Milan to Cinque -In-between stops?

Where are you flying from?
What's after the three days--a return to Milan?

You could stop in the Piemonte region or in Liguria at Santa Margherita or Camogli. Monterosso is south of there, a twisting road down the hills to the waterfront.

If you are coming from a long overseas flight, you may not want to embark on a 3 hour drive, in a strange country, in the dark. You really don't need a car in Cinque Terre, why not just take the train into Monterosso. It will be much more relaxing for you.

Thanks for all for the quick responses. I will definitely check out Liguria or Carnogli

This trip started with my companion's plan to visit relatives in Lugano, Switzerland and then in Luxembourg. She wanted me to accompany her for one of the two weeks and already had booked her flight to Milan. I decided to go with her the first week; hence we land in Milan the evening of June 27th.

I don't want to spend more than a day or so in Lugano before flying home from Milan on July 3rd (or possibly the 5th). I've already been to Lake Como. but never to Cinque Terre so CT seems like a good choice for the 3 days we'd have before heading for Lugano on July 1st. Car rental is very cheap and I have driven in Italy before. Compared to a harrowing late night arrival into Naples after driving several hours from the Rome airport years ago, I figure this drive will be a piece of cake. (Our scary Naples arrival turned into a very nice memorable adventure due to the kindness of a police officer).

Perhaps we could get to CT from Milan then to Lugano, then back to the airport in MIlan for a morning flight back, on this schedule by train. But I think it would end up being more complicated and stressful.

As you've driven in Italy before, I assume you're aware of the need for each driver on the rental form to have an IDP and also the situation with ZTL areas. You won't be able to drive inside Monterosso, even to drop your luggage off at the hotel.

While Monterosso has some parking facilities, having a car won't be of much use in the Cinque Terre, and it will sit in the lot gathering dust and incurring charges during your visit. The local trains or boats will be faster and easier.

One important point to note is that for travel in July, it would a really good idea to get accommodations booked soon!

You can drive at night while jet lagged on the difficult autostrada through the mountains and along the coast with many many tunnels along with many many trucks and arrive at midnight. Or you can stay in nearby Stresa and enjoy the lake and get a decent nights sleep and make the drive in daylight with interesting scenery and get there not long after lunch. Hmmm.

Booked hotel in Monterrosa that has parking on site, but I will ask the proprietor if ZTL prevents us from driving to the hotel.

There does appear to be a train from Milan Centrale to Levanto departing about 9:10 pm and arriving in Levanto at 11:45 (absent a train strike). If we land at Linate as scheduled at 6:30 pm, I presume we could get through customs and to Milan Centrale by then without difficulty. Haven't looked into getting from CT to Lugano and then from Lugano to Milan Malpensa in time for my morning flight. But worth considering. Car rental is quite inexpensive, and not a consideration for us.

Stresa is an interesting suggestion, but I'm looking for a stopping place that is more on the way from Milan to CT.

Milano Linate airport is small and easy to navigate. You'll go through immigration at your first point of entry to the European Schengen zone. If your flight connection is in the UK, then you do go through immigration a second time. Airport Express buses from Linate to Milano Centrale run twice per hour and take 35 minutes.

I would not drive into Genoa any more than into Milan. But really, I'd take the train and think you can catch it. The last train of the day usually runs directly from Milano Centrale (the one you saw, departing at 21:10) to Monterosso (arrives at midnight - alert your hotelier). If that's too late, then sleep near Linate or near Milano Centrale station. (If you were to get off this train at S. Margherita Ligure or Rapallo, that would only shave 45 minutes off the late arrival time.)

Many thanks to Laura for the most helpful information. I think we will take the train, assuming our flight arrives in time to catch it at Milan Central. Went ahead and bought the tickets through Italiarail (only 10 euros each, less than Trenitalia). May as well hold on to the car rental reservation just in case. Got hotel for night in Levanto for 1st night before we move on to our base in Monterroso. Thanks again.

I hope You know that discounted tickets can't be changed and refunded and that full price tickets are wasted one hour after the departure of the booked train.

Out of curiosity, how much did you actually pay? If you paid 13 $ per person on italiarail, it's the same price of trenitalia: 9.9 €. If you paid 10 € you paid 10 cents more per ticket.

Yes, I know it's non-refundable, but I'm only risking about $25. When I checked Trenitalia, I found the price over 20 E per ticket. Today, I can't even find an option to buy the tickets on Trenitalia. I found Italiarail much easier to use, like the convenience of an electronic ticket on my phone that does not have to be stamped at the station before presenting to the conductor, like the convenience of reserved seat assignments. Plus Italiarail will refund the 3.50 euro convenience fee https://www.seat61.com/Italy-trains.htm