Da La Spezia: Escursione a Pisa e Cinque Terre - Torre Pendente e Borghi Marittimi

The guide was knowledgeable. However, there were a couple of things that could have been communicated better. We were given our tickets to climb the Leaning Tower while on the bus, but no one explained that the same ticket also included entry to the cathedral. Unfortunately, we only found this out while on the bus and we missed the opportunity to visit it. We also felt that the excursion description should have made it much clearer just how physically demanding the visit to Cinque Terre would be. It involves a significant amount of walking, hills, and uneven terrain. Only once we were on the bus after leaving Pisa were we told. The guide said anyone who didn’t feel up to it could return to the port, around eight of us, including ourselves, chose to do so. This wasn’t because we didn’t want to see Cinque Terre, but because we hadn’t been prepared for the level of physical activity involved. We wouldn’t have booked if this was the case.

Our guide Lume met at the cruise ship terminal which was very convenient. The trip to Pisa was an hour and in a bus with A/C which was lovely because it was 90° outside! The tour was supposed to go to Pisa and Cinque Terre and guaranteed on time arrival back to the ship which is why we chose it. The day before I verified we would be back on time since it was listed as an 8 hour tour. The agent confirmed we would we back in time & traveling to both stops, however when we arrived, Lume told us we would not be going to Cinque Terre because there was not enough time and that we would partially refunded. While I appreciated the refund, I was disappointed and frustrated about missing Cinque Terre especially when we told we would be going to both and I was looking forward to Cinque Terre most.

Our Shore Excursion from La Spezia to Pisa and Cinque Terre was an awesome experience for our group of 12. The itinerary was well planned, allowing us time to see and explore all the sights. A heartfelt thank you to our tour guide, Martina, who was absolutely fantastic. She was friendly, knowledgeable, and incredibly organized, ensuring everything ran smoothly from start to finish. Martina shared interesting history and local insights throughout the day while keeping the group engaged and informed. Her enthusiasm, professionalism, and genuine care for everyone on The tour made the experience even more enjoyable. If you’re visiting La Spezia by cruise ship, I highly recommend this excursion.

We loved this tour- nice 1ish hour bus ride to Pisa. We parked & walked about 10 minutes through the city to get to Pisa. Sights were great. Our guide offered a walking tour, we followed him through the town of Pisa (don’t miss going past the tower & through the streets) and we ate at a restaurant BarMod Bistrot and good gelato shop away from the crowds. We shopped & enjoyed Pisa. Then we rode the bus back to La Spezia for people to get off if the wanted, then rode 25 min to Manarola Cinque Terre. Wish we had more time! Quite a hike down steep stairs, down a long road, then down through the whole city all the way out to the outlook. Beautiful views & charming city, evening time was not at all crowded but wish we had more time. Hiked back up to the bus & we’re back to port 1 hour before ship end time.

The location of pickup near the cruise terminal was the best and most convenient part of the tour. Beyond that, there is much room for improvement. Our “guide” explained on the bus that she is not a “guide” but rather will simply take us to the Leaning Tower of Pisa. My group is with several elderly women and could not keep up when the guide walked away without warning. We did not see her until the very end when we were getting back on the bus. We were so frustrated with the guide and circumstances by the end of our Leaning Tower visit that we skipped the visit to Cinque Terre entirely. There needs to be more history and explanation of the sites.