My question has to do with what to do with a rental car while visiting Cinque Tierre. Our plans are to fly from the US to Munich, rent a car to drive (tour) to Cinque Tierre, stay for several days, then drive on to Florence to fly back to the US. Should I (can I?) turn in the car in Cinque Tierre and use local transportation to visit the coastal towns, then rent another car to get to Florence or simpley park the car for the entire time we are in Cinque Tierre, then drive it on to Florence?
Posted by
US Pacific Northwest
10344 posts
A more useful answer can be given if you can indicate: 1) whether or not you're there in the summer? 2) which village? In general, here's a website by local travel people that addresses parking challenges: http://www.lecinqueterre.org/eng/arrivare.php Note the first sentence of the webpage: "It is possible to reach the Cinque Terre by train or car. Using the train is strongly advised. The train service is good in the region. Besides, finding a parking is very difficult in summer...."
Posted by
OP
RICHARDSON, TX, United States
6 posts
Good point! Thanks for your response. We plan to be there in September, probably the first two weeks, depending on when the airline and hotel rates change.
Posted by
OP
RICHARDSON, TX, United States
6 posts
Probably Riomaggiore and Manarola, but I also understand Monterosso has the nicest beach. We, honestly, don't know enough about each to chose. Any suggestions?
Posted by
US Pacific Northwest
10344 posts
To start your research, go here. Overnight parking is the biggest challenge. The 1st post has a link with some parking info. For more info on parking, go here: http://www.cinqueterreonline.com/tips.htm#parking
and scroll down to the Parking section.
Posted by
Cary, NC
687 posts
I keep reading that driving in central Florence is a bad idea, so you might need to just park the car there, too. I'd be inclined to return it at the stop before the Cinque Terre and switch to trains.
Posted by
British Columbia, Canada
188 posts
A number of years ago, we drove to the Cinque Terre--frightening narrow roads down to Vernazza and extremely limited parking. We ended up parking in La Spezia for a couple of nights and taking the train to the Cinque Terre. I can only imagine the situation to be even more difficult with the popularity surge of recent years. Depending on which village you will be staying in, the suggestion previously posted to turn in the car and train to the Cinque Terre (and then on to Florence) is one to consider.
Posted by
OP
RICHARDSON, TX, United States
6 posts
Great advice from several posters. Thanks! Looks like I need to do some more research. Thanks again for all the help.
Posted by
Dallas, TX, USA
1170 posts
I would suggest you turn in the car at Cinque Terre (you won't need it once you arrive) and then take the train to Florence and a taxi to the airport.
Posted by
OP
RICHARDSON, TX, United States
6 posts
Thanks, Scott. I have come to the same conclusion. Glad you confirmed it. Do you know where in Cinque Tierre I can turn in the car?
Posted by
Knoxville, TN, USA
7209 posts
Munich, Cinque Terre, Florence - all well served by trains which don't require: 1) Tolls out the wazoo 2) High Cost Petrol 3) Expensive Parking 4) Non-existent Parking 5) Exhorbitant Cross Border Drop-Off Fees 6) CDW Theft Insurance, Fire Insurance, etc
7) Wasted time getting lost And heaven forbid you put a scratch on that rental car or worse...have a wreck :-(
Posted by
OP
RICHARDSON, TX, United States
6 posts
Hi--This is Ellen, John's wife. You all have convinced John to turn in car, probably in Genoa. Now, which is your favorite village in which to stay? We were thinking Corniglia, simply because it's in the middle!! But Steves says it's not on beach & I'd like beach access (I think!!) We'll be there 5 nights. What say you??