Traveling from Florence to Cinque Terre?

Question

My friends and I are spending 2 nights in Rome, 2 nights in Florence and 2 nights in Venice. However, we have heard amazing stories from Cinque Terre and we are trying to squeeze in a day trip from Florence to Cinque Terre. What train should we take? How long will it take to travel from Florence to Cinque Terre? How much are the train tickets (in dollars). Any advice is welcomed :)

Answer 1

Check this link for train information

http://www.trenitalia.com

Answer 2

Hi, i think a daytrip from Florence needs too time to be reasonably possible. It gets 3-3 1/2 hrs just to go there from Florence, and the same time to go back. Trains are slow coz it is a mountain area.

Trains from Florence to Monterosso:

http://orario.trenitalia.com/b2c/TimeTab...

What i suggest to you is to go from Florence to Levanto (the northest of the Five Lands), visit the village and hike to Monterosso and then to Vernazza. Spend a night there and the morning after hike from Vernazza to Manarola and Riomaggiore.

From there you may have two choices:

1- take a train back to Florence;

2- take a bus to the wonderful village of Porto Venere in front of Palma Isle;

1- Trains Timetable from Riomaggiore to Florence:

http://orario.trenitalia.com/b2c/TimeTab...

2- stay overnight in Porto Venere, visit Palma Isle and take the regional bus to the Central Station of La Spezia and then a train back to Florence or, why not, directly to Venice.

Bus timetable from Riomaggiore FS to Porto Venere:

http://www.orariotrasporti.regione.ligur...

Bus timetable from Porto Venere to La Spezia Central Station:

http://www.orariotrasporti.regione.ligur...

Trails for the walkings I've proposed to you, are quite easy and well tracked by CAI (the national trekking club).

Maps of the footpaths and other infos on the Five Lands are available at the official site:

http://www.cinqueterre.it/en/cta1.html

Hope I might help'd you in visiting my beloved country

Saluti dall'Italia :)

Answer 3

Oh, you should really try to spend the night there.  You want a full day to at least hike the trails.  My friends visited my while I was living in Florence and I HAD to have them see Cinque Terre b/c it is SO amazing.  We only had time to take a train there, got out took some pics and then had to take the train right back probably an hour later.  If you only have the day, take the first train in the am and the last train out.  If you are going in cooler/rainy weather, then you will not need as much time.  If the weather is nice though, it is fantastic to get off at the first stop and hike to the last stop (i want to say Riomaggiore is the final one), and then hang out on the beach there.  Even if you are just going for the view from the train, it is so worth it!!

Answer 4

I agree with the folks who say that 1 day will simply not do it justice--and the whole day will be spent dealing with trains and schedules and worrying about getting back, etc. Also, if you do decide NOT to go, and you will be there during a non-warm month, don't worry! Your time is better spent in Florence. Cinque Terre practically shuts down between October and April--and the weather can be brutal. Ciao! Ciao! e buena fortuna!