I am traveling in Europe for the first time and would like to visit The Cinque Terre from Florence and then travel to Paris for a flight back to the U.S. I will leave Florence on 5/1 and need to catch a plane in Paris on 3/7. How to I get to and from? Are there trains and how long is the commute? Thank you
Posted by
OP
Medina
8 posts
Hi, It's Jean again. I would like to be in Paris on 5/4 (not 3/7)
Posted by
Bainbridge Island
3287 posts
From Florence to the Cinque Terre towns is around 2-3 hours, depending on the village you wish to visit. You go via Pisa and La Spezia. So you could be there by early afternoon. Monterosso al Mare might make the most sense as you can get there without transferring to the low regional trains. From Monterosso it is a journey of 10 hours or more to Paris, going north through Turin. A bit longer if you go through Milan. So you would be spending all day May 3 on a train, unless you take a night train. You can see the routes an dschedules on the national train websites, like www.bahn.de and Trenitalia. You could also consider flying to Paris from Pisa, which has a pretty well-served airport.
Posted by
OP
Medina
8 posts
Thank you for your reply. Are 2 nights enough to experience CT?
Posted by
Vernon, Canada
32353 posts
Jean, Two nights to visit the Cinque Terre are good, although three would be better. You may find that once you arrive there, you may not want to leave! Which of the five villages are you planning to stay in? If I read your second post correctly, you'll be there at the beginning of May? If so, I'd suggest booking accommodations SOON!!! Regarding travel to the C.T., there are some direct trains (no changes) from Firenze SMN to La Spezia Centrale with a travel time of 2H:26M (current 2nd class fare €16.10). Others on that route have one change in Pisa. When you arrive in La Spezia, you'll transfer to the local train for the trip to the five villages. Happy travels!
Posted by
OP
Medina
8 posts
Thank you for your reply. I want to make my reservations within the next few days. Do you have a suggestion as to which town I should stay?
Posted by
Vernon, Canada
32353 posts
Jean, Do you have a copy of the Italy 2012 Guidebook? There are good accommodations listed there in each of the five towns. I'd suggest staying in Monterosso. It's the largest of the towns, and therefore has the greatest number of accommodation choices. You'll have a better chance of finding a vacancy there. If you need more specific suggestions, it would help to have some idea on the price range / comfort level that you prefer. Cheers!
Posted by
Gettysburg, PA
1589 posts
Jean, give her a try in Vernazza. She plans on re opening in April: http://www.elisabettacarro.it