Here’s a list of the best beaches accessible by car or train from Florence: from Versilia to the Pisan and Livornese coasts. Discover 10 destinations less than 90 minutes from the Tuscan capital.
For a day trip from Florence or a weekend getaway, the Tuscan coast boasts beaches and seaside resorts not far from Florence, some accessible by train, others by car.
So let’s take a look at where you can get to your beach umbrella and deckchair in no time. On average, these places are an hour and a half’s drive away, and around 100 kilometers, more or less, from Florence.
Beach in Tuscany: the Versilia Sea closest to Florence
Along with the Pisan coast (near Pisa), it’s undoubtedly the easiest seaside area to reach, thanks to the A12 slip road. It’s no coincidence that Viareggio, Lido di Camaiore and the surrounding areas are crowded with Florentines in summer.
With its long sandy beaches, Viareggio is a favorite destination for vacationers who love comfort. The seafront promenade offers numerous stores, and the vast majority of seaside establishments have restaurants where you can enjoy delicious fish dishes with a view of the sea. You can visit the Lido di Camaiore, which features a modern jetty “sinking” into the sea, as well as a panoramic bar overlooking it.
There is, however, little space for a free beach in Viareggio. For this, you’ll have to travel south to the Darsena to be able to spread your towel and plant your parasol freely. From Florence to Viareggio by train, it takes about an hour and a half (with a change in Pisa), but there are also direct trains.) The station is a ten-minute walk from the coast.
Torre del Lago and Lecciona beach
An alternative might be Torre del Lago, a hamlet south of Viareggio popular with LGBT tourists, but also with families, as it’s immersed in the Migliarino San Rossore park. It is populated by campsites and clubs. The beaches can be reached by car via Viale Europa. It only takes an hour and a half from Florence. The train is less convenient, as the station is 3 km from Marina di Torre del Lago. You’ll have to take the city bus.
There are plenty of bathing establishments here too, but at the end of the promenade, to the north, begins the Lecciona beach, which runs from Torre del Lago to Viareggio. Here, you can enjoy a pleasant stroll along the sand. It can also be reached via the avenue that runs through the pine forest, parking under the pines and walking for about a quarter of an hour through the woods.
Marina di Vecchiano, the sea near Florence
For an excursion to the Pisa coast, the nearest sea to Florence is Marina di Vecchiano, easily accessible from the A11 Firenze – Mare freeway. It is about ten kilometers from the Pisa Nord exit and lies within the Migliarino San Rossore Park. The three thousand meters of sandy coastline are very popular, especially with families. In summer, a shuttle service runs between the Case di Marina parking lot, located further inland, and the beach (Piazzale Montioni).
Marina di Pisa and Tirrenia, the beaches near Florence
A less wild and more urbanized destination, still some 100 km from Florence, is the seaside resort of Marina di Pisa. Here you can sunbathe on the beach, dine in one of the town’s many restaurants and enjoy the view of the nearby Bocca d’Arno. With its typical fishermen’s houses built on stilts on the river at its mouth in the Tyrrhenian Sea, it’s a destination of choice for many families.
A little further on is Tirrenia, another seaside resort popular with families and young people alike. Along the beach, you’ll find numerous establishments offering sun loungers and parasols.
Marina di Pisa and Tirrenia are not directly accessible by train from Florence, but it is possible to arrive at Pisa’s central station and then take the Cct coastal bus, which runs every 15 minutes during the summer.
Livorno’s cliffs: Cala furia and Cala del leone, dreamy coves
For those who prefer cliffs, the Aurelia road along the Livorno coast offers spectacular sea views, with natural panoramas, ancient towers and castles. It can be reached in an hour and a half by car on the Florence-Pisa-Livorno freeway.
You can park in the parking areas along the road, which are very busy at weekends and during the high season. From here, it’s possible to walk down to the rocky outcrops and reach beautiful coves such as Cala Furia and Cala del Leone. Nearby restaurants, such as Sassoscritto, offer breathtaking sea views. Further down, the town of Quercianella, also well served by rail, boasts a number of rocky beaches.
Castiglioncello, also accessible by train from Florence
It’s one of the most characteristic seaside resorts on the Livorno coast, with majestic palaces and the Pasquini Castle, which hosts concerts and events during the summer. Castiglioncello can be reached by car in an hour and forty minutes, or by train from Florence (with a few direct trips on fast regional trains). Castiglioncello has many small sandy coves and there is also a pedestrian promenade along the rocky coast. Castiglioncello is typically Italian and Tuscan, and well worth a visit.
