The short answer
The five villages — Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore — sit on one regional railway line between Levanto and La Spezia. Trains are frequent and the hops between villages take only a few minutes. Don't drive: parking is scarce and the roads are narrow.
How the Cinque Terre train line works
- Base yourself in La Spezia (south, more hotels, good fast trains from Pisa, Florence and Rome) or Levanto (north, quieter, trains from Genoa).
- Take the regional trains in either direction and get off where you want. The dedicated "Cinque Terre Express" shuttle runs in season.
- Corniglia station is below the village: about 380 steps or a small shuttle bus up the hill.
The Cinque Terre Treno Card (2026)
The card gives unlimited 2nd-class travel on regional trains between Levanto and La Spezia, plus access to the paid trails, village buses and station restrooms. Prices change with demand (low, medium and high days).
| Treno Card | Low days | Medium days | High days |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adult, 1 day | €22.00 | €29.50 | €35.00 |
| Adult, 2 days | €36.50 | €51.00 | €61.00 |
| Adult, 3 days | €49.00 | €68.00 | €81.00 |
| Child 4–11, 1 day | €15.00 | €20.00 | €23.50 |
| Family, 1 day (2 adults + children) | €56.50 | €77.00 | €91.50 |
Only hiking, not taking the train? The cheaper Trekking Card (from €10 a day for adults) covers the paid trails and village buses only.
Card or single tickets?
- Visiting 3 or more villages in a day and walking a paid trail: the Treno Card usually wins.
- Only 1–2 villages, or off season: single tickets are often cheaper. In season the single ticket between Cinque Terre stations has a special higher price, so compare before buying.
- Always validate paper tickets before boarding — read our guide to validating train tickets in Italy.
The trails
The famous coastal path (Sentiero Azzurro) links the villages; the paid sections need a Trekking or Treno Card. Sections can close after heavy rain or for maintenance, and some have limited access in peak periods — check the Cinque Terre National Park website on the morning of your hike. Wear proper shoes: inspections fine visitors in flip-flops.
Tips to avoid the crowds
- Start early (before 9:00) or late afternoon; cruise and coach groups peak in the middle of the day.
- Visit in spring or autumn, and avoid the busiest weekends and holidays.
- Sleep in a village or in Levanto for quiet evenings when the day trippers have left.
- Check for train strikes before you go — read Italy train strikes: what to do.
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Five villages, one smooth day.
In 687 Italy each stage of your trip has Check trains and Navigate ready for that day, and when a strike, a delay or bad weather hits, NOW rebuilds the rest of your day around what is fixed — so you still see the villages that matter to you.
