How to Get to Cinque Terre, Italy: The Best Train Routes
Updated: Aug 14
One of the absolute best places to visit while in Italy is Cinque Terre. Nestled in the mountainside, this coastal region is made up of five charming fishing villages: Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza, and Monterosso.
Stroll through the quaint streets. Stop in shops and restaurants run by friendly locals. Take a walk on the beach. Hop in the water if it's warm enough. Cinque Terre is a must-visit place in Italy.
It's very easy to get to Cinque Terre without a car thanks to the reliable train system in Italy. Keep reading to learn how to get to Cinque Terre from cities like Rome, Florence, Milan, Venice, and Pisa.
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Before You Go to Cinque Terre
Before you start your journey, read all the details about using the trains in Italy so you can make the most of your time in this amazing country.
Make sure you download the Trainline app. It will make travel days much smoother while you’re exploring Italy by having all your tickets in one location. It also compares different tickets for you so you can get the cheapest and fastest route available.
I recommend buying train tickets in advance if you know when and where you are going. They can sell out, especially during busy seasons. You can buy them on the Trainline app or website, or at train stations (for day-of travel).
Plan your visit with these Cinque Terre travel guides:
✅ Get Train Tickets on the Trainline app!
How to Get to Cinque Terre
The best way to get around Italy is by train. Trains operates throughout nearly the entire country, making it very easy to get nearly anywhere. This makes getting to Cinque Terre easy if you’re coming from another city in Italy.
Cinque Terre, Italy is a popular place for day trips from Pisa and Florence, and overnight trips from Milan, Venice, and Rome. There are also no major airports near Cinque Terre, so chances are, if you’re visiting from another country, you’ll start your trip somewhere like Rome or Venice and make your way to Cinque Terre from there.
If you’re wondering how to get to Cinque Terre, you’ve found the right place! Here's how to get to Cinque Terre:
The train will stop in the towns of Cinque Terre in the following order if you're coming from the south:
Riomaggiore > Manarola > Corniglia > Vernazza > Monterosso
Below, when I reference the Cinque Terre stop on the train routes, you'll stop in Riomaggiore first and follow the route above. Except when coming from Milan as it is north of Cinque Terre, so the route will be reversed.
There isn’t one main stop for “Cinque Terre,” you have to get off in one of the specific towns. So keep this in mind, and know what town you want to get off in.
Train from La Spezia to Cinque Terre
La Spezia is a coastal town located just southeast of Cinque Terre. This is where most train rides from the south of Cinque Terre will go through as there is a direct train from La Spezia to the region of Cinque Terre.
It stops at Riomaggiore first, then makes its way through the rest of the towns, stopping in Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza, and Monterosso. The train tickets cost €5 (currently) no matter what town of Cinque Terre you stop in. They are also only good for one-way use.
We recommend buying a Cinque Terre Train Card which costs about €20, but it’s worth it once you’ve stopped at even four of the five towns. You can use it all day, for an unlimited amount of rides.
There are also 2 and 3-day train cards available if you plan on exploring for more than one day.
This makes exploring the villages of Cinque Terre much easier; you can see all of them in one day if you utilize the train. If you don’t get a Cinque Terre Train Card, you’ll be paying €5 for every train ride you take, and yes, they actually do randomly check for tickets.
The train will stop in the towns of Cinque Terre in the following order:
La Spezia > Riomaggiore > Manarola > Corniglia > Vernazza > Monterosso
Make sure you pay attention to the stops and get off in the right town! If you’re not sure where to start, I recommend starting in Riomaggiore and working your way up to Monterosso. Or vice versa, start in Monterosso and work your way down to Riomaggiore.