This article covers how to get to Cinque Terre from La Spezia, including the following information:
- Where is Cinque Terre
- How to Get From La Spezia to Cinque Terre: Public Transport Options
- Getting to Cinque Terre by Train
- La Spezia to Cinque Terre by Ferry
- Driving to Cinque Terre
- FAQ
Where is Cinque Terre
Cinque Terre is in the northern half of Italy along the Ligurian coastline. It’s within 2 hours of several airports located in Genoa, Pisa, Parma, and Florence.
The closest city with train connections, accommodation, and restaurants is La Spezia. If you’re not staying in Cinque Terre, then La Spezia is a very convenient base.
Because La Spezia is so close to Cinque Terre, you can easily do a day trip using the public transport options (mentioned below).
La Spezia to Cinque Terre – Transport Options
The best way to get to Cinque Terre from La Spezia is either by Train or Ferry. If you have a car or campervan, there is free parking in La Spezia within walking distance of the train station and ferry dock.
Otherwise, going to Cinque Terre by car is also a possibility.
Below you can find details for each of these options.
The tours from La Spezia and Florence are also a very popular way to access Cinque Terre.
The Train to Cinque Terre From La Spezia
What is the Cinque Terre Express?
Most visitors traveling from La Spezia to Cinque Terre will use the express train link. This is by far the easiest way to get to Cinque Terre, especially if you’re short on time or you’re making a port stop off one of the cruises.
The Cinque Terre Express runs between La Spezia and Levanto. Stopping at all 5 villages; Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza, and Monterosso al Mare in that order. It then continues to Levanto before returning along the same route back to La Spezia.
If you plan on doing at least 3 trips on the Cinque Terre Express, then the easiest thing to do is to buy a Cinque Terre Card. The 5T Card includes all-day travel, access to the main hiking trails, and a few other perks like use of the wifi in the 5 villages.
Where to Catch the Train to Cinque Terre
The train departs from ‘La Spezia Centrale’ which is located at the northern end of the old town.
You can walk to the station from the harbor or cruise ship terminal in around 25 minutes. There are also local taxis.
Tourist Transport Map of La Spezia
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How Long is the Train Ride to Cinque Terre
The total train journey from La Spezia to Cinque Terre is quick! Rather than meandering around hills, the train line cuts through the terrain via a network of tunnels.
From La Spezia to Riomaggiore the trip time is 10 minutes. The total trip from La Spezia to Levanto is only 30 minutes! So, you can see why La Spezia can make a great base for a holiday to the area.
The Cinque Terre Express Timetable
During the daytime in summer the trains are often delayed, but they are so frequent (3-4 times per hour) that it’s almost not a problem. The trains also run for most of the day from 4 am through to midnight.
Out of season, the trains run approximately every 30 minutes. The timetable is available online.
How Much is the Train Ticket
A single train ticket from La Spezia to any of the Cinque Terre towns is around 10 Euros during peak season.
You can’t use this ticket to hop on hop off, so if you want to go to more than one village, you need to purchase separate single tickets for each trip.
Savvy Travel Tips: If you’re planning on any more than 3 single trips, it can work out cheaper to buy the Cinque Terre Train Pass (Multi-Service Card). Full details are in our How to BUY a Cinque Terre Card Online blog post.
Where to Buy the Cinque Terre Train Ticket
Train tickets to Cinque Terre can be purchased online at Trenitalia or Omio. Tickets can also be purchased at La Spezia, Levanto, and all Cinque Terre train stations.
Need more information on the Cinque Terre Express and Cinque Terre Card? Check out our other content on this topic:
Getting to Cinque Terre by Ferry
The public ferries (operated by Navigazione Golfo Dei Poeti) have a route (Line 02) between La Spezia and Cinque Terre.
The boats stop at 4 of the 5 villages (Riomaggiore, Manarola, Vernazza, and Monterosso) since Corniglia doesn’t have a suitable dock.
How Long is it to Cinque Terre by Ferry
The ferries are a slower route to Cinque Terre, taking 1-2 hours depending on your stop. But the coastal scenery and Mediterranean breezes are a beautiful experience. Well worth it if you have the time!
Ferry Travel Time Between Cinque Terre Villages
The ferry takes 45 minutes to travel between Riomaggiore, Manarola, Vernazza, and Monterosso.
The Ferry Timetable
Ferries from La Spezia run from 9.15 am and depart from Cinque Terre before 6 pm. They run 4-6 times per day during late spring to early autumn and stop operating during the off-season months.
Ferries are subject to weather conditions. So, always check the ferry timetable and the Navigazione Golfo Dei Poeti website for the latest travel information.
Where to Get the Ferry to Cinque Terre
Ferries depart from the La Spezia marina area at the southern end of the harbor promenade. Return ferries depart from the docks at Riomaggiore, Manarola, Vernazza, and Monterosso.
How Much is the Ferry Ticket
There are one-way and return tickets available for single destinations. But the best value is an all-day hop-on hop-off adult ticket for around 42.50 Euros. Children travel for less than half price.
Given the frequency of the boats, travel time, and sightseeing time, it’s reasonable to see 2 to 3 towns by boat in one day.
We had a friend visit from Australia and took the hop-on-hop-off ferry back in June 2024. We visited 4 of the Cinque Terre towns, but it was a whirlwind trip. At our last town (Riomaggiore), we decided to slow the pace and enjoyed a late afternoon aperitivo at Bar & Vini. Consequently, missing the last boat and ended up having to get the train back to La Spezia. But it was worth it!
Savvy Travel Tips: If there are any more than 8 of you in a party, then consider booking a private boat tour. The cost will work out about the same as the all-day ticket, but you’ll get a more flexible and personal experience.
Where to Buy the Cinque Terre Ferry Ticket
The all-day ticket can be bought online or at the dock. All other tickets can only be purchased at the dock kiosk.
There is a kiosk at each of the docks in La Spezia, Porto Venere, Riomaggiore, Manarola, Vernazza, and Monterosso.
There are sometimes long lines, so plan to arrive a little early.
Driving to Cinque Terre
One of the special features of Cinque Terre is that due to the hilly terrain and ancient origins, parts of the villages are inaccessible to cars.
Even so, it is possible to drive to Cinque Terre, but the challenge is finding parking! I’ve written a separate blog post ‘How to Get to Cinque Terre by Car' to help you figure this out.
Wrap Up
The thing about Cinque Terre is that even though it’s a coastal national park flanked by hilly terrain; the transport into the area is remarkably easy.
In this blog I’ve given you the best travel options from La Spezia to Cinque Terre:
- By Train is the best way to get to Cinque Terre for a quick convenient trip that will allow you to spend less time travelling and more time sightseeing.
- By Ferry is best for a slow stress-free travel experience and to enjoy the coastal views.
FAQ
How to Get to Cinque Terre by Bus?
There is no direct public transport bus from La Spezia to Cinque Terre.
Technically you can go from La Spezia to Cinque Terre by bus however, it would require connecting at least 3 local busses. Just not worth the effort!
An alternative would be to organize a mini-bus with Radio Taxi La Spezia.
Can I Get the Bus Between Cinque Terre Villages?
There are also some environmentally friendly electric buses running from the 5 villages to the hamlets in the hills. But, the buses don’t connect between Cinque Terre villages.
You can use these buses for free with a Cinque Terre Card.
