Best base for Cinque Terre, Portofino, Rapallo?
 

Hi Fodorites!

I am planning a trip to Italy next september. We start with Bolonia, Verona, Ravenna , Parma? Padua?.....then going to visit Cinque Terre, Rapallo, Portofino....before entering France.

Which location is better? La Spezia? Genoa(genova)? Genoa looks good to take the train to Nice or Marseille.
I know La Spezia is better for the C.T. But can Genoa be used if we take some longer train transfers to the C.T. I understand Genoa is ok for Rapallo/Portofino.
No rental car.....just trains and buses please!

Any comments and suggestions will be appreciated.
Thanks in advance!

If you want to visit the Cinque Terre, Portofino and Rapallo, is there some reason you don't want to stay in any of these towns?

When we visited the Cinque Terre many years ago, we stayed in Santa Margherita Ligure and really loved the town. We were there in mid May visited Portofino via a 15 minute boat ride early in the morning to have some time there before the cruise ship hoards arrived.

We trained (about 1 hour) south to Riomaggiore and hiked back as far as Vernazza where we pooped out, had a gelatto and took the train the rest of the way back to SML.

We liked SML enough that we wished for another day, but were unable to cancel our next hotel in Milan on short notice.

The CT towns and trails were packed (and this was back in 2000), but SML seemed just big enough that it was uncrowded prior to peak season.

When we trained to Milan, we did go through Genova and it was a rather long ride to get there. I would not want to try visiting the Ligurian Coast south from Genova as a day trip.

You don't say what your itinerary is. How many days do you plan in the destinations you mention? That will depend on the recommendation you receive.

Why not in the CT?
I suggest Monterosso al Mare or Manarola.

Dayle:

Thanks for your comments. We don't have problems with time allowed in the region. We will arrive our base from Bologna, and leave from Genoa , destination Nice or Marseille.

We think of two days for Cinque Terre and two days for Rapallo, Portofino, SML if we choose to stay there.

I think it could be possible to train from SML to Genoa and change trains en route to France.

Any comment will be appreciated!

Thanks Bobthenavigator! Being the expert you are, I was waiting for your comments!

If we choose to stay as per your tip, is it easy to reach Rapallo for the day and come back? Is there a direct train connection from the CT to Genoa?

Thanks for your cooperation!

Why Rapallo?
There are several more attractive towns on that coast:
Portovenere
Santa Margherita
Camogli
Sestri Levante

For the CT, stay in the CT[ or Levanto]
For the attractive towns on or near the Portofino peninsula, stay in Santa Margherita.

Hi, JEL:

I liked Camogli and there is a train to CT from there.

From one of my trips:


http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...-much-else.cfm

Thanks Bobthenavigator!

Thanks Ekscrunchy!

Lots of homework to me.....I am lucky there are reservations with free cancellation.

Ekscrunchy.....do you plan to attend next Fallas or Semana de abril?

Thanks again friends!