Port guide · Italy
Tuscany's port and the starting point for Florence and Pisa. The Leaning Tower is a quarter of an hour away by train; Florence is an hour and a half to two hours away, just enough to see the cathedral, Piazza della Signoria and the Ponte Vecchio in a day.
Livorno is an industrial port and you can't walk out. On cruise days there's a shuttle into town (paid on some ships); the central station is about 4 km from the port, by taxi or bus, and trains to Pisa and Florence leave from there.
Time: Approx. 1.5 h to FlorenceApprox. price: Depends on the ship
Drops you in the city and picks you up at a set time, with a guaranteed return
Time: Approx. 2 h to FlorenceApprox. price: Taxi approx. €20–30 per car and train approx. €9–11 per person
To Pisa Centrale, just a quarter of an hour by train
The journeys to Florence alone add up to three or four hours: start back at least two and a half hours ahead; if there's a train strike, the only option is an expensive taxi.
Route 1
From Santa Maria Novella station everything is close: the cathedral, Piazza della Signoria and the Ponte Vecchio.
Train to Firenze Santa Maria Novella
Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore
The cathedral is free; climbing the dome needs a booked ticket
Piazza della Signoria and Palazzo Vecchio
With the replica of David
Uffizi Gallery
Book ahead to get in
Ponte Vecchio
The bridge of jewellers' shops
Back to the station
About 20 minutes
Route 2
If there's no time for Florence, go to Pisa: a quarter of an hour by train, and on the Piazza dei Miracoli, the tower, the cathedral and the baptistery.
Train to Pisa Centrale
Walk to the Piazza dei Miracoli
About 25 minutes, or take a bus
Tower, cathedral and baptistery
Climbing the tower needs a timed ticket; children under 8 can't go up
Train back to Livorno
Route 3
Lucca's walls, San Gimignano's towers and the Tuscan vineyards: on your own there are many changes, so an organised tour is the easiest way.
Want it easy? Join an official MSC shore excursion, timed around the port call. If you booked your cruise with VIAJES FH, ask your advisor to add it for you.
Search MSC cruises calling at Livorno with VIAJES FH, with live prices.
Search cruisesYour advisor can add shore excursions, drinks packages and onboard internet.
Contact an advisor
Transport and ticket prices are approximate, checked in November 2026, and may change. The latest all-aboard time is the one announced on board.
Cover photo: Jan Drewes / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0