Getting around Cinque Terre, or between towns, couldn't be easier. A railway line winds its way along the coast through several tunnels. There is a station in every village, and the connections are very frequent.
By train
The easiest way to get around the Cinque Terre is by train. The stations are always located practically in the centre of the villages, with the exception of Corniglia, from which there is a roughly 1km long path of stairs, or a minibus for 2,50 eur.
All the villages are connected in both directions by Trenitalia trains once an hour, more often in the summer season (April-September).
Tickets for local services do not need to be bought in advance, just at the ticket machine found on each platform. You can pay with a card or cash.
Timetables and buying tickets
You can find timetables and search for connections on the trenitalia.com website or on the Trenitalia mobile app (Google Play / App Store).
Ticket prices within Cinque Terre and to the nearby major cities of La Spezia, Levanto and Sestri Levante cost between 2,10 eur and 3 eur - however, the lower prices are only valid during winter.
From 2022, a flat price will be introduced between March and November 10 eur for a one-way ticket between any stations within the Cinque Terre. In the evening or early morning the price is reduced at 5 eur.
So you will pay the same price - 10 eur - somewhat unfairly for a 2-minute journey between Riomaggiore and Manarola, for example, as well as for a half-hour journey from La Spezia to Monterosso.
Intermittent stops are not allowed under the terms of the ticket, and if you want to travel through several villages in one go, you have to buy a new ticket each time for 10 eur.
You must always mark your ticket (either from the ticket office or the ticket machine) in the validator on the platform or before board ing.
If you buy your ticket via the mobile app, you do not need to mark it anywhere. You can show the QR code on the ticket to the conductor on request.
All-day and multi-day tickets
Alternatively, network tickets can be used for any Regionale or Regionale Veloce category train within the Cinque Terre, i.e. between La Spezia and Levanto stations.
The tickets are valid only for Regionale and Regionale Veloce trains. They are not valid on InterCity trains.
Tickets are always valid for calendar days, not 24, 48 or 72 hours.
Prices are tiered according to the days with the highest ridership. See this table for a list of specific days of the year and what fare applies on those days.
| Season A | Season B | Season C | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single day | 19,50 eur | 27 eur | 32,50 eur |
| Two-day | 34 eur | 48,50 eur | 59 eur |
| Three-day | 46,50 eur | 65,50 eur | 72,50 eur |
These tickets can be purchased from all ticket machines at each station within the Cinque Terre region.
You can also use the ticket on all local ATC buses.
By boat
Travel along the Cinque Terre in style and prepare for magical views of the coastline from a different perspective. There is a regular ferry service between all the villages (except Corniglia, which has no dock), with selected services continuing to Levanto in the west and La Spezia and Lerice in the east.
Ferries run along the coast from March to October 3-7 times a day, depending on the season. You can always buy tickets at the pier, here are some examples of prices and sailing times:
- La Spezia – Portovenere: 8 eur, sailing time 25 minutes
- Portovenere – Riomaggiore: 14 eur, sailing time 35 minutes
- Riomaggiore – Manarola: 7 eur, cruise time 15 minutes
- Manarola – Vernazza: 11 eur, cruise time 20 minutes
- Vernazza – Monterosso al Mare: 7 eur, cruise time 10 minutes
- Monterosso al Mare – Levanto: 12 eur, cruise time 30 minutes
Day hop-on/hop-off tickets are also available for 42,50 eur (valid for all destinations). After purchasing this ticket, you can ride on any connections of this shipping company throughout the day.
Official information can be found on the website: navigazionegolfodeipoeti.it/en
- Timetable
- Current ticket prices for boarding in La Spezia, Lerici, Portovenere, Riomaggiore, Manarola, Vernazza, Monterosso, Levanto
By bus
In each village there is something like a local public transport service, operated by ATC La Spezia.
There are usually smaller minibuses and buses that usually take you from the centre of the villages to the higher areas or to public car parks. In Corniglia there is a regular bus service from the station to the centre of the village about once an hour.
Tickets are always the cheapest to buy at any of the "Tabacchi" newsagents, which can be found in many places in each village. A single ticket price for all short routes up to 6 km is 1,50 eur.
You can find the timetables for each village in the Cinque Terre on the website atcesercizio.it/en/services-for-tourism/cinque-terre.
You can also use the buses when visiting La Spezia, which serves as the gateway to the Cinque Terre in the direction of Pisa.
Tickets for a ride around La Spezia also cost 1,50 eur, and a day pass is available for 5 eur. For complete timetables for all services, visit atcesercizio.it/en/atc-timetable.
