Travel Answers

My family will be traveling to Vernazza again this summer and we have 3 nights set aside for CT. The last two years my wife and I stayed in Vernazza and it was the highlight of our vacation to Italy. I am hoping to stay again this summer but I really enjoy the water and the beaches. From some pictures I've seen, it doesn't look like there has been much progress in respect to the beach? We are looking to book our accommodations but responses from the Renters are unsure about if the water quality will be acceptable to bathe in by June/July. Anyone have any insight on this I would greatly appreciate it. Thank you.

Could you recommend a budget accomodation in Vernazza? Thanks in advance for your replies.

So mom and I will venture to Vernazza and put a little money back into the economy to help with the repairs of the town. With camera in hand, should we get better shots of the place (as it is) for an early morning visit or wait until the afternoon? (shooting from either of the paths as far as we are allowed to venture which won't be far, I'm sure). We also want to eat, and have a good view (if possible). Which of those ristorantes that are now open (listed on www.savevernazza.com, some are still closed due to flood damage) would have the best view and decent chow?

So I see from www.savevernazza.com that path #2 heading to Manarola is still closed for repairs, but I was wondering if anyone has been there recently and can tell me if you can at least walk a bit of it towards Manarola at least to that spot where you can look down into the harbour to take photographs from the northern side? Or is there a big gate right at the very start of it preventing you from going further? I don't want to walk the whole path, just up a few hundred yards to take a photograph or two from that scenic spot. Wondered if anyone has tried it recently?

I do understand that Vernazza is currently under a 'healing process' due to the flood of Oct 2011, but I'm still contemplating taking my mother there in April on a daytrip from Florence (it's so nice a place and we want to help support its healing process!). Years ago, I walked from Corngilia to Vernazza and took a great photo from above the town with the watchtower extending out into the ocean. This time, I'm thinking of standing somewhere on the other side of the town to take my shots. I've seen some of them on the web--how do I get to that vantage point after we get off of the train? I'm talking about the side of town closer to Monterosso. Is there a path and how hard is it to get to given the current situation?

Hi! My boyfriend and I are staying in Vernazza September 17-20th. A couple questions, we plan to hike (obviously) between the five towns - and definitely have at least one day at the beach in Monterosso where we understand we can rent chairs, towels, and an umbrella. What else do we need to carry with us (other than bathing suits and money?) The towns look close enough that we can stop and purchase water, food, wine etc. but we will definitely bring a hiking bag if there are other items we will appreciate having. Second question - we will be flying out of Milan or Pisa to Paris on Tuesday. I see that we can take the train from Vernazza to La Spezia and transfer to Milan or Pisa. Does anyone recommend a car service that will drive us to either airport? Is that going to make our lives much easier, or not worth the money? How about a car to drive us to La Spezia? THANK YOU in advance! Lindsay

Allo! My parents are stuck traveling to Vernazza by car. Can anyone recommend a parking solution - parking in La Spezia is not an option for them, but we've heard that it may be possible to park in Monterosso al Mare. If so, how much would this cost to park per day? Is this a reasonable option? Does anyone have a link to follow up with? Much appreciated! Thank you!

Hey :) So i am planning a backpacking trip in October that starts in Santorini and ends in Madrid. I am hoping to stay a few days in the CT and would like some advice. 1) Does the regional train ( from La Spezia to Vernazza) run in October? The trenitalia website is coming up blank. 2) I was thinking that i would stay 2 maybe 3 days in Vernazza and one day walk north, and the next, walk south. Spacing the hike between two days so i could not be overly exhausted and take time to see whatever i want without having to worry about anything. This sound like a good plan? Or would staying in Corniglia be better? 3) Anyone know of any decent low cost hostels in the CT? I don't minds sharing a room, just needs to be clean and have a place for me to safely store my bag. I'm hoping to pay about35 or less a night.

Hey :) I am mapping out a backpacking trip through Greece, Italy, and Spain. At the moment i am looking at flying from Athens to Rome, spend a few days in Rome, take the train to Florence, bum around a bit in Florence, and am looking into the cost of traveling to Vernazza for 3-4 days, a break from the cities. I know how to get from Florence --> La Spezia, but i am having problems finding the price for the train from la Spezia - Vernazza. A link would be great :D Thanks Emm

Hi again We will be travelling from Florence to the one of the villages of the Cinque Terre to stay for 4 nights in October 2011. Is it easy to do this in one day or do you need to stop in La Spezia for a night? Are we able to buy the ticket on the day we wish to travel or does it have to be booked in advance (from Australia or at Florence - we will be there for 4 days)? Also, we will be travelling to Rome afterwards; will this need to be booked from Australia or would it be ok to do it at La Spezia? I believe that we can get a train direct from La Spezia to Rome is this correct? Many thanks.

What are my options to get from Vernazza to Rome airport? I have a 12:00p flight on Sunday. Can I catch an early train or hire a car service that will get me to the airport by 10:00am? Or need I travel the night before and book a hotel near the airport?

Does anyone knows where to sleep in Vernazza without spending more than 70 euros?? Thank you!

My wife has great difficulty climbing many stirs . Is there a n elevator har train station to get near hotels?

Hi everyone! We would like to go to Cinque Terre in August. We're staying in Rapallo, so we're thinking in taking the train and hop off Monterroso, Vernazza and Riomaggiore. We have a 15th months baby who doesn't walk yet, so which places are more easier to access and walk most of the time with a stroller? Is it the train the best option? Thank you

I am trying to find out about some pottery that I saw in a craft shop in Vernazza last week. I never got back in to buy the bowl I was looking at. It was locally made, looked kind of like a rock on the outside, grey shades with a blue glaze in the middle. If anyone knows the name of the artist or the shop I really would like to hear about it. Thank you

Hi everyone, i need some advice about my plan: saturday 22nd May arriving in Bologna around noon. Stary overnight in Bologna (never been there and we want to avoid the weekend crowds in CT). Sunday 23rd may departing from Bologna to Vernazza or Monterosso by train Stay overnight in one of these villages (suggetions?) Monday 24th may depart from Ver or Mont by train to visit the other villages Stay overnight in one of these villages or La Spezia(suggetions?) Tuesday Arrive in La Spezia or depart from there (depending on where we sleep the night before) by rented car. Tuesday and Wednesday we have these two days to visit Sienna, Pisa, lucca and Florence... I know all of them but Siena. we still have to work out this itinerary...maybe drive straight from la spezia to siena, passing by pisa and lucca. Stay overnight in Siena on Tuesday and on wednesday we could go to florence and stay there overnight. On Thursday we have a flight back to lisbon around noon. Is it advisable to drive from Florence early in the morning and drop off the car at the airport and check in around 10? I mean, leaving Florence around 7:30 to be at the airport at 9 - drop off the car and go to the chek in. Well, maybe this is a bit confusing... all advices are welcome. PS: I wouldn´t mind to stay a night in Lucca. I love it but on the other hand a night in Florence is always tempting and Siena none of us knows it yet... Thank you! Tânia

Hello, One leg of our journey includes driving from Nice to Vernazza and staying there for 3 nights. Then we are driving to Livorno in the evening to catch a ferry, will probably stop off in Pisa on the way there for the afternoon. Does anybody have any suggestions what would be most suitable and economical place to park our car whilst we are in Vernazza and the transport we would use to get to and from our car on arrival and departure from Vernazza? Thank you

I have heard several options for parking a car while in Cinque Terre (Vernazza), but am confused as to the best choice these days. We will be coming to CT from Lucca and staying June 8, 9, and 10. Where is the safest place to leave our car for three days and most convenient to get to and from Vernazza with suitcases? The problem I see is that we will have pick the car up early in the morning on the 10th because we have to get back to Rome to catch a plane that evening. We are worried about timing and best place to leave car that is easy to get to and from Vernazza.

Ok, I give up. How do you contact this place for a price quote and to determine if they have a room? It sounds really nice but I need help making a reservation. Thanks for any help.

We will be traveling from the Cinque Terre (Vernazza) to La Spezia to ultimately Naples, but our train leaves from La Spezia at 5:30am. Will the small train between the towns be running that early, or what is the best way to get to La Spezia at that hour?

My family and I will be traveling in Italy in May. We are going to be visiting Vernazza from Turin. My father wants to stay in Turin for two nights and Vernazza for one. This would mean that we would arrive in Vernazza around noon and leave the next day. Is one day enough time to really hike the trail and explore? I'm convinced it would be better to stay in Turin one night and Vernazza two. Any advice? Thanks.

Hi all, I'm still undecided as to which city in CT to stay in.I need a nice hotel on the beach with views and easy access to a nice beach for my 3 year old son.Please help anyway you can :-) lengleng

Possibly someone can talk me out of this visit, but I just had to post just in case it was doable. Is it possible to take a peek at Vernazza in a day (maybe stay overnight). Is it ok to start a short walk around 2:30 PM, and take a good look around? I have a limited amount of time in Italy this October, but I will be in Florence for a day (mostly to go to the old pharmacy and get my Italian soaps as I've already been to Florence). It now occurred to me I can to take a peek at Vernazza. I have done some research on Cinque Terre and know about the five villages that you hike across. At this time I don't want to do all the hiking, I just want to go to Vernazza, take a peek at the ocean, maybe stay there for one night. Before Florence, I will start in Rome and be in Perugia. I could skip Florence and do my shopping in Rome (there's a branch of the old pharmacy in Rome, but never like the one in Florence). It looks like a six hour+ ride to Vernazza from Perugia, and ironically does stop at Firenze-SMN on the way. If I take the early train from Perugia it arrives in Vernazza around 1:30 PM. There's about an hour an a half layover in Florence (just about enough to do my shopping if the store was open that early, which it's not). This does sound like a bit too much rushing ... but I'd really love to take that peek. Any comments?

Coming from Tuscany and will still have the car as the La Spezia office is closed. Should we drive into Vernazza or park somewhere in La Spezia or Levanto? We don't need to have a car while we are in Cinque Terre for 3 days. We are staying at Gianni Franzi....is there some overnight parking available? Another thought is to leave the car in Pisa airport (is open) and train into Vernazza and be done with the car. Got any suggestions? Grazie. Mari

Hi Folks, I am skeptical about my travel plan in CT. Initially, I had planned to stay 2 days in Milan and visit CT the second day and back to Milan same day by 8 or 9 pm and leave for Venice on third day. My alternative is to stay a night at Vernazza and leave to Venice from there. Which makes sense the most or , are there better alternatives. Please help.

Hello, would anyone have any suggestions for a nice place to stay in Vernazza in Sept? Two rooms with two twin beds would be needed. Any thoughts on this would be appreciated. Jim

Where can I get a train timetable for the Cinque Terre villages, is there one on line. How long is the trip between one village and the next.

My wife and I are going to visit Vernazza in May. We will be driving and wonder how secure the parking lot is. We are both in our 60's and would prefer to leave part of our luggage in the car and only take a small bag to the hotel. Can anyone provide any advice?

Hi guys, This summer I'm planning a vacation to Vernazza but I'm having some difficulties finding traintickets. We travel from Rotterdam (NL) and I have no idea if we have to go via La Spezia or Genoa, or even somewhere else? On top of that I was wondering if anyone could reccomend cheap lodging? (I mean like hostel cheap) I've heard about Rina and Elisabetta rooms? If you know anything I'd love to hear it! Thanks! Ciao!

Greetings, My wife has a difficult time with climing. Where is the train station in relationship to the city of Vernazza? Is it possible to be driven or take an elevator from the train station or sea level to the top of the hills? Thanks