Hi there, I'm hoping to get some advice on our Italy itinerary. We have 6 days of travel after leaving San Gimignano where we will have a rental car. Should we drive the car to the Cinque Terra, drop it off and explore CT for 2 nights- then train to Venice for one night's stay- train our way back toward Milan where we will catch a plane home?
Is this the best, most efficient route/order in which to travel that area?
Should we instead go from San G. by train to Venice, then CT, then Milan?
Is there a town we should see in between? We don't plan to spend any time in Milan other than in preparation to fly out. Thanks so much for your insight!
Posted by
Wilmington, DE, USA
1075 posts
Why get a car? Doesn't sound like you would use it any differently than a train, but maybe you didn't put your whole schedule in.
CT really is beautiful day and night. Getting to Venice means going through Florence (slow train to Florence then the Freccia to Venice very quickly). Maybe a stop off at Lucca for several hours? Hey, you're on vacation and this way you make the journey part of the fun rather than thinking "I gotta get there . . .".
One night in Venice!?!?!? If you haven't been there before I bet you'll regret spending such a little bit of time there. So much to see and do! Getting to Milan from Venice is easy - the Freccia line will get you there within a couple of hours max. CT to Milan is long and not easy especially before the flight home.
Posted by
St. Louis, MO
251 posts
I find the high speed trains to be easier than driving, but it's a personal preference. Some people have a hard time driving to and around the Cinque Terre because of the narrow roadways, so you may want to look into taking a train from San Gimignano to CT, then a train from there to Venice and Venice to Milan. You definitely want to spend more than a night in Venice! If anything, I would drop CT and go to Venice for the rest of your stay. However, if you insist on going to CT I would stay for 2 nights and then go to Venice for 3.
Posted by
Ann Arbor, Mi
3696 posts
I assume the need for the car is the previous days to explore Tuscany. If so, I would get rid of the car before CT. I have driven there a few times and it can be stressful and its not beneficial. You can either leave the car in Florence and take the train to CT, or drop it in LaSpezia and go by train to CT, then train to Venice. Most of the time you can pickup and dropoff car in the same country without a fee. I also have to agree that you might be sorry with so little time in Venice. I would do 1 night in CT and add that to Venice. CT is small and if you arrive early in the morning and leave middle of the following day you can see quite a bit.
Posted by
133 posts
In regard to Terry Kathryn post: Not sure what the situation was, but my brother was charged $1,500 for dropping a car in Italy in a place other than where it was picked up. Just please make sure there will be no charge before trying it.
Posted by
Forest Grove, OR
11852 posts
I do not understand. If you have 6 days, why only one night in Venice? If you go all the way there, spend 3 nights or don't go. You don't say what time of year, but I am assuming between April 1 and October 31. Here's how I'd do it if I had 6 nights.
Leave San Gimignano and drop your car in La Spezia; Proceed by train to the Cinque Terre town of your choice by train. 2 nights.
Train to Venice, stay 3 nights
Train to Milan for your final night.
If I only had 5 nights, I would drop the Cinque Terre entirely, drop the car in Firenze and head to Venice. You can easily spend 4 nights in Venice leaving one for Milan. If you do not find enough to entrance you in Venice, you can daytrip to Padova or Verona.
Posted by
Ann Arbor, Mi
3696 posts
As for dropping the car... definitely check when you rent. Maybe he changed his itinerary. I have dropped in the same country numerous times, but it is always arranged that way when I rent. Drop fees in other countries usually do apply, but even then it has no been anywhere near 1500.... Always good to make sure you understand you final charges, but I tend to think there is some piece of the story missing here.
Posted by
OP
4 posts
Wow, I really appreciate all the wonderful advice!
To clarify...we have the car for the Tuscany area and will likely drop it off in Florence before we head out of town. I read that someone had driven to the CT so I thought that might be an option.
Would it be most efficient to go the other direction instead? Florence to Venice to CT to Milan? All by train.
Given all the suggestions we'll definitely spend more time in Venice.
Thank you!