This is our first time to the Mediterrean and would like to create our own excursion while in port. We wish to see Pisa and all of the villages of Cinque Terre. We are comfortable using the train system once we know the exact train to take. We would like to visit Pisa in the morning and then take the train to the furthest village and hike the Cinque Terre the rest of the day back to port. We arrive in port on Sunday, June 7, 2015 at 10:00 AM and department on Monday, June 8th at 2:00 AM. We are comfortable in hiking but leave the option of taking the train between villages. A collegue suggested a trip to Lucca as well. Is this feasible? If so, what transportation will I use? We opted out of visiting Florence this trip. We have been to Paris previously and we wil be seeing Barcelona and Naples and Cannes. Florence travel time was much too burdensome two and from the port that we chose to spend out time elsewhere. Additionally, the cost of the excurusion was much too expensive for two adults. Any assistance you can provide me will be greatly appreciated. I will be creating a step by step itinerary for my husband including train and bus numbers which makes him more comfortable in unfamiliar places. Is there a village that we should see at dusk or night? Since the ship does not leave until 2:00 AM we will have plent of nighttime. Any advise and guidance will be greatly appreciated. Thanking you in advance for your kind responses.
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area (USA)
15165 posts
I presume you intended LA SPEZIA.
La Spezia is really close to the Cinque Terre ( which are to the North-West of the city, about 10 to 20 min by train depending which village). The train station is a short 10 min taxi ride from the port.
Pisa is farther and located in the totally opposite direction (to the south of La Spezia). The train ride is almost 1hr to 1.25 hours from La Spezia station (depending on time and type of train).
Lucca is 25 min from Pisa by train, to the North East of Pisa.
I don't know how many hours the cruise company requires you to be at the dock before departure or how long it takes to get off the boat (never taken a cruise), but you don't have a lot of time if you arrive at 10am.
I think you can do EITHER the Cinque Terre OR Pisa+Lucca, but I doubt you have time to do all of the above because, as I said, they are in opposite directions compared to La Spezia, which is in the middle (but closer to the Cinque Terre).
Posted by
Rick Steves' Europe
16893 posts
I would train to the Cinque Terre and make the most of seeing those 5 towns by a mix of boat and hiking (assuming that hiking trails may still be closed in a few places), have dinner, then train back, skipping Pisa. At night in the Cinque Terre villages, you do find pleasant atmosphere for hanging out on the main square or in restaurants and bars. The last train back to La Spezia from Cinque Terre tends to run just before midnight. The trip from Pisa is longer and leaves by 11 p.m. to arrive at midnight. Reconfirm schedules locally.
Posted by
California 🦋
5211 posts
De,
Roberto is right, there is not enough time to do both Cinque Terre & Lucca/Pisa.
You say you arrive at 10am but by the time you disembark and get to the train station (via taxi) it may be 11 or 11:30am.
If you choose to visit CT it's very easy & you can visit all 5 villages via train. The trains travel frequently & it takes less than 5 minutes to go from one village to the next.
Check this website to check train schedules: http://www.trenitalia.com
This is the website for ferry boat schedules, prices & routes: http://www.navigazionegolfodeipoeti.it/orario.asp?lang=eng
This is a nice website full of info about CT: http://www.cinqueterre.it/info.php
Figure out the logistics of your (actual) time in port & then plan your visit accordingly.
Posted by
OP
Chicago, IL, USA
25 posts
Thank you everyone for your kind responses. We greatly appreciate your guidance. My husband and I are just beginning to travel to Europe: Once to London and a day trip to Paris a few years ago on our way to transatlantic cruise and again last year for a week in Switzerland followed by a week in Paris. We are trying to become a bit more adventurous with each trip. Thank you again for your help. De