The fastest way to get from Venice to Cinque Terre is by car. It is around 400 km (250 miles) and takes by car about 4,5 hours.
Venice to Cinque Terre by car
It is relatively cheap to rent a car in Italy. If you plan to make a round trip, you can stop and visit Milan, Bologna, Florence, Lucca or Pisa on your way from Venice to Cinque Terre.
Take the A13/A15 highway from Venice to La Spezia via Parma. For Monterosso exit at Carrodano - Levanto, follow the signs towards Levanto. At the second roundabout turn left in direction Monterosso. If you are heading to Riomaggiore and Manarola, exit at La Spezia and continue towards Cinque Terre. More information: How to get to Cinque Terre.
If you plan to stay in one of the Cinque Terre villages, make sure to book an accommodation in Cinque Terre with private parking.
All vehicles must pay tolls at the toll gates of the Italian highways autostrada. You must take a ticket when you enter the autostrada, and pay when you exit using cash or a card. Price by car Venice - Cinque Terre: toll fee 33 euros + fuel.
Venice to Cinque Terre by train
You can take the train from Venice to Cinque Terre and the journey takes about 5,5 hours. By train you can choose between two itineraries. The first one is Venice - Milan - Cinque Terre with a stop in Milan. The second one is Venice - Florence - La Spezia - Cinque Terre with stops in Florence and La Spezia. From La Spezia you can reach the villages of Cinque Terre with the Cinque Terre Express trains.
Intercity train tickets are significantly cheaper when you book in advance. A seat reservation is included in the ticket price. Booking for high-speed trains usually opens 3-4 months ahead. Local and regional trains do not require seat reservations and have fixed prices, which means there is no cost advantage in pre-booking.
During your stay in Cinque Terre there is no need for a car. The best way to get around the five villages is by boat, train or hiking.
