La Spezia is the gateway to Cinque Terre — and it's closer than most people realise. From Florence, Pisa, or Genoa, all five villages are reachable by train without a hire car, a cliff road or a change of hotel.
Once you reach La Spezia, the Cinque Terre Express takes over — a local train that hops between all five villages every 20 minutes, with each journey taking just a few minutes. The whole coastline is yours. To find out more about getting around Cinque Terre see our Cinque Terre Train Tickets Guide.
This guide covers all five villages of Cinque Terre (which literally translates as "five lands") — what each one is actually like, how they connect by train and on foot, and exactly how long you need to do it justice.
I stayed in Monterosso al Mare in an apartment overlooking the bay, and visited all five villages over five nights. Here is everything I'd tell someone planning the same trip.
| Village | Character | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Monterosso al Mare | Largest, most resort-like | Beaches, restaurants, staying overnight |
| Vernazza | Most dramatic harbour | Views, atmosphere, dining |
| Corniglia | Hilltop, quietest | Vineyard views, escaping the crowds |
| Manarola | Most photogenic | Iconic views, swimming off rocks |
| Riomaggiore | Most accessible | Colourful harbour, seafood |
Getting to Cinque Terre by Train
| From Florence | 2 hours 30 minutes — train to Pisa Centrale, change for La Spezia |
| From Pisa | Just over 1 hour — direct train to La Spezia |
| From Genoa | Just over 1 hour — direct train to La Spezia, or some trains go direct to the villages |
| From Milan | Around 3 hours — direct or via Genoa |
| From Rome | Around 3 hours 30 minutes — via Florence or Pisa |
| La Spezia to villages | 5–20 minutes on the Cinque Terre Express |
| Book via | Trenitalia |
From Florence — take any Florence to Pisa service, then change at Pisa Centrale for a direct train to La Spezia. From Genoa, Cinque Terre is closer still, making it an excellent base for exploring the Ligurian coast in both directions.
Book mainline trains in advance through Trenitalia or Italo, especially in summer. With Trenitalia you can often buy the train ticket from your original departure location all the way through to one of the Cinque Terre villages. Some trains from Genoa actually run directly to the villages, with no change at La Spezia required. Otherwise, Cinque Terre Express Tickets can be bought at La Spezia station or you can buy the Cinque Terre Card.
Day Trip or Stay Overnight? My Honest Advice
From Pisa or Genoa, Cinque Terre works very well as a day trip — the journey is short enough to leave you a full day in the villages. From Florence, it's technically doable but long — 2 hours 30 minutes each way means leaving by 8am and returning by 8pm, giving you around 7 hours. From Milan or Rome, a day trip is ambitious and I wouldn't recommend it.
But honestly, whatever your starting point, staying at least one night transforms the experience entirely. What makes Cinque Terre genuinely special is the evenings. During the day the villages are packed with day-trippers. By early evening, when the last boats and trains have carried the crowds away, the villages return to being quiet and intimate — locals reclaim the harbours, the restaurants slow down, the light on the water becomes extraordinary. I experienced a dramatic thunderstorm one evening that rolled around the bay at Monterosso, and it was one of the most memorable moments of that Italian holiday. You simply won't get that on a day trip.
If you only have one day
- Arrive as early as possible — aim to be in La Spezia by 10am
- Take the Cinque Terre Express to Monterosso first (furthest north)
- Work your way south — Vernazza, then Manarola or Riomaggiore
- You can realistically see three villages comfortably, four if you move quickly
- Skip Corniglia unless the hilltop climb specifically appeals to you
- Head back from La Spezia by 6pm at the latest if returning to Florence
If you can stay one or two nights
- Stay in Monterosso or Vernazza — both have the most accommodation options
- Two to three nights gives you time to visit all five villages, do at least one walk between the villages and have a beautiful meal
- You can also venture further up the coast to Portofino and Camogli with an extra night
Getting Between the Villages — Train and Walking
Once in Cinque Terre, the Cinque Terre Express train is your main mode of transport. It runs between Levanto in the north and La Spezia in the south, stopping at all five villages. The journey between any two adjacent villages takes just a few minutes.
| Cinque Terre Card (train + hiking) | €36.50 - €61 for 2 days — includes trail access and unlimited travel on the Express. Children and family cards available. Full pricing in our train guide |
| Single train tickets | €5 - 10 per journey between villages, depending on the season. Children aged 4-11 receive a 50% discount |
| Ferry | Runs seasonally between villages — a beautiful way to see the coastline |
The hiking trails connect all five villages along the clifftops with spectacular views. The coastal hiking trails between Monterosso and Vernazza, Vernazza and Corniglia, and the Via dell'Amore (Riomaggiore to Manarola) all require a Cinque Terre Card for access. In winter, these trails are free to use without a card — the only exception is the Via dell'Amore, which carries a fee year-round. The walk between Monterosso and Vernazza is the most dramatic and takes around 90 minutes. Check the Cinque Terre National Park website for current trail conditions before you go.
In the past Via dell'Amore required an additional upgrade to access but for 2026 this has changed and now access is integrated into the standard Cinque Terre Cards. But you still need to book a time slot, as entry is limited and controlled. You can't just show up and walk in freely.
For a full breakdown of ticket prices, the Cinque Terre Card and timetables, see our dedicated Cinque Terre train guide.
The Five Villages — What Each One Is Actually Like
Monterosso al Mare — The Largest Village
| Character | The most developed and resort-like of the five — the only flat village with a proper beach |
| Best for | Staying overnight, beach days, restaurants, the best seafood |
| Beach | The only real sandy beach in Cinque Terre — stony but the water is crystal clear |
| Getting there | Direct from La Spezia on the Cinque Terre Express — northernmost village |
Monterosso is where I stayed and I'd recommend it as a base. It's the largest of the five villages with the most accommodation options, the only proper beach and a wider range of restaurants. The beach itself is stony rather than sandy but the water is crystal clear and brilliantly blue. During the day it fills with tourists but the evenings are peaceful and genuinely lovely — the bay is beautiful at dusk and the village has an old town tucked through a tunnel that feels completely separate from the tourist beach area.
My apartment overlooked the bay directly, and watching the light change over the water from the terrace was worth the trip alone. One evening a thunderstorm rolled in from the sea and crashed around the bay for hours — the kind of experience that stays with you.
What to eat in Monterosso
Monterosso is famous for its anchovies — the local variety are considered among the finest in Italy. But the thing not to miss is Il Bocconcino, a tiny takeaway just below the station where they fry seafood fresh to order in front of you and serve it in a paper cone. Shrimps, anchovies, calamari, cod — everything is cooked in minutes and eaten on a bench overlooking the sea. It costs around €8–13 and is one of the best things you'll eat in Cinque Terre. Go early — there's often a queue.
For a proper sit-down meal Ristorante Miky on Via Fegina is the local institution — family run, excellent seafood and one of the best-regarded restaurants on the coast. Book ahead in summer.
What makes it special
- The only village with a proper beach — essential if you're visiting in summer
- The old town through the tunnel feels completely untouched
- The best base for exploring the other villages by train
- Il Bocconcino fried seafood cone — genuinely unmissable
- The most dramatic storm views of any village when the weather turns
Vernazza — The Most Dramatic Harbour
| Character | The most visually dramatic of the five — a natural harbour surrounded by colourful buildings and a ruined castle above |
| Best for | Atmosphere, the best views, dining on the harbour |
| Getting there | One stop south of Monterosso on the Cinque Terre Express |
| Walk from Monterosso | Takes 90 minutes — the most spectacular section |
Vernazza is many people's favourite — and it's easy to see why. The harbour is extraordinary, a natural inlet surrounded by pastel-coloured buildings that rise steeply up the hillside, with a ruined medieval castle perched at the top. The main piazza sits right on the water and is one of the finest spots in Italy to sit with a glass of wine and watch the world go by.
Rick Steves famously called Vernazza the jewel of Cinque Terre, and while that brings its own crowds, it's not wrong. The walk from Monterosso along the clifftop trail descends into Vernazza from above — the view as you come down the trail is genuinely breathtaking.
