We will be staying in Lucca and would like to spend a day in Cinque Terre, preferably taking a boat trip from the bottom city to the top, then returning by train and walking trails. Do we need to make advance reservations for the boat ride and the train in advance or can we get tickets when we arrive at the most southern town? We plan to be there Aug. 1-4, 2013. Thank you.
Elizabeth
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Vernon, Canada
32402 posts
Elizabeth, AFAIK, it's NOT possible to make reservations for the boats. Just buy tickets when you arrive and then wait for the next boat. The location and boarding procedure for the boat are a bit "unusual" in Riomaggiore. I can provide more detailed information if you need it. The trains you'll be using from Lucca to Riomaggiore will most likely be Regionale, so booking those in advance is not usually an option. Buy them at the station in Lucca, perhaps the day before you'll be travelling. NOTE - you MUST validate Regionale tickets prior to boarding the train on the day of travel or you'll face hefty fines which will be collected on the spot! Some of the trains you'll be using may be Freccia or other premium trains which require compulsory reservations. The reservations will be included with the ticket if necessary. NOTE - tickets with reservations are specific to a particular train and departure time so you MUST only use the train specified on your ticket (ie: FrecciaBiance 9762), or again hefty fines. One of the easiest trips would be a departure from Lucca at 07:42, arriving Riomaggiore at 09:58 (that trip uses only Regionale trains, which will be the cheapest). Regarding the No. 2 (Sentiero Azzurro) trails, only the section from Monterosso to Vernazza is currently open however two more sections are scheduled to open on June 15. The famous Via dell'Amore will apparently not be re-opening until 2014. I'd suggest hiking the Monterosso-Vernazza section first, as it's the most challenging and best to do when you're "fresh" and have the energy. Take lots of water. Happy travels!