From Florence to the sea. Aristocratic Viareggio Prices in Viareggio

While on vacation in Viareggio, my husband and I decided to visit blooming Florence. Transport links between these cities are very well developed, so we planned our trip without any problems. We chose the train, but I will provide you with all possible options for such a trip.

By car

If you like comfortable trips and are familiar with driving a car in Italy, then I recommend going on a trip by car. The distance between the cities is 100 kilometers and you will have to spend one and a half to two hours on the road. There are two road routes in this direction:

By passing car

You can travel from Vareggio to Florence by passing car. The cost of the trip will cost 5-10 euros. You can ask for travel companions with local drivers via the Internet.

By train

From Viareggio station you can get to Florence without transfers by Regionale trains. Trains in this direction depart from 05.30 to 22.10 almost every half hour. The journey takes an average of one and a half hours. There are options for traveling by train with a change at Pisa Centrale station. The time of such a trip and its cost are approximately the same as a trip without transfers, so this option can also be considered.

Firenze S. M. Novella station building

Ticket prices

The cheapest ticket will cost 9.60 euros. More detailed information about the schedule and cost of travel documents can be found on the Trenitalia website.

Where to buy tickets

Tickets can be purchased on the Trenitalia website, bought at ticket offices or special machines at the station. You can read all the necessary information about railways in Italy

By bus

There is no direct bus service between Viareggio and Florence. Initially, you need to get by bus to the city of Lucca. You can read information on the specified bus route in the story about my trip. Having arrived at the Lucca bus station, located on Piazzale Giuseppe Verdi, you need to transfer to the bus of the transport company.

Bus station in Lucca

Buses depart in this direction every hour. In Florence, buses arrive at Firenze S.M.N. - Stazione FS. The total travel time takes two and a half hours.

Bus station Firenze S.M.N. - Stazione FS

As is easy to see, there is no sea in Florence itself. However, the distance from Florence to the nearest beaches is small - some 100–150 km. Therefore, if you wish, it is quite possible to combine a visit to Florence with a seaside holiday; fortunately, there are plenty of beach resorts in Tuscany. It is more convenient to get to many of them by car, however, public transport in this part of Italy is well developed (primarily railway - see www.trenitalia.com). In short, getting from Florence to the sea is not difficult. The whole question is where exactly to go.

Perhaps the most popular places in terms of beach holidays are in the northern part of Tuscany. This area is known as Versilia, which smoothly flows into the Apuan Riviera located just to the north. The local coastline is an almost endless series of wide sandy beaches. However, do not forget about the southern part of the Tuscan coast, as well as the island of Elba (Isola d'Elba), where there are also excellent beaches.

In general, before talking about specific resorts, it should be noted that vacation and vacation are different. In other words, the choice of one place or another will depend on how you plan to organize your trip. Let's consider two options:

To the sea for one day

If you do not plan to stay by the sea for a long time and you need a beach where you can come from Florence for half a day or a day, and then return back, then there is no point in going far. About an hour and a half from Florence (if you go by train) is Viareggio(Viareggio)- one of the resorts of that same Versilia. The beaches in Viareggio are well equipped and, of course, you will have to pay for comfort, which, generally speaking, is quite justified - you will need somewhere to change clothes, and it will not be superfluous to take a shower after swimming in sea water. However, you can also find free beaches here. For example, there is a small piece of public beach right next to the pier (Molo Viareggio, or Molo Eugenio Guidotti - here is a link to Google Maps). True, every year it becomes smaller and smaller and, just look, it will disappear completely. To the south, just behind the port of Viareggio, there is another free beach (see). It's much more spacious. And even further south, between Viareggio and Torre del Lago Puccini(Torre del Lago Puccini), there is a fairly long “wild” beach. All these places are, perhaps, inferior to paid beaches in terms of cleanliness and grooming, but they are not so crowded and the atmosphere is the most democratic (by the way, there are also equipped paid beaches in the Torre del Lago area, an excellent alternative to paid ones beaches of Viareggio).

