Cinque Terre - mid Oct 2017 -Ferry? Train? Car Parks?
Aug 5th, 2017, 01:05 AM
#1
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Cinque Terre - mid Oct 2017 -Ferry? Train? Car Parks?
Hi,
We are 3 arriving in Pisa and going directly to Cinque Terre for 3 nights then onto Tuscany (via car). As it is more economical to hire the car in Pisa (we will be returning it 8 days later), we were hopeful to stay in Lerice or La Spezia and just park the car and travel to Cinque Terre villages by train, ferry and foot. A few questions :
1. Do the ferries still run mid Oct (Oct 13) from La Spezia to Monterosso? I have seen conflicting info?
2. Is it OK to leave the car for 3 nights in free or fee car park?
3. If no ferries, would you recommend Lerici over La Spezia, taking a bus to La Spezia and then train to CinqueTerre.
4. The other option is to not get a car and make our way from Pisa to La Spezia and pick up car in La Spezia but return in Pisa (if having a car parked in La Spezia/Lerici is more of a hassle)?
Thank you!
We are 3 arriving in Pisa and going directly to Cinque Terre for 3 nights then onto Tuscany (via car). As it is more economical to hire the car in Pisa (we will be returning it 8 days later), we were hopeful to stay in Lerice or La Spezia and just park the car and travel to Cinque Terre villages by train, ferry and foot. A few questions :
1. Do the ferries still run mid Oct (Oct 13) from La Spezia to Monterosso? I have seen conflicting info?
2. Is it OK to leave the car for 3 nights in free or fee car park?
3. If no ferries, would you recommend Lerici over La Spezia, taking a bus to La Spezia and then train to CinqueTerre.
4. The other option is to not get a car and make our way from Pisa to La Spezia and pick up car in La Spezia but return in Pisa (if having a car parked in La Spezia/Lerici is more of a hassle)?
Thank you!
Aug 5th, 2017, 01:39 AM
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Would recommend Lerici over La Spezia. Ask your hotel about ferries. Even if scheduled to run they might not run on windy days.
It might be more economical to take the train from Pisa to La Spezia & use a taxi to get to Lerici -- even though taxis on the coast tend to charge high rates. But then you are not paying to park a car you are not using. Unless the bus from Lerici to La Spezia and back is super easy, I would go ahead and continue to pay for taxis.
But if you decide to rent the car in Pisa, you should take all your belongings out of the rental car, but otherwise you should be fine leaving the car. If you park in paid parking (there is a large lot in Lerici), be sure you understand how to pay for it if using a machine. Your hotel might be able to direct you free parking in October.
If you get rain that makes it a wash to visit le Cinque Terra, you can go by train or car to visit nearby small towns of interest like Pontremoli, Pietrasanta or Forte dei Marmi for shopping or a blowout seafood lunch at Lorenzo.
It might be more economical to take the train from Pisa to La Spezia & use a taxi to get to Lerici -- even though taxis on the coast tend to charge high rates. But then you are not paying to park a car you are not using. Unless the bus from Lerici to La Spezia and back is super easy, I would go ahead and continue to pay for taxis.
But if you decide to rent the car in Pisa, you should take all your belongings out of the rental car, but otherwise you should be fine leaving the car. If you park in paid parking (there is a large lot in Lerici), be sure you understand how to pay for it if using a machine. Your hotel might be able to direct you free parking in October.
If you get rain that makes it a wash to visit le Cinque Terra, you can go by train or car to visit nearby small towns of interest like Pontremoli, Pietrasanta or Forte dei Marmi for shopping or a blowout seafood lunch at Lorenzo.
Aug 5th, 2017, 01:42 AM
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To be clear: Pontemoli & Pietrasanta have important historic & cultural features (and Pontremoli has particularly good local food), while Forte dei Marmi is an upscale town with designer shopping and a famous quality seafood restaurant (expensive).
Aug 5th, 2017, 04:08 AM
#4
http://www.hotelcrismar.it/ four of us stayed in the apartment here in La Spezia. Very close to train station and also to the ferry. Why not take the train there and then get a car after you are finished touring Cinque Terre.
Just watch the ferry times. We took the ferry and paid the rt ticket but the return times were very odd for May. We ended up taking the train back after hiking.
Just watch the ferry times. We took the ferry and paid the rt ticket but the return times were very odd for May. We ended up taking the train back after hiking.
Aug 5th, 2017, 04:13 AM
#5
http://www.apathtolunch.com/2014/09/...schedules.html
I know it says 2014 but the link shows 2017. If it is foggy in the morning just take the train.
I know it says 2014 but the link shows 2017. If it is foggy in the morning just take the train.
Aug 15th, 2017, 10:45 PM
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Thanks all for your help. I 'think' the ferrries still run but we won't be far from La Spezia train as we are staying in Lerici. The hotel noted a car park close by for €5 a day. The reason we're picking up the car first in Pisa was because of the savings of picking up and returning to same location (as opposed to picking up in La Spezia, returning in Pisa).
