Train ride or rent a car from Vernazza Cinque Terre to Venice?

That's a tough one--many are reporting high rental prices this year, and it's a four-hour drive on the highway--I've heard lots of trucks make this not a pleasant ride, but even if you take a scenic route it may be quicker than the train.
I'd actually change my itinerary before I spent a day in transit, but you may have your heart set on these destinations. If you are open to changes, share your overall itinerary and perhaps we can help you make some changes that would avoid this conundrum.
Check rentals out of La Spezia and Genoa.

You can travel from Vernazza to Venice in 5 hours by train. The overly optimistic Google maps says it takes 4 hours to drive from La Spezia to Venice, then you need to add the 30 minute train ride from Vernazza to Venice, collecting the car and then returning it at the end. In short, I think the train will be the faster option.

I wouldn’t bother to rent a car, even if the car rental prices were back to pre-pandemic levels.
You would need to take a train from Vernazza to La Spezia (20+ min), then a taxi for about 15 min from the train station to the rental office (all of them are at the cruise port). The rental paperwork might take another half hour. The drive from the port of La Spezia to Venice is all freeway. There is a short portion on Via Carducci (the boulevard that leads to the freeway) that is often congested depending on the time of the day, but overall you are looking at about 4 hours of freeway driving (plus pit stops) on a mostly boring route (flat plain except for the Cisa Pass on the A15). So when everything is said and done, it’s a 6 hour trip no matter what means of transport you use.
Vernazza has a small station where only regional trains stop, but there are trains that go from Monterosso or Levanto to Milan with no changes. Then in Milan you would take another train to Venice. Another option is to take a train with no changes from La Spezia to Florence, then from Florence change to a train to Venice. Check the various options on www.trenitalia.com. If you can minimize the number of train changes, but for sure there will be 2 train changes at a minimum.

I would definitely take the train. We rented a car in La Spezia last summer (to drive to Aosta, where we definitely wanted a car to have a car for our stay). Picking up the car and getting out of La Spezia was the most stressful part. For that connection I'd prefer to be on a train, as it is much more relaxing and then you can both enjoy the scenery.

Train fare for the 2 of you would be about half the cost ( or less) of a one way car rental, fuel and tolls.

As already mentioned, I have found google estimates to be 'optimistic'.

Thank you so much for all the responses! I think I will change our plans and go from Cinque Terre via train to Florence for 3 nights and then via train to Venice for 3 nights. Open to all suggestions! This is our first time in Italy💕

Thank you!

Christina

I do have another question regarding driving a car from Siena to Sorrento. I know it’s a long drive- is it doable in one day with cool stops along the way or does anyone recommend staying somewhere 1/2 way that is a hidden gem that we should check out? Or should we motor the distance to Sorrento in one day?

We are then going to Ravello for 3 nights and Capri for 4 nights. Should we taxi from Sorrento to Ravello? Any input is much appreciated.

Thank you,

Christina

driving a car from Siena to Sorrento.

It's doable. It's 5 hours plus stops according to viamichelin.com, that's less optimistic than Google Maps.

You could easily arrive in the early afternoon, but driving from Siena to Sorrento without roaming around the countryside doesn't make sense to me. You won't use the car once in Sorrento, so you would pay for a rental car to see only boring motorways.

Where are you dropping the car in Sorrento? Is it out of the local ZTL?

You seem to have ample time and flexibility, I would share the whole plan for feedback on the order and where to make good use of a car.
.

I agree with valadelphia, it might be a good idea to share your entire itinerary. But to answer your question about Siena to Sorrento, if you just want to get to Sorrento quick, take the train. If you want to stop somewhere in between, a car can be useful.

Siena to Sorrento in 5 hours assumes no pit stops, which is not what is going to happen unless you rely on the diapers astronauts use and you have a car with a big fuel tank. So plan on 6 hours from start to finish. If roaming the countryside and villages south of Siena along the way in part of the plan, then you are looking at a very long day. I suggest you drive to your destination, but leave the visit of the countryside near Siena to the days prior to this transfer.

