The five Cinque Terre villages are situated in northern Italy on the Mediterranean Sea, just 3 hours by train from Milan, Pisa and Florence. The closest airports are Genoa, Pisa and Milan Malpensa. There are shuttle buses at the airports that takes you to the central station in each city and from there you can take an Intercity train directly to Cinque Terre.
How to get around Cinque Terre
There are three ways to move from one village to another; you can either walk, take the train or the boat.
By train: The fastest way to move around Cinque Terre is by train. The Cinque Terre Express trains are local trains running frequently from March 18 until November 5, and stop in all five villages. Hop-on hop-off travel cards are available at the stations and valid for the whole day.
By hiking: There are hiking trails along the coast connecting all five villages from Riomaggiore in the south to Monterosso in the north. We recommend you to purchase the Cinque Terre Train Card, which gives you access to all hiking trails together with unlimited train travel on the Cinque Terre Express trains on the Levanto - Cinque Terre - La Spezia line.
By boat: An other popular means of transport is the ferry that runs between the villages from the end March until November 1. You can hop on and off the boats in four of the five villages at scheduled times. Read more: Boat timetable Cinque Terre.
How to reach Cinque Terre by train
The easiest and most comfortable way to get to Cinque Terre is by train. The five Cinque Terre villages are on the Genoa - La Spezia line and the trains are running frequently from Milan, Genoa and Pisa. Monterosso is the only one of the Cinque Terre villages that is served by long distance Intercity trains. If you arrive from the north, Milan or Genoa, you can take an IC train directly to Levanto or Monterosso. From there you have local trains, Cinque Terre Express, that provide links to Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore.
If you arrive from the south, take an Intercity train directly to La Spezia and change for a local train to your destination. From Pisa there are Intercity trains directly to Monterosso.
From Milan to Cinque Terre by train
From the main station in Milan, Milano Centrale, there are Intercity trains directly to Levanto, Monterosso and La Spezia. The journey takes about 3 hours. From here, with the Cinque Terre Card, you can move comfortably with local trains between the Cinque Terre villages. Read more on Milan to Cinque Terre.
From Florence to Cinque Terre by train
From Florence Santa Maria Novella there are regional and Intercity trains to Cinque Terre every hour. You have to change trains in La Spezia and continue with a local train to your destination in Cinque Terre. Read more on Florence to Cinque Terre.
From Pisa to Cinque Terre by train
There are every hour trains from Pisa Centrale directly to La Spezia Centrale. From La Spezia you have to hop on the Cinque Terre Express train to your destination in Cinque Terre. There are also some direct Intercity trains from Pisa Centrale to Monterosso every day. Read more on Pisa to Cinque Terre.
From Rome to Cinque Terre by train
You can reach Cinque Terre from Rome in less than 4 hours by taking the Frecciabianca high-speed train from the main station in Rome, Roma Termini, directly to La Spezia Centrale. In La Spezia you hop on the the local train Cinque Terre Express, which stops in all five Cinque Terre villages. Read more on Rome to Cinque Terre.
From Genoa to Cinque Terre by train
You can reach Levanto and Monterosso in about an hour with an Intercity or a fast regional train from the main train stations Genova Brignole and Genova Piazza Principe. If you have booked accommodation in one of the other Cinque Terre villages, you have to change trains in Levanto and take the local Cinque Terre Express to your destination. Read more on Genoa to Cinque Terre.
How to reach Cinque Terre by car
It is possible to approach the villages of Cinque Terre by car, even if the roads are narrow and curvy. The roads are winding through vineyards and olive groves high above the sea and the views from are stunning.
The easiest way is to rent a car directly at the Airport upon your arrival. Arriving by car we highly recommend you to book a hotel in Cinque Terre with private parking.
Getting to Riomaggiore by car: If you are traveling from Genoa or from Livorno take the A12 highway, from Parma take the A15 highway. Exit at La Spezia, than continue on the state route SP370 toward Cinque Terre and Riomaggiore. Parking in Riomaggiore.