The situation is approximately the same throughout the Versilia and Apuan Riviera. Lido di Camaiore(Lido di Camaiore), Forte dei Marmi(Forte-dei-Marmi), Marina di Carrara(Marina di Carrara)– at all these and all other local resorts, paid beaches predominate, while free ones are quite rare.

In this regard, it is simpler in the southern part of the Tuscan coast. South of Livorno you can find some interesting options. It is worth paying attention, for example, to such places as Quercianella(Quercianella), Castiglioncello(Castiglioncello) And Rosignano(Rosignano). If we focus on rail transport, then these towns are again about an hour and a half drive from Florence. That is, you can come here from Florence for a day. In Quercianelle and Castiglioncello the beaches are small and the area is quite rocky, but for many this will be a plus: the water is clean and transparent, the depth begins almost at the very shore and the rocks look very impressive. As for Rosignano, there is a beach here known for its white sand. It is white because there is a chemical plant nearby, and production waste has been dumped into the sea for many years. The beach is considered clean and safe. True, this is hard to believe. At least the water here acts as a kind of chemical peeling, which, combined with the summer sun, does not bode well for the skin. Be that as it may, it is interesting to look at this miracle of non-nature.

There are a lot of beaches between Viareggio and Livorno, but in most cases you cannot reach them by rail - you will have to change buses in Livorno or Pisa, which is not very convenient. However, these places themselves are of some interest, especially if you plan to travel by car. Read more about them.

Beach holiday near Florence

If you are planning to go to the sea for a few days or even a week or two, then it makes sense to expand your horizons. At the same time, many of the above resorts are also quite suitable not only for one-day trips from Florence, but also for a longer holiday.

Versilia, as noted above, has, first of all, excellent sandy beaches. Plus active nightlife. But it is very crowded, expensive (although you can always find a way to save money if you wish), and besides, the sea is quite shallow almost everywhere. If all this does not bother you, then you can safely focus on the resorts of Versilia. There are accommodation options to suit every taste and budget, from not cheap five-star hotels like Hotel Principe in Forte dei Marmi (by the way, this hotel has its own beach, which is rare for Versilia) to such quite budget options as Hotel Luana in Viareggio (the hotel is conveniently located near the train station and just a few steps from the sea and beaches).

Resorts located south of Livorno are mostly characterized by moderate prices. The beaches in this part of Tuscany are not always sandy, but the sea is often cleaner and deeper than in Versilia. You can settle down as in the above Castiglioncello(Castiglioncello), as well as in other resort towns. Among them it is worth paying attention, for example, to such places as Marina di Cecina(Marina di Cecina) And San Vincenzo(San Vincenzo). The beaches in both cases are sandy, the sea is quite calm, but at the same time not as shallow as in Versilia. These are relatively quiet resorts, perfect for families with children. There is a place here for both those who prefer equipped paid beaches and those who like free public beaches. It is convenient to get here from Florence by train (the ride is about two hours). Between Cecina and San Vincenzo there are other resort towns that are of interest primarily to tourists traveling by car.

The downside is that there are not many hotels here - in the summer they do not suffer from a lack of guests, and therefore the prices cannot be called low. Nevertheless, there are interesting options for reasonable money (especially if you book in advance). You can take a closer look, in particular, at the Hotel Sileoni (Marina di Cecina) or at the apart-hotel Residenza Santa Cecilia (San Vincenzo).

Separately, it is worth mentioning the Tombolo Talasso Resort, famous for its thalassotherapy center. It is located in a very picturesque place - Marina di Castagneto Carducci(Marina di Castagneto Carducci)– and also has its own beach. True, this option is not cheap, and it is better to go here by car in order to be able to dilute the calm, measured holiday with trips around the surrounding area. And there is something to dilute: Super Tuscan wines are produced very close by, and if this is not an empty phrase for you, then do not fail to go to Bolgheri.

There are beach resorts further south. True, getting to them is faster through Rome than through Florence. Nevertheless, let's say a few words about them too.

