Livorno to Florence
by Bus Transfer

Getting from Livorno to Florence has never been easier with this step by step tutorial. Bus transfers are as convenient as tours and as affordable as trains!

You still haven't found just the right way of getting from Livorno to Florence? Don't worry, we have some fantastic news for you!

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 ahead if you want everything to go smoothly and catch the exact train you want.

On the other hand, buying one of the cruise line shore excursions for your whole family may cost you as 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.

As you may know,  I am always in search for 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 organised shore excursions are and as affordable as catching the train is! Now how about that?

LivornoFlorence Viator

Browsing through the 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 either Florence or Pisa (or both in a single day!) in their modern, comfortable and air-conditioned coaches. Their dedication to the cruise guests' satisfaction definitely shows in the feedback they are getting from people just like you.

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.

GETTING FROM LIVORNO TO FLORENCE

1)      First you need to get on the Livorno Italy port shuttle bus that takes you from right in front of your cruise ship's gangway to the center of Livorno

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 5 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.

2)      When you get off the Port shuttle bus you will recognize the bus transfer staff by their read t-shirts. 

I wholeheartedly suggest booking your seats ahead for one reason: there is only one coach to Florence 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€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 between 9:30 and  9:45 am (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!