The Cinque Terre Card (or Cinque Terre Pass) is your easy ticket to accessing transport (trains and buses) and hiking trails in the Cinque Terre National Park. In this post, I’ve explained everything you need to know about the Cinque Terre Card including:
- The Cinque Terre Train
- The different pass options
- Cinque Terre Pass Pricing (Peak and Off Season)
- Inclusions
- Where to buy tickets
- Entering the park without a pass
Planning your visit? Check out our range of comprehensive La Spezia and Cinque Terre itineraries to make the most of your time in this beautiful region.
The Cinque Terre Train
The Cinque Terre train is the easiest and most convenient way to travel between the five picturesque villages of Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, and Riomaggiore on Italy’s Ligurian coast.
This regional train runs frequently throughout the day and connects all five towns in just minutes, making it ideal for sightseeing without the hassle of driving and the expense of parking.
The route offers beautiful coastal views, and (with a Cinque Terre Train Card) you can hop on and off to explore each village at your own pace.
It’s a practical and stress-free way to enjoy the beauty of the Cinque Terre.
Visit Cinque Terre with local insights.
We include a visit to 3 towns, suggestions for lunch, aperitivo & dinner. Also includes wine and cultural tour options, self-guided sightseeing routes, cultural and historic notes, and where to take iconic photos.
Types of Cinque Terre Pass
There are three types of Cinque Terre Pass available.
- Cinque Terre Trekking Card
- Cinque Terre Card (also known as the Cinque Terre Treno Multi Service Card)
- Cinque Terre Card Plus
You can also read about how to access the park without a pass to save money.
Important Advice: During peaks season it's best to buy your Cinque Terre Card online (the lines at the train stations can be long and move slowly).
See below for quick steps to buy your pass direct from with Trenitalia.
The Cinque Terre Trekking Card
This pass is specifically for visitors wanting to hike the famous trails. This is arguably the best way to explore Cinque Terre.
Click here for a free downloadable trekking map.
Only the popular Cinque Terre Blue Trail (Sentiero Verde Azzurro – SVA) Trail between Corniglia and Monterosso has an entry point where tickets are checked*.
So, if you plan to hike the other trails then the trekking pass is not required. This detail isn’t made clear on the Cinque Terre National Parks website, but I recently confirmed this with their customer services team.
*The section of the SVA trail called the Via dell'Amore (The Way of Love) from Riomaggiore to Manarola is included with the Cinque Terre Card Plus.
The Cinque Terre Card - Treno Multi Service
This pass is a combined Cinque Terre rail pass and trekking pass. You get everything that’s included in the Trekking Card, plus unlimited train travel on the Cinque Terre Express trains.
The Cinque Terre Train Pass includes the stops of La Spezia, the towns of Cinque Terre (Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza, and Monterosso al Mare) and Levanto.
Cinque Terre Card Plus
The Cinque Terre Card Plus is a visitor pass that grants access to the Cinque Terre National Park's trails, train services, and the Via dell'Amore (Path of Love).
This ticket is not available through Trenitalia. However, if you really want to walk the Via dell'Amore, you can buy an add-on ticket from the booth near Riomaggiore train station. I think it's important that I share honest information here. So, I'll just add that many people comment that the path is not worth the additional (approx) 10 Euro cost.
Buy your Cinque Terre Card and tickets - with no booking fees!
Cinque Terre Pass Pricing
Cinque Terre Trekking Card Prices 2026
The Cinque Terre Trekking Card has a simple standard pricing structure as follows:
Cinque Terre Card Prices 2026
The current Cinque Terre Card pricing is valid from 14th March 2026 to 2nd November 2026. You should note that prices are variable (depending on A-B-C dates, which the National Parks have specified as Low, Medium, and High demand):
- A is represented in green and is a low-demand day
- B is represented in yellow and is a medium-demand day
- C is represented in red and is a high-demand day
If you’re trying to cut some costs, then it’s worth using Cinque Terre Card: A-B-C price calendar to avoid the high demand / high cost dates.
The good news is that in 2026, Cinque Terre National Parks will maintain the majority of dates as either low or medium demand – like they did in 2025. This is in stark contrast to 2024, when the Cinque Terre Card prices almost doubled, AND most of June to September was classed as high demand!
In the pricing tables below, you can find the fees* charged for the Cinque Terre Card depending on the low, medium, and high (A-B-C) demand classification.
