Things to do in Livorno

Livorno is a working port. Cruise ships and ferries dock here, and almost everyone booking a tour from this point is heading somewhere else. Florence, Pisa, Lucca and Cinque Terre are all a transfer away, and that transfer is the actual product.

The port

Livorno has its own personality. Its Venezia Nuova quarter runs on 17th-century canals rather than streets. Cacciucco, a fisherman's stew thick with tomato and whatever the boats brought in, is the city's own dish.

What actually gets booked

Shore excursions dominate the catalogue here. Florence and Pisa are the two most common destinations, sometimes combined into one long day. Cinque Terre and Lucca run as alternatives for repeat visitors.

• To Florence. The classic run, often the whole day, sometimes with a tasting included.
• To Pisa. Shorter, sometimes paired with Florence if the ship's in port long enough.
• To Cinque Terre or Lucca. Quieter alternatives for anyone who has already seen Florence.

Practical

• Weather. Summer passes 30C with sea humidity; winter stays mild, rarely near freezing, with the wettest months in autumn.
• Port time. Excursions run on a tight schedule around the ship's clock; a late return matters more than inland.
• Getting around. The port sits apart from the city centre; transfers usually start right at the ship's gangway.
• Booking ahead. Private transfers and small-group excursions fill up on the busiest cruise days.
• Local food. Cacciucco is worth seeking out if there's time to sit down in the city itself.
• Currency. Transfers and excursions are booked and paid in advance; little cash is needed on the day.