I'll be going to Vernazza because I want to stroll the harbor area in the evening. If you actually stayed in Vernazza rooms, tell me about it and what do you recommend? Also, tell me about a tour guide of Cinque Terre starting from Vernazza.
My next stop is Florence by car. Tell me about getting from Vernazza to Florence, the problems or logistics involved and the time it actually takes?
You might consider renting a car after Cinque Terre and turning it in before you get to Florence (ZTLs and difficulty finding legal parking).
It's not going to be a long stroll.
Will you have a car already when you are in Vernazza? If not, then just take the train to Florence.
If you intend to go to Vernazza by car, it's a very narrow winding road to get there. Parking might be an issue too. You might be better off parking in Monterosso then go to Vernazza by train. However the best option is not to have a car at all for that area.
If you insist on the car, the easiest way to Florence is to drive from Vernazza to Levanto and from Levanto to the A12 freeway. Then follow the directions to Livorno. As you approach Viareggio, take the directions to Lucca-Firenze. That will put you on a freeway that connects you to the A11. Proceed to Firenze (Florence). The A11 ends next to the Florence airport. From there it depends on where you need to go. Return the car? Hotel? Apartment?
The drive from Vernazza is maybe 2.5 hours. There are no problems if you know how to drive on narrow curvy roads and if your accommodations in Florence is accessible by car (i.e. outside the ZTL). Also street parking in Florence is scarce .
We took the train from Vernazza to Pisa and picked up our rental car there...driving towards Florence. One bus ride from Pisa train station to Pisa airport (to pick up car)- but it was easy.
Also: we stayed right in/above the town... So it wasn't the quietest- but great views and easy access to restaurants at night and cappuccino in the morning! Found the apartment thru Airbnb.
Peg
We stayed in Monerosso and took the train to Florence with a transfer in Pisa. I think it would've taken about 2 1/2 hours total (very easy), but we also took a detour in Pisa to see the Tower. I don't think a car for just that leg of your journey would be with it and it would be difficult to drove in Florence (my husband said just driving out of Florence from our rental station was scarier to him than driving into Rome for our drop off).
