Is Livorno Worth Visiting? A City By The Seaside In Tuscany, Italy

Livorno is a fascinating city by the seaside in the Tuscany region of Italy. We visited as part of our summer Tuscan adventure and enjoyed it. Livorno is not as popular as other places in the region and is apparently overlooked in favour of Pisa and Florence.

The lack of tourists and the coast were big draws for our visit; we love the sea and seafood, which was the plan for our 3-night stay in the city. Most mentions of the city I found on social media were from cruise bloggers who mentioned landing there and those catching the ferry to Corsica from the city’s port. On our visit we saw both big cruise ships and ferries.

The aim of our trip was to enjoy time at the beach with Henry, our dog, do some sightseeing and try some Italian seafood. Livorno was very different from the other places we’ve visited in Tuscany, including Siena.

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Why Visit Livorno in Italy?

As we were only in the city for 3 nights, we prioritised the things to do that piqued our interest. There were many other options, including tours and attractions, which you can find on the GetYourGuide website. As Livorno is a port, people from all over the world have settled here over the centuries, bringing influences that enrich the experience.

Highlights of the city include two fortresses, the historic canals, a cathedral and various palaces. There are also many other grand buildings throughout the city, including on the seafront. The coast is a great walk in the city, including past some excellent docks and the iconic Terrazza Mascagni.

There are also many places to enjoy the sea, including water parks and beaches. We chose to take the bus to the long sandy beaches just north of the city, which were excellent and offered dog-friendly options.

Food & Drinks Out

We found plenty of options for dining out and stopping for drinks while in the city. Many local restaurants serve Italian seafood, but the city also has various places to dine on international cuisine. These tended to open for lunch and evening meals, and to close in the afternoon. We did notice some of the best-reviewed places were very busy and required booking.

The city has lots of nice cafes and bars, and I found many open early and late. Some were trendy places, and others were more informal, with options for cheap beers out with a pastry. My favourite meals in the city were both at Siamo Fritti, a seafood restaurant near the market hall. For drinks and lunch, PaninoSì! hit the right notes for me, especially with their sandwiches.

Where To Stay?

While researching our visit to Livorno, we found many options for places to stay on the Booking.com website. This is included in the historic centre and along the coast near the seafront. We opted for a dog-friendly place in the city centre for access to the historic sights and public transport. We have been inspired to return, maybe for our early spring break, and will be looking at self-catering places to utilise the markets and great transport connections to explore the area more.

Modi Hotel

We stayed at the Modi Hotel in the city centre near the central market hall and near many of the main attractions. It was also near many bus routes, which made it convenient. The Modi Hotel was nice, with good, friendly staff, and dog-friendly. The room here had all that we expected, including a comfy bed and a sofa to sit on. They had 24-hour reception and a small bar area.

Food Shopping & Markets

Although staying in a hotel, we visited many of the local food shops for snacks and a good mooch around the markets. The markets here are amazing, especially the seafood market, which features produce caught by local fishermen. This alone made me regret booking accommodation without a kitchen. There were plenty of fish and seafood options, and the process looked good. The fruit and veg markets were also lively, with plenty of fresh local produce on offer.

Is Livorno Dog Friendly?

Livorno is a great place to visit with a dog, and I found many pet-friendly accommodation options. The city was great for walkies, including in the big piazzas, canals and fortresses. Dogs were also welcome on various boat trips and other attractions. We also enjoyed one of the dog-friendly beaches to the north of the city, Single Fin Tuscany Dog Beach.

When dining out or enjoying drinks, many people were also out with their dogs. As a bonus, the buses and trains are all good with Henry on board; he prefers trains to buses, though.

Public Transport – Buses & Trains

Livorno has an excellent public transport system, with trains to various popular destinations in Italy, including Rome, Florence, Pisa, and Cinque Terre. The city also has a comprehensive bus network which is straightforward to use; you just tap your bank or credit card on the machine at the entrance, and away you go. The buses were frequent and very handy for us to explore the coastline and get to the out-of-town railway station. Google Maps seemed accurate with bus times, and we navigated using that.

Is Livorno Worth Visiting?

We really enjoyed our visit to Livorno and would have loved to spend longer and see more of the city. The historic sites and coastline were the big draws for us, and we enjoyed them during our visit. The fresh seafood on offer at the local restaurants was also great, as were the various places for drinks out.

We’d love to return for a longer stay at a place with a kitchen to fully appreciate the local seafood markets in the future and use the city as a base to explore the coast, Pisa and the easily accessible by train Cinque Terre. The city’s ferries to Corsica have also piqued my interest.