2026 Cinque Terre Card Pricing for Low Demand Dates
(Most of March and early April. Weekdays in May and most of October)
2026 Cinque Terre Card Pricing for Medium Demand Dates
(Some days in April and May. Most weekdays in June to August and most of September)
2026 Cinque Terre Card Pricing for High Demand Dates
(Most weekends from Easter to end of August)
*Prices are current at time of posting.
Cinque Terre Card Plus Prices
Supplement Fee: If you already possess a Cinque Terre Card or Cinque Terre Trekking Card, you can add the Via dell'Amore access for an additional €10 (2026 pricing).
Combined Tickets: Alternatively, you can purchase the combined ticket Cinque Terre Card Plus that includes both the Via dell'Amore entry and the Cinque Terre Card.
Off Season Pricing
The off-season dates for visiting Cinque Terre are 03 November 2025 to 14 March 2026. This is the cheapest and quietest time to visit the park and 5 towns.
Cinque Terre Trekking Card
All the trails are free in winter, so the purchase of a trekking card isn’t needed during winter.
2026 Cinque Terre Card - Off Season Pricing Table:
*Prices are current at time of posting.
The Cinque Terre Pass Inclusions
The Cinque Terre Trekking Card Inclusions
The Cinque Terre Trekking Card includes everything listed above except for the train journeys. The trekking card is ideal for visitors who are staying in the park (to hike the SVA trail) and not commuting from La Spezia or the surrounding areas.
The Cinque Terre Card - Treno MS Card Inclusions
The 5 Terre Treno MS card includes the following:
Unlimited train journeys on the regional and the 5 Terre express trains between La Spezia and Levanto
Access to the Cinque Terre Park area
Guided tours and workshops as scheduled (see national park’s website)
Reduced rate admission to the Civic Museums of La Spezia
WI-FI internet browsing in the Park Hot Spots
Use of the local buses in the park area – service managed by ATC
Free use of toilets in the municipalities of Monterosso, Vernazza and Riomaggiore
Cinque Terre Card Plus Inclusions
Access to Trails: The card allows you to hike on the Sentiero Azzurro (Blue Path), a coastal trail connecting some of the five villages of the Cinque Terre.
Train Travel: It offers unlimited travel on the trains between the Cinque Terre villages.
Via dell'Amore Access: The card includes entry to the Via dell'Amore, a scenic 900-meter path between Riomaggiore and Manarola, renowned for its coastal views.
Where to Buy Tickets for Cinque Terre
Train tickets and Cinque Terre Cards can be bought at every train station in Cinque Terre, Levanto, and La Spezia. But, from May through to September the lineup for train tickets is LONG! There are no limits on the number of tickets sold per day, but I recommend buying tickets online to avoid wasting time in the lengthy queues.
Online Cinque Terre Cards are available through the national parks website.
You can also buy the Cinque Terre Card from Trenitalia.
You pay no additional booking fees when buying the Cinque Terre Card through Trenitalia and they have at least 6 payment options.
Our article How to BUY a Cinque Terre Card ONLINE explains the details and covers all the steps to get you on your journey! Or Watch our YouTube video showing you how to buy tickets quickly and easily!
Buy your Cinque Terre Card and tickets - with no booking fees!
Trenitalia is a national rail network provider and sells train tickets for most train routes in Italy.
Traveling by train is a popular transport option for tourists because the Italian rail network is affordable, convenient, and considered to be safe and reliable. Find out more in our Beginners' Guide to Italy by Train.
Cinque Terre Card for Cruise Ship Passengers & Day Trippers
Cruise ship passengers going to Cinque Terre usually opt to travel by train. There is a ferry option but it’s slow (and subject to weather). This means you’ll be in transit for longer and do less actual sightseeing.
For more detailed information specifically for cruise passengers, visit our dedicated cruise passengers guide.
The best Cinque Terre Pass for cruise ship passengers (or day trippers) is the one-day Cinque Terre Card. With this card, you can hop-on-hop-off all day long without having to queue and buy separate rail tickets for each leg of the journey.
The Cinque Terre Card also includes the journey from La Spezia train station straight through to Cinque Terre. My top tip is to purchase your Cinque Terre Card online BEFORE you arrive. Meaning you can avoid the long lines and save precious time.
