Livorno

Pisa airport (PSA ^IATA) Galileo Galilei.

There are regular trains to and from Florence (1:20 hr journey), Pisa (15 min), and Rome.

🌍 Train station Livorno Centrale. The main train station. Despite its name, the station is far from the center. Take bus "LAM BLU" to go to town center and then to the port in about 20 minutes. (updated May 2019)

From Pisa, Piombino, Florence and other cities.

Direct ferry routes exist to Bastia, Golfo Aranci, Olbia and Palermo. Once a week, generally during summer, there is also a ferry to Livorno from l'Île-Rousse operated by Corsica Ferries. It is best to book early to avoid overbooking.

Many cruise ships stop here for at least a full day to allow guests to tour Florence and/or Pisa. Guests not taking cruise ship arranged tours can take a shuttle (supplied by the port) to the downtown area. It offers a decent shopping experience, but not compared to Florence. A further 10-20 minute walk (or another bus ride) gets you to a train station. There you can take frequent departures for either Pisa or Florence. Many experts advise seeing Florence or Pisa on a one-day port visit by cruise ship. Though some tours claim to cover both, you'll get no more than a rushed look at a few icons...and if you're too early or late for any, it may well be closed.

If hoping for maximum time in Florence...

• Take an early cab (perhaps shared with another couple) from your ship to and from the Livorno train station.
• At the station, ask for a train that goes to the Firenze Santa Maria Novella. Locals will happily help.

Bus number 1 is a shuttle from train station to the port and vice-versa. A ticket for 75 minutes of travel is €1.5. For self-reliant cruise passengers, this is part of the most economical way to reach trains to Pisa and Florence.

Livorno and the surrounding area is very flat, which means that cycling is almost as popular as it is in the Netherlands. When walking, beware of the tendency of the locals to cycle on sidewalks and to cycle the wrong way down a one-way street.

• Bikes can be rented from Green Bikes at Scali del Corso, 7 in the Venice Quarter.

Once you have arrived in the centre nearly everything can be visited on foot or bike. Driving around is not recommended, not least because the local police are very vigilant and will rapidly give you a ticket if you are parked in the wrong place. There are several large Parking places to leave your vehicle during your stay and many hotels also offer parking.

• San Giovanni's spa. The San Giovanni Spa, overlooking the Gulf of Portoferraio, stands on an area of 5 hectares of marshland which yields a silt with high therapeutic potential, making this spa establishment the only Thalassotherapy centre in the Western Mediterranean. 
• Venturina's spa. The thermal waters Venturina were known by the Etruscans and Romans, hence the name "Aquae Populoniae. Flow in 45 ° Celsius throughout the year, with constant flow, and are classified as calcium-magnesium-sulfate-bicarbonate-alkalines. 

• Trattoria Sottomarino, Via dei Terrazzini 48/50 - ph. +39 0586 887025 - Close to Piazza della Repubblica and Fortezza Nuova (Venezia District). Fish cuisine, don't miss the gorgeous cacciucco - Closed on MO and TU.
• Cantina Senese , Borgo Cappuccini 95 - ph. +39 0586 211604 - famous for cacciucco and black rice.
• Osteria La Volpe e l'uva, Viale Caprera 11 (in the Venice Quarter), ☏ +39 0586 885033. Innovative cooking blended with some traditional Livornese and Tuscan dishes. €25-35 plus wine. 

• 🌍 Il Tegolo, Piazza Giuseppe Garibaldi, 10, ☏ +39 0586 219405. Seafood restaurant specialising in oysters and caviar. (updated Aug 2021)

• Hotel Hermitage, Via dei Melograni 13 57020, Marina di Bibbona, Tel. +39 0586 600218 Fax +39 0586 600760. . 4-star modern and comfortable Hotel Hermitage in Marina di Bibbona near the splendid Etruscan coast
• Hotel Europa, Via Dell'Angiolo 23, hoteleuropalivorno@libero.it. Basic but friendly 3-star hotel convenient for the main sights. €50-100. 

• 🌍 Grand Hotel Palazzo, Viale Italia, 195 (in front of Terrazza Mascagni), ☏ +39 0586 260836, ricevimento@ghpalazzo.it. Old-style luxury hotel. (updated Aug 2021)