Riomaggiore Travel Forum

I plan to drive (with my husband and toddler) from Parma by 7:00AM to La Spezia (day trip to Cinque terra). Drive is about 80 miles (11/2 hours).
Dilemma is if I should
1) Park in La Spezia (near the train station)& take the train to Riomaggiore or
2) Drive straight out to Riomaggiore and park there

Question:
1) How many parking lots are there in Riomaggiore and how quickly in the day do they fill up? With this itinerary I might arrive in Riomaggiore by 8:30AM
2) How expensive are the parking garages near the Centrale train station for a day?

I hope to pick the best advise, given that this drive is planned for May 21 2006, Sunday (High season???)

Hi,
It's possible that the lot at Riomaggiore may be filled so I suggest that you park in LaSpezia. If you drive to Riomaggiore and the lot is filled then you will have to turn around and go to back to LaSpezia thus wasting alot of time for your one day trip.
There is limited parking in the lot connected to the train station in LaSpezia. However, there is alot of street parking 2 to 3 blocks from the station. Just check the signs posted and make sure what the time limits are on the parking spaces. Some of the spaces closest to the station have time limits and permit parking requirements.
LaSpezia is good for you because the autostrada from Parma will end right in LaSpezia.
You can,also, go to Portovenere(parking limited) and take the boat to CT.
You can,also, drive to Levanto(North off A12) and park. Lots of parking there next to train station in big lot.
Buon Viaggio!!

So is it correct to assume that there is only one parking garage in Riomaggiore?
How many long-term (ie. day long) garages are available near the La Spezia rail station? I want to be able to leave my car and not have to worry about anything for the rest of the day. Any idea what the charges in La Spezia garages are?
Thanks:)

take the train from la spezia