we'll be mid-trip and spending 2 nights in Riomaggiore w/out a car. Next destination is Lucca. Train there or get the rental in La Spezia. Will either drop off on Lucca or Florence Peratola.
Posted by
755 posts
Take the train. Why bother with the expense and hassle of renting a car when it’s unnecessary?
Posted by
OP
4 posts
the rental will be required for our Lucca-Florence leg, alas.
Posted by
San Diego, California, USA
1271 posts
Hello jeannemarie60510,
La Spezia to Lucca is an easy hour and fifteen minutes or so on the train. You will probably have to change in Viareggio but this is an easy small station change. You really don't want a car in Lucca so I see no reason to mess with it.
Either use the website, the train kiosks in La Spezia or get the Trenitalia app and buy regionale tickets to Lucca at the time it works for you.
Have a great trip,
=Tod
Posted by
OP
4 posts
Thanks Tod! We've been to Lucca w/vehicle before and staying just outside ztl with a parking spot so no worries plus we have family to drive to during that leg. Just wondering if we can get there faster by renting vs. train schedules La Spezia to Lucca.
Posted by
OP
4 posts
sounds like waiting to rent the car once we get to Lucca wins! Thanks all!
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area (USA)
16321 posts
I don't see the reason why you'd need a car at all. The train is much faster once you factor in the time for going from La Spezia Centrale to the rental agency (which are at the cruise port), do the rental paper work, then drive to Lucca. I would rent a car in La Spezia only if you plan to stay out in the countryside near Lucca.
If you plan to just go from Lucca to Florence, the train or a bus is a better option as well. The regional train takes about 90 min, the bus about one hour (via freeway and makes no stops). A car can take you to Florence in less than one hour, but once you factor in the time necessary for the rental pick up and return process, it is probably well over the 90 min on the train directly to Santa Maria Novella.