Getting to Manarola by car: From Genoa or Livorno take the highway A12, from Parma the highway A15. Exit at La Spezia. Follow the signs to state route number SP370 toward Cinque Terre and than direction Manarola. Parking in Manarola.
Getting to Corniglia by car: Corniglia is located in the middle of the Cinque Terre, and it can be difficult and time consuming reaching the village by car. Take the highway A12 and exit at Brugnato, then continue to Borghetto Vara and Pignone. Follow the signs toward Cinque Terre and Corniglia. From Brugnato to Corniglia the distance is 30 km, the travel time is 50 minutes, Google Maps. Parking in Corniglia.
Getting to Vernazza by car: Vernazza is one of the most isolated villages in the Cinque Terre and it can be difficult to reach the village by car. Exit at Brugnato on the highway A12. Continue to Borghetto Vara and Pignone. Follow the signs for Cinque Terre and Vernazza. From Brugnato to Vernazza the distance is 30 km, the travel time is 50 minutes. Parking in Vernazza.
Getting to Monterosso by car: To reach Monterosso there are two alternatives:
- From the north take the highway A12 and exit at Levanto - Carrodano. Follow the signs toward Levanto for appr. 11 km and at the second roundabout turn left toward Monterosso and Cinque Terre. From Carrodano to Monterosso the distance is 25 km and the travel time is 40 minutes. Google Maps - Monterosso old town, Google Maps Monterosso - Fegina.
- If you are arriving from the south, take the highway A12 and exit at Brugnato. Follow the signs in direction Borghetto di Vara and Pignone. Turn left and then turn right for Monterosso Fegina or turn left for the old town of Monterosso. From Brugnato to Monterosso the distance is 28 km, the travel time is 40 minutes. Parking in Monterosso.
Petrol stations near the Cinque Terre can be found in La Spezia, Brugnato and Levanto.
Cinque Terre by plane
The nearest airports to Cinque Terre are Pisa, Genoa and Milano Malpensa. To fly into Milan from the US is probably the cheapest option. From New York there are non-stop flights to Milan Malpensa. How to get from Milan to Cinque Terre.
Pisa is the closest airport to Cinque Terre. The airport of Pisa is small and served by budget airlines; a good option if you are coming from Europe. How to get from Pisa to Cinque Terre.
Cinque Terre by boat
The ferries are running frequently from the end of March until November 1, from La Spezia, Portovenere and Levanto to the Cinque Terre villages. Fore more information and timetable: Boat excursions.
Accommodations in Cinque Terre
You can find a wide range of hotels in the Cinque Terre area. Visit 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) to Cinque Terre |
3 hours, 227 km (142 miles) Cost: motorway 17 euros + fuel |
2,5 hours Cost: 25 euros |
| Rome (Roma) to Cinque Terre |
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) to Cinque Terre |
4 hours, 380 km (237 miles) Cost: motorway 30 euro + fuel |
from 5 to 6,5 hours |
| Florence (Firenze) to Cinque Terre |
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 to Cinque Terre |
1,5 hours, 114 km (70 miles) Cost: motorway 10 euros + fuel |
1 hours 15 min Cost: from 9 to 18 euros |
| Turin (Torino) to Cinque Terre |
3,5 hours, 260 km (161 miles) Cost: motorway 24 euros + fuel |
3,5 hours Cost: from 16 to 27 euros |
| Siena to Cinque Terre |
3 hours, 250 km (155 miles) Cost: motorway 16 euros + fuel |
3,5 hours Cost: from 21 to 27 euros |
| Lucca to Cinque Terre |
1,5 hours, 112 km (69 miles) Cost: motorway 11 euros + fuel |
1,5 hours Cost: from 9 to 20 euros |
| Napoli / Sorrento to Cinque Terre |
6 hours, 657 km (408 miles) Cost: motorway 50 euros + fuel |
about 10 hours Cost: from 60 to 100 euros |
| Palermo to Cinque Terre |
14,5 hours, 1358 km (843 miles) Cost: motorway 63 euros + fuel |
18 hours Cost: from 70 to 120 euros |