So, in the southern part of the Tuscan coast you can pay attention to such resorts as Follonica(Follonica), Punta Ala(Punta Ala), Castiglione della Pescaia(Castiglione della Pescaia), Marina di Grosseto(Marina di Grosseto) And Principina a Mare(Principina a Mare). The beaches in this area are sandy and the entrance to the water, like in Versilia, is gentle, but prices on average are noticeably lower. The only exception is Punta Ala - the resort is not cheap, but quite secluded, which, in fact, is valuable. For the same reason, it is better to go here by car. If you need a quiet place by the sea and you are not too strapped for money, then pay attention to the small four-star hotel Hotel La Bussola – Beach & Golf. Although, if you wish, you can find a couple of five-star hotels nearby.

Public transport is the easiest way to get from Florence to Follonica, and living here is relatively cheap. The train journey takes approximately two and a half hours, with many hotels within walking distance from Follonica train station. As an example, let's take Hotel Parrini, located literally on the seashore and, at the same time, just a ten-minute walk from the station.

If you need something exclusive, unlike anything else, take a closer look at the hotel Relais "Torre Mozza" - Dimora d" Epoca, a little away from Follonica. It is located not just by the sea, but practically in the sea - within the walls an ancient watchtower. Its own beach and restaurant are included. Just keep in mind that the hotel is not the cheapest and it is again more convenient to get here by car (or by taxi from Follonica).

Another interesting place for road travelers in the south of Tuscany is cape Argentario(Promontorio dell'Argentario) and its immediate surroundings: in particular, Ansedonia(Ansedonia).

Deserves special consideration island Elbe(Isola d'Elba). It is convenient to get here by ferry from Piombino (see www.toremar.it and www.blunavytraghetti.com), where, in turn, it is most convenient to go by car. By the way, a car will also come in handy on the island, although buses also run along the Elbe - see www.livorno.cttnord.it. If we talk about public transport, then everything is somewhat more complicated: from Florence to Piombino you can get by rail with one or two transfers or by bus without transfers (only in summer, see the schedule on the website

Viareggio

The largest of the cities of Versilia. I liked the least: a bit dirty, a lot of houses and cars, like in Moscow, local people are unfriendly, they don’t give way to pedestrians, no historical sights. The free beach (spiaggia libera) is the only one in this big city and it is very far away, then there are 10 kilometers of only paid beaches.

There is a large park in the center Pineta di Ponente, very good for walking in the heat. There is a lot of entertainment for children, but all are paid, except for the only tiny playground.

There are good cafes in the park. If you are with children, I recommend the pizzeria Pirata(but there is not only pizza, there are also fish dishes and Milanese), there is minigolf, for 6 euros they will give you one club, but two children can play with it, and while you eat in peace, the children will have fun; The four of us ate for 55 euros (2 pizzas, assorted seafood, Pepata di cozze, water and 1/2 liter of Italian white wine). It's green and beautiful here.

Market opens on Thursdays along the sea promenade. Until 13:00.

Beach

The free beach is located on the southern outskirts of the city, behind the port. Parking near the beach is paid along Viale Europa(see parking rates with Russian translation below). It is impossible to reach the city on foot, only by car or bicycle. There is also a huge free beach along the nature reserve Torre del Lago(translator from Italian: Tower on the Lake), this is a piece of forest 1 kilometer wide and 5 kilometers long. You can park your car for free at via dei Comparini ior at Villa Borobne, and then walk through the forest for 15 minutes. On weekends you need to arrive early, otherwise the parking lot will be full.

Parking in Viareggio

In the entire central part and along the sea, packages are paid. Viareggio Divided into several parking areas. The closer to the sea, the higher the cost of parking. Parking is paid both on weekdays and on weekends.
Zone A:
- paid from 9:00 to 13:00 and from 15:00 to 20:00;
- 30 minutes - free, but you need to put a parking ticket from the parking meter under the glass, it indicates the start time of parking;
- 1st hour 1€, 2nd hour 1.50€, then 2€ per hour, for the whole day 10€, minimum 0.50€
Zone B:
- paid from 8:00 to 20:00
- 15 min - free, place your parking ticket under the glass
- 1st hour 1€, then 2€ per hour, for 12 hours 10€, minimum 0.50€
Viale Europa:
- paid all days from 8:00 to 20:00 (day period) and from 20:00 to 4:00 (night period)
- 1st hour 0.80€, then 1.60€ per hour, for the whole period “day” or “night” 5€, minimum 0.50€

The Italian translator parked in free zones marked with the letter R in the diagram below.

