Florence To monterosso and riviera?

Question

Hello,
I am going to be traveling through Italy on my honeymoon coming up this June, and am planning on staying 3 nights in Florence. I really want to try and see about taking a day trip from Florence to Monterosso by train and visiting the neighboring towns there for a day, then on back to our Florence hotel for the night. What I am REALLY wanting to know is if anyone things it is feasable to realistically be able to travel from florence by train in the morning, have enough time to walk around in Monterosso and have time to experience those towns for a day and still have a reasonalbe ammount of time to make it back to Florence for the night???? Any and all thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks
Danny

Answer 1

Do you mean Monterosso in the Cinque Terre? (There are several "Red Mountains" in Italy)

That is a haul for a day trip - I did it last year from Florence and we stayed over night and it still felt like most of what we did was sit on the train. It is very beautiful though.

"The Cinque Terre can be easily reached by train through the Ventimiglia-Genoa-Rome line. For further information on timetables and rail connections you may visit the Trenitalia web site."

I think it took about 3 hours actually one way (or more with the change of trains). You do have to change at Pisa (and/or Spezia), and then the train is a much slower regional that makes a lot of stops on the way up there.

Here is an actual schedule:

http://orario.trenitalia.com/b2c/TimeTable?stazin=florence&stazout=monterosso&datag=27&datam=02&dataa=2007&timsh=07&timsm=00&invia=SEND&lang=en&nreq=5&channel=tcom

That being said - if this is something you really want to see you can do it (I am assuming you are young and in reasonable shape!). If you leave by 7:00 AM you should make it up there by late morning, just check the returning train schedules to make sure when you can get back. Trains from Florence to Pisa run all the time but you wouldn't want to miss the last one from Monterosso.

Answer 2

I think it is feasable, it would probably take you 2hr by train (I think you have to change in Pisa) Check with "Trenitalia". You can also rent a car. It might be a lot if you are only there for 3 days, it is a cute town. there is so much to do in Florence as well, or consider going to Siena or nice villages in the area like San Geminiano. Have a wonderful time! And Congratulations!

Answer 3

I really think you need more time .... it can be done but it will be a rush. The trouble is you'll compromise your cisit to Florence, so you may need to wake up early one morning for the train ride out.

Here's some suggestions for Monterosso if you need to stay ther the night: