Getting around in Italy -- Maranello

If you take the train to Maranello, You can take a museum shuttle to Modena and see Enzo's home and another museum there. Some like the Enzo Modena museum better, and the shuttle takes you to Pavarotti's home if you like. Also it was cheaper and better for me to stay at the Planet Hotel in Maranello than a lesser hotel in Modena. But driving that part of Italy is great, just DON'T drive in Florence proper. You need a permit to drive in Florence and I believe Modena. I got ticketed in Florence, eu 100

 

We took the train from Venice to Maranello - I think changed trains in Bologna. The shuttle from Maranello <-> Modena was easy to use and inexpensive. We also stayed at Planet Hotel due to its convenient location to the Factory, however it was a glorified Motel 6. I would not recommend it.

 

It's an amazing drive. Just be careful, speeding tickets are automated on those highways.

 

Speed cameras are all sign posted. Either as static (autovelox) or average speed systems (tutor). If they are not around speed limits tend to be treated as a guide...

 

The train does not go to Maranello. You must have gone to Modena then by bus or taxi to Maranello.

 

We drove from Venice and the weather was perfect. When we arrived in Maranello .....Ferrari's were everywhere. As other's did, we stayed at the Red Planet which no one would stay at if it wasn't directly across from the Ferrari factory and that they have a parking lot. It is their version of a Motel 6. Lots of great small restaurants nearby. That said, we were only there for a couple of nights and then drove on to Milan.

The nice part about driving is you set your own schedule. We did have a Garmin for navigation since phone service was problematic on the highways.

 

Take a rental car, NO train. There are plenty of threads for such trips on fchat.
Do NOT stay at the Planet Hotel. Go to Maranello Palace on the other side of the factory. A hundred times better. Do NOT eat at Ristorante Cavallino, go to Ristorante Montana at the north side of the Fiorano racetrack.

Marcel Massini

 

I'm with Marcel. Rent a car.

And don't worry about Firenze, if you pick up your car downtown, the rental office can register the plates with the city so you won't get a ticket.

 

By all means if you have to choose one restaurant, make it Montana, no question. On the other hand, if you have the time and the inclination, a visit to Cavallino is worthwhile for the experience, but not the food. Montana satisfies both. My suggestion would be Cavallino for lunch and Montana for dinner. There are many other osterias, trattorias, etc. in Maranello that are also very worthwhile and cater to a more local clientele. They are mentioned in another thread and I suggest considering them as well.

 

I'm going to the factory on June 6th and was going to use a train pass to hop all around Italy but just saw you can rent a car for around 100 a week which is totally worth it in my opinion.

 

Agree, rent a car ( Auto Europe ) and this time around I booked Hotel Villa Maranello, it's just a couple minutes walking distance from the Ferrari gates for the factory tour.

 

Best quote I got was Hertz but Auto Europe was close.

 

+1

 

I'm going to do the factory tour on July 5th. I'm renting a car from Bologna and I will be driving to the factory from there. How far is it?

 

I would rent a car and drive!

 

Car is the best solution. its 2 hours from Florence to the Factory. once you clear the mountains its a flat straight drive to Modena sud exit.... very easy. parking in Maranello not so much - we parked at the museum and walked the block to the factory.

 

I believe it's about 50km so under an hour.

 

Thank you.

 

I was there last week. Drove from Milano and stayed at the Maranello Palace. I would say it was 30 - 40 minutes from Bologna. A1 is a fast road

If you have time do visit the Casa Ferrari museum in Modena and the Lamborghini museum which is 10 minutes north east of Modena. The latter is cool because they have a number of concept cars on display. The Maranello museum was a disappointment this time around.

Renting a car and google navigation makes all this very easy.

 

Renting a car is the way to go. Navigation in the car is a must, don't rely on your phone

 

Yes, Phone connection is spotty. Make sure they give you an updated GPS also. Got lost with theirs.

 

I've been to Maranello a few times and have done the factory tour. Recently visited the museum and took the bus to Modena to see Enzo Ferrari Museum.

I think that was probably easier than driving into Modena. I would hire a car and did. I also had no problem with my phone and GPS. There are a few GPS map apps that download maps to your device which is exactly what I do.
NavFree - Navmii Navfree

A group of us from the UK are there the weekend after the Monza GP as it is heavily rumoured Ferrari will be celebrating their 70 years.

 

"CoPilot GPS" is another app that loads maps to your phone so it uses no data and you don't need phone/internet connection. CoPilot GPS was really great. I had updated my Garmin to Italy maps for something like $79, but CoPilot GPS was much, much better than Garmin. GoPilot GPS turned out to be free (I think it is normally $20 or so, but they had a free trial period and we only used it in Italy for a week, so it ended up being free).

Driving in Italy is great in general (although I was surprised at the number of bad drivers on the highways -- I thought that was a "US only" thing). We did a day trip to Maranello/Modena from Umbria, which is about 5 hours each way and it was a nice drive. I would never recommend doing the Umbria/Maranello trip in one day, but that was the only day we had available to do a Ferrari visit and it was well worth it.

 

Rent a car and drive to Maranello
Stay at Hotel Villa Maranello there is guest parking and an great in house restaurant
Ristorante Retro Gusto
Have one meal at Retro and one at Montana
Take museum shuttle to MEF in Modena
Get some Ferrari Swag at Hors Ligne