Rome to Cinque, Train or car?

Posted by sethaniel101 on 03/30/14 08:41 PM

Hey, my wife and I are doing a Euro trip from Sept 16 to Oct 2. We leave US and arrive in Rome on Sept 17th at 9pm. 5-6 of those days will be in Italy, 3-5 in Germany(possibly amsterdam for a day or two), 5 days in Iceland. Our plan is to hang in rome on the 17th, 18th, half day on the 19th. Then off to Cinque, i know you can take a train for about 4 hours. I was wondering if anyone had info in regards to renting a car and driving to cinque. The cost, the time and the sights we could see along the way that would be tough to see on a train?

From Cinque we don't know our next stop, possible Lake Como or Venice. Again, suggestions would be awesome.

Where ever are last stop in italy is we will leave and go to Munich. Not interested in driving. Probably take a train or cheap flight.

Thanks!

Posted by Angela

Seattle, Wa, USA

03/30/14 10:23 PM

663 posts

You won't need a car in CT. You may as well take the train there. Or if you are driving thru Tuscany, drop the car off in La Spezia before taking the train to CT.

Posted by sethaniel101 OP

03/30/14 10:49 PM

11 posts

So, would you suggest to take a car from rome to tuscany then drop the car off at the train station?

Posted by Ed

Pensacola

03/30/14 11:18 PM

9110 posts

You don't have enough time when you consider picking up and dropping off the car, waiting for the train, ect.

If you buzz straight through on the freeway, the car will take almost exactly as long as the train. The scenery isn't that great on the freeway. If you go exploring, you won't make it in a single day.

From what you've said you have about two free days in Italy after Rome that aren't involved in travel. Tuscany or the CT - - pick one, not both.

Posted by Ken

Vernon, Canada

03/31/14 03:39 AM

32405 posts

seth,

Your best bet for travel from Rome to the Cinque Terre will be to take one of the direct trains (no changes) from Roma Termini to La Spezia Centrale, which takes about 3H:45M. At La Spezia you'll transfer to one of the local trains for the short trip to whichever of the five towns you're staying in. When you buy your tickets in Rome, specify your end destination so that you don't have to buy another ticket in La Spezia for the final leg of the trip.

Be sure to book on the direct train, rather than one that has several changes. You can check out the various trains on that route by using the Trenitalia website. Don't try searching using the date you're travelling, as those schedules won't be loaded into the system yet. Just use a date in the next week or two on the same day-of-the-week that you'll be travelling. It's not likely that the schedules for Sept./Oct. will change too much.

Having a car in the C.T. is useless as it will sit in a car park gathering dust and incurring parking charges while you're there. The easiest way to get between the five towns is via the local trains or boats (weather permitting).

Have you decided where you'll be travelling after the Cinque Terre (Lago di Como or Venice)? Also, which town on Lago di Como are you planning to stay in? It will be easier to offer train advice once you're decided which place you're going to.