We're planning to visit Cinque Terre in July. We're thinking of driving from our farmhouse near Sienna and parking at the train station in Viareggio. Then taking the train to La spezia and transferring to the local to Cinque Terre. Anyone see any problems with this plan? Or does it seem to work? Thanks in advance.

Do they charge to Park in Viareggio? How long are you staying in Cinque Terre?

Hi C,

Why not driveall the way? V to LS by car takes about the same time as the train.

There is parking in La Spezia near the train station.

See www.mappy.com

Is La Spezia the train station you want for Cinque (coming from Lake Como via Milan), regardless of the town you're staying in? Thanks.

While you experts are there, can you recommend a hotel for October? Around 3/4*

dragging up an old one and asking for any expert advice on hotel for this area for 2 nights in mid-November 2007

Lotsa threads, lotsa opinions on this, Curt! My husband and I loved staying at the Marina Piccola [www.hotelmarinapiccola.com] in Manarola this past October -- so much so that we lengthened our stay there. Others prefer the larger village of Monterosso. Probably be a good idea to do a search here, then come back w/more specific questions.

Thanks Lucie - I have been looking through these posts for info. Also have found the website venere to be useful to some degree. We have been to Italy a couple of times but never in the Cinque Terre area. Have been toying with idea of using La Spezia as a base for train excursions. We plan to have car. I find driving in Italy to be exhilarating!

I have a question about CT:
if we are driving from Nice, is La Spezia the place to go before we have to park and take a train to CT?
How long is the train ride.?
Could one stay in La Spezia ( more hotels)and visit CT (or part of it)in one day?