How to get to Viareggio

The resort of Viareggio is one of the most popular and sought after on the Tuscan Riviera. Bordering the Liguria region, Viareggio has a mild Mediterranean climate without sweltering heat, perfect for leisurely relaxation, walking, sunbathing and swimming. The swimming season here lasts from June to September. In addition to a beach holiday, Viareggio is also perfect for an excursion holiday - the historical cities of Tuscany are nearby .

Getting to Viareggio is quite easy, and this is another advantage of the resort. Near the resort are the cities of Pisa (25 km) and Florence (105 km), which have their own local airports. In addition, tourists also often use Rome (375 km) or Milan (265 km) as cities of arrival, but getting from these cities takes longer.

How to get to Viareggio from Pisa

The fastest way to get to Viareggio is, of course, to fly to Pisa. There are direct and connecting flights from Moscow to Pisa. From other Russian cities, a transfer is required in Moscow. You can check the flight schedule to Pisa and purchase tickets on search sites Aviasales, Buruki and others.

You can get from Pisa directly to Viareggio by train or taxi. Travel time by local train will be about 15 minutes. Electric trains run twice an hour throughout the day. You can check the train schedule at the railway service .

You can also travel from Pisa airport to the resort by taxi (available at the exit from the terminal), or order a transfer. Taxi or transfer services will be especially relevant at night, when public transport does not operate along the route. You can order a transfer at Pisa airport at the information desk, or in advance on the transfer services website , and others.

For independent travelers, such a travel option as rent a car at Pisa airport, where you can find rental offices of more than 10 suppliers. Travel time by car from Pisa to Viareggio takes only about half an hour. In addition, having a car at hand, you can explore the neighboring resort towns of the coast. You can book the desired class of car in advance on the services , , and others.

How to get to Viareggio from Florence

Florence also has its own local airport, but there are no direct flights from Russia there; a transfer is required in one of the European cities. You can also check flight schedules to Florence on search sites. Aviasales, Buruki and others.

You can get from Florence to Viareggio by train in about 1 hour 50 minutes one way. Direct trains run once an hour. Detailed schedule can be found at the railway service . A faster way to get from Florence to Viareggio is to use a taxi or transfer. Travel time directly from the airport will be about 1 hour. You can order a transfer at Florence airport at the information desk, or in advance on the transfer services website , and others.

How to get to Viareggio from Rome

Rome is located at the greatest distance from Viareggio, but a huge number of direct flights from Russia fly to the Italian capital every day. You can get from Moscow or St. Petersburg to Rome in just 4 hours of flight. From other Russian cities, a transfer is required in Moscow. You can check flight schedules to Rome on search sites. Aviasales, Buruki and others.

There is a direct train from Rome to Viareggio, the travel time is about 3 hours. Direct trains run exactly on schedule once every 2 hours throughout the day. The earliest departs at 6.57, the last at 19.57. Detailed schedule can be found at the railway service . A cheaper, but longer way is to use a regular bus; the travel time will be exactly 5 hours. Transportation is carried out by the company .

You can also get from Rome to Viareggio by rented car; fortunately, in Rome itself you can find many rental offices. Rental offices are even open at Fiumicino arrival airport. Travel time from Rome to Viareggio by car will be about 3.5 hours along highway No. A1/E35. Car rental in Rome allows you not only to get to your desired destination, but also to significantly expand the geography of your trip. You can book the desired class of car on the services , , and others.

How to get to Viareggio from Milan

Another option for getting to Viareggio is a flight to Milan. There are many daily flights from Russia to Milan, both direct and with transfers. On average, a direct flight from Moscow to Milan lasts about 3 hours. There are also direct flights from St. Petersburg. From other Russian cities, a transfer is required in Moscow. You can check flight schedules to Rome on search sites. Aviasales, Buruki and others.