Cruise passengers can walk to the train station in around 25 minutes, catch a taxi, or buy a ticket for the tourist shuttle.
Is The Cinque Terre Card Worth It?
The Cinque Terre Trekking Card is worth getting if you plan on hiking the SVA trail, catching the shuttle buses or wanting to attend a workshop or tour. Remember all other trails in the park are free access. There is no specific entry fee for the park.
The Cinque Terre Card is €32.50 during high season. This is ONLY needed if you are hiking the SVA trail AND need to do at least 3 train trips in one day.
If you are hiking between villages and using the SVA trail then you can also do a combination of single train tickets plus a Trekking Card (purchased at the National Parks Office or at the paid trail entry point).
Entering the Park Without a Cinque Terre Pass
The Cinque Terre Card (Trekking Card and Multi-Service Card) are designed for the following situations:
- Visitors doing more than 2 train trips in one day.
- Visitors walking the Cinque Terre Blue Trail – Sentiero Verde Azzurro (SVA).
If this isn’t you, then you can visit the park without buying a pass or paying an entry fee!
The National Parks website doesn’t make this detail very clear, but the information is in their FAQ.
You can still ride the trains by purchasing single train tickets.
If you’re traveling by train in Italy then it’s best to purchase your tickets online because not all stations have multilingual ticketing staff. Also, the pricing of tickets is very variable.
If you buy online, you can see all the options, routes, and pricing. The most comprehensive website that includes both Trenitalia and Italo rail routes is Omio. This site also shows options for buses and flights!
Conclusion
Depending on the type of trip you’re doing, you will either need a Cinque Terre Trekking Card, a Cinque Terre Card, a Cinque Terre Card Plus, or single train tickets.
In this article, I’ve explained the types of passes, inclusions, and the costs. Remember, if you need a Cinque Terre Card or a single train ticket, then buy online to avoid the long lines!
If you would like to know more about the Cinque Terre Pass, then you might also like to read these related posts:
How to BUY a Cinque Terre Card ONLINE – With Trenitalia!
Cinque Terre Train Card – Your Questions Answered
Cinque Terre Train Guide for First Timers
FAQ
Is the Cinque Terre Card refundable?
Refunds are limited to hiking path closures following a weather alert and train strikes. Contact the national parks directly for ticket refunds: ti.erret5elanoizanocrap@drac
Is the Cinque Terre Card transferrable?
The Cinque Terre Card is personal and non-transferable.
What is the period of validity of the Cinque Terre Pass?
The card can be bought daily or as a multi-day pass (you specify the dates when you buy the Cinque Terre Card online). The card expires at 11.59pm on the last day of validity.
The card must be shown to the inspectors (and at times you may have to present a valid identity document).
Do I have to validate the Cinque Terre Card?
If you have a date of validity on your ticket (or eTicket) then no validation is required.
Usually, the only tickets requiring validation are single or return train tickets with no specific train or time.
Can I change my travel date?
You can change the date only once. Cinque Terre Card changes are allowed up until 11:59 p.m. of the day prior to the selected date. If you buy your ticket through Trenitalia, then you can make changes directly through their website.
How frequent are the Cinque Terre trains?
You can find train schedules on the Trenitalia website.
Peak Season: There are up to 4 trains every hour and trains run almost 24 hours per day.
Low Season: There are up to 2 trains every hour and trains run from around 4am to midnight.
Do disabled visitors get a concession rate?
Disabled travelers holding an EU Blue Card or UK Blue Badge must still pay the full rate applicable. But disabled visitors are entitled to claim free travel for a single companion.
Can I bring my dog to Cinque Terre?
Yes, absolutely!
But be considerate and stick to the rules (travel with EU passport/documents, on leash, wear on muzzle on public transport, pick up after your dog, etc.).
Dogs, cats and other small pets can travel on trains free of charge if they are in a pet carrier with a maximum size of 70 x 30 x 50 cm.
Larger dogs are allowed but you need to buy a ticket for them to travel. Trenitalia has a special rate for dogs travelling on trains. But if you are buying a Cinque Terre Treno MS Card, then large dogs need a child ticket.
Are bicycles allowed on the trains?
In some parts of Italy there are nominal fees charged for carrying a bike. But on all regional trains in Liguria (including Cinque Terre), passengers are allowed to travel with a bicycle free of charge.