Proposed Italy Trip 2022

Leave SFO @ 8pm on Wed 9/7 & arrive Nice, France 6:10 on Thurs 9/8 Airbnb
4 nights Nice Thurs 9/8-Mon 9/12 Airbnb
Train ride 5.5 hours to Cinque Terre– beautiful coastline
3 nights Cinque Terre Mon 9/12- Thurs 9/15 Airbnb
Train ride to Florence 2.5-3hour t
3 nights Florence Thurs 9/15- Sun 9/18 Airbnb
Train ride Venice 2.5 hours
3 nights Venice Sun 9/18 –Wed 9/21 Airbnb
Train to Florence & rent car on 9/21 & drive to Siena
3 nights Siena Wed 9/21 – Sat 9/24 Airbnb
Drive 5 hours to Sorrento -stop for lunch & drop off car in Sorrento on 9/24
1 night Sorrento Sat 9/24 – 9/25
Taxi from Sorrento to Ravello
3 nights Amalfi Coast Sun 9/25 – Wed 9/28 Hotel
Ferry to Capri
2 nights Capri Wed 9/28- Fri 9/30 Hotel
2 nights Anacapri Fri 9/30- Sun 10/2 Hotel
Ferry/train to Rome
5 nights Rome Sun 10/2 – Fri 10/7 Airbnb
Home
Leave Rome @ 9:45 on Fri 10/7 & arrive SFO Fri 10/7 @ 4:05pm

I am open to all suggestions/comments. This is our first time Italy and I am planning it on my own with advice from friends and family. We are planning on driving from Siena and dropping the car in Sorrento or we could stay at a cool suggested location along the route.

Thank you,
Christina

I'd suggest using well planned public transit for your trip from Siena to Sorrento. It's an easy trip and will give you an opportunity to look at the sights.

As this is your first trip to Italy, a few points to mention regarding driving.....

• each driver will require the compulsory International Driver's Permit, which is used in conjunction with your home D.L. These are easily available at any CAA / AAA office for a small fee, and are valid for one year.
• you'll need to be aware of the dreaded ZTL or limited traffic zones which exist in many Italian towns or cities. Some are enforced by automated cameras and each pass through one will result in a hefty fine, which you likely won't know about until several months after you return home. It's not a good idea to drive in Florence!
• there are also speed cameras on the motorways including the "Traffic Tutor" which measures both instantaneous and average speed in a set distance.
• you'll need to plan for tolls on the motorways - https://www.autostrade.it/en/il-pedaggio/pagamento-al-casello
• and of course parking charges.

For your trip from Sorrento to Ravello, you might consider one of the car services listed in the RS Italy guidebook. This is one that's been recommended in the past - https://www.monettitaxi17.com/English.htm . I'm not sure what might have changed as a result of the pandemic, so it would be a good idea to check the newest guidebook for current information.

There are also some potentially expensive caveats to be aware of when travelling by train or other public transit. If you need more information on that, post another note here.

I don't understand why you stay two nights in Capri and two nights in Anacapri. They are very close together. There's not that much to do on Capri.

Agree with the above re. Capri. 2 nights total is plenty there. And staying 1 night in Sorrento and 3 in Ravello doesn't make too much sense to me; I would rather stay in Ravello the whole time. In that case, I would look into dropping the car in Salerno rather than Sorrento, if that's an option. Or take the train to Salerno from somewhere near Siena with rental car offices, such as Chiusi.

Also, the 5 Terre-Florence-Venice-Florence-Siena part is not optimized. It would be slightly smoother to go from Vernazza to Venice, then to Florence, then to Siena: that way, the day when you go from Florence to Siena wouldn't really be a "travel day" because it is so close.

Thank you for suggestions. I think we are still going to drive from Siena to Sorrento and then stay in Sorrento for 2 nights ( my husband really wants to visit Pompeii) and plus one night anywhere seems hectic. Is Sorrento a great place to visit? Good beaches/food?
We will then make our way to Ravello via taxi/private car for 3 nights and then to Capri for 3 nights or should we stay in Ravello for 4 nights and Capri 2? So many fun and exciting decisions!!

I agree with others that 2 nights in Capri and 2 nights in Anacapri is not worth the move. Choose one and stay there. Also, what are your plans for Siena? If it is to stay in the town it is probably a better idea to just take the train there and don't bother with a car. And then take the train to Sorrento, you might need to backtrack to Florence but the 300 km/h trains should make up for that detour.

What a great trip- lucky you to have so many nights!

It feels like a few spots need a bit of optimizing.
The Florence-Venice-Florence-Siena bit is awkward.
Time split on Capri makes no sense to me.

Will you be using the car while in Siena for driving around Tuscany?
I see no need to drive all the way to Sorrento. Stopping for lunch will probably be a bit stressful- parking, ZTLs, luggage in your car, etc.

