Train from Orvieto..Florence or Cinque terre first?

Going direct from Orvieto to the CT will take 5.0hrs-6.0hrs and require 2-4 train changes all depending on the run you during the day. When traveling from Orvieto, you will most likely travel to Florence. And, you will be on the slower Intercity or Regionale Veloce trains. This adds at least an hour to your travel time. The earliest you can depart by train from Orvieto looks like 7:31 on Trenitalia. This puts you in the CT about 1:30pm. Not really a lot of time to see the CT AND stop for a visit in Pisa. Alternatively, you can do a 1-day visit to the CT. Most of the experienced travelers on this site will discourage this as the CT is such a wonderful and scenice site, a few hours doesn't get you a lot. But, many travelers do this. Stopping in Pisa is the late afternoon is also possible but it does squeeze your overall visit time at the CT and Pisa. It's a long day. First train out of Firenze-SMN is 5:35am putting you in the CT by 8:30am. The 7:00am departure from Firenze will get you into the CT by about 10:30am. Again, it's a long day but it can be done.

Larry, I was thinking of traveling from Orvieto to the Cinque terre and spending one night. The next day heading to Florence with a stop in Pisa on the way. It really may be too much to consider. We have 3 nights book in Florence with the idea of a day trip to the Cinque terre...then came the idea of 1 night in CT and 2 in Florence. Maybe not a good idea at all. Thanks Larry

Jo, My suggestion would be to travel Orvieto > Cinque Terre > Florence. You can certainly make a stop at Pisa on the way to Florence, although I'm not sure it's worth the effort. The train journey from Orvieto to La Spezia Centrale will be about 4H:45M with one change at Firenze Rifredi (which isn't too bad at all). You didn't specify which of the five towns you'd prefer to stay in, but getting to any of the them is easy from La Spezia. Riomaggiore is only about a 9 minute train journey. It would be better to plan for two nights in the Cinque Terre if possible. A one night stay will only allow part of the afternoon and one evening for exploring there, which (IMO) isn't enough. One additional question - where are you going after Florence? Happy travels!

Ken, I know what you mean about the Cinque terre, I have been there twice before, but my friends have never. Of course without the husbands travel is a whole different ball game. Oh in Florence we're staying at the Hotel Elite, not far from the train. Thanks again, Jo