Cinque Terre

joe, I definitely agree with Larry regarding not using a car for that trip. Taking the train will be a better method. You'll have to specify which of the towns you're starting in when you buy your tickets as the "Cinque Terre" does not have a rail station. The station is Lucca is small and it's usually not crowded so I'd buy at the ticket window rather than a Kiosk. For example, if you decide to start in Riomaggiore, the trip varies from about 1H:38M to 2H:17M, usually with two changes. The trip I'd probably use is a departure from Lucca at 07:42, arriving Riomaggiore at 09:33 (time 1H:51M, two changes at Pisa S. Rossore and La Spezia Centrale, current fare €9.30 PP each way). The trains on that particular trip are ALL Regionale, so DON'T forget to validate your tickets prior to boarding the train on the day of travel, or you'll risk hefty fines!!! You can easily travel between the five towns using the local trains (or seasonal boats if the weather is good). The tickets from one town to another are only ~€1.80 - €2.40 or so, which is not a huge expense. You could also buy a Cinque Terre Treno card, which allows travel for the entire day as well as hiking the trails, but you'll have to do some number crunching to decide whether that will be cost effective. If you end your trip in Monterosso, you can have a fine hot meal in one of the excellent restaurants there before returning to Lucca. The trip I'd probably use departs Monterosso at 21:03, arriving Lucca at 22:27 (time 1H:24M, one change at Viareggio, current fare €12.30 PP). I believe that's the last train of the night, so DON'T miss it! Happy travels!

Take the train. A car is a hindrance in the C.T.

The train is centrally located in each of the five towns as well as in Lucca. Expect just over 2.0hrs for the journey with two train changes (La Spezia and either Viareggio or Pisa). Fare is 17,30Euro round trip. The rental car alternative does not work well in the CT. Outside of a few parking lots, no tourist cars are permitted in the CT. In Lucca, you will have to park outside the city walls.