Question- can we get train tickets from Florence to la spezia (then cinque terre) while we are in Florence or should we reserve in advance? My hubby thinks it'll be a long tiring day so he's not sure he wants to come. For me and my kids, we"ll be pumped with adrenaline so we don't care. I just want to know if getting train tickets is easy or not? We will be going first week of July.

I haven't been back to this thread for a while but see that you're not going until July.

When I went from Florence to La Spezia 4 years ago, I bought my ticket at the train station in Florence on my way. Somebody showed me how to use the ticket dispensing machines, which are computerized, and not very difficult. If I recall, I stopped on the way in Pisa to see the Tower (you don't need more than a couple of hours for Pisa IMO) and then got back on the train to La Spezia, which was quite close. You might have to change trains for La Spezia, maybe in Viareggio, but it's definitely only about 2-1/2 hours I think from Florence. La Spezia is just at the bottom tip really of Cinque Terre--so once at the station, you can buy a day pass for the 5 Towns that allows you to get off at the first town and get back on the train at your discretion--like an on and off bus. La Spezia is 10 minutes train ride from the first town. Easy-peasy. I think you could do the whole trip in one day and not feel particularly rushed. Get to La Spezia by lunch, spend the afternoon walking and training between the towns, have dinner (I think Monterosso and then get back by 9. There isn't really that much to see in the different towns--they're really tiny.

Oh, just thought of something. It will probably be extremely hot and humid in Florence in July. In 2009 I stayed in Florence for a month and it was unseasonably hot for the whole month--close to 90 for the last 2 weeks. When I got to Cinque Terre and it was so cool and inviting, I actually decided to stay an extra day! I was renting an amazingly cheap apt. in Florence that was inexpensive enough that I didn't mind paying for 2 nights away, and the hotel I used in La Spezia was 80 Euros a night for a double-bed room for one person--about a block away from the train station. Really decent hotel by the way, though the name escapes me. Just booked by phone from Florence on the day I went! In any case, you might want to take the whole family to CT just for the nice breezes. Florence is not very pleasant in hot weather. Just an FYI.

Thank u Samoca!

After all these replies--and countless sleepless nights-- I made reservations in La Spezia for one night in the Cinque Terre. I feel better with that choice :-)