The five Cinque Terre villages are situated in northern Italy on the Mediterranean Sea, only two hours by train from Florence.
For more maps please refer to Cinque Terre Maps or Italy Maps.
How to reach Cinque Terre by train
The easiest way to get to the Cinque Terre is by train. From Genoa (Genova), take the local train towards La Spezia and get off at your destination. From La Spezia, take the local train, Cinque Terre Express, in direction Levanto. This train stops in all of the five villages.
The train is the ideal means of transport between the Cinque Terre villages. The special trains, Cinque Terre Express, are running frequently, every 20 minutes from mid March until 1st of November.
The Cinque Terre Train Card includes unlimited train travel on the La Spezia - Levanto line, free use of the eco buses and free access to all walking paths.
Click here for further details: Cinque Terre Train Timetable
How to reach Cinque Terre by car
It is possible to approach the villages of Cinque Terre by car, even if it's not recommended. As in Venice, there is no use for a car once you're here. Cinque Terre's historical centres are closed to car traffic.
Riomaggiore and Manarola both have small parking facilities just above their towns and minibusses to carry you and your luggage down.
The cheapest option is the big open parking place on the seafront in Monterosso. Other parking facilities are available in Levanto.
GETTING TO RIOMAGGIORE and MANAROLA
From La Spezia (20 Km) by the State Route S.S. number 370 "Litoranea delle Cinque Terre". The motorway exit is "La Spezia" on the A12 "Genova - Livorno" or A15 "Parma - La Spezia". From the gate, follow directions to La Spezia and once in town proceed along the seaside finding the signs for "Cinque Terre - Portovenere". At a certain point these two directions will divide: you will proceed straight up the slope in direction Riomaggiore (15 km) and Manarola (18 Km).
GETTING TO VERNAZZA and CORNIGLIA
Vernazza and Corniglia are the two most isolated of the Cinque Terre. We don't recommend to take the car to these villages due to narrow streets and difficulty to find a place to park. Use the train instead.
GETTING TO MONTEROSSO
From A12 Motorway exit of "Carrodano - Levanto", follow signs towards Levanto and Monterosso. After appr. 11 km near Levanto turn left at the second roundabout towards Monterosso. At the top of the hill you will drive through a short tunnel. Keep to the right for the parking place in Monterosso - Fegina or turn left for the Monterosso Old town.
Petrol stations near the Cinque Terre can be found in La Spezia, Brugnato and Levanto.
Cinque Terre by boat
There are excursion boats running frequently during the summer from La Spezia and Levanto to the Cinque Terre villages. The boats are running from 1st of April until 1st of November. Fore more information and timetable: boat excursions
Cinque Terre by plane
The nearest airports are the Cristoforo Colombo international airport in Genoa, Galileo Galilei international airport in Pisa and Florence Airport. Milan Airport is the major international airport.
Accommodations in Cinque Terre
You can find a wide range of hotels in the Cinque Terre area. Visit the following pages: Hotels in Cinque Terre and Hotels in Monterosso
Average distances, travel length and costs from major Italian cities to Cinque Terre
| City | By car | By train |
| Milan (Milano) | 3 hours, 227 Km (142 miles) Cost: motorway 17 Euros + fuel | 2,5 hours Cost: 25 Euros |
| Rome (Roma) | 5 hours, 467 Km (290 miles) Cost: motorway 35 Euros + fuel | from 3,5 to 4,5 hours Cost: from 40 to 50 Euros |
| Venice (Venezia) | 4 hours, 380 Km (237 miles) Cost: motorway 30 Euro + fuel | from 5 to 6,5 hours |
| Florence (Firenze) | 2,5 hours, 188 Km (116 miles) Cost: motorway 16 Euros + fuel | 3 hours Cost: from 15 to 25 Euros |
| Genoa (Genova) | 1 hours, 100 Km (62 miles) Cost: motorway 8 Euros + fuel | 1,5 hours Cost: from 7 to 15 Euros |
| Pisa | 1,5 hours, 114 Km (70 miles) Cost: motorway 10 Euros + fuel | 1 hours 15 min Cost: from 9 to 18 Euros |
| Turin (Torino) | 3,5 hours, 260 Km (161 miles) Cost: motorway 24 Euros + fuel | 3,5 hours Cost: from 16 to 27 Euros |
| Siena | 3 hours, 250 Km (155 miles) Cost: motorway 16 Euros + fuel | 3,5 hours Cost: from 21 to 27 Euros |
| Lucca | 1,5 hours, 112 Km (69 miles) Cost: motorway 11 Euros + fuel | 1,5 hours Cost: from 9 to 20 Euros |
| Napoli / Sorrento | 6 hours, 657 Km (408 miles) Cost: motorway 50 Euros + fuel | about 10 hours Cost: from 60 to 100 Euros |
| Palermo | 14,5 hours, 1358 Km (843 miles) Cost: motorway 63 Euros + fuel | 18 hours Cost: from 70 to 120 Euros |
Distances calculated from Monterosso al Mare, Cinque Terre - motorway exit Carrodano - Levanto
Car distance motorway La Spezia - Carrodano/Levanto: 40 Km (45 minutes)
Train length of travel La Spezia - Monterosso al Mare: 15-20 minutes
Do you have any questions about the Cinque Terre? Visit our FAQ page.
