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Geneva to Cinque Terre in September/train and lodging questions

Posted by (Florida) on

My husband and I are planning to travel from Geneva to the Cinque Terre for a 2-night stay (Sept. 19-20). It looks like the train trip will take 8 hours, travelling through Milan to Monterosso and arriving around 3 PM.

First off, is the train our best option? And will a 3 PM arrival be timely enough for lodging check-in?

Secondly, we are concerned about hauling even limited luggage from a railway station uphill to lodging. What would be the best option/home base in the CT for our stay?

FYI, our next stop after the CT is Venice.

Posted by
5107 posts

Do you have more than a rolling suitcase? I'd just power through, because I would do anything for a view. Otherwise, you can try using the map function on Booking.com (that's where I start all accommodation searches) to choose somewhere that is not too onerous to get to.
If you are open to opinions, I'd look at alternatives, as there must be dozens (if not more) of beautiful places on the train line between Geneva and Venice. I would for sure prioritize my time on a brief vacation, and I would not take an eight-hour train ride for Cinque Terre (nor the long journey to Venice). But if you have your heart set on it, a late afternoon arrival will be fine.

Posted by
21226 posts

3 pm is perfect arrival time as all rooms should be ready by then. There are several hotels on the beach, level with the train station if that is what you want.

BTW, the train journey is not bad. 4 hours through the Alps, then 30 minutes to change trains in Milan, then 3 hours through the Ligurian Alps and along the rugged coast.

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