Best Day Trips from Livorno

Livorno is an Italian city located right on the west coast of Tuscany, whose sea and land routes offer a quick connection to nearby cities and towns, such as Pisa, Florence, Siena, Chianti, among other historic locations. Such is the case of Pisa, Florence, Siena, Chianti, among other historical locations.

During your stay, you will be able to select from a wide variety of excursions from this beautiful port city, which are also considered some of the best things to do in Livorno. You will be able to enjoy the scenic beauty of all these places, discover its architectural icons, taste its delicious gastronomy, visit some vineyards and much more. Below, I'll tell you about these tours.

If you're enthusiastic about endoculture, then you should join one of the best wine tours from Livorno to Siena. You will learn about the production process of this drink in a traditional winery with wine tasting included.

You will depart from Livorno with a specialised guide on an overland route that will take you to the medieval city of Siena, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. There, you will discover part of the cultural, historical and artistic heritage of the place, and then you will travel through the Tuscan hill of Chianti and its beautiful landscape of vineyards.

Siena

Upon arrival in Siena, your guide will tell you about the history of the place. You will learn about the annual Palio horse race. This is an event that annually attracts a large number of visitors.

In addition, you will visit some places of interest:

• The Cathedral of the region, considered one of the last architectural representations belonging to the Italian Gothic movement.
• The Palazzo Pubblico; this is an architectural work located in Piazza del Campo, where you will have the opportunity to observe the Torre del Mangia.

Chianti

The tour continues through the beautiful hills of Chianti where you will see a colourful landscape of vineyards. You will arrive at one of the wineries in the region for a guided tour, where you will learn how the grapes are cultivated, acquiring some basic knowledge of the wine industry.

Finally, you will enjoy a wine tasting experience , tasting different vintages of the historic Chianti red wine. In addition, you will taste some local products such as cheeses and cured meats.

Interesting details

• Price: from 471€ per person.
• Duration: 8 hours (approx.)
• Means of transport: minivan.
• Advantages of this option: you will be accompanied by a specialised guide who will tell you the history of each of the destinations visited, making the tour more enjoyable.
• Disadvantages of this option: in some wineries in the Chianti region, people under 18 years of age are usually not allowed.

Things to do in Livorno include a city break to explore the Cinque Terre Coast. This can be done by car, train or ferry. It all depends on your taste when selecting the excursion.

Whichever option you choose, you will meet your tour guide at an agreed location in the city of Livorno. From there, you will go to the port, board a train or a private car, depending on the experience you have chosen.

The approximately one and a half hour route will take you to the Cinque Terre National Park, where you will walk through the villages that make up this region: Manarola, Riomaggiore, Vernazza, Monterosso and Corniglia.

Although the entire tour is accompanied by a guide, in each of the villages you will have free time to explore at your own pace. You can have lunch in one of the local restaurants, visit the shops in search of souvenirs, or just wander the streets.

Details of interest

• Price: from 339€ per person.
• Duration: 9 hours (approx.)
• Means of transport: minivan, train or ferry.
• Advantages of this option: you will be able to tour the villages that make up the Cinque Terre Park and contemplate the beautiful panorama of the coast.
• Disadvantages of this option: generally, the excursion does not include any food or drink, so you will have to make the investment on your own.

Take advantage of your stay in Livorno to visit the cities of Florence and Pisa on a one-day land and sea tour. You'll learn about the history of both Tuscan towns, see their iconic architectural monuments and sample their cuisine.

You'll travel by cruise ship from Livorno to Florence. You will then connect with a local guide and be transferred to the city centre by coach service. The tour will then begin.

Florence

In the city of Florence you will visit some of its most popular tourist destinations. For example:

• The Central Market, where you will do a series of tastings (frogs, olive oil, mushrooms, fish, cheeses, hams, meats, chocolates, Tuscan wines, etc).
• The Ponte Vecchio, a medieval structure, considered one of the most famous in the world.
• Piazza Dumo, surrounded by the cathedral and the museum.
• Piazza della Signoria, where the social life of the city takes place.

Pisa

The second destination of this excursion is the neighbouring city of Pisa. There, you will visit the famous Piazza dei Miracoli, which houses the Leaning Tower and the Cathedral of Pisa, notable for its marble strips. You'll have free time to wander around at your own pace and even sample traditional Tuscan biscuits (Cantucci).

Details of interest

• Price: from 599€ per person.
• Duration: one day.
• Means of transport: boat and coach.
• Advantages of this option: you will learn about the history of two important Tuscan cities and discover some of their monuments.
• Disadvantages of this option: this activity does not usually include entrance fees to the cathedral, museums or other attractions in the cities.

Incorporate a guided tour of Gorgona Island into your travel itinerary for at least 1 day in Livorno. You will enjoy beautiful panoramic views, explore some coves, ancient fortifications and hidden bays.

You will connect with a guide at the port of Livorno and immediately board a ferry to travel for about an hour and a half until you reach Gorgona Island. There, on land, the real adventure begins.

Together with your guide you will make a quick visit to the ruins of an ancient Roman villa and then move on to the famous Frescobaldi vineyards, where Gorgona wine is produced. This is thanks to the inmates who live in the region, whose job it is to look after the fields due to the rehabilitation programme of the so-called Prison Island.

You will then move along dirt roads towards the eastern part of the island, where you will find the Pisan fortress Torre Nuova and Torre Vecchia. From here you will have a privileged view of the Mediterranean Sea. You will also have the opportunity to stroll along Cala Scirocco, Cala Maestra and Cala Martina.

