Im looking for a destination that is (1)between cinque Terre and time, (2) in the train line, and (3) is worth a night or two. Ostiense, Civitavecchia, Grosseto, Follonica, Cecina, Campiglia Marittima, Livorno, Viareggio, Massa, Sarzana? I excluded Pisa because we have visited before. I’ll be traveling with my wife and my 1-year old. Thanks!
Posted by
Adelaide, Australia
12 posts
Hi, we have always stayed in Levanto, in the old town section, which is the town just north of Monterosso. It’s a lovely place, much cheaper & on the train line. The boat to the 5 villages starts here. Enjoy.
Posted by
Huntsville, AL, USA
8176 posts
Lucca is a popular stop not far from LaSpezia.
Florence is the obvious pick for an important city on the main train line.
Farther south, you have Orvieto, another popular hilltown that's just about 70 minutes north of Rome Termini by local train.
Posted by
OP
4 posts
David-Thank you! I had not considered Orvieto and I think I would be a good option. We have already been to Pisa so we won’t stop there this time. We have been to Florence already. I still have not decided on what we will end up doing but I sent my wife the schedule below with two options.
2020 Italy Trip
September 10: Arrive at Milan (8:20am)
Take taxi with Marco Barili from Milan to Varenna (€170) [email protected] , http://www.varennataxi.com
Set 10-13: Lake Como
- [ ] 3 nights
- [ ] Lake como to Milan on Regional Train (no transfer)
Sept 13-16: Milan
- [ ] 3nights
- [ ] Milan to Vernazza on IC train (no transfer)
Sept 16-19: Cinque Terre (Vernazza)
- [ ] 3 nights
Sept 19-22
Alternative 1: Florence, Orvieto & Civita
- [ ] 1 night in Florence (September 19-20)
- [ ] Sept 19
- [ ] Vernazza to la Spezia (transfer to Florence bound on same station at La Spezia)
- [ ] take FA train from La Spezia to Florence Campo Di Marte station@ 7:44 pm (1hr33mins)
- [ ] will arrive to Florence from LaSpezia at the same station we would leave to Orvieto the following day
- [ ] Check-in at hotel close to station around 10pm, after arriving in Florence
- [ ] Sept 20: half day and lunch in Florence. Take train to Orvieto around 2pm
- [ ] 2 nights in Orvieto and Civita di Bargnoregio (Sept 20-22)
- [ ] Sept 20: Take IC or RV train From Florence to orvieto in the afternoon(around 2pm). RV train more frequent but takes 2hrs. IC train takes 1hr30mins
- [ ] Sept 21: Civita as a half day trip €99 per car by Giuliotaxi [email protected]
- [ ] 1 night in Ostia (Sept 22-23)
- [ ] Sept 22: Orvieto to FCO-2hrs with transfer in Rome
- [ ] Stay in Ostia at hotel with shuttle service to airport. Ostia is 15 minutes from airport in taxi.
Total train time from Cinque Terre to Ostia for option 1 is 5-6 hours with 4 transfers: La Spezia, Florence, Orvieto, Rome
Pros: destinations are listed in Rick Steve’s Guidebook, better sights, will add more time during the last day at Cinque Terre
Cons: more time on train, more transfers, and less relaxed
Alternative 2: one of the beach towns along train line to Rome
- [ ] Options: Ostiense, Civitavecchia, Grosseto, Follonica, Cecina, Campiglia Marittima, Livorno, Viareggio, Massa, Sarzana)
- [ ] 2 nights (adds one night to Lake Como or Cinque Terre)
- [ ] 1 night in Ostia (Sept 22-23)
- [ ] Sept 22: Orvieto to FCO-2hrs with transfer in Rome
- [ ] Stay in Ostia. Stay at hotel with shuttle service to airport. Ostia is 15 minutes from airport in taxi
Total train time from Cinque Terre to Ostia for option 2 is around 5 hours with 3 transfers: La Spezia, Town in between, Rome
Pros: destinations are not listed in Rick Steve’s Guidebook, no major sights, unsure about beach quality and atmosphere, some towns are cruise ship ports
Cons:beach towns, less time on train, 1 less transfers compared to option 1, may be more relaxed, adds one day to lake Como or Cinque Terre
September 23: fly out by FCO :( @ 9:45am
Posted by
Forest Grove, OR
11367 posts
That's a lot of transferring.
Are you staying in Milan for 3 nights because you have a lot you want to see/experience there? Otherwise, I'd make it maybe one night between Lake Como and the Cinque Terre.
The train from the Cinque Terre to Rome is a nice, clean, high-speed train, about 4 hours total. It leaves from La Spezia so only the one change: regional train from Vernazza to La Spezia then the freccia train. I would go straight through to Rome then (maybe) out to Ostia for your one night before flying. Add your other nights into Lake Como and the Cinque Terre. OR stay in Rome a few nights and day trip to Orvieto.
Posted by
871 posts
September 16-19 in Vernazza will be a nightmare, with cruise ships in port every day; Vernazza crowds the worst. If insisting on going, choose Riomaggiore, keeping off trains between 9AM and 4PM.
http://crew-center.com/la-spezia-italy-cruise-ship-schedule-2020
Enter Vernazza Crowds here: