Cinque Terre is one of those places whose whole character comes from being slightly difficult to reach. No motorway runs through the five villages, the roads that do exist are slow and high above the coast, and the easiest way between the villages has always been the train or the sea. Once you understand the two gateway towns and the little train that threads them, though, getting to and around Cinque Terre is genuinely simple. Here is how it works.
The two gateways: La Spezia and Levanto
Almost everyone arrives by train, and you will pass through one of two towns. La Spezia Centrale, just south of the villages, is the main hub and the one most long-distance trains connect to. Levanto, just north, is the other end of the local line and a lovely town in its own right. From either, you step onto the local line that threads all five villages, and from that point the train is how you get everywhere.
Getting there from the major cities
From Florence is the most common route, about 2 hours 10 minutes: take a train to Pisa Centrale (around an hour), change to the coastal service, and continue to Monterosso in roughly another hour, for about €14 to €18. Direct regional and Intercity trains from Florence to La Spezia also run in around two hours.
From Pisa, it is quick and cheap: Pisa to Monterosso takes about 1 hour 5 minutes for roughly €6 to €8.
From Milan, direct trains to Monterosso or La Spezia take around three to three and a half hours.
From Rome, take a Frecciarossa fast train toward La Spezia, changing at Florence or Pisa, for a total of just under four hours.
Wherever you start, aim for La Spezia Centrale or Monterosso, then switch to the local line.
The Cinque Terre Express: your local train
The village-to-village train is the Cinque Terre Express, a regional service running between Levanto and La Spezia and stopping at all five villages. In high season, roughly mid-March to early November, it runs very frequently, around every fifteen to twenty minutes across the day, so you rarely wait long. Journeys between neighbouring villages take only two to four minutes, most of it inside the cliff, so the ride is a few seconds of blazing blue sea between long dark tunnels. From La Spezia the trains run about hourly from early morning to around 10pm, reaching the villages in fifteen to thirty minutes.
The Cinque Terre Card: the ticket to get
For most visitors the sensible ticket is the Cinque Terre Card. The Train Card gives unlimited travel on the Cinque Terre Express plus access to the paid hiking trails, priced in demand bands from around €19.50 for a one-day low-season card up to about €32.50 on the busiest days. The Trekking Card, from about €7.50 a day, covers the trails and the village buses but not the train. If you plan to hop between villages more than twice in a day, the Train Card usually pays for itself, and in 2026 the Via dell’Amore is included.
Arriving by sea: the ferry
The prettier way to travel is by ferry. From roughly late March to early November, boats run along the coast connecting Monterosso, Vernazza, Manarola and Riomaggiore, plus Levanto, Portovenere and La Spezia. Corniglia, up on its headland with no sea access, is the one village the ferry cannot reach. A full-day hop-on hop-off pass runs about €42 for adults in 2026, with an afternoon pass around €28 and single legs from about €15. It is slower and weather-dependent, but seeing the villages rise out of the water the way sailors first saw them is worth an afternoon at least once.
From the airports, and where to leave a car
If you are flying in, the nearest airport is Pisa, about an hour from La Spezia by train and the easiest gateway of all. Genoa is a similar distance to the north, and Milan’s airports work too, with a train down to Monterosso or La Spezia in around three hours. From any of them the pattern is the same: train to La Spezia Centrale or straight to Monterosso, then the local Cinque Terre Express.
If you are driving, do not try to reach the villages themselves. Leave the car in a paid car park at La Spezia or Levanto, both of which sit right by their stations, and take the train the rest of the way. And a practical tip that saves a hot, awkward first afternoon: both La Spezia Centrale and Monterosso stations have left-luggage services, so if your room is not ready or you are visiting on the way through, you can drop your bags and explore hands-free. One more distinction worth knowing at the platform: the fast, frequent Cinque Terre Express covered by the Card is the one you want between the villages; ordinary regional trains stop here too but the Express is the workhorse of the coast.
A word on cars
Do not drive into the villages. They are effectively closed to outside traffic, parking is scarce and expensive, and the roads are slow. If you are on a road trip, leave the car in La Spezia or Levanto, both of which have parking near the station, and take the train in. Inside the park you will not need a car at all.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best way to get to Cinque Terre?
By train. Arrive at La Spezia Centrale or Levanto, then switch to the local Cinque Terre Express, which stops at all five villages. From Florence the whole journey is about 2 hours 10 minutes via Pisa.
How do you get around Cinque Terre?
By the Cinque Terre Express train, which links all five villages every fifteen to twenty minutes in high season, with rides of just two to four minutes. Ferries connect every village except Corniglia from spring to autumn.
Is the Cinque Terre Card worth it?
If you plan to hop between villages more than twice a day, the Train Card usually pays for itself, since it covers unlimited Cinque Terre Express travel plus the trails. In 2026 it also includes the Via dell’Amore.
Can you drive in Cinque Terre?
No, the villages are closed to outside traffic and parking is scarce. Leave your car in La Spezia or Levanto and take the train in. You will not need a car inside the park.
How far is Cinque Terre from Florence?
About 2 hours 10 minutes by train, usually changing at Pisa, for roughly €14 to €18. It makes a long but doable day trip, though staying at least one night is far better.
Planning the wider trip? See the complete guide to Cinque Terre for the villages, trails, beaches and where to stay.
Read also: The Perfect Cinque Terre Itinerary | Where to Stay in Cinque Terre | The Complete Guide to Cinque Terre
