Riomaggiore Travel Forum

I am trying to figure out whether to drive or take the train to Cinque Terra and turn in my rental car early. I'd rather drive. We are going in Mid-September and our hotel "Villa Cinque Terra" in Monterroso has parking. THanks!

I think the answer depends on many factors including train costs and time, car costs and time, convenience, and your budget sensitivity.

Questions I would ask....How many of you are there? Where will you be coming from and how easy will it be to return your car there? Where are you going to after Cinque Terre? How much will it cost you to keep the car? (Italian car rental rates are very high.)

If you are absolutely positive your hotel in Monterroso has free parking, keep the car to get there and out. You won't use the car while you are there. Most of the villages don't really allow cars and the train stops centrally in all of them. There are lovely walking trails between towns if you don't want to take the train. You will, of course, be paying rental rates for the car while you are not using it.

We drove, but had a leased car for a month and just visited Cinque Terre for one day. We parked at Riomaggiore for the day and walked and took the train. You also have to pay to walk the trails since it's a national park and you have to pay entrance. We paid for parking, walking and train. 8^)

If you have comfortable train connections, I'd say turn in the car so it's one less thing to pay for. How long will you be in Cinque Terre? That might make a difference too. Could you turn in the car and get another one when you leave?

We left our car at Riomaggorie early in the morning in a parking garage)and walked through all five villages to Monterroso (takes all day)and stayed the night. Next day we took the ferry back to Rio and left the area.

Hi,
absolutely train!!!
Arrive in your hotel in Monterosso and forget the car for all your stay in Cinque terre.
It's very difficult to reach the villages by car and more difficult to find a parking (usually also expensive!).
The best way to explore this wonderful place is walking, if you like it! You could go one way walking and return by train.
Have a nice trip!
Roberta