Go Back  Fodor's Travel Talk Forums > Destinations > Europe
Reload this Page >

Florence airport easy to get to from Cinque Terre?

Florence airport easy to get to from Cinque Terre?

Old Mar 25th, 2014, 10:27 AM
  #1  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 60
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Florence airport easy to get to from Cinque Terre?

In June my 22 year old son and I will be leaving Cinque Terre by train and heading to the Florence airport to pick up our rental car to tour Tuscany for two days. Any ideas how long it will take us to get from Cinque Terre to Florence airport? Would like to know when we should leave CT to accomplish that and get to our B&B 30km south of Florence in Tuscany before dark. Is the Florence airport on the outskirts of Florence in the direction I'm going? Any help would be greatly appreciated.
jackiebowyer1 is offline  
Old Mar 25th, 2014, 10:29 AM
  #2  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,321
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Can you pick up a rental at Pisa Airport? I believe that is easier to get to (haven't done it myself though). Pisa is a bigger airport.
jamikins is offline  
Old Mar 25th, 2014, 10:34 AM
  #3  
 
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 12,139
Received 26 Likes on 4 Posts
Entering "florence airport" on Google maps will show you exactly where it is, NW of the city.
MmePerdu is online now  
Old Mar 25th, 2014, 10:38 AM
  #4  
 
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 12,139
Received 26 Likes on 4 Posts
My first thought jamikins, but as she's going south of florence to her B&B, I suppose Florence makes sense. Jackie, you might investigate whether going to any airport is the easiest place. There may be rental offices by train stations along the route CT-Pisa-Florence that would be simpler and take less time. Maybe someone here will know. Maybe even near your undisclosed B&B location and pick it up there. You could ask your hosts.
MmePerdu is online now  
Old Mar 25th, 2014, 10:47 AM
  #5  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,321
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I was just thinking that you can take the train to Pisa airport, but I don't think you can to Florence airport (?) so it would be easier to get to...
jamikins is offline  
Old Mar 25th, 2014, 11:25 AM
  #6  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 60
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I'm wanting to avoid big traffic and city driving. So whatever that may take?
jackiebowyer1 is offline  
Old Mar 25th, 2014, 11:28 AM
  #7  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,321
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Pisa to south of Florence is on a main highway - easy driving.
jamikins is offline  
Old Mar 25th, 2014, 11:57 AM
  #8  
 
Join Date: Nov 2005
Posts: 419
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
We picked up our rental ( Avis)in central Florence. Just a few minutes from SMN train station in central Florence. The car rental agent gave us good directions to stay clear of the dreaded ZTL zones. Also an International Drivers License is required in Italy.
joethekay is offline  
Old Mar 25th, 2014, 11:59 AM
  #9  
 
Join Date: Apr 2013
Posts: 19,736
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I've made the drive from Pisa to Florence. As jam says, it's not bad at all, until you get to the city, of course.
vincenzo32951 is offline  
Old Mar 25th, 2014, 12:38 PM
  #10  
 
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 12,139
Received 26 Likes on 4 Posts
For the best solution of all, if jackie would share the approximate location of her B&B, there may be an alternative, going most of the way by train then picking up the car closer to her destination, then enjoying a short & leisurely drive.
MmePerdu is online now  
Old Mar 25th, 2014, 12:56 PM
  #11  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,321
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
There is a ring road around Florence...more cars but not very difficult
jamikins is offline  
Old Mar 25th, 2014, 06:01 PM
  #12  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 16,525
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
WEll, La Spezia is an option for cars and is minutes from any CT village. Both Pisa and Florence airports will have a surcharge.
bobthenavigator is offline  
Old Mar 25th, 2014, 06:47 PM
  #13  
 
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 12,139
Received 26 Likes on 4 Posts
I suspect the whole point is to get the car as close to the destination as possible, hence Florence. But the question remains, where are you going??
MmePerdu is online now  
Old Mar 25th, 2014, 07:27 PM
  #14  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 24,834
Received 4 Likes on 3 Posts
I'd pick up the car at La Spezia as early as possible and make it a leisurely driving day. You'll have time for stops if something looks interesting. If you haven't been to Lucca, you could stop there for lunch and a stroll around. Make sure you can stow your luggage out of sight in the car.
Jean is offline  
Old Mar 25th, 2014, 07:35 PM
  #15  
 
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 12,139
Received 26 Likes on 4 Posts
I don't think I'd want to leave a rental car with all my worldly goods in it, even out of sight. I love Lucca but I'd save it for when the trunk was empty and stop for lunch in the countryside somewhere where I could stay close to my stuff.
MmePerdu is online now  
Old Mar 26th, 2014, 06:25 AM
  #16  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 16,525
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Why Florence?
That entails 2 trains, a taxi, and a rental premium price.
bobthenavigator is offline  
Old Mar 26th, 2014, 07:19 AM
  #17  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 60
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I'm sorry I didnt put my destination but its because my B&B is in the country between Florence and Siena. The closest town is Montespertoli. Does this help?
jackiebowyer1 is offline  
Old Mar 26th, 2014, 08:48 AM
  #18  
 
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 12,139
Received 26 Likes on 4 Posts
Other than several Florence locations, one possibility appears to be Montecatini Terme, where there's a Europcar location walking distance, I think, from the train station:

http://www.europcar.com/car-rental-I...INI_TERME.html

I'd prefer doing that to trying to cope with picking up around Florence. A bit farther drive but I suspect generally easier. And you could take the scenic route, if you like to your destination. Otherwise, Pisa, as mentioned before, looks like a good possibility too. None are that far from where you'll be going.
MmePerdu is online now  
Old Mar 26th, 2014, 10:05 AM
  #19  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 24,834
Received 4 Likes on 3 Posts
Montecatini Terme from the CT is 3 trains, 3-3.5 hours. You'd have to leave the CT very early, otherwise the MT car rental offices may be closed for lunch when you get there.

I still vote for La Spezia... Close by train to all of the CT towns, and 2-2.5 hours' drive from there to Montespertoli (or 3.5-4 hours if you choose to avoid the highways where possible).

FWIW, we've left luggage in rental cars when we've stopped for lunch. We look for a very visible parking spot, with people coming and going, and make a point of not opening the cargo area (and displaying our luggage to all) after we've parked. Maybe we've just been lucky (for 35 years).
Jean is offline  
Old Mar 26th, 2014, 10:26 AM
  #20  
 
Join Date: Oct 2013
Posts: 7,933
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
There's no train to Florence airport; you'd have to get a bus from the Florence train station. It would really be easier to reach Pisa airport, which (without knowing from which of the five Cinque Terre towns you'll be leaving) can be reached in about two hours, with a change of trains at Pisa Central station, not involving stairs.

The drive from Pisa airport to Montespertoli would take less than an hour, almost entirely on the limited access (PiFiLi or Pisa-Firenze-Livorno) highway. The highway passes right by the airport, and the route is mostly through countryside.

Montecatini Terme is harder to reach, and is not much closer by highway to Montespertoli. Besides, you'd have to drive (on the autostrada) past several large cities, including Prato and Firenze, with potential for traffic jams. I myself would much prefer to pick up the car at Pisa airport.

You can explore train schedules here:

http://www.trenitalia.com/cms/v/inde...005817f90aRCRD

Use a date (weekday if you'll be traveling on a weekday, etc.) in the next week to see complete information about the regional trains.
bvlenci is offline  

Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Manage Preferences - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information -