Has anyone done *just* a beach from Livorno?

[WrittenOnYourHeart]

I'm on the 7/1 Brilliance cruise, and we're docked at Livorno 7/3. I was in Florence for a week a couple of years ago, so I've done the galleries, the wineries, Pisa, etc. before. I leave for the trip literally the day we get out of school for the summer (I teach), so I was thinking that it might be nice to have a chill day early in the cruise, and Livorno day seemed like a good possibility since I've already done the things the excursions are offering.

 

RCCL *does* have one excursion that goes to Viareggio - AFTER going to Pisa.

 

Has anyone gone to Viareggio (or another beach) on their own? How difficult was it to get there - can you go by a bus or train?

 

Thanks!

Edited January 19, 2016 by WrittenOnYourHeart

[hkto]

Train goes via Pisa. Haven't been to Viareggio but my my understanding that most of the beach is not free and umbrella/chair fees quite steep.

[euro cruiser]

You don't say where you are from but I'm going to assume North America so let me start by reminding you that the Mediterranean Sea is not the Atlantic or Pacific Ocean. I don't mean to be condescending but you would not believe how many people come back and tell me how disappointed they were when they went to the beach in Italy. I think they expected to find Caribbean style beaches.

 

Now, with appropriately reset expectations you can have a great, relaxing day at the beach from Livorno. There are beach towns to the north and to the south, many of them easily reached by train from Livorno.

 

Beaches are generally not long and deep, as we are accustomed to in much of the United States. Nor are they sandy, some are but many more are pebbles. Water shoes are often necessary to go into the sea because of the reefs.

 

Viareggio is probably the most famous beach in the area, 25 miles north of Livorno. It takes about a half hour by train to get there. The beaches (see links below) are a little over two miles from the train station so you'll probably want to take a taxi.

 

Here are web sites for a few of the beach clubs in Viareggio:

 

http://www.bagnoteresa.it/

 

http://www.bagnovittorioveneto.com/

 

http://aretusabeachclub.com/contatti/

 

http://bagnoarizona.com/

[Hlitner]

Euro's heads-up about the quality of Italian beaches vs those we have in North American and the Caribbean is fair warning. DW and I have stopped at several beaches within an hour of Livorno, but did this on our lengthy driving trips...not on port days. But one can easily book a rental car with Sifracar (which will cost less then 110 Euros for a small car) and they will deliver and pick-up right at the pier. So you just get off the ship, complete the paperwork and then you are off with your car. You could then drive to several beaches or do multiple things for the entire day.

 

Hank

[WrittenOnYourHeart]

Thanks all. Yes, I am aware of the differences.

 

I've got stuff to ponder for sure. I know renting a car is out. I haven't driven in 10 years - a foreign country is not where I want to practice again! :)