Livorno Cruise Port: How Do You Get From the Ship to Florence and Pisa?

The terminal buildings

The Alto Fondale Cruise Terminal opened in November 2013 and has more than 2,000 square metres for passengers and crew. It has a multilingual information point, taxis, car rental, a Municipality of Livorno information desk and free Wi-Fi. Behind it, an 11,000 square metre area serves the excursion buses of the cruise lines' tour operators, plus shuttles and cars to the city centre.

The Cruise Terminal building at Piazzale dei Marmi covers 3,000 square metres, with a seated hall, disabled access ramps, a refreshment point and free Wi-Fi. Your ship's port notes say which quay you are given on the day.

Shuttle, taxi or a tour that meets you

Whether the shuttle is free or charged depends on your cruise line, so check the ship's daily planner before you go ashore. Welcome desks in the terminal explain how to reach downtown, the railway station and Pisa airport, and hand out maps in several languages.

At Alto Fondale there is a taxi rank and car rental in the terminal. Coach shore excursions such as Shore Excursion: Florence & Pisa, Accademia & Tower at $39 meet at Via Claudio Cogorano in town after the shuttle ride. Private vans such as Pisa and Florence Private Shore Excursion from Livorno Port at $732 per group up to 8 pick you up just outside the ship at Banchina Alto Fondale, so you skip the shuttle.

The city bus and its ticket

Urban line 1 runs from Livorno Stazione FF.SS. via Carducci and Grande to Italia, Ardenza Mare and Miramare. The stop Grande 7 Porto Mediceo is on its route, so the same line links the centre with the station in both directions.

The Autolinee Toscane urban ticket valid in Livorno costs $2.22 (€2). Bought from the driver on board it costs $3.32 (€3), so buy before you board when you can.

Train ticket and Tower slot

Buy the train ticket at the station ticket office or machine. A paper regional ticket must be validated in the station machine before the train leaves.

Leaning Tower tickets are sold for a set time chosen at purchase, and a late visitor is refused entry without refund. Pisa tickets can be bought online up to 90 days ahead and up to the day of the visit. Buy the Tower slot for a time well after your train lands.

If you would rather not change trains and buses, Full day shore excursion to Florence and Pisa with tasting at $48.54 per person covers Pisa and Florence in 8 hours.

Museums closed on Mondays

The Accademia, home of Michelangelo's David, is closed every Monday, on 1 January and on 25 December. A regular Accademia ticket costs $22.16 (€20). The Uffizi is also closed on Mondays, and a single Uffizi ticket bought on the day costs $27.70 (€25). On a Monday port call, plan Florence around the squares and churches.

The Cathedral, Baptistery and Crypt require covered shoulders and knees for men and women. A Dome climb slot is chosen when buying and cannot be changed.

Florence Shore Excursion with Tasting at $43 is a Florence-only coach day, and Florence Transfer with Optional Walking Tour and Accademia Entry at $39 adds Accademia entry as an option.

Every way side by side

The train is the cheapest way to Pisa, and you set your own pace. For Florence the rail distance is 101 km, plus the shuttle and the city bus at each end, all against your all-aboard time. The coach days run 8 hours and the private vans run 8 hours too, with the van starting at the ship.

Validate or pay the surcharge

Paper regional single tickets must be validated in the station machines before the train leaves, at the station where the journey starts. They are valid up to 23.59 on the day printed on the ticket.

If you board with an unvalidated ticket and tell the crew as you board, they can validate it for a $5.54 (€5) surcharge. The digital regional ticket bought on the Trenitalia site or app is personal, is shown with an ID and needs no validation.

What to see close to the port

The Fortezza Vecchia guards the port and holds the Mastio di Matilde. Waterways join it to the Fortezza Nuova. The Venezia district next to it has bridges and navigable canals, and the canals can be followed by boat to the Renaissance centre.

The Terrazza Mascagni is the classic view of Livorno, with a black and white checkered floor and an open view of the sea. The Mercato delle Vettovaglie, the covered food market, opened in 1894 on the Fosso Reale.

If your plan is Florence and Pisa instead, compare the days on livorno florence tours.

The car parks

Car park P1 at Piazza del Portuale has 111 spaces, is paid, has EV charging and a pedestrian gate to the Quartiere Venezia. Access is 24 hours from Varco Donegani. Ask the operator for the current rate before you leave the car.