Hi Everyone!

I have a husband who may be stubborn and insist on driving (instead of taking the train) into both Levanto and Riomaggiore on two separate daytrips we're doing.

I have just a few questions:

1) I remember another traveller posting about a free parking lot about 1 km outside of Riomaggiore... Does anyone have advice on how to get to this lot? Apparently it has only 10 spaces and is fought over. The other tricky thing is... we're not sure at what time we'll be returning back to Riomaggiore -- could be later in the evening. I know the PAY LOT in Riomaggiore CLOSES AT 7PM! So I want to find out about this other FREE LOT, which I'm hoping does not have any closing time!

2) Any advice on free parking in Levanto? Again, may not return until the evening.

The good news is, we won't be in either town on a Saturday or Sunday. More likely a Friday and Monday in September. So hopefully we won't be fighting with too many people for the free spaces in either town. Oh, and we'll be driving from Camogli.

Thanks for your help!! --Betty

Anyone?

Hi Betty: I would not recommend renting a car and driving into Riomaggiore and Levanto, the Cinque Terre. For years many of the residents have made do without cars just fine, the same is true to this day. The train system is very reliable and takes you directly into town and costs very little. In fact, you can buy a 3-6+ Cinque Terre card/train pass that you can use from city to city, including Levanto. I am speaking from experience as I have family friends and my former fiance who lives in Riomaggiore. If you insist on driving, there is a parking lot up the main street in Riomaggiore (Via Ave de Gasperi); however, if you stay at the Villa Argentina (Via Ave de Gasperi, 37), they provide a parking spot with your room. I would inquire in advance via email. The train station in Levanto is a little on the outside perimeter of the town, but you can easily walk into the city centre. September is not too, too busy as the summer crowds have thinned so you should be fine then. My advice would be to leave the car in Camogli and hop on the local train 45 mins down to Levanto. Take a taxi or walk the 7-8 mins into the city centre and main beach area. From there, you can take the local trains down to Riomaggiore and the other Cinque Terre towns. They run until close to midnight so no fear of being without a way to get around late at night. I would save renting a car for the larger Italian cities, outside of the Cinque Terre (i.e. Firenze, Lucca, Genoa, etc).

free parking in Levanto?

In May we tried to find parking so we could take the train to Vernazza. The free lot ( a small lot outside of town north of the rr station on the left as you drive toward the sea.) was completely full and the paid lots were too. We were told there were spaces late in the day after people rturned from their day trip.

I think Huite advise is good about taking the train,but that being said we were told that we would never find a space in Vernazza either and we were able to park in the uppper lot for 3 days and took their little bus to town.
very narrow road that creeps along the edge of a cliff.

The road to Riomaggiore is very narrow but if yo follow it down,you drive straight into the multi-level parking lot at the top of the town.

"Parking: You cannot miss the parking lot in Riomaggiore. It is at the end of the road. The parking lot is 5 levels (all covered except the top level) and is straight ahead. An attendant gives you a ticket."

Hope you trip it wonderful.

I would park in Monterosso, in the big lot, and take the ferry to the other villages---hopping on and off at will. It is a good hike from the water to the parking in Riomaggiore.

Huitres, Suz & Bob:

Many thanks! Bob, that sounds like a good alternative. The reason being, we would like to spend as much time as possible on the ferries to view the Cinque Terre. Apparently, taking the trains from one village to another is not at all scenic, as you are going through tunnels. Also I'm mildly claustrophobic.

Not to mention Hubby loves driving throughout Italy, and yes, including all the hairpin turns, etc. Cheers!