Go Back  Fodor's Travel Talk Forums > Destinations > Europe
Reload this Page >

HELP! Question about transportation throughout CINQUE TERRE (Italy)

Search

HELP! Question about transportation throughout CINQUE TERRE (Italy)

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jun 9th, 2009 | 08:46 AM
  #1  
Original Poster
 
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 1,401
Likes: 0
HELP! Question about transportation throughout CINQUE TERRE (Italy)

Hi Everyone,

What exactly does a DAY PASS cover in Cinque Terre?

Just hiking within the 5 villages? Or do some special passes also cover trains and ferries?

For example, if within one day I am:

1) taking a TRAIN to Riomaggiore (from Camogli);

2) then a hike from Riomaggiore all the way to Corniglia;

3) followed by a FERRY to Vernazza from Corniglia;

4) then a TRAIN back home to Camogli from Vernazza.

HOW MANY SEPARATE TIMES DO I HAVE TO PAY? Or is there a way to get it all on one pass?

Also, IS THERE SUCH A THING AS A WEEKLY TRANSPORTATION PASS through Cinque Terre?

Many thanks!
bettyo70 is offline  
Old Jun 10th, 2009 | 07:26 AM
  #3  
Original Poster
 
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 1,401
Likes: 0
Thank you, lovisa.

I'm trying to figure right now whether it is more economical to do the REGULAR or TRAIN PASS for 2 days.

The 1st day: we're taking the train twice (to and from Camogli), and the ferry once

The 2nd day: the same thing -- 2 trains and 1 ferry

Does anyone happen to know if it is more economical to do the train pass for 2 days... or just the regular pass, and pay for the train and ferry "as we go".

I know in this case, the ferry pass would not make sense since we are only taking 1 ferry per day. Grazie!
bettyo70 is offline  
Old Jun 10th, 2009 | 09:52 AM
  #4  
 
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 121
Likes: 0
If you get just the basic pass you will have to pay an additional e7.80 for the train. Looks the train pass is a better deal.
jeff001 is offline  
Old Jun 10th, 2009 | 10:50 AM
  #5  
 
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 648
Likes: 0
The train pass would not cover to and from Camogli, but perhaps you are aware of that?
LAwoman is offline  
Old Jun 10th, 2009 | 11:13 AM
  #6  
Original Poster
 
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 1,401
Likes: 0
Thank you, jeff & LAwoman!

LAwoman: No, I did not know that the train pass does not cover Camogli... that decides it then.

We'll do the REGULAR PASS and just add the train to/from Camogli and the ferries within CT as we go. Cheers!
bettyo70 is offline  
Old Jun 10th, 2009 | 12:55 PM
  #7  
 
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 648
Likes: 0
I think that's a good idea. The trains are cheap and sometimes the ferries are crowded. Have fun!!
LAwoman is offline  
Old Jun 10th, 2009 | 01:09 PM
  #8  
 
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 9,754
Likes: 0
betty,

One thing to be aware of, the trains between the 5 towns are mostly in tunnels, just popping out here and there and at the stations. The ferrys have much nicer views!
Dayle is offline  
Old Jun 10th, 2009 | 08:13 PM
  #9  
Original Poster
 
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 1,401
Likes: 0
Thanks, Dayle! Believe me, I would love to take the ferries all the time if I had the choice. But there will be a couple of evenings when we are in Vernazza... and I think the ferries stop running pretty early. I think they go until 6pm in September. I also don't think that they run from Vernazza all the way to Camogli. So we'll have no choice but to take the train!
bettyo70 is offline  
Old Jun 10th, 2009 | 08:14 PM
  #10  
Original Poster
 
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 1,401
Likes: 0
Plus, I heard that when the weather is "off", sometimes the ferries are cancelled!
bettyo70 is offline  
Old Jun 11th, 2009 | 02:28 AM
  #11  
 
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
not sure how many days you plan to be there but I was there with my family for half a day and we walked between towns. We parked at one of the locations - can't remember which one though and parking can be tricky, walked to 3 towns and took the train back. The walking distance between one of them was no more than 10 minutes and the other, about 20. But well worth it. Lovely scenary an all.
aden is offline  
Old Jun 11th, 2009 | 04:36 AM
  #12  
 
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 28
Likes: 0
I don't mean to be negative here, but be forwarned!! Italian schedules can be capricious. We are not train, subway, or "L" travelers so our first experence was a bit jolting.

The ferries will wait until they are full, leaving close to +/- scheduled run time. The ferrymen do not indicate when to get off or how long they will wait to pick up passengers. It is your responsibility to be alert.

The trains - watch the schedule. On some days/hours they skip a stop (just where you want to go)and then your stuck landing in another town and buying another ticket. When buying a ticket they are not always clear where to embark (there are no real track numbers, its just a big open space). It was even strange trying to understand what side of the track to be on. Unfortunately, the topgraphy requires the train routes to go through tunnels and offers no views, you come out into daylight, make a stop and your there!

I'm certain it was our inexperience with these modes of transportation that led to our chaos. Ask more questions and take nothing for granted. Best of luck!
Crisco0 is offline  
Old Jun 11th, 2009 | 06:41 AM
  #13  
Original Poster
 
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 1,401
Likes: 0
Thank you, aden & Crisco. I appreciate it!
bettyo70 is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Original Poster
Forum
Replies
Last Post
John
Europe
22
Nov 7th, 2014 07:00 PM
Ruth_Turpin
Europe
59
Apr 17th, 2012 10:17 AM
ga9497
Europe
4
Mar 6th, 2011 12:50 PM
chaznangie
Europe
10
May 7th, 2010 04:39 AM
Lindaloo
Europe
6
Jul 15th, 2005 08:35 AM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are On



Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement -