Sunday Day trip from Florence - Cinque Terre or Pisa/Lucca? ...solo traveler

How long will you be in Florence and have you been there before?

I'll be in Florence for about 5 days...so I've got 3 set aside for Florence exploration (including my 40th birthday!) and 1 for a Tuscan tour and then my wild card Sunday that I'm trying to plan. I've never been there before. This is my first trip overseas so I'm trying to be well planned so I don't end up sitting at the apartment trying to figure out what to do but flexible that I can find my own way too.

I'd do Pisa / Lucca. They are both easily done in a day trip. I'd want more then just 1 day in the CT.

Not a hike but a 4-kilometer walk around the walls in Lucca.

Cinque Terre is approx. 2 1/2-3 hours by train, each way. Lucca is approx. 1 1/2 hrs. I would choose Pisa/Lucca so you don't spend most of your day traveling.

Don't do Cinque Terre as a day trip from Florence because
A) if you like to hike, there is not much time left to do so after the long train ride
B) on a Sunday, it is extra crowded because Italians also take day-trips there

Pisa is the better choice. Do take your time to take in the entire "Field of Miracles", not just the Leaning Tower.

Either option is certainly possible. Make a decision based on which one appeals to you more, but keep in mind you'll only have time for a brief look at whichever place you choose.

From a transportation perspective, Pisa / Lucca will be a shorter and easier trip from Florence. That will provide a glimpse of two unique Tuscan destinations.

While the Cinque Terre will be a longer trip it's easily possible (2.5 - 3 hours with one or two changes, depending on which train you choose). While you won't have a lot of time there, it will provide a look at the area and provide information for a return to the area when you have more time. If you decide to do that trip, I'd suggest starting in Riomaggiore and then working your way to the other towns via the local trains (or perhaps boats in some cases). It's only about 5-10 minutes from each town to the next by train. End your tour of the Cinque Terre in Monterosso with a fine hot meal in one of the excellent restaurants there, before boarding the train for the trip back to Florence. Be sure to plan your rail journeys, so that you're aware of when the last train departs back to Florence.

You may enjoy watching THIS short video which describes one aspect of the Cinque Terre. I should add a caveat though - it WON'T be as quiet and peaceful in any of the towns as depicted in the video. On a Sunday, there could be hordes of people there (especially if there are cruise ships in the area).

Good luck with your decision!

You have time to do either, although the Cinque Terre are farther. If you get an early start you can be at the Cinque Terre at about 10am. The amount of hiking you want to do is up to you, but you could do from Monterosso to Vernazza (or viceversa) in under 3 hours with stops included.

You could actually do Pisa and the Cinque Terre. On the way back from the Cinque Terre, in the evening, stop in Pisa for a couple of hours, then take the last train back to Florence. Do the Cinque Terre first, because you can see the leaning tower or the Duomo (cathedral) just as well in the evenings, but you won't be able to enjoy the Cinque Terre when it's dark.

One other minor point to mention is that if you want to hike the Sentiero Azzurro trails from Monterosso to Vernazza or Vernazza to Corniglia, a Park Pass will be required. These can easily be purchased at the small huts at the entrance to each trail, or at local stations.

we got reserved entrance to the academia for as soon as they opened Sunday am (I think 9am) spent about 2 hours there, left as it was getting busy, grabbed some snacks, rode the train out to Pisa, and used our reserved timed tickets to go up the tower...... it was quite doable, but use the restrooms at the Field of Miracles......there was not much open in Pisa at 5pm on a Sunday.........when we were walking back to the train and wanted to look for snack/restroom options

Thanks all for the advice. I think I will skip Cinque Terre this time and do Pisa for a little more relaxed day. Really appreciate all the input.

Do Lucca first, then Lucca to Pisa S. Rossore (short walk to the Field of Miracles). Better light for pics in the late afternoon. Then S. Rossore>Firenze SMN.