You can get from Milan to Viareggio by direct train, the journey time will be from 3.5 to 4 hours. There are up to 8 trains per day on the route. The last train leaves at 19.05 pm. Detailed schedule can be found at the railway service .

Hotels in Viareggio

In Viareggio you can find hotels of any category. Most hotels in Viareggio offer their guests breakfast included in the price and a comfortable location relative to the local beaches. The price range of hotels varies depending on the star rating, however, in general, it is slightly higher than at resorts in other parts of Italy. Budget accommodation can be found in 2 and 3 star hotels. Luxurious options in the 4-star category, as a rule, offer their guests outdoor seasonal swimming pools, fitness rooms and other additional services.

Palace Hotel, 4 stars: The hotel is located on the city promenade, a short walk from the beach. Guests have access to a sun terrace, a restaurant, free Wi-Fi and breakfast included in the price. Public parking is available nearby and is available at an additional cost. The hotel has rooms of varying sizes. You can find out more about availability and hotel costs for specific dates on the booking website Booking.com.

Hotel Mirage, 3 stars: This hotel is also close to the promenade and the beach. The hotel has its own rooftop sun terrace and a restaurant where you can sample local cuisine. Free Wi-Fi is provided. The hotel offers bicycle rentals. The hotel has single, double, triple and family rooms. You can find out more about availability and hotel costs for specific dates on the booking website Booking.com.

Hotel San Francisco, 3 stars: Hotel San Francisco is one of the hotels in Viareggio on the seafront and is located on the first line of the beach. Free Wi-Fi is available to guests. It is possible to rent a bicycle, sunbathe on the terrace or visit the solarium. You can find out more about availability and hotel costs for specific dates on the booking website Booking.com.

Hotel London, 3 stars: The hotel is 50 meters from the beach and has a cozy garden and a rooftop sun terrace. Wi-Fi is provided free of charge. Also included in the room rate is a buffet breakfast. The hotel has single, double and triple rooms. You can find out more about availability and hotel costs for specific dates on the booking website Booking.com.

Apartments Viareggio

Renting apartments in Viareggio is not uncommon; this option is quite popular. Firstly, apartments may have a lower price range than hotels. Secondly, many tourists prefer a holiday independent of hotel rules. Renting apartments in Viareggio has long established itself as an excellent option for holiday accommodation.

Pardini's Apartment, apartments

These apartments in Viareggio are located near the harbour. The terrace offers picturesque mountain views. The apartment has 2 bedrooms, a dining area and a seating area. Inside you can find a TV, air conditioning, iron, fan, hairdryer, refrigerator, stove, washing machine, kitchen utensils, and a furnished terrace. An additional cleaning fee will be charged for the entire stay. You can find out more about availability and cost of living in apartments for specific dates on the booking website Booking.com.

Appartamento Il Sole, apartments

The apartments are located in the city center, 2 km from the nearest beach. Here you can find a sunny terrace for sunbathing and breakfast in the summer and free private parking on site. The apartment has 2 bedrooms, a kitchen, a living area. The apartments are equipped with a TV, washing machine, hairdryer, refrigerator, dishwasher, oven, stove, toaster, coffee machine. The terrace is furnished. You can find out more about availability and cost of living in apartments for specific dates on the booking website Booking.com.

Sights and beaches of Viareggio

Holidays in Viareggio are, first of all, beach holidays. Long sandy beaches with a gentle entrance to the sea stretch along the entire coast. Viareggio is washed by the waters of the Ligurian Sea, influenced by the proximity of the neighboring region of Liguria. But unlike Liguria, on the Tuscan Riviera, where Viareggio is located, rocky ledges give way to sandbanks. In this regard, swimming here is much more comfortable than in neighboring Liguria.

There are practically no historical sights in Viareggio preserved after the bombing of the Second World War, but there is a rather pleasant pedestrian promenade along the coast, as well as many cozy cafes and restaurants with sea views, where you can easily stay late. For architectural and historical monuments, it is better to go to neighboring towns located at some distance from the coast.

One of the main attractions of Viareggio is city ​​embankment. Its length is almost 3 km along the sea. On the one hand, the embankment offers excellent views of the sea, but on the other hand, authentic shops of local craftsmen and 19th-century villas made in the Art Nouveau style are no less interesting.

