Getting around · Cinque Terre · Italy
Getting around Cinque Terre
Public transport, passes, airport connections and when a car makes sense.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: This Photo was taken by Timothy A. Gonsalves . Feel free to use my photos, but please ment, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
The villages are linked by the regional railway between Levanto and La Spezia, with trains every 15–30 minutes in season and journeys of a few minutes between villages. Footpaths connect them along the coast and through the vineyards, and ferries run from spring to autumn. Inside the villages everything is on foot. No.
Key facts
- Main way around
- Train
- Airports
- PSA, GOA, FLR
- Need a car?
- No
- Travel pass
- Cinque Terre Treno MS Card
Ways to get around
Train
Regional trains between Levanto and La Spezia stop at all five villages; the hop between neighbouring villages takes about 2–5 minutes.
The Cinque Terre Treno card gives unlimited travel on this stretch plus trail access; validate paper single tickets before boarding.
Walking
Paths link all five villages, from the coastal Sentiero Azzurro to higher vineyard and sanctuary trails; distances are short but steep.
Ferry
From spring to autumn, ferries connect Levanto, Monterosso, Vernazza, Manarola, Riomaggiore, Porto Venere and La Spezia; there is no stop at Corniglia.
Services stop in rough seas, so do not rely on the last boat of the day.
Bus
Small park shuttle buses climb from the villages to hamlets and sanctuaries such as Volastra and up to Corniglia from its station; they are included in the Cinque Terre Card.
Car
Driving is not recommended: roads are narrow and winding, the villages are closed to visitors' cars and parking is scarce and expensive.
Tickets and passes
Cinque Terre Treno MS Card
Unlimited regional trains between Levanto and La Spezia, entry to the paid paths and park shuttle buses; sold for one or more days, with prices varying by season.
Cinque Terre Trekking Card
Covers the paid coastal paths and park shuttle buses but not trains; good value if you walk between villages.
From the airport
Pisa Airport (PSA) is the most convenient: the PisaMover shuttle links it to Pisa Centrale, from where trains reach La Spezia in about 1–1.5 hours. Genoa Airport (GOA) has a similar overall journey time to Levanto and Monterosso by bus and train, and Florence (FLR) is about 2.5–3 hours away by rail.
Do you need a car?
No. The villages are closed to visitors' cars, parking is limited and costly, and trains are quicker. If you arrive by car, leave it in La Spezia or Levanto and continue by train.
Reaching the day trips
| Destination | Travel time | How |
|---|---|---|
| Porto Venere and Palmaria | About 30 minutes by bus from La Spezia | ATC bus from La Spezia or seasonal ferry from the villages |
| Portofino | About 1.5 hours by train and bus | Train to Santa Margherita Ligure, then bus or ferry |
| Lerici and Tellaro | About 30 minutes by bus from La Spezia | ATC bus from La Spezia or seasonal ferry |
| Pisa | About 1–1.5 hours by train | Regional or Intercity train from La Spezia |
| Lucca | About 1.5–2 hours by train | Train via Viareggio or Pisa |
| Genoa | About 1.5 hours by train | Regional or Intercity train |
| Sestri Levante | About 30–45 minutes by train | Regional train |
Questions travellers ask
+Do you need a car in Cinque Terre?
No. The villages are closed to visitors' cars, parking is limited and costly, and trains are quicker. If you arrive by car, leave it in La Spezia or Levanto and continue by train.
+How do you get from the airport to Cinque Terre?
Pisa Airport (PSA) is the most convenient: the PisaMover shuttle links it to Pisa Centrale, from where trains reach La Spezia in about 1–1.5 hours. Genoa Airport (GOA) has a similar overall journey time to Levanto and Monterosso by bus and train, and Florence (FLR) is about 2.5–3 hours away by rail.
+What is the best way to get around Cinque Terre?
Train: Regional trains between Levanto and La Spezia stop at all five villages; the hop between neighbouring villages takes about 2–5 minutes.