What makes it special
- The most photogenic harbour in Cinque Terre — possibly in all of Liguria
- The ruined castle is worth climbing for the views
- The piazza on the water is one of the great places to sit in Italy
- The trail descent from Monterosso reveals the village from above — stunning
Corniglia — The Quiet One on the Hill
| Character | The only village without sea access — perched high on a clifftop surrounded by vineyards |
| Best for | Escaping the crowds, vineyard views, a quieter Cinque Terre experience |
| Getting there | Train to Corniglia station — then 377 steps up to the village, or a shuttle bus |
Corniglia is the most unusual of the five villages — it sits high on a clifftop with no direct sea access, surrounded by vineyards rather than harbours. It's the smallest and least visited, which means it also feels the most authentically local. The 377 steps from the train station up to the village deter a lot of day-trippers, which is exactly its charm.
If you've come for the coastal scenery and beach swimming, Corniglia is easily skipped on a short visit. But if you want to understand what Cinque Terre felt like before the tourists arrived, this is the village to spend an hour in.
What makes it special
- The quietest and most local-feeling of the five villages
- Extraordinary views over the vineyards and coastline
- Worth the climb for the atmosphere — very different from the harbour villages
- Easily skipped on a one-day visit but rewarding if you have more time
Manarola — The Most Photogenic
| Character | Colourful, dramatic, home to Cinque Terre's most iconic viewpoint |
| Best for | Photography, sunset views, swimming off rocks |
| Getting there | Train from La Spezia — 10 minutes |
| Don't miss | The viewpoint at Punta Buonfiglio — the classic Cinque Terre photograph |
Manarola produces what is probably the most reproduced photograph in all of Cinque Terre — the view from Punta Buonfiglio of the colourful village stacked against the cliffs above the sea. It's reached by an accessible coastal path from the harbour and is genuinely as dramatic in person as in photographs.
The village itself is compact and beautiful, with rocks below the harbour where locals swim in the summer. The wine bar Nessun Dorma, just above the viewpoint, is famous for its aperitivo with the view — book ahead or arrive early in summer.
Eating at Trattoria Dal Billy was one of the highlights of my Cinque Terre trip. The restaurant sits at the top of the village, above the harbour, with a balcony looking out over the vineyards that cling to the steep hillsides dropping down to the sea. We had seafood — fresh, simple and extraordinary — while the terraced vines spread out below us in every direction. It's the kind of meal that stays with you. Book ahead — there are only seven tables on the outdoor terrace and it fills up fast. Rick Steves recommends it, which tells you everything you need to know.
What makes it special
- Home to the most iconic view in Cinque Terre — Punta Buonfiglio at sunset
- Excellent swimming off the rocks below the harbour
- Nessun Dorma wine bar — one of the best spots in Cinque Terre for an Aperol Spritz
- More intimate than Vernazza but equally beautiful
- Trattoria Dal Billy — perched above the village among the terraced vineyards, with a balcony overlooking the steep hillside. One of the best seafood meals I've had in Italy. Book in advance — there are only 7 outdoor tables
Riomaggiore — The Southern Gateway
| Character | The southernmost and most accessible village — colourful harbour, steep streets, lively atmosphere |
| Best for | A first taste of Cinque Terre, seafood, easy access from La Spezia |
| Getting there | 5 minutes from La Spezia on the Cinque Terre Express — the first stop |
Riomaggiore is the first village most people reach from La Spezia and it makes an excellent introduction to Cinque Terre. The harbour is colourful and dramatic, the streets are steep and narrow, and it has a lively, slightly more urban atmosphere than the other villages. It's also the starting point for the Via dell'Amore. I'd recommend spending at least an hour here before moving north — it sets the tone for everything that follows beautifully.
What makes it special
- The most accessible village from La Spezia — ideal for a quick first stop
- A lively harbour atmosphere with excellent seafood restaurants
- The colourful stacked buildings are as beautiful as any of the villages
- Good base for exploring the southern villages
Beyond Cinque Terre — Portofino, Camogli and the Ligurian Coast
If you're staying two nights or more, Cinque Terre also gives you access to one of the most beautiful stretches of the Italian coast. Heading north from La Spezia by train, the Ligurian coastline takes you to some extraordinary places that most visitors miss entirely.
| Portofino | One of Italy's most glamorous villages — a beautiful harbour surrounded by pastel buildings and luxury yachts. Small, exclusive and worth every minute. |
| Camogli | A fishing village with a spectacular pebble beach and tall, narrow colourful houses that stack dramatically above the sea. Less touristy than Portofino and genuinely fabulous. |
| Getting there | Train north from La Spezia towards Genoa — Camogli and Santa Margherita Ligure (for Portofino) are on this line |
I visited both Portofino and Camogli and they are genuinely worth the detour if you have the time. Camogli in particular is one of those places that feels completely undiscovered despite being extraordinary — the beach is wide, the buildings are colourful and tall, and the atmosphere is relaxed in a way that Cinque Terre can't quite manage in peak season.