A beach holiday in Viareggio can also be diversified by walks through the old part of the city, where historical monuments have been preserved in some places. These, in particular, include Viareggio tower 16th century built, Villa Bourbon built at the beginning of the 19th century, Villa Paolina built at the end of the 19th century, Cathedral of San Andrea built in the mid-19th century. In addition, the local Pineta di Ponente park, where pine trees (coniferous trees like pine trees) grow and there is an artificial lake where swans live.

Among the modern attractions, the resort is famous for its casinos, nightclubs and discos. It is believed that at night the city of Viareggio is just waking up. Curious and annual carnival, which is held in these places. It is held in February. Therefore, better hotel rooms can be booked not only for the “high” summer season, but also unexpectedly in the middle of winter. Although winter is here only in name. As a rule, during the winter months Viareggio enjoys warm, sunny weather, with daytime temperatures reaching up to +15 degrees. There is almost no precipitation here.

The beaches of Viareggio are long sandy areas with a comfortable entry into the sea. Most of the local beaches are private, i.e. Entry to them requires a fee, but there are also several municipal beaches. The latter, in particular, includes the wonderful Lecciona beach, located on the territory of a natural park. This largely explains its privacy and untouchedness.

The downside of paid beaches is that they are all well-groomed, have developed infrastructure and equipment with everything necessary, from sunbeds, umbrellas and sun loungers to seawater swimming pools, cafes and open-air bars. In general, the beaches of Viareggio, like the beaches of the Tuscan Riviera, are generally considered among the best in all of Italy, which is not spoiled by sandy beaches.

Since I was in Florence in the summer, of course, I really wanted to go to the beach. One of the closest to Florence is the resort of Viareggio, whose beaches have been awarded the Blue Flag. In general, my friend and I decided to spend one of the weekends sunbathing on the beaches of this resort.

By car

The A11 highway runs between Florence and Viareggio. The distance between the cities is about 100 km, which can be covered in an hour and a quarter. Keep in mind that the A11 motorway is a toll road, so have some small change ready to pay for the toll in advance. You can familiarize yourself with the procedure for paying for the use of toll roads here.

For the trip you will need about 10 euros for motorway tolls, 9 for fuel. Car rental costs from 30 euros. Additionally, most parking lots in Viareggio are paid, so budget for that as well.

By train

The most convenient way to get to Viareggio is by train. Most flights have a connection in Pisa, although there are a few direct routes. All trains depart from the Firenze Santa Maria Novella train station, located in the square of the same name.

The first passenger train leaves Florence at 04.30 (I don’t consider the option of leaving around half past midnight due to the many transfers, the duration of the trip and the high cost of the ticket). Further trains run at intervals of 30-45 minutes. The last train leaves Florence at 22.10. Depending on the route, you will need to spend from one and a half to two hours on the road.

Mostly Regionale category trains run between cities, somewhat similar to our electric trains, although they are very fast and clean. The names of the stations are not announced on these trains, so I advise you to print or write down the number and names of stops and keep an eye on the road.

The station in Viareggio is located in Piazza Dante Alighieri (Dante Alighieri Square).

What is the price

A train ticket will cost 9.60 euros. The ticket price does not depend on the time of purchase, so it is not necessary to buy a ticket in advance.

Where can I buy

It is best to issue a ticket via the Internet. At the height of the tourist season at the station, quite large queues form near the ticket offices and terminals. You can read about the features of purchasing a ticket and the differences between trains of different categories in this.

By bus

Getting to Viareggio by bus is both more difficult and more expensive. In any case, you will have to change planes in Pisa or Lucca. Since the flights do not connect with each other, it is quite possible that you will have to wait quite a long time for the next bus. For this reason, I advise you simply not to consider this option, but to get there by train.

Results

The most inexpensive and convenient form of transport remains the train. In both Florence and Viareggio, the train stations are located in the city center, and the main attractions are within walking distance. In addition, the train is much faster than the bus, so preference should definitely be given to the railway mode of transport.