My husband and I have 7 days in Italy in September- we are coming to Venice from Prague and then were hoping to do Florence and Cinque Terre. However, our trip to Florence will put us there with a full day on a Monday, when most attractions we want to see are closed. I have seen options for day trips from Florence to Cinque Terre, but is the reverse possible? I would love to stay in Cinque Terre and just do a day trip to Florence. Thanks for any input!
Tressa
You can always do your own day trip. You can leave the CT around 7 AM and be in Florence by 9:30. Get a reservation for Accademia museum so you don't have to wait in line. Tour the Duomo and baptistry, have lunch on a nice piazza. See the central market and the Medici Chapels. take a return train late afternoon or early evening. For a day trip, I think you will need to skip the Uffizi.
What do you want to see in Florence? Where are you going after the CT? I think if we have that information we can give you better advice.
The reverse is possible with some planning and if you don't mind early departures. On Trenitalia there is a 6:02 departure arriving Firenze S.M at 9:32 (connection in La Spezia and Pisa). or another at 7:08 arrives in Firenze at 10:00 (also connetion in La Spezia and Pisa) or a 7:35 that gets you in a 10:32 (same 2 connections). The next one is 9:03 arrives at 11:32 with 1 connection only. Don't mind those connections, they are easy changes. Most likely you would do the same connections going the other way.
Personally I like staying outside of Florence and only do day trips into town usually from Siena. From CT is a long day trip unless you don't mind leaving early to maximize your day in Florence.
