Planning a trip back to Italy next Spring. We would like to take a day trip to Cinque Terre. Any tour recommendations? We are also comfortable organizing a day trip independently.
Posted by
6884 posts
You do not need a tour, check schedules on Trenitalia, and check the park website in advance to scope out your route.
Posted by
OP
53 posts
Thank you. Thats what I had thought might be possible. I’ve done days trip from Sorrento to Amalfi independently.
Posted by
Coral Gables, Florida
613 posts
I would include a ferry ride, maybe from La Spezia to Manarola, to see the towns from the sea for great, iconic views.
Posted by
San Diego, California, USA
2089 posts
You'll want to take the train from Lucca to La Spezia - probably changing in Viareggio or maybe Pisa and this trip should take about 1:40. It is possible to get a train that goes to specific towns like Monterosso but searching for a specific town limits your options while all the trains stop in La Spezia. When you choose a train see it actually stops at one of the towns and you can book through if you want to.
From La Spezia you can switch to the local trains for specific cities or walk down to the harbor front - about. a mile - to take the ferry that stops at most of the towns and see the towns from the sea. You can also train to one of the cities and ferry back but depending on crowds getting back on the ferry is less certain.
Depending on when you are going in Spring check the weather for the time you're there and later in the season you will be all the people also making this trip from Florence and the train can be crowded. I would recommend doing your homework and starting as early as possible. I joined this train briefly on its way to La Spezia in late September and it was packed with tourists presumably going onto La Spezia/CT.
I always recommend the Trenitalia apps for train schedules, tracking and buying tickets.
Have a great trip,
=Tod