Cinque Terre day trip from Florence by car

scott,

You can leave the car at the car park near La Spezia Centrale. It's easy to visit the five towns on your own, and that would be preferred to a tour as you'd be able to set your own schedule. Getting from one town to the other is very easy on the local trains, but you could also perhaps travel one way by Ferry (nice to see the towns from the water) and return by train. If you want to use the boats, I'd suggest taking the train from La Spezia to Riomaggiore (which is only about a 9 minute trip), and then connecting with the boats there.

You might consider starting in Riomaggiore and working your way north, ending in Monterosso at about supper time. Enjoy a fine meal in one of the restaurants there and then return by train to La Spezia in the evening for the drive back to Florence.

I assume you're aware of the usual caveats concerning rental cars in Italy?

I've driven to the Cinque Terre from Florence many times both when I lived there and also when I visited my parents in Florence.
It's actually faster to drive on the A12 freeway past La Spezia all the way to Levanto, then take the train back to the Cinque Terre from Levanto. In other words, you would drive past the Cinque Terre then back track from Levanto. That is especially true if you intend to go to Monterosso and Vernazza.
If you just go to Riomaggiore and Manarola, than it might be ok to go to La Spezia.
The reason why Levanto is better, is because the traffic from the freeway exit to the Port of La Spezia (you have to go around the port) is often very congested.

Ken,
Thank you for great information. This is our first time in Italy. I am not aware of any caveats with driving a rental car? Any information you have would be greatly appreciated.

Scott,

I've sent you a PM with my usual "boilerplate" on the subject.