We are planning a trip that will have us spending 2 days in Florence, 2 days in Venice, 1 day in Lucca, 1 day in Padua, and 4 days in the Cinque Terre (not necessarily in that order). What is the most efficient (time-wise) way to get from one to the other? We hope to fly into either Rome or Milan, and are NOT renting a car. We plan on buying 2nd class train tickets. I'm getting overwhelmed with options and need some guidance. :) Thank you!
Posted by
Boise, ID, USA
2168 posts
Just take the train. Buy the tickets at the station. 2nd class is fine. No need to worry.
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area (USA)
15119 posts
You should buy an airplane ticket from the USA to Venice (VCE) or Milan (MXP, LIN) since you don't plan to go to Rome, but to stay in north Italy.
You will be traveling by train to all those destinations.
The proper order is: Venice - Padua - Florence - Lucca - Cinque Terre.
Padua can be visited easily from Venice by train. Lucca can be visited from Florence. It makes no sense to change hotels to be in those towns just one night. Just stay an extra night in Venice and Florence and visit those locations from there.
4 days at the Cinque Terre is excessive compared to your overall trip. 3 nights is more than enough. Add that time to Florence so that you can take day trips to other Tuscan towns.
Organize your trip by counting nights instead of days. Then consider that two nights in one place is one full day there. Three nights in one location is two full days at that location. Avoid one nighters. Too much time gets wasted changing hotels.
From the Cinque Terre you will then go to the airport for your return home (let's assume Milan). Since the Cinque Terre are too far from any airport, you need to leave the day before your flight to get closer to your departure airport.
Posted by
Rick Steves' Europe
16893 posts
It's easy to buy 2nd-class tickets as you go, with no deadline to do so, although some tickets will be for reserved dates and times once you buy them. Trains run about hourly on most routes. To see more detail in advance, How to Look Up Train Schedules Online gives you the DB train schedule link and tips for using it. Full schedules are currently published through June 14 and will tell you all the fastest connection points for any given departure time. For travel later in the summer, schedules are not likely to change much, but you can't yet confirm them.