How to Get to Cinque Terre by Train
Cinque Terre, one of Italy’s most iconic tourist destinations, is best reached by train, with frequent and affordable services that run to these scenic coastal towns.
In this short guide, you can read more about the train connection to Cinque Terre, how to buy tickets, and some important travel tips to help you prepare for your trip.
Manarola, one of the towns of the Cinque Terre. ©Pexels/Narcisa Aciko
By train to Cinque Terre
Cinque Terre, the name given to the five coastal towns of Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore, is very popular among international tourists visiting Italy.
All five towns are located on the railway line linking La Spezia with Genoa, and each town has its own station.
Whether you are visiting Cinque Terre as a day trip from a nearby city such as La Spezia or Rapallo, or travelling one way because you are staying overnight in one of the towns, the train is by far the most convenient and affordable way to get there.
Trains to the five Cinque Terre towns are modern, comfortable regional services.
Long-distance and high-speed trains also run along the same railway line, but they do not stop at the Cinque Terre stations, so if you are travelling from further afield, such as Rome, you may need to change trains once at a station such as La Spezia.
A double-deck Regionale train – one of the regional services operated by Italian national railway company Trenitalia that also serves the towns of Cinque Terre. ©AndyBTravels
Buying tickets
Tickets for regional trains have a fixed price based on the distance travelled and cannot sell out, so it does not matter whether you buy them in advance or on the day of travel.
On regional trains, there are no seat reservations, so you can take any available seat.
You can buy tickets on the spot from ticket machines at an Italian railway station, or online using reliable booking websites such as Omio.
It is highly recommended to book your ticket online, as there are often long queues at ticket machines in La Spezia or in the Cinque Terre villages themselves.
Use the journey planner below to check train times and book tickets.
Cinque Terre travel tips
Before you travel to Cinque Terre, make sure to read my article about Italian train travel tips for general advice on buying train tickets in Italy and travelling by train.
Cinque Terre is an extremely popular tourist destination and can become very crowded.
If possible, visit these towns on weekdays and avoid weekends, national holidays, and the peak summer season.
Similarly, it is best to set off as early in the day as possible to avoid the crowds.
Conclusion
The train is the best way to reach the five coastal towns of Cinque Terre, one of Italy’s most scenic tourist destinations.
These five scenic towns are all located on the La Spezia-Genoa railway and each has its own station, with frequent regional train services connecting them.
Cinque Terre can become very crowded, so it is best to avoid holidays and weekends, travel early in the morning, and buy train tickets online to avoid queues at ticket machines.
