Cinque Terre with a rental car
 

Hello, My husband and I will going on a road trip next October. We are planning to stay two full days in Cinque Terre. I know that having a car is not convenient in this area but we have no choice. I have researched hotels and rentals through Airbnb, Homeaway and Vrbo who offer parking. There are a few in Monterosso and Riomaggiore. There is also the choice of La Spezia and Levanto. We would like to be able to hire a boat and be able to see the five villages from the coast line. We would like to stay as close as possible to the villages. I would appreciate to hear what your choice would be or any experiences you had. Also would appreciate lodging recommendations (with parking). Thanks in advance!

Hotel Crismar in La Spezia worked out perfect for us. I did not mind not staying in the five villages at all at the end of the day.

Hotel Crismar in La Spezia worked out perfect for us. If you look at the picture you will see the yellow building with bikes. That was the sweetest apartment. We took the train there from Florence . Walked to hotel, walked to port and did the ferry in the morning that stopped in all the villages. After hiking we missed the return ferry, horrible return hours btw. We took the train back. Don't wait to use the loo at the train station. Use at the last place you get food or drink. La Spezia was not a bad place and you will find parking there at least. I loved the hiking, one of my most memorable trips.

Thank you Macross!

We parked at a large parking lot in Monterosso that our hotel suggested. We left the car there for three nights.

We stayed in Manarola where parking was pretty non-existent but if you get stuck, you could try Levanto which is not one of the five villages, but the next 'proper' town (with roads, cars, parking etc) north of the Cinque Terre. The train goes to Levanto so you could leave a car at your accommodation and get the train to the CT. Also have heard Portovenere is lovely, that's just south of the Cinque Terre. I believe it's not on the train line but has buses and boats to the Cinque Terre.

Kay