Interesting details

• Price: from 110€ per person.
• Duration: 8 hours (approx.)
• Means of transport: ferry.
• Advantages of this option: you will get to know the natural and architectural beauty of Gorgona Island, as well as the wine-making work of the local inmates.
• Disadvantages of this option: during the visit to the island it is forbidden to use cameras, mobile phones or even dive into the nearby waters.

If you plan to spend more than 2 days in Livorno, then you should incorporate some excursions along the coast of this region into your daily itinerary. In this sense, a good idea is to visit San Gimignano to contemplate its landscapes, learn about its history and taste its gastronomy.

For this activity, a driver will take you from the province of Livorno to San Gimignano. In this way, you will travel through the Tuscan countryside and take a pleasant panoramic drive, where you will admire a natural scenery, composed of vineyards, hills, olive groves, among other plantations.

Arriving in San Gimignano, you will have the opportunity to explore the town at your own pace, discovering:

• The Collegiate Church, also known as the Duomo.
• The 13 medieval towers, which are still standing.
• The Palazzo Nuovo del Podestà, whose structure is currently occupied by the town hall of the region.
• The Museum of Torture, with ancient instruments such as the quebradillas, the chastity belt, the chair of the inquisition, etc.

In San Gimignano you will also have time to have lunch in a restaurant and taste local products such as the white wine Vernaccia. You will also be able to buy some souvenirs in the many local shops, whether it be clothing, ceramics, leather, etc.

Interesting details

• Price: from 339€ per person.
• Duration: 9 hours (approx.)
• Means of transport: minivan.
• Advantages of this option: once in San Gimignano, you will be able to explore the town at your own pace and visit the attractions that really catch your attention.
• Disadvantages of this option: usually this tour does not include entrance to the attractions visited and meals.

A good plan during your stay is to take a drive from the centre of Livorno, on a route of about an hour to the town of Lucca. You will discover the main architectural gems of this region in the company of a specialised guide.

Once in Lucca, you will start a walking tour of the city, stopping at each of the places of interest. All this, while the guide gives you some historical and architectural information about each of the destinations.

Some of the monuments visited are usually:

• Guinigi Tower: you will contemplate an imposing architectural work of 45 metres high, representative of the Romanesque-Gothic style.
• Piazza Anfiteatro: you will stroll through this square where a Roman amphitheatre of the 2nd century once stood.
• Basilica of San Frediano: you will visit the interior of this Romanesque temple, whose history dates back to the beginning of the first half of the 6th century.

Your guide will also give you free time to explore the streets of Lucca at your own pace. In this way, you will be able to buy some souvenirs and go into any of the local cafes or restaurants. Taste the local sweet and savoury cuisine, sip a glass of red wine and relax before returning to Livorno.

Interesting details

• Price: from 72€ per person.
• Duration: 4 hours (approx.)
• Means of transport: minibus or private car.
• Advantages of this option: this activity will allow you to visit the architectural jewels of the town of Lucca and learn about its history.
• Disadvantages of this option: the excursion may not include the transfer service to and from the hotel.

Travelling along the Etruscan Coast of Tuscany to visit some of its historic villages is certainly another must-do excursion you can do from Livorno. You will contemplate unique landscapes and architectural samples with an important historical value for humanity.

The village of Bolgheri

You will travel about an hour south of Livorno until you reach the picturesque village of Bolgheri. Along the way you will enjoy a beautiful natural landscape composed of cypress trees, which will guide you to the famous medieval castle of the town.

Afterwards, you will explore the historic centre of this ancient Etruscan town, with the purpose of visiting some artisan workshops and admiring the stone facades of the houses. You will feel like you have stepped back in time.

The village of San Vincenzo and Populonia

You will stop in the village of San Vincenzo, where you can have lunch in one of its restaurants overlooking the beach. You will then travel another 30 minutes to the last destination of the excursion in Populonia.

This is a beautiful hill belonging to the ancient Etruscan cities. It is surrounded by the sea and has preserved imposing walls as a 15th century architecture.

Details of interest

• Price: from 356€ per person.
• Duration: 9 hours (approx.)
• Means of transport: minivan.
• Advantages of this option: you will visit two Etruscan villages of great historical and architectural importance, as they developed between the 8th and 1st centuries BC.
• Disadvantages of this option: you will have to buy your own food and drinks during the excursion, as the activity does not include this service.

During the excursions from Livorno to nearby towns and cities, you will be able to see beautiful natural spaces, unique architectural monuments, museums, iconic cathedrals, squares, among others.

You will discover the history, gastronomy and culture of several Tuscan cities such as Florence, Pisa, Siena and Chianti. In addition, you will have the possibility to visit the island of Gorgona and some villages of the Cinque Terre Coast.

When going on an excursion from Livorno you will need to put into practice some basic tips, which will allow you to avoid inconveniences and to make the most of the experience.

• Wear comfortable shoes, preferably sport shoes. In this way, you will be able to walk without causing damage to your feet while you explore the different destinations of the selected excursion.
• Keep a bottle of water and a snack handy. Although the excursions usually incorporate snacks, these are provided at a specific time during the activity.
• Don't forget your passport and identity card, as you may need them at any time to access a ferry or an attraction on the itinerary.

Also, in the particular case of cruises, it is important that you take into consideration the rules of the activity in which you are going to participate. This is because some of the excursions do not allow you to go underwater, even if you bring your own equipment.