Liz

I had planned to have a rental car for touring around Tuscany and then ditching it in Grosseto and taking the train to la Cinque Terre (we are staying in Levanto for two nights). I had the impression that the train service was so good between the towns, and the driving and parking so awkward (for lack of a better word), that is made no sense to have a car there. I also read the drive to the area is rather hair-raising. I assume we will do some light hiking (not the hardest paths), and just generally explore the towns. <BR>But today my Italian hairdresser said we'd be totally unable to get around without a car, and that he couldn't imagine being there carless. It's not too late to change the rental plans, but I'd like the thoughts of some of you who have been there, with or without cars.<BR><BR>Thanks.<BR><BR>Liz

Joe

Your first inclination is right. A car is realy useless in Cinque Terra and the train system is good with short rides to each of the five villages. My daughter just returned and the paths from village to village are still in bad repair from the winter storms. By all means, tour Tuscany by car and then, depending upon what you are doing after Levanto (further touring or heading for the airport?), get rid of the car.

rlk

Huh ?<BR><BR>It takes anywhere between four to six MINUTES for the train between Levanto and Monterosso (the first CT town coming from Levanto) --- and to continue on to the others, add another couple minutes.<BR><BR>Check the website for train schedules:<BR>www.fs-on-line.com<BR><BR>Here's an example of the times for train leaving from Levanto:<BR> -- 8:25 am<BR> -- 9:03 am<BR> -- 9:49 am<BR> -- 10:06 am<BR> -- 10:50 am<BR>And like I said, the arrival times into Monterosso is shown to be about 4 or 5 minutes later.<BR><BR>I'd strongly suggest in addition to train &amp; the trek between the towns, you also take the boat --- more expensive than train, but a lovely way to view (GREAT photo ops) these villages from the water. I think you can pull up the boat schedule on-line. According to the schedule when I was at the CT in May, the first morning boat leaves Monterosso at 10:30 am -- only takes about 8 minutes to Vernazza -- if you want to go all the way to Riomaggiore, total travel time is about 30 minutes. You can go as far as Portovenere; BUT the train don't go to Portovenere and so you have to make sure that you catch the last boat back (departing Portovenere @ 5:10 pm, per my schedule).<BR>

Liz

Joe, thanks for the advice, though you misunderstood me a bit. We are staying in Levanto *while* we visit la Cinque Terre; as rlk wrote, it is only a few minutes by train to the first town. We will have ditched the car before we arrive in Levanto by train from Grosset, unless there is some reson to have a car in Levanto.<BR><BR>I have no idea how big the themselves are. For example, is Levanto large enough that we might want to drive around within it? Our b and b is 1 km from the train station. I'm not sure if that means we are close to the area where there would also be restaurants and shops, and if not, are public busses (or taxis, failing that) within the town? <BR><BR>Liz

Joyce

Unless you have a death-wish, don't even think of having a car in the Cinque Terre. We drove there in May, and my husband is still having nightmares!

rlk

Liz:<BR><BR>I've not been to Levanto, so can't provide personal experience. However as Levanto sits on the water &amp; has a small population, I strongly suspect that you'll easily be able to walk around town &amp; not have need for a car while there. Here's a site that I found which provides info on both Levanto and the CT. http://web.genie.it/utenti/l/liguria/

Joe

That's what I understood Liz. Just didn't know what you were doing after Lavanto/Cinque Terra. The boat suggestion is a good one. We did it a couple of times and the views of the villages from the sea are great. Have a wonderful time.