We will be staying in Villefranche-sur-Mer and will be taking an over night trip to Cinque Terre (driving to and back from Monterosso al Mare). Our intention is to leave early and return mid day the next day. Has anyone driven this route. Just curious about how long it takes and any reccomendations along the way.
Posted by
dallas, tx, usa
1358 posts
google maps says:
282 km (175 miles) about 3 hours, 15 mins driving time.
Posted by
Portlandia
3313 posts
Carl's back!
I'd say Google Maps seriously underestimates the driving time. There's extremely limited parking in the CT and narrow, windy roads to them. And Villefranche is not easy to drive in and out of. Hope I'm not a kill joy, but it's a difficult trip by car. Why not look into the train?
Posted by
Mpls, MN
1003 posts
We drove to the C.T. in 2006 coming from Provence and drove past Nice on the autostrada(stayed in Villefranche in 2003 with a car and parked it until we were ready to leave for Provence). Can't remember how long it took to get to Monterosso but it was all autostrada until you exit for Monterosso so not a hard drive. We were driving to Vernazza which is another story! The road past Monterosso is very "thin" as they told us with many hairpins. My husband said he would do it again but I am not sure I would want to. It made the Amalfi Coast drive a breeze!
Posted by
US Pacific Northwest
10344 posts
The advice on this forum over several years has been about 95% in favor of taking the train to the Cinque Terre, instead of driving. These is especially so in the summer, because overnight parking is very limited (though more available in Monterosso than the other CT villages).
It's not clear, from the info you've provided, why you choose to drive instead of doing what experienced travelers do and take the train--especially given your short time frame for the total trip, which will limit the one advantage a car has over the train: having the flexibility to make side trips.
Seems like people who drive to the Cinque Terre are almost always first timers to the CT. And so far we haven't heard from anyone who has driven to the CT on their second visit to that delightful place.
Posted by
OP
Denver
40 posts
We were going to take the train but the person we're renting the Villa from said that she didn't understand why we wouldn't drive instead. She said that the drive is much faster than the train (which by all accounts is true). I actually would prefer the train but it appears it would eat up an additional 3+/- hours each day. To your point, parking at our hotel in CQ is first come first serve.
Posted by
Mpls, MN
1003 posts
Jon you should have no problems driving to Monterosso. Just returned last week from Italy and 3rd visit to the Cinque Terre, stayed in Vernazza again. You will love the C.T.! Have a great trip!