Is the coastal trip to Cinque Terre starting in Genoa very scenic ? If given a choice would you drive from Milan to Cinque Terre via Genoa or via Parma inland ? This would be in early June.

I would go thru Genoa and stop in Portofino for lunch. Or, spend your first nite at Lago Orta--magical.

Hello Bob

Lago Orta looks beautiful but it be out of our way to Cinque Terre ?

The A7 from Milan to Genoa has some nice mountain scenery but when you arrive in Genoa and switch to the A12, it is one tunnel after the other, so I wouldn't take that route thinking you will see a lot of the coast. If you take the coastal road (SS1) from Genoa to the Cinque Terre, it will be scenic but excruciatingly slow.

Not really ! Take A-26 rather than A-7 south and avoid the Milan traffic and the bad part of A-7 before you raech the coast. Why spend a nite in Parma when Orta is :45 from Malpensa.

Parma for us was a great city to spend one night - and we would like to return. The A7 is nice but turns inland after Sestri Levante so you loose the coast from there - so it might be easier to go via Parma and stay wherever you can easily reach...

Do spend some time in Genoa. It's a beautiful city that has lots to offer.
Then move on to the C.T. over the A12. It's only a one hour drive.

I appreciate the suggestions. I wonder whether driving all the way to CT after arriving at 9AM into Milan might work. Mappy saids it is only 2.5 hours which sounds reasonable, to Riomaggiore. Genoa seems to be a big city which we want to avoid. Lago Orta sounds intriguing- maybe another trip. Parma also still sounds like a good choice.