Train vs car in Umbria and CT

I agree a car in Umbria is a good idea, but seems a waste to park it for half the time, and you can easily get a train from Manorolo to Genoa and then to Milan. If you cannot drop the car in La Spezia have you enquired about Pisa? You can train from there to Manorolo quite readily.

Sounds like a good plan. I would take the car. Stay at one of the towns at end of CT, Monterosso or Riomaggiore. Plenty of parking options. Personally I would spend more time in Tuscany and Unbria and only 2 nights in CT. I feel it has "been discovered" and its quiet beauty is no longer. We stayed at Locanda Del Sole in Riomaggiore in Sept. Gated parking lot for cars. Easy to get to from La Spezia. Nice scenic short drive vs. one long tunnel ride by train.

Thanks for your help. Yes, I was wondering about how to split our time between Umbria and CT. Two nights in CT would probably be enough. We're not "beach people" but we love to hike. It does seem more logical to spend more time in Umbria where we can use the car. I was in Italy for a semester in college (a long time ago) and loved Assisi. I haven't been to Siena, though. Would three nights there be too long? Or should we spend more time in another town? Thanks again!

We also had 17 nights this past May/June. Had a car for Tuscany and Cinque Terre, did drive to Assisi as well. I also would recommend Locanda Del Sole in Riomaggiore. Chose it because of the private parking, and we were happy with the room and the breakfast. Enrico the owner was very nice and fairly quick to respond to emails

Here is a vote for trains and buses. There are cameras all over Italy and people are getting speeding tickets and tickets for straying into car free zones in the cities. 150E each. Florence and Siena have great train and bus connections to the hilltowns. Plus the cost of parking can be very high. You really can't have a car in any of the cities you named. Take train to Assissi with a stop in Orvieto and day trips from the major cities. I think a car will be an expensive headache. Italy works much better using public transportation.

Travelers posting here have reported some challenges and stress picking up a rental car in many locations within Rome. Some have gone to the airport and picked up the rental car there. And some have trained to Orvieto and picked up the car there.

Before making your final decision on whether to drive the rental car to Riomaggiore in the CT for overnight parking in the summer (you say May/June), you might want to read what this CT visitors website advises: http://www.lecinqueterre.org/eng/arrivare.php, here's a quote: "It's possible to reach the Cinque Terre by train or car. Using the train is strongly advised. The train service is good in the region. Besides, finding parking is very difficult in summer, since it is not possible enter the villages, except for the residents." Unexpected difficulty finding overnight parking in the CT in the summer (except in Monterosso) has blindsided some travelers.

I usually take the side of renting a car, but all of your listed destinations are VERY accessible by public transportation. If you see yourself just using the car as a means to get from point A to point B, you'd be better off on a train. If you're the type who has no problem with detours and getting lost (in a good way) amongst the small towns along the way, rent a car.

Thank you all so much! After reading Rick's book and digesting all your input, I've come up with this plan. First day: Train from Milan to Venice (3 nites,) train to Florence (2 nites,) bus to Siena (2 nites,) bus to Assisi (1 nite,) train to Rome (5 nites, possibly stopping in Orvieto on the way to Rome,) train from Rome to CT (3 nites) and then train back to Milan (1 nite.) This isn't firm. Instead of 3 nites in CT, I'm also considering a night in Santa Marguherita. Whew! This is exhausting!