Florence river cruises are a great way to see some of the city’s most alluring attractions in one fell swoop. Of course, you will want to reserve as much time as possible to actually exploring the interiors of such attractions as Il Duomo and the Pitti Palace, but Arno River cruises are a nice diversion from walking, if you are doing a lot of this on your trip, and it is always nice to get out on the water and see the city from this perspective. Arno River cruise tours are especially inviting at night in the warm months of late spring and summer, when the cool breeze careening off the water bed mingles with the warm evening air. The city lights are very enjoyable when seen from the boats along the Arno.

Many times, people get confused when searching for Florence river cruises, because all of their searches turn up nothing about Florence, but rather information on the Port of Livorno to the west. This is due to the fact that the Arno is simply not big enough to handle even the smallest cruise ships. If you want to take Arno River cruise tours, you will be doing so in tiny crafts maneuvered by one guide. To say they are tiny boats is not in the least an exaggeration. The Mediterranean is a hugely popular area for cruises and Florence is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the entire world. As such, there is a big demand for Florence excursions from the Port of Livorno.

Many cruise excursions offer a day in Florence or other destinations such as Pisa as a part of a stop in Livorno. If you choose Florence as your preferred destination, you will need to take the bus from Livorno to Florence (your cruise provider should be equipped to help with the intricacies of the details, which bus, etc.), which takes about an hour-and-a-half. Florence river cruses from from Livorno to the capital of Tuscany may seem ideal, but the River Arno is simply not big enough to handle anything but the smallest crafts. If you have your heart set on taking one of the lovely Arno River cruises, you will first need to take the bus.

Florence Map

Once you arrive in Florence, you can make arrangements for one of the popular Arno River cruise tours. These are absolutely fantastic for those people who have limited time, but wish to see as much of the city as possible while they are in town. Taking one of the tours allows you the benefit of having along a knowledgeable tour guide that explain details of various attractions, including the Ponte Vecchio (Old Bridge), which you will undoubtedly sail underneath as you make your way down this historic river. Arno River cruises are just one means of exploring the city of Florence. You do not necessarily have to walk the heels off of your shoes to get a good feel for the city. Sometimes, when you only have an afternoon to be in Florence, it is best to just sit back, relax, and get at least a survey glance of as much of the wondrous city as time will permit.