How to Spend A Day in Florence (From Livorno Cruise Port)

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The Tuscan capital of Florence is home to the iconic Duomo, Renaissance masterpieces, unique wine windows, and the famous Ponte Vecchio bridge. It's charm and drool-worthy eats draw millions of visitors a year, and if you're on a Mediterranean cruise, you'll probably find it on your itinerary.. well sort of..

Now, I'm not gonna lie, It can be somewhat decieving when cruise lines list Florence/Pisa in parentheses beside the Port of Livorno. They make you believe you're just a few steps away from Florence, when in actuality Florence is not a coastal city, which means you cannot get to it by ship. Instead, It takes about an hour and a half by train or bus to get to Florence from Livorno.

Livorno is an industrial port, which means you are not allowed to walk directly off the ship and into the city. Due to port regulations, you are required to take the PortoLivorno2000 shuttle to the city center for 7 euro roundtrip per person (price as of June 2024, both cash and card are accepted). It is about a 5 minute ride to Piazza del Municipio, which is the drop off point. From here, you have a few options on how to get to Florence. One, you can catch a taxi or the public bus to the train station, then take a train, which is the most affordable option. Or two, you can book this shore excursion, which is guaranteed to return to the ship on time, and is an overall hassle free way to get to Florence and back. We decided to do the latter, because let's be honest, we would be the ones to lose track of time, end up missing our train back to Livorno, and the cruise would leave without us. *sweating emoji*. By letting someone else handle the transportation, it helped ease our minds, and also ended up saving us time. And time is money, baby! Especially when on a cruise and you have limited time in port.

As soon as you get off the PortoLivnorno2000 shuttle, you'll see people in bright green shirts. You show them your email confirmation and they'll print your ticket and tell you what bus you're on. Note, the excursion is NOT a tour. It is just the transfer to Florence where you'll get dropped off by the Firenze Santa Maria Novella Train Station. Then you'll have about 4-5hr of free time to explore at your own pace, then the transfer back to the ship. If you want an actual tour that includes commentary and a visit to Pisa as well, you can check out this tour

Alright, now that the boring logistics are out of the way, let's get to the fun part. Here's how we spent our port day in Florence, Italy.

Piazza del Duomo (10 min walk)

First stop: the iconic Piazza del Duomo. The Duomo is the biggest landmark in Florence and located right in the heart of the city, so you literally can't miss it. I was in awe at not only the size, but all the small details that went into the architecture. Pictures don't do it justice. Be aware though, this is one of the busiest spots in the city and full of pickpocketers. So as always be careful and watch your belongings.

Cantina De' Pucci Wine Window (3 min walk)

(Shop my outfit here)

In just a 3 minute walk from the crowded Duomo, we turned down a much quieter street to find our first wine window of the day. Small wine windows are scattered throughout the city of Florence and are a must experience! They go way back to the 1600s where they became a way people could purchase wine without being in close contact with one another during an epidemic. Sounds familiar to something we experienced in 2020, eh? Actually once COVID hit, many of the wine windows in the city that were closed, reopened for that very same reason.

They have a drink menu right outside, including a short list of wines and of course spritzes. Just knock on the window or ring the bell to be served. They'll hand you your drink or shall I say glass. Yes, they give you an actual wine glass. Italians are classy. None of this red solo to-go cups like in the U.S. Hallelujah! Then you can sip it on the street and kindly return the glass. This one opens at 11:30am and we were the first there.

I' Girone De' Ghiotti (8 min walk)

If there's one thing about me, it's that I'm always looking forward to my next meal (especially in Italy.. am I right?), and I'Girone De' Ghiotti delivered. This sandwich shop is famous for a reason. It is absolutely delicious. Fresh meats, cheese, and the bread is to die for. Not to mention the sandwiches are huge. Don't let the line deter you. They pump the paninis out quick and they will give you a menu in line so you know what you want when you get to the front. I had the La Rossa and *chef's kiss* it was delicious!

Piazza della Signoria (2 min walk)

With such limited time in Florence, you have to prioritize what you see. If seeing the real statue of David at the Uffizi Gallery is the top of your list, then you should purchase tickets ahead of time here and plan your day around that (Fair warning, It will take up majority of your day). However, I am all about a replica (hence my fake Gucci bag from dhgate) and Piazza della Signoria delivers. This square has a replica of David as well as many other statues for free. It's like an outdoor art museum. Definitely worth a peak!

Ponte Vecchio (5 min walk)

You can't visit Florence without visiting the famous Ponte Vecchio bridge. It is actually the only bridge in Florence that was saved from destruction during WWII. It's a beautiful area to roam about and pop into some of the many shops or even one of the gelaterias.

Babae Wine Window (6 min walk)

One more wine window, please! When it comes to wine in Italy I think it's safe to say, "The limit does not exist".

Gelateria La Carraia (5 min walk)

Gelato in Italy? Groundbreaking. It's a must while in Italy. In the words of Ms. Ungermeyer from The Lizzie McGuire Movie, "Keep in mind that Italian icecream has twice the sugar of America icecream. Means you're gonna want about two scoops, huh?" She's not wrong. We tried the tiramisu flavor.

Firenze Santa Maria Novella Train Station (12 min walk)

Time flies when you're having fun! We headed back towards Firenze Santa Maria Novella Train Station to meet the bus again and head back to the ship after a full day in Florence.

Here is an overall map of our walking path if I have any visual learners out there like myself: