As a result, roads are quite narrow (not wide enough in some places to allow two cars to pass each other) and parking is limited (most available spaces are exclusively reserved for residents). To avoid these challenges, we recommend traveling from Florence to Cinque Terre by train.

While driving is an option, it is generally not recommended to drive directly from Florence to the Cinque Terre villages. The best way to travel is by train, which takes about 2 to 2.5 hours and drops you directly into the heart of the car-free villages. Driving presents several major hurdles: the coastal roads are extremely narrow, winding, and steep, which can be terrifying for inexperienced drivers. Furthermore, most of the villages are "ZTL" (restricted traffic zones) where non-resident cars are strictly forbidden. Parking in the small available lots (primarily in Monterosso or Riomaggiore) is notoriously expensive—often over €25 per day—and they fill up early in the morning. If you are on a larger road trip through Italy, the most practical compromise is to drive to La Spezia, leave your car in a secure parking garage near the station, and then take the frequent "Cinque Terre Express" train, which connects all five villages in just a few minutes each.