See Also
- Reserving Train Tickets in Italy
- Getting to Florence from Rome
- Getting from Venice to Florence
- Getting to Florence from Pisa
- Top-ranked hotels in Florence
Table of Contents
How to get to Florence from Livorno
- Booking Train Tickets in Italy: The best website for booking Italy train tickets is ItaliaRail.com. It’s the simplest website to use and usually offers the most affordable prices.
- By railway: From the cruise ship terminal, it’s around a 10 minute taxi or shuttle ride, or about a 30 minute bus ride (plus additional time spent going to buy a ticket at a tobacco shop first as they do not sell tickets on board the bus) to the train station. Even though taking the bus is cheaper – at €1.20 per one-way ticket versus a €24 taxi (for up to four people, so €6 each for a group) – taking a taxi is best for this part of the journey. Most cruises only allow a short time in port, and you don’t want to waste precious minutes waiting for the bus or for the cruise company’s shuttle service to begin operating (sometimes the boat is docked for over an hour before the shuttle starts running). Once at the Livorno Centrale station, take a train to Florence, with ride times of around an hour and 10 minutes or an hour and 40 minutes depending on the train selected. Taking the train is the best option, as it offers a great blend of reasonable rates, flexible schedules, and roomy seating. Additionally, riding the train gives a true Italian experience. More details and photographs on taking the railway are below.
- By bus: Slightly more expensive than train travel, and it takes over two hours each direction. This is not advised if your cruise ship is only in port for one day.
- Via private transport: This option carries a larger cost than taking the train, but for those traveling with very young children or hoping to incorporate a stop at a vineyard or the Leaning Tower of Pisa on the return trip, it can prove quite advantageous. Pricing varies per individual depending on passenger numbers and any additional destinations or services included, but can be as low as €50 roundtrip per person for a group of 8 going directly between Florence and the Port of Livorno. The direct drive spans between one to one and a half hours, so no real time is saved versus rail travel. Nicola Scovenna NCC offers the best private transfers departing from the Port of Livorno.
- While taking an excursion on land: Tours from shore can be scheduled directly through the cruise line or independently with the tour operator; reserving through the tour company is commonly more affordable than organizing through the ship. Costs vary contingent on the chosen experience, but typically range from €95 to €125, and cover roundtrip transportation and guided visits to Florence’s premier attractions. Tuscan Heart is considered the top tour provider for day trips to Florence from the Port of Livorno.
Livorno-Florence Train Schedules
Trains operating from Livorno Centrale Station to Firenze Santa Maria Novella (Firenze SMN, the main train hub in Florence) run each weekday from 5:00 a.m. until 9:12 p.m. Departures are roughly every 40 minutes during peak periods, every hour for most of the day, and every hour and ten minutes in the early mornings and late evenings. A total count of 21 trains leave from Livorno to Florence throughout the course of the day.
The trains commence later on Sundays and holidays, at 5:19 in the morning, but conclude at the standard time at 9:12 p.m. 18 trains depart from Livorno to Florence on Sundays and holidays, so though service is reduced, there are still plenty of possibilities to transport travelers there.
Livorno-Florence Train Fares
Tickets from Pisa Centrale to Firenze Santa Maria Novella station cost €9.700 per adult one way; the train operator for this route is Trenitalia.
Children aged four years or younger who sit on an adult`s lap can ride free on trains. Children between four to eleven years old receive a 50% discount on the regular adult fare and are given their own seat. Seats may also be purchased for children under four at the standard kid rate, which is useful if using a child car seat. Trains rarely reach full capacity, so if the train starts moving and unoccupied seats are nearby, it is acceptable for younger children to utilize them.
Bimbi Gratis: Children below 15 can ride for no cost as part of Trenitalia’s Bimbi Gratis program. To benefit from this, tickets must be bought two days in advance as part of a family group of 2-5 people, with at least one adult. Adult fares remain unchanged, just the child tickets are free.
Trenitalia tickets can be obtained at any of the kiosks or ticket offices at the train station on the day of travel. They can also be purchased online 24 hours or more before the train’s scheduled departure.
Wait Times and Delays
Italian trains (and buses also) are frequently delayed by a few minutes. Delay can occur at any time, but they are most common near the major holidays of Christmas and Easter when more passengers are present.
Delays can also come from employee demonstrations, though these are never without warning. All strikes must be declared two weeks ahead of time, cannot last more than 24 hours, and are never allowed in July, August, late December, early January, or around Easter or election days. If a strike happens, trains still operate but on a limited schedule.
To ensure arriving back at the Port of Livorno in time, it`s advisable to take the train departing before the final possible one for your schedule. That way, if you miss the first planned train or it`s delayed, there`s still an opportunity to take the next. Otherwise, you`ll be forced to pay for an exorbitantly priced taxi at around €300.
Livorno to Florence with Kids
Children four years old or younger can ride for free, with no seat reservation or at 50% of the adult rate (€4.20) if a reserved seat is required. Children between four and eleven years old receive a discounted price that is half the adult rate as well. However, for groups consisting of at least one adult and at least one child under fifteen years old, then all children in that group under fifteen can ride free and get their own seat. To benefit from this offer, tickets for the group must be purchased at least two days in advance.
Hotel websiteCheck prices for Praktik Rambla
Food On Board or at the Station
The local train to Livorno is a brief ride, so they do not offer any dining onboard.
Livorno Centrale is a small train station. There is one eating establishment to pick up food before departing by train. In the main building, there is a combined cafe and pizzeria serving hot meals and drinks along with premade options and cold beverages for taking along. In the central atrium by the ticket windows, a store sells DVDs and trinkets while also offering some packaged snacks and drinks. On Platform 1, a row of 3 vending machines exists but one contains only non-edible items, another just gum, and the third a restricted assortment of snacks. For the best selection, the cafe is advisable.
A handful of reasonably priced eating establishments and bars are within walking distance of the train station, but most are only open for lunch and dinner. Breakfast is just not a very popular meal in Italy.
Location of the Train Station
Livorno Centrale train station is situated to the east of downtown, between the main highway and a shopping center. There are no major attractions near the train station, though there is a small cathedral, two fortresses, and a couple of palaces downtown, in between the train station and the port.
Livorno to Florence by Train
• Booking Train Tickets in Italy in Advance
