A bit confused here. We’re going to travel from Siena to Vernazza in April. By train, it appears that we’ll have to take 4 different trains. Private car for 4 costs €500+. Am I missing an easier way?
Thanks for any help!
Posted by
Portland, Oregon
5687 posts
You can do it with three trains. Keep in mind you are traveling from one (relatively) small town to another very small town (Vernazza) which has only regional train service.
E.g. take the 9:18 Siena to Empoli, change to train to La Spezia Centrale, change to any regional train from there to Vernazza.
I'm a seasoned train traveler, so this kind of trip is nothing to worry about to me.
Posted by
OP
2 posts
Would you recommend booking in advance on a site like Rome2Rio, or book as we go?
Posted by
Gettysburg PA
7280 posts
Rome2 Rio is not a ticket booking site, it is useful for showing you what transpo options are available but it is not always accurate or complete
Use the official Trenitalia site
https://www.trenitalia.com/content/tcom/en.html
Sinc these will all be regional trains there are no discounts and no chance of selling out. You can purchase in advance or as you go, your choice.
You might also want to read up on trains in Italy here
www.maninseat61.com
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area (USA)
16168 posts
You are not missing anything. It’s a long convoluted trip by train. By car is a 3 and 1/2 hours one way at best, so no surprise if a private driver charges that much. So you have to choose between two non optimal choices: a 4+ hour train journey with at least 2 train changes for little money (€17.20 pp one way) or a more convenient hassle free 3.5 hour private limo journey for a lot of money.
Your choice!
My choice would be to depart from Siena with the 11:18am Regional train and arrive at Vernazza at 3:33pm, after changing trains at Empoli and then at La Spezia Centrale. Easy peasy.
PS: Pack light if you intend to use trains.