Hello! I am traveling with my family of 5 (3 kids) and looking for advice on the best way to get from Venice (assuming train) to Monterosso in Cinque Terra for 2 nights. Then we were hoping to go to Pisa on our way to Florence for 2 nights(maybe 3) stay there. We will have our bags so I'm not sure how to handle them while touring Pisa. Also, would it take us most of the day to get from Monterosso to Florence? Or would it be better to go straight to Florence from Monterosso and then take a day trip to Pisa from Florence, eliminating the issue with our bags?
Thanks so much for your help!
Posted by
North Carolina
2502 posts
The main train station in Pisa 'Pisa Centrale' has baggage storage. The trains to the towns of Cinque Terre change at La Spezia, and trains between La Spezia and Florence take 2 hours, more or less.
Posted by
lexington, il
4105 posts
Easiest path would be Venice-Florence-Pisa ( on your way to)-Monterosso.
As noted above, Pisa Centrale has a left luggage area.
Posted by
Green Bay
21274 posts
Easy also the route Venice-Milan-Monterosso-Pisa-Florence. Where to after Florence, or is that the end point?
Posted by
Tucson
4183 posts
You are planning to pack light, carry-on only, right? You'll need to do that for travelling by train.
If you hadn't thought about that:
Check out the Packing Forum,
the Packing Light advice
and the Packing Light & Right video for lots of information to help with that.
Posted by
OP
5 posts
Thanks for the responses. After Florence, we will rent a car to spend 5 nights exploring Tuscany and then 2 nights in Rome (we've been there before).
I guess there is no easy way to avoid the 6 hours of train travel from Venice to Monterossa.
Posted by
Forest Grove, OR
11839 posts
Thanks for the responses. After Florence, we will rent a car to spend 5 nights exploring Tuscany and then 2 nights in Rome (we've been there before).
I guess there is no easy way to avoid the 6 hours of train travel from Venice to Monterossa.
Is there any chance you can change your itinerary to Venice > Florence > Monterosso > Tuscan countryside wth car > Rome?
Venice to Florence is an easy 2 hours. Florence to Monterosso about the same. Then rent your car in La Spezia and tour the Tuscan countryside. Drop your car in Florence, Chiusi-Chianciano, or Orvieto and take the train into Rome.
Posted by
OP
5 posts
Thank you Laurel! That is a great idea. It's not too late. Going straight to Florence, spending 2 nights, then train to Monterosso sounds great! Maybe we'll stop in Pisa after renting our car on our way down to Tuscany.
Thanks for the suggestion!!
Posted by
Forest Grove, OR
11839 posts
You are welcome! :-) Yes, I meant to add that you can see Pisa after you get the car. You'll have to research where you can and can not drive in Pisa, but that info should be in Rick Steves.
Posted by
8 posts
My wife and I stayed in Cinque Terre and then traveled from there to Florence with a stop in Pisa for the day. We left CT very early in the morning and arrived in Pisa before lunch. Baggage storage at the train station was convenient and allowed us to have nearly the entire day to explore the town by foot, grab lunch near the main square and of course get all the pictures we wanted with the leaning tower. We didn't take the time to go up the tower but through all that we were still able to get to Florence in time for a later dinner. The train route from CT to Pisa to Florence was very easy.