I am looking to end up my September 2015 Italy vacation with 3 nights on the west coast of Italy. I will be traveling from Florence to the coast. I am looking for a seaside location within a reasonable proximity to a major airport. I would stay overnight at airport hotel if necessary (adding a 4th night-don't want to take away from the R&R on the coast). Not particularly interested in sights other than the ocean. I have been looking at Santa Margherita Ligure or Monterroso. All travel will be public transport. Any other suggestions?
Posted by
Huntsville, AL, USA
8141 posts
The most popular coastal area for that part of Italy would be the Cinque Terre--and Monterroso.
You take a 1 hour train from Florence over to Pisa and transfer trains for the short ride up to La Spezia. There, you catch a local train for the ride into the C/T. It's easy. There may be a few trains to La Spezia without stopping in Pisa, too.
You don't say where you want to fly to after your visit. Pisa is larger than most Italian airports, and you can get to most big European cities from there. Pisa also has EasyJet and Vueling keeping down the airfares.
If you're wanting to go to the U.S., you would have to go through one of the gateway European cities, like Frankfurt, Paris, Amsterdam or London Heathrow--flying out of Pisa. Another option would be to take a train up to Milan and fly out of Malpensa to New York JFK or Miami.
Posted by
OP
Vermont
327 posts
I will be flying back to Boston. I have been to the CT before ( Vernazza before the most recent floods) and loved it. I was looking at SML because of its proximity to and easy train to Milan. If I stay in the CT, it seems to be a bit more train travel to a major airport. Am I mistaken? I am not looking at a non-stop back to Boston from whatever airport so anywhere within a reasonable distance from Florence to get to where I will spend my last 3-4 nights and a reasonable distance to the airport to come back to the US will do.
Posted by
Brisbane, Australia
7175 posts
I think you are on the right track with the Portofino area. Excuse the pun !!
Santa Margherita Ligure is on the rail line - from Florence and to Genoa.
From Genoa it's an easy connection if you get an intercontinental flight out of Milan.
You will only get a European flight from Pisa.
Posted by
Carmel, CA, USA
2455 posts
You might look into Viareggio, about 90 minutes west of Florence, with ten kilometers of sandy beach, part public and part private, near Pisa and Lucca.
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area (USA)
15164 posts
Although the CT are very popular with the Rick Steves' followers, however the most popular coastal area close to Florence is Versilia, basically the area from Viareggio to Marina di Carrara. Viareggio is more easily reached by train. lido di Camaiore and Forte del Marmi are the fancy upper scale locales.
Posted by
OP
Vermont
327 posts
Thanks for the suggestions. I will check out Viareggio.