Florence, art and the Renaissance
By train it takes two and a half to three and a half hours with at least one change at Pisa or La Spezia. By private transfer it is about two and a half hours door to door, with no changes and no carrying suitcases up and down platforms. For four people with luggage the price difference is far smaller than it looks.
The real arithmetic, for a family of four
Four train tickets with a change cost less than a private car, but an honest comparison includes the taxi to the station in Florence, the change at Pisa Centrale with the suitcases, and the last stretch from the village to the apartment.
A private transfer has a fixed price agreed beforehand and drops you as close to your accommodation as the village allows. For a group of four with luggage the gap narrows considerably.
Why not a rental car
The Cinque Terre villages are closed to traffic and the available car parks are few, far and expensive. A rental car in the Cinque Terre is almost always a cost that sits still in a car park for three days.
Frequently asked questions
- How long does it take from Florence to the Cinque Terre?
- About two and a half hours by direct private transfer. By train from two and a half to three and a half hours, with at least one change.
- Is it worth renting a car to reach the Cinque Terre?
- Rarely. The five villages are closed to traffic and parking is scarce and costly: the car sits still for the whole holiday.
Private transfers with a licensed driver, a fixed price agreed before you travel, nothing upfront. And the whole itinerary too, if you want it.