Livorno is where most Mediterranean cruise ships call for Tuscany, and with only a day ashore, combining the region’s two easiest cities is the smart choice. This day trip does exactly that by air-conditioned coach. In Lucca, a guide leads you past the Guinigi Tower with its rooftop trees, into the oval Piazza dell’Anfiteatro and on to the golden mosaic façade of San Frediano, before free time for lunch inside the walls. In Pisa, the coach brings you to the Piazza dei Miracoli for the Leaning Tower, the Cathedral and the Baptistery, with tower entry available as an option when you book. The order of the two cities can change with traffic. It is a long day and the time in each city is limited, but it removes all the logistics of trains and timed tickets and gets you back to the port area in time, and the trip works just as well for travellers staying in Livorno itself.
How it works: meet at Via Claudio Cogorano 3 in Livorno, where the shuttle bus arrives, at least fifteen minutes before the 10:30 departure, and look for staff in green T-shirts. The trip lasts about seven hours. Included are coach transport with free WiFi, a map, the guided tour of Lucca and, if you select it, entry to the Leaning Tower. Hotel or ship pickup, meals and drinks, and a guided tour inside the tower are not included. Free cancellation and rescheduling are available until twenty-four hours before.
Choosing the options: if you have never climbed the tower, select the tower entry when you book, since climbs are by timed slot and cannot be guaranteed on the day. Remember that children under eight cannot climb and bags must go to the cloakroom. If you only want photographs on the lawn, the basic version is enough.
Is it right for you: if your ship is in Livorno for the day, this is one of the simplest ways to see both cities. If you are staying in Pisa or Lucca, you will get more from travelling by regional train at your own pace. Check your ship’s all-aboard time against the tour’s seven-hour length before you book, because the tour, not the cruise line, sets the schedule.
What to expect
The experience
A coach day trip from Livorno with a guided walking tour of Lucca, free time for lunch and a visit to the Piazza dei Miracoli in Pisa, with optional tower entry.
Best time
Book it for a cruise port day or a free day in Livorno; the 10:30 start suits ships that dock early in the morning.
How long
About seven hours from the Livorno meeting point and back, with the order of the two cities depending on traffic.
Tips
Add tower entry at booking if you want to climb, bring a small bag only, and check the return time against your ship’s all-aboard time.
Quick picks
- Best for
- Cruise passengers with a day in Livorno who want to see both Lucca and Pisa without arranging trains and tickets.
- Families
- Workable for families, as the coach does the hard part, though children under eight cannot do the optional tower climb.
- Couples
- An easy, hands-off day for couples who want two Tuscan cities in one outing, with a lunch break in Lucca.
- Pair with
- If you have time on another day, the Lucca walls by bike or the Puccini Museum.
- Time needed
- A full day of about seven hours.
Good questions
Where does the Lucca and Pisa day trip from Livorno start?+
It starts at Via Claudio Cogorano 3 in Livorno, where the port shuttle arrives. Look for the staff member in a green T-shirt at least fifteen minutes before 10:30.
Is the Leaning Tower climb included?+
Tower entry is included only if you select that option when booking. A guided tour inside the tower is not included.
Is lunch included on the day trip?+
No, meals and drinks are not included. There is free time for lunch in Lucca.
Does the tour pick up from the cruise ship?+
No, pickup is not included, so you need to reach the meeting point on Via Claudio Cogorano yourself. Allow time for the port shuttle.
Can I cancel the day trip?+
Yes, free cancellation and rescheduling are available until twenty-four hours before departure. After that the booking cannot be changed.