots.

Since our guide immediately pointed out these photo spots,

we didn't waste any time, making the visit truly worthwhile.

In Vernazza, we had lunch at a very special restaurant.

(By the way, you can choose to go with the guide or freely

dine at another restaurant.)

The restaurant we went to with our guide involved climbing

some really steep stairs, so it was quite a challenge...!

However, once you arrive at the restaurant, thanks to the breathtaking view like the one in the photo above,

you'll definitely feel that the climb was worth it.

While gazing at the village view from the top,

Our lunch was incredibly satisfying – 200% delightful!

The seafood pasta and basil pesto? Absolutely divine!

If you ever find yourself in Vernazza,

you absolutely MUST visit this restaurant!

For dessert, a stop at a renowned Vernazza gelato spot

for a palate-cleansing scoop of gelato made it absolutely perfect.

There are also plenty of souvenir shops, so feel free to browse and pick up a memento!

Cinque Terre: Manarola

Next up, we hopped on a train and made our way to the charming village of Manarola.

Manarola is *the* village that truly embodies the iconic scenery

that comes to mind when you think of Cinque Terre.

As you can see, a leisurely stroll up the coastal path

will lead you to some absolutely breathtaking viewpoints.

To be honest, when I initially booked the Pisa and Cinque Terre tour,

I thought the Leaning Tower of Pisa would be the main highlight,

so I arrived in Cinque Terre with absolutely no expectations.

If I had left Florence without experiencing these breathtaking views,

I would have truly regretted it.

It’s a viewpoint that evokes the charm of Positano in Southern Italy, and

you absolutely must see it from the exact spot our guide shared with us!

Pisa and Cinque Terre: Explore Comfortably with a Car Tour!

Today, I’ve shared my experience on a day trip from Florence,

highlighting the Pisa and Cinque Terre car tour.

If I had attempted to do Pisa and Cinque Terre independently by train

in one day, the pressure of keeping to train schedules and managing transfers would have been immense.

But thanks to our amazing guide, I didn't have to worry about train times, tickets, or getting around,

allowing me to fully immerse myself in the day's adventure.

Plus, during our journeys, our guide, who has lived in Italy for many years,

shared fascinating stories about local Italian life and culture, making the travel time fly by!

While the Leaning Tower of Pisa was certainly impressive,

the unexpectedly stunning landscapes of Cinque Terre truly made this

day trip a perfectly satisfying experience.

If you're looking to enjoy a comfortable and incredibly fulfilling Florence day trip, just like I did,

then go ahead and book it using the link below!

>> Book Your Pisa & Cinque Terre Car Tour Here!

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