I think it would be smoother to either go to Venice from CT then back to Florence for your Tuscany time
or
Go to Florence/Siena from CT then to Venice then train all the way to Salerno.
We took train from Salerno to Venice (about 6 hours) and actually really enjoyed it. Took a picnic aboard and it was a nice rest day after our 9 nights in Amalfi.
Easier to get from Salerno to Ravello- ferry to Amalfi then bus or taxi.

Ravello is lovely but 3 nights there is possibly too much, it is quite dead in the evening and the transportation to other Amalfi towns is a pain. Might cut 1 night from Ravello and give to Sorrento or Salerno, along with those 2 nights in Anacapri.
(we did 4 Sorrento, 2 Amalfi, 1 Ravello, 2 Salerno)

You don’t mention Pompeii- are you interested in visiting?
What about Paestum?- really amazing Greek temples well worth a visit. Easy train ride from Salerno.

Assuming you will actually USE the car while in Siena
Options:
CT 3 nights
Pick up car in La Spezia- to Siena 3 nights- drop car as you leave Siena- be sure your lodgings have easy access parking
Train to Florence 3 nights
Train to Venice 3 nights
Train to Salerno- then to Ravello or spend a night or 2 in Salerno to visit Paestum before heading to Ravello
Capri- 2 nights
Sorrento- 3-4 nights- visit Pompeii, Naples?
Train to Rome

or
CT 3 nights
Train to Venice- 3 nights
Train to Florence 3 nights
Pick up car as you leave Florence- Siena 3 nights
then drive as far as Chiusi to drop car and catch train to Salerno (3-4 hrs)
(Or you can just take bus to Siena-rent your car in Siena for just the days you will use it, returning in Siena as well then train to Florence-Salerno)

Car rental rates are high this year so strategic rental of a car for just the days you'll really need/use it is wise- be sure to check days of week and open times- car rental places close mid day and short hours or closed on Sat/Sun
We always rent with AutoEurope.com- a US based consolidator with stellar customer service and usually best rates.

Good beaches

There aren't really any good beaches in the area. Small and pebbly, not sand.

Sorrento is a great place to stay- lots of good restaurants, fun shopping/wandering, fantastic views. Transportation hub for the area.

Please read Ken's advice about driving in Italy and heed Dario's advice as well

You won't use the car once in Sorrento, so you would pay for a rental
car to see only boring motorways. Where are you dropping the car in
Sorrento? Is it out of the local ZTL?

Salerno would be an easier less stressful place to drop the car if you must drive.

Thanks to ALL your suggestions I made a new itinerary. Please take a look and all suggestions are welcome!

Proposed Italy Trip 2022
Leave SFO @ 8pm on Wed 9/7 & arrive Nice, France 6:10 on Thurs 9/8 Airbnb
4 nights Nice Thurs 9/8-Mon 9/12 Airbnb
Train ride 5.5 hours to Cinque Terre– beautiful coastline
3 nights Cinque Terre Mon 9/12- Thurs 9/15 Airbnb
Rent a car in La Spezia and drive to Siena 2.5 hours
3 nights in Siena Thursday 9/15- Sunday 9/18 – drop off car
Train ride to Florence 1.5 hour
3 nights Florence Sunday 9/18- Wednesday 9/21 Airbnb
Train ride Venice 2 hours
3 nights Venice Wednesday 9/21 –Saturday 9/24 Airbnb
Bullet train from Venice to Salnero 5.5 hours
2 nights in Salerno Saturday 9/24- Monday 9/26
Ferry or taxi to Ravello
3 nights Ravello Monday 9/26-Thursday 9/29
Ferry to Capri
3 nights Capri Thursday 9/29- Sunday 10/2
Ferry/train to Rome
5 nights Rome Sun 10/2 – Fri 10/7 Airbnb
Home
Leave Rome @ 9:45 on Fri 10/7 & arrive SFO Fri 10/7 @ 4:05pm

Thank you,
Christina

Very nice changes

When will you visit Pompeii?? (easiest from Sorrento, although doable from Salerno)
Will be a pain from Capri
Could do from Ravello with a private driver
We used this company for transfers in the area and were very pleased
They do offer Pompeii trips, etc
https://www.topexcursionsorrento.com/?portal_referer_id=46

The trip from Capri to Rome is going to be an all day affair

ETA
Check your car rental drop off
I think only options in Siena are Europcar and Hertz and they are both closed on Sunday
Might have to drop in Florence, somewhere NOT in center, like airport

Also note Uffizi and Accademia (David) closed on Monday