We are flying into Florence and headed to Cinque Terra with our 6 month old in early May. We're renting a car b/c we going to Tuscany after the coast. Any recommendations on where to stay and which town to stay in with a baby? Thanks for your help
Posted by
Sheboygan, Wisc., USA
934 posts
I have driven into Riomagorie and also Montorosso.I only did it because I had a car and had to keep it both times.In your case I suggest taking the train to LaSpieza and then into the Cinque Terra.Then return to LaSpeiza and rent the car.Parking in any of the towns is possible but very expensive and not necessary.best regards
Posted by
525 posts
As another poster said, take the train to Cinque Terre. If you stay in Vernazza, the train station is just to the top of town and not a long walk to where you stay if you find a B&B overlooking the harbor. Lots of stairs to get up to your room but... We saw cars lined up along the road way outside of town when we were walking. The "small" parking area would hold about 20/30 cars which was always full. It is a narrow road getting into town. You would have quite a hike from parking your car vs. getting off the train just a short walk down the main walk to the harbor. Don't have any suggestions of where to stay with a baby. Just wait until you leave CT to rent your car. We rented our car in LaSpezia through Autoeurope.
Posted by
Toronto
7 posts
We stayed in Vernazza via Egi Rooms which we learned of via Rick Steeves site/book in May 2006. He rents out his family's apartments to guests since they now live in La Spezia and I highly recommend him. We settled things via email and then once we were in Italy we confirmed via phone which train we would be on so that he could meet us at the train station. Egi was so nice he helped carry our luggage to his apartments and even made sure we had a little welcome of some danishes and fresh coffee for the morning. He has 2 rooms one has bed/bath and the other has a bed/bath and kitchen area for 120 euro per night in 2006.
Contact info Egidio [email protected]
He doesn't accept credit cards so you just pay in cash when you arrive and you are set. I highly recommend him.
Its true what everyone is saying about parking. The train for La Spezia is a short ride so no problem with a baby. Same goes for the train to each town in the CT.
Posted by
Nashville, TN
93 posts
We drove to Monterroso last October with no problems. One of the reasons we chose Monterroso was I had read it was the best town to stay in if you were driving. We stayed at the Villa Steno, which we would recommend. They have a small parking lot. No suggestions for travelling with a baby!
Posted by
Elk Grove, CA, USA
6898 posts
Kent above is correct. In general, tourist cars are not permitted in the 5 towns. However, as you can see above, there are very few exceptions. There are two parking lots above Riomaggiore and Monterosso. During the busy season, these lots are full and they often close off the roads into them. Also, as Kent mentioned above, this is described in the parking section of www.cinqueterreonline.com (travel tips). Take the train into the CT.