Livorno to Florence by Bus -
Step by step Tutorial for Cruisers

Independent cruisers have a few options when it comes to reaching Florence from the cruise port of Livorno. From top-rated Viator shore excursions to taking a train, from taking a taxi van to getting on an On Your Own Bus that is as convenient as a tour and as affordable as a train. Getting from Livorno to Florence has never been easier with this step-by-step tutorial.

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How far is Livorno from Florence Italy?

By now you surely know the port of Livorno is quite distant from Florence and Pisa, the major points of cruisers' interest in Tuscany.

The town of Livorno is a big maritime/industrial port on the coast of Italy and it is where your cruise ship docks if you want a chance to enjoy all the Rennaisance jewels inland.

Florence is about a 1 1/2 hour ride away from Livorno, while Pisa is much closer, only about 45 minutes away.

That is why your day here needs some careful planning: there is so much to see when coming to this incredibly beautiful part of the world, and we all know a cruiser's day is always time-limited.

What is the best way to get to Florence from Livorno?

Getting from Livorno town to Florence is not the same for cruisers as it is for tourists staying in Livorno.

Cruisers are always limited by their ship's departure time and that is why getting back safely in time should be their first concern.

That is why for cruise guests the best way of getting to Florence is any that involves the guidance of an experienced local.

And those would be:

taking one of the privately booked day trips to Florence
taking an On Your Own bus
taking one of the cruise-line sold shore excursions (this option should be left as a last-minute solution as it is quite pricey).

Taking a Train to Florence

Reading our pages you might have started thinking that taking a train from Livorno to Florence might be a bit too complicated and risky...there are a lot of little things you have to plan if you want everything to go smoothly, if you want to catch the exact train you want and come back in time.

Is it worth taking the cruise line's Florence shore excursions?

On the other hand, buying one of the cruise line shore excursions for your whole family may cost you one-third of the whole amount you paid for the cruise itself. Ouch, that hurts! Even if you wanted to splash out, tours like Florence on Your Own get sold out quickly and you might miss out.

Why take a bus from Livorno town to Florence?

As you may know, I am always in search of the ways our readers can make their stay in ports more cost-effective.

Also, I would like you to make the most of your short time in port as I know ports are the reason why you came on the cruise in the first place.

That's why I was so happy to find out there was a service that offers you low-cost coach transportation from Livorno to Florence, as easy as the organized shore excursions are and as affordable as catching the train is!

Dozens of our readers book this service daily!

Now how about that?

Browsing through TripAdvisor's pages I came across many people praising the local tour operators and giving their service a whopping four-and-a-half-star rating.

It is a company that also takes you to Florence, Pisa (or both Florence and Pisa in a single day!) in their modern, comfortable, and air-conditioned coaches.

Their dedication to the cruise guests' satisfaction shows in the feedback they are getting from people just like you.

The only problem with it is that there are many cruise ships in Livorno in a single day and this service gets sold out quickly! Also, it is available only one time during the morning, at 9.45 and that's it!

Planning the trip to Florence is exciting when you know what beauties are awaiting for you!

'Efficient and timely check in, transfer and return. Bus was comfortable. Our guide was informative and provided information to help with our own exploration of Florence.' Lisa F.

'Well organised, very friendly guide, all was done in time. High recommend to anyone travelling on a cruise with not too much time.' John G.

'Florence was one of the most beautiful cities we’ve ever explored! It was so nice to have the option to venture on your own. Upon return, we were supposed to be dropped off to Livorno Center to take a transfer shuttle back to port, but since we were tight on time, our guide and driver were accommodating and brought us directly back to port! Thank you so much for guaranteeing return on time!' Morgan S.

How to get from Livorno to Florence by bus?

Now let me explain, step-by-step, how easy it is to get on one of their buses and have a relaxed day in Florence or both Florence and Pisa.

1) When you get off the ship's gangway you need to get on the Livorno Italy port shuttle bus (also called PortoLivorno 2000 shuttle bus) that takes you to the center of Livorno. This shuttle drives passengers back and forth the whole morning.

If you have had a chance to read our Livorno port transportation pages, you will know it is impossible to walk from your cruise ship to the centre of Livorno.

Cruise ships dock on the inside of the big industrial port of Livorno and are cut off from the town itself.

It wouldn't only take you very, very long to walk through that port...it is also dangerous as there are no pedestrians' walkways at all.

That is why you just need to get on that Port shuttle bus. The charge is about 7.50 euros per person round trip and most cruise lines will make it possible for you to purchase the tickets on board.

If you forget to do it ahead of time, they will charge your cruise card on the shuttle bus itself.

The first shuttle departs once the ship is cleared by the local authorities and as soon as it fills up with the independent travelers trickling off the gangway. Which doesn't normally happen before 8am.

The Port shuttle bus will drop you off right behind Livorno's Piazza Grande, in Via Cogorano, just a few steps away from the point where the local tour operators bus shuttles leave from.

You can upgrade your Florence shuttle bus ticket to the one with a guided Florence walk

2) When you get off the Port shuttle bus in the center of Livorno, you will recognize the Florence transfer bus staff by their green t-shirts.

Their bus will be parked a few meters away from the shuttle bus that brings you from the ship.

Once again, I wholeheartedly suggest booking your seats ahead for one reason: there is only one coach to Florence a day and you don't want to miss your opportunity of this low cost transfer to Florence.

If you do, you will have to run for the next train and possibly wait for another hour for its departure. Something you just cannot afford on this short day.

You can book your trip here.

Once you book your spot on the bus ahead, your seats will be waiting for you with your name on it! So regardles of how many eager fellow passengers want to get on that same bus right there on the spot, you will be safe.

The return trip to Florence is only €42 (sometimes you can even catch it on sale), €26 for children from 3-9 as well as disabled passengers. For toddlers up to 3 years old the ride is free.

3) The bus departs to Florence at 9:45 am (or as soon as the port shuttle bus with all the people who booked their spot on board arrives). It arrives to Florence at 11:00 am.

The same bus will depart Florence at 3:45 pm and arrive back in Livorno at 5:00 pm.

Should it happen that your bus is running late for some reason (bad traffic), great thing is their friendly coach driver will take you straight back to the ship. In other words, there's no risk of running late! Which takes a lot of stress off every cruiser's back.

4) Once in Florence, the coach will drop you off a few steps away from the Santa Maria Novella train station. The same spot you would be starting your Florence exploration if you were taking a train.

From there, it's hardly a ten minute walk to the Florence Cathedral, Ponte Vecchio and all the other famous sights of Tuscany's capital.

5) When coming back, you will come back to the same spot and have the coach bring you back to Livorno. Be on time!

What's great about this company is they are really easy to work with. Should your cruise ship miss the port due to bad weather, many TripAdvisor readers confirmed they had their money refunded no questions asked.

Is your idea of your stay in Florence a more intimate, private tour? Or something more specialised? No problem, I have some suggestions for you below...

Have a fantastic day in Florence!