Cinque Terre Planning - Need HELP & Suggestions

Thanks for re-posting, DT!

OK, starting with the train to get there. This is the best combo:
July 29:
Depart: Firenze Campo Di Marte > La Spezia Centrale @ 7:38 AM
Frecciabianca 8602, direct, no changes, 1 hr, 33 minutes, arriving 9:11.
Economy tickets: 19,90 euro (non changeable and non refundable)

Return: La Spezia Centrale > Firenze Campo Di Marte @ 20:03
Frecciabianca 8627, direct, no changes, 1 hr, 37 minutes, arriving 21:40
Economy tickets: 19,90 euro (non changeable and non refundable)

You mentioned wanting to swim in Vernazza (although the biggest beach is in Monterosso) and catch "the iconic view" so this is what I might do:

• Take a train from La Spezia to Manarola and then train + short bus ride up to Corniglia.

• Take a train from Corniglia to Vernazza. Swim.

• Hike "The Blue" to Monterosso. "That "iconic view" from above is on the this trail as it climbs above the village. You could also just hike up as far as getting a good shot and then reverse your steps: take a train to Monterosso. This trail is going to be hot and busy, and you're going to get plenty of great shots everywhere you go so if it's just too hot, skip the trail and grab the train onward. Alternately, you could skip swimming in Venazza and do it in Monterosso, if you take the trail: a swim would feel good after a hike.

• Take a ferry from Monterosso all the way back to Riomaggiore and train to La Spezia.

The last ferry leaves Monterosso at 17:00 and arrives in Riomaggiore at 17:45. This will give you some time to look about and maybe grab some supper before heading to La Spezia for your 20:03 train back to Florence.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BwrO8cDtfrshTFJ3dUtHZVZKOFk/view

This is a LOT to cram into a day so you're going to have to keep an eye on the clock and skip something if you get too far behind.

More details on trains and trail passes in my next post....

Hi. 'Full details on how to go around'... Trains to all five towns every 30 minutes, 4 Euro per person. If good weather, slow boats every hour or so to all towns except Corniglia - 10-20 Euros per person. Is this a day trip to CT? If so, from where?

Edit - looks like somehow Kathy had more background info while I was posting....

Yeah, sorry Bob, I had to do a quick edit...

OK, trains around the CT:

The suggested itinerary above involves 4-5 train journeys + one short bus ride from the time you arrive in La Spezia until the time you depart for Florence. If you hike part of "the Blue" you will also need a park pass to access that trail. The easiest thing to do is to purchase€ 16.00, 1-day Cinque Terre MS Treno cards in La Spezia.

http://www.parconazionale5terre.it/page.php?id=158

This will cover all of your train transport (2nd class regionale trains) between La Spezia and Monterosso + the little bus up the hill to Corniglia + use of the trail. It doesn't cover the ferry. You will break even on the price with just 4 train rides, and you will only have to validate them once: before boarding the first train in La Spezia...and authorities are famous for checking validated tickets/passes on the CT route.

This is great , I will attempt to put a day trip together based on this info

You've received lots of good suggestions so far, and I have a few thoughts to add......

• if making a day trip, you'll have to get an early start and come home late. It's going to be a LONG day! The train suggested by Kathy is the quickest and most efficient (one change at La Spezia Centrale), but you'll have to allow a bit of extra time to reach Firenze Campo di Marte (depending on where you're staying in Florence).
• I'm not sure a boat ride will be possible, unless it's at the expense of another activity. Visiting all five towns, hiking, swimming and other activities will take more time than imagined. Note that the Ferries are subject to weather. The last boat leaves Monterosso at 17:00, so if you don't arrive there until late afternoon you likely won't be able to connect with it.
• You could book a short trip with Angelo's Boat Tours or one of the others in Monterosso, but it will likely be a bit pricey for a short trip.
• If you're planning on doing the hike from Vernazza to Monterosso, note that there's a steep downhill section at the Monterosso end, so you'll have to take that slow. Be sure to take lots of water! Note that only two sections of the Sentiero Azzurro (Blue Path) trail are open for hiking this year (Corniglia-Vernazza and Vernazza-Monterosso). The hike from Corniglia to Vernazza is slightly easier, so you could consider that one also.
• Monterosso has beaches in both the "old town" and "new town" areas, but note that some parts of the beach are "pay-per-use" and include lounge chairs and umbrellas. I've never used them so not sure what the cost is but it likely isn't very much. Some parts of the beaches are free, and you should be able to determine those once you get there.
• You might want to have a nice supper in Monterosso, prior to heading back to Florence. There are a lot of restaurants to choose from, and Cantina di Miky (close to the train station in the new town) is a big favourite with many here.
• If you decide to stop for dinner in Monterosso, the last train back to Florence departs at 21:07, arriving Firenze SMN at 23:50 (one change at Pisa Centrale). While that's a bit late, one advantage is that by that time, the tourist hordes will have subsided so it should be a relaxing trip. You can check other solutions on the Trenitalia website.
• Some of the trains you'll be using will be Regionale, so a reminder that you MUST validate tickets for these prior to boarding the train on the day of travel, or risk hefty fines which will be collected on the spot. Validating also applies to Buses and other forms of public transit.

I'm not sure a boat ride will be possible, unless it's at the expense
of another activity. Visiting all five towns, hiking, swimming and
other activities will take more time than imagined. Note that the
Ferries are subject to weather. The last boat leaves Monterosso at
17:00, so if you don't arrive there until late afternoon you likely
won't be able to connect with it.

Echoing Ken, I'm concerned about this too. As I noted previously, trying to do ALL of this in one day, before the last ferry, will be a push. As you don't seem to be jazzed about the hiking part, I'd let that go if the ferry ride is higher on the priority list.

You might want to have a nice supper in Monterosso, prior to heading
back to Florence. There are a lot of restaurants to choose from, and
Cantina di Miky (close to the train station in the new town) is a big
favourite with many here.

A second vote for Cantina di Mikey: great place, and especially so if you can get a seat on the terrace. Do be aware that staying for supper will mean taking a train and not a ferry back up the coast.

Thanks everyone, especially Kathy for this great info!! I have been researching and reading a lot lately about this same topic and your info was very detailed and helpful!!