Florence to Cinque Terre and Cinque Terre to Venice
 

We are going to Italy this late September.

We are planning on doing one night at CT. Does anyone have experience or recommendations on transportation from Florence to CT and CT to Venice?

What is the best option... train,bus,private driver?


-Vish

I did the opposite. I went by train from Venice to CT, very easy and inexpensive by booking in advance. We then took the train from CT as well.

Train is your best option.

For a one night stay in le Cinque Terre it is better to book something that you can cancel on short notice if the weather turns rainy. There is little point in spending 3 hours on a train getting to le Cinque Terre, and then another 5 hours going to Venice from there if it is raining that day in le Cinque Terre.

I really wouldn't go there at all if I couldn't spend at least two nights. It's a lot of traveling for just one afternoon in the Cinque Terre.

For public transportation, the train. But bv is right. It's a lot of travel for one night. You'll have to change trains in Pisa, so it's a long-ish trip.

As far as other modes: what's your budget?

Thank you all so much for your replies.

Our budget is about $125 per night. We are thinking about using Air B&B.

Maybe we can spare 2 nights. I will have to see. Are there any other scenic places we can go from Florence that might be less travel time?

On weekends places in the CT may be aloof to make a one-night booking, preferring the whole weekend.

Yes trains are the best way - from Florence there is an odd IC train that is faster and more expensive but goes direct I think to Monterosso, along with Riomaggiore the two Lands where mainline trains stop - shuttle trains trundle constantly between these towns and the other three towns - so buy a ticket from Florence SMN (Santa Maria Novella) station - the main in-town Florence station right to whichever of the 5 villages you want to end up in - mainly these are regional trains that demand a change or changes at:

Pisa Centrale and La Spezia Centrale - regional trains have a flat fare so there is absolutely no reason to book in advance - I do believe you cannot even make reservations if you wanted to and can always get on.

Now for CT to Venice yes booking in advance at www.trenitalia.com can get nifty discounts but those tickets are sold in limited numbers so much be booked for a specific train weeks in advance to guarantee availability then have restrictions on changes and refunds I believe.

There are two routes CT to Venice to peruse - one via regional train or IC train to Milan via Genoa then train to Venice or

Going back to Florence and taking a high-speed train to Venice is actually quicker - just under 5 hours - but can cost more if you do not do the discounted ticket route.

For loads of great info on Italian trains check www.seat61.com (great info on discounted tickets); www.ricksteves.com and www.budgeteuropetravel.com.

Now getting www.trenitalia.com to work for discounted tickets (absolutely no reason to buy full-fare tickets until you get to Italy IME) i problematic for many novices but if you post on Fodor's "Help with Trenitalia Bookings" some experts like kybourbon (and others), the guru of making trenitalia.com work IME will kindly come to you aid.

That's a lot of travel time and hassle for such a very short stay at CT.

When you could instead go Florence directly to Venice by train very easily.

To me the best part of the Cinque terre was taking the boat for a full day seeing the towns from the water and getting off at three of them. That would require minimum two night stay Otherwise I would not bother.

One day can be enough for some folks, like me - been there thrice - each time for a day and day tripping in - first time hiked the seven miles or so between all 5 villages - another time did a day trip from Florence and visited all 4 seaside villages by train - boat would be nice in season when they run.

I would get bored staying in those small towns - often congested with throngs of other tourists - but love seeing them and the trails in between.

Two days would bore me - but one day was a thrill - this is a subjective thing and who can say whose take is best.

PalenQ I think my wife and I can do the one day thrill. We defenatley would like to spend more time in the major cities Rome, Florence Venice...etc. And maybe we will do another trip to Italy and see the countryside; tuscan wine tours, Valle d’Aosta, Amalfi coast ...and the not so touristy places.

The only thing that concerns me is getting confused/lost with the train system from Florenece to CT and CT to Venice.

I did train from Florence with a change in Pisa. Very easy. I would stay at least one night. We stayed a La Spezia which is a little larger and had nice hotels and places to eat. More to do at night. Ferry leaves from there or train.

The only thing that concerns me is getting confused/lost with the train system from Florenece to CT and CT to Venice.>

You could have only one change of trains if you take a direct regional train from Monterosso to Milan then get a direct train to Venice - leave plenty of time however for changing in a humongous Milano Centrale station - not to worry you but zillions of tracks - all well-marked as to where that train on that platform is going but takes time to ferret out and trains can always be late.

Going back to Florence will be a snap since you will have come from there - a simple change in Pisa Centrale, a small enough station with just several platforms and again the info is all well marked - Florence to Venice SantaLucia (Venice SL in schedules) is by super comfy faster high-speed trains.

Don't be daunted by any of that.