To get to Portofino, you get off the train at Santa Margherita Ligure. I decided to walk to Portofino from there, which takes about 1 - 1.5 hours, but is a delightful walk along the coast, and at the end it finishes on a woodland path. You can also take the 782 bus that runs every 15-30 minutes (it's possible to pay onboard with a card). Or you can take the boat, which runs every 15 minutes during summertime.
Practical Information
- Book trains in advance — trains to La Spezia from Florence, Milan and Rome book up quickly in summer. Regional trains are also available but take longer and can't be booked as far ahead
- Cinque Terre Card — potentially worth buying if you plan to use the train multiple times across your visit. Includes hiking trail access on the combined card
- Crowds — July and August are extremely busy. May, June and September are significantly more pleasant. The villages are still open in winter but some restaurants close
- Accommodation — book well in advance for summer. Monterosso has the most options. Vernazza and Manarola fill up fastest
- Trail conditions — check the Cinque Terre National Park website before visiting as trail closures change. The Monterosso to Vernazza section is the most consistently open
- Ferry — the seasonal ferry between villages is a beautiful alternative to the train and gives you a completely different perspective on the coastline.
Frequently Asked Questions — Getting to Cinque Terre by Train
How far is Cinque Terre from Florence by train?
Florence to Cinque Terre takes around 2 hours 30 minutes by train, with a change at Pisa Centrale. From Florence Santa Maria Novella, take any service to Pisa, then change for a direct train to La Spezia. From La Spezia the Cinque Terre Express connects all five villages in minutes.
Can you get to Cinque Terre from Pisa by train?
Yes — Pisa to La Spezia is just over an hour by direct train with no changes. It's one of the easiest approaches to Cinque Terre and makes a straightforward day trip from Pisa.
How do you get to Cinque Terre from Genoa?
Genoa to La Spezia is just over an hour by direct train — making Cinque Terre one of the most accessible destinations from Genoa. If you're based on the Ligurian coast, Cinque Terre is essentially on your doorstep.
Can you do Cinque Terre as a day trip from Florence?
Yes — but it's a long day. Leaving Florence by 8am gives you around 7 hours in Cinque Terre before needing to return. That's enough to see two or three villages but you'll miss the evenings, which are the best part. Staying at least one night is strongly recommended. From Pisa or Genoa, a day trip is much more comfortable.
Which Cinque Terre village should I stay in?
Monterosso al Mare is the best base — it has the most accommodation, the only proper beach and excellent restaurants. Vernazza is the most atmospheric but has fewer options and books up fastest. Manarola is quieter and beautiful but has less choice. All five villages are easily reached by train from any base.
Are the Cinque Terre hiking trails open?
Some sections have reopened recently after long closures following landslides, but not all trails are consistently open. Always check the Cinque Terre National Park website before your visit for current conditions. The Monterosso to Vernazza section is the most reliably open and the most spectacular.
Do you need a Cinque Terre Card?
Not essential for a short visit but worth it if you're taking multiple train journeys between villages. The combined train and hiking card costs €36.50 - €61 for two days and includes unlimited Cinque Terre Express travel plus access to the hiking trails. Individual train tickets between villages cost from €5 - €10 each, depending on the season. For a full breakdown of what each card includes and costs, see our Cinque Terre train guide.
What is the best time of year to visit Cinque Terre?
May, June and September offer the best combination of good weather, lighter crowds and reasonable prices. July and August are extremely busy — the villages can feel overwhelmed by day-trippers. October is beautiful but some businesses begin closing for winter. Avoid November to March when many restaurants and accommodation options are closed.
Can you visit Portofino from Cinque Terre?
Yes — take a train north from La Spezia towards Genoa and stop at Santa Margherita Ligure, from where Portofino is a short bus ride or boat trip. Camogli is on the same line and equally worth visiting. Both are easily doable as a day trip if you're staying two or more nights in Cinque Terre.
