We are planning a trip to Italy at the end of June. We wanted to see both the Cinque Terre area and Dolomites. Any advice on transportation (ie car rental vs train) -- also what city do you recommend flying into? We are also interested staying in the huts in the dolomites. Any advice on that would be greatly appreciated.
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area (USA)
15168 posts
A car is recommended for the Dolomites, but not needed at all at the Cinque Terre where it's best not to have one.
Airport choice depends on overall itinerary and price. The Int'l airport closest to the Cinque Terre is Pisa. Near the Dolomiti are Venice and, even closer, Verona.
However more choices and cheaper prices are generally to Milan (MXP), the second largest airport in Italy, which is in Northern Italy also, therefore see your options.
Posted by
California 🦋
5212 posts
Just to add to Roberto's excellent advice, make sure you book your accommodations soon as it's very busy in the summer!
You will not need a car while visiting CT as you can easily visit all the villages via train or ferry (except for Corniglia which does not have a ferry dock but you can visit via train but will have many stairs (377) to climb to get to it)
Here is a good website with info regarding CT: http://www.cinqueterre.eu.com/en
Here is the website for the ferry schedules in CT: http://www.navigazionegolfodeipoeti.it/orario.asp?lang=eng
Posted by
Long Beach, California, USA
3391 posts
I highly recommend a car for the Dolomites. We have traveled extensively there both by car and by public transportation and you can see FAR more if you have a car. The bus schedules off of the main roads can be limited making it difficult to get to some places.
My favorite hut is the Langkoffel Hutte at the base of the Langkoffel Gruppe. It's a very old hutte made of thick stone walls and it has spectacular views. Other hikes we like are around the Drei Zinnen, around and on the Seiser Alm, as well as the Marmolata.
Why don't you fly open jaw into Florence and out of Venice? That way you can see Florence, go to the Cinque Terre, then up into the Dolomites (maybe stopping off in Verona on your way?), and then ending your trip in Venice. It would be a lovely tour of northern Italy!