We are finishing a cruise in Civitavecchia and are planning to extend the trip a few days in Rome and thought it would be nice to take the train from Termini into Vernazza for a night. My thoughts are it'll be summertime and the crowds might be brutal. Can we show up and find a place to spend the night without booking prior? and would one night be enough? Any thoughts would be appreciated.
Dennis
Dennis,
Travelling from Rome to the Cinque Terre for one night is not an ideal trip, as it will take 4-6 hours each way by train (depending on which train you use).
In summertime and especially in Vernazza, the crowds most likely WILL be brutal (I know that from first-hand experience). I've found that the "tourist crush" there seems to be more intense than the other towns. While it may be possible, I very much doubt that you'll be able to "show up and find a place to spend the night without booking prior."
IMO, one night will not be enough as it will be late afternoon before you arrive, which will only allow one evening for a very brief glimpse of perhaps one or two of the towns. You'll have to be out of your lodgings by about 10:00 the following morning, so hardly worth 12 hours of train travel to spend about six hours looking around.
I absolutely agree with Ken: the CT this is not a good overnight trip from Rome, and especially not during high season. Hotels will have been booked up a long time in advance, and the crowds will be insane. As Ken said, it's also a long way from Rome so you'd have very little time to explore the region if only staying one night.
There's enough to see in Rome to fill weeks and months so spend your time there!
Florence is a quick hour and a half train ride and it has tons of hotels you probably would find a hotel if you arrive early. Tons of great restaurants and many things to see. You might want to book on bookings.com the day before you arrive.
There is so much to do in Rome, stay there.
Vernazza will be packed!! Ken is right! I go in May, but book in January. If you want a day trip, Orvieto is less than an hour away, and is a lovely town.
