The easiest way to get to the Cinque Terre is by train. All five villages have a station on the Genoa–La Spezia line, and regional trains link them to La Spezia and Levanto, the two gateways to the area. The closest airport is Pisa, about 90 km from La Spezia; Genoa is a good alternative if you are coming from the north. You can drive as far as La Spezia or Levanto, but the village centres are closed to traffic and parking is scarce and expensive.
- Closest airport: Pisa, about 90 km from La Spezia; then Genoa, about 90 km from Levanto
- Arrival stations: La Spezia Centrale (southern villages) or Levanto and Monterosso (northern villages)
- From Rome: Frecce or Intercity trains to La Spezia, 3–4 hours, then a regional train
- From Milan: some direct Intercity trains to Levanto and Monterosso, about 3 hours
- By car: A12 motorway, exit Carrodano–Levanto or La Spezia; park and continue by train
- Where to stay: La Spezia for connections, Levanto for the beach and a quieter base
Closest airports to the Cinque Terre
There is no airport in the Cinque Terre: whichever you choose, you finish the trip by train. Distances are by road.
- Pisa (about 90 km from La Spezia): the most convenient. The PisaMover shuttle takes you from the terminal to Pisa Centrale station in under three minutes, every day from 6am to midnight. From there, trains to La Spezia are frequent and take 45 minutes to 1 hour 30; some Intercity trains run direct to Monterosso. You can buy a single train + PisaMover ticket by choosing “Pisa Aeroporto” as your station.
- Genoa (about 90 km from Levanto, 110 km from La Spezia): the Volabus runs to Brignole and Piazza Principe stations in about 30 minutes; the Genova Airlink shuttle reaches Sestri Ponente station in 5 minutes. Then take the coastal train: the best option for Levanto, Monterosso and Vernazza.
- Florence (about 140 km): the tram takes you to Santa Maria Novella station, then it is about two and a half hours by train.
- Milan (Linate about 220 km, Malpensa and Bergamo over 260 km): more flights and often cheaper ones, but allow half a day. The Malpensa Express reaches Milano Centrale in about 50 minutes, then it is another three hours by train.
- Nice (about 300 km): handy if you are already on the French Riviera, but the train trip involves two changes. See below.
By train from Rome, Florence, Milan and Nice
The rule is simple: take a fast train to La Spezia, Levanto or Monterosso, then the Cinque Terre regional train. Frecce high-speed trains stop in La Spezia, not in the villages. Some Intercity trains also stop in Monterosso and Levanto.
| From | How | Approx. time | Changes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rome | Frecce or Intercity to La Spezia, then regional train | 3–4 h + 10–20 min | 1 |
| Florence | Direct regional train to La Spezia, or change in Pisa | about 2 h 30 + 10–20 min | 1 |
| Milan | Direct Intercity to Levanto or Monterosso (some days) | about 3 h | 0–1 |
| Turin | Train to Genoa, then train to Levanto or Monterosso | about 1 h 45 + 1–2 h | 1 |
| Genoa | Direct train to Levanto, Monterosso or La Spezia | 1–2 h | 0 |
| Pisa | Direct train to La Spezia (some to Monterosso) | 45 min–1 h 30 | 0–1 |
| Nice | TER to Ventimiglia, train to Genoa, train to the villages | about 5 h or more | 2 |
Times are taken from the 2025/2026 Italian rail timetable (checked on 10 October 2026) and vary a lot from train to train. Many direct trains only run on certain days: from Milan, for example, several Intercity trains to Monterosso do not run from 3 June to 30 September 2026. Always check your exact date on the Trenitalia website.
Rome to Cinque Terre
There are about ten direct trains a day from Roma Termini to La Spezia Centrale, a mix of Frecce and Intercity, taking 3 to 4 hours. There are no direct trains from Rome to Monterosso: change in La Spezia for the regional train to the villages.
Florence to Cinque Terre
Direct regional trains run from Santa Maria Novella to La Spezia in about two and a half hours. If there is no direct train, take a regional train to Pisa and change there.
Milan and Turin to Cinque Terre
From Milano Centrale, some Intercity trains run direct to Levanto and Monterosso in about three hours; others terminate in La Spezia. From Turin you almost always change in Genoa.
Nice to Cinque Terre
Take the TER to Ventimiglia, then a train to Genoa and another to Monterosso or Levanto. Allow about five hours, often more. The first leg is explained in our guide from Nice by train.
From the station to the villages
Pick your arrival station according to the village. For Riomaggiore and Manarola, get off in La Spezia: Riomaggiore is about 10 minutes away. For Monterosso and Vernazza, it is better to come from the north, via Levanto or straight to Monterosso. Corniglia is in the middle, above its station: from the train, walk up the Lardarina steps or take the bus.
Between Levanto and La Spezia, from 14 March to 1 November 2026, the Cinque Terre fare applies: 5, 8 or 10 euros per journey depending on the day, with the Cinque Terre Express running about every half hour. If you plan several journeys in a day, consider the Cinque Terre Card. Tickets and frequencies are explained on our Cinque Terre train page.
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Driving to the Cinque Terre
The main road is the A12 Genoa–Livorno motorway. From the north, via Parma, the A15 brings you down to La Spezia. The exits to use:
- Carrodano–Levanto: for Levanto, Monterosso and Vernazza, on narrow, winding hill roads. For Vernazza, read how to get to Vernazza.
- La Spezia–Santo Stefano di Magra: for La Spezia, Riomaggiore and Manarola; you cross the city and climb the Cinque Terre road.
Approximate distances to La Spezia: Milan about 220 km, Florence about 145 km, Turin about 270 km, Rome about 420 km, Nice about 300 km.
Getting there is not the problem; parking is. The village centres are closed to non-residents’ cars and car parks fill up early in summer. In Monterosso, in 2026, the two municipal car parks cost 3 euros an hour or 30 euros for 24 hours: see Monterosso parking. In Riomaggiore the covered car park costs 3.50 euros an hour: see Riomaggiore parking. For a day trip, leave the car in La Spezia or Levanto and take the train.
By ferry
From 28 March to 1 November 2026, ferries link La Spezia, Portovenere and Lerici with Riomaggiore, Manarola, Vernazza and Monterosso; Corniglia has no landing. Sailings can be cancelled in rough seas, so the ferry is a lovely way to arrive on a day trip, not to move hotels with luggage. In summer there are also excursions from Genoa, Camogli and the Tigullio coast. Everything is in our Cinque Terre ferry guide.
Where to base yourself
If you are staying a few days, you can sleep in the villages or just outside them. La Spezia is the practical choice: more hotels, lower prices, the main station for fast trains and the ferry pier. See also the Cinque Terre from La Spezia. Levanto is quieter, has a proper beach and is a few minutes by train from Monterosso.
Staying in a village means waking up by the sea, but also carrying luggage up steps: compare Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore, or all areas in where to stay in the Cinque Terre. For an overview of the area, start with our Cinque Terre guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is the closest airport to the Cinque Terre?
Pisa, about 90 km from La Spezia. The PisaMover takes you from the terminal to Pisa Centrale station in minutes, and from there trains reach La Spezia in 45 minutes to 1 hour 30. Genoa is a convenient alternative for Levanto and Monterosso.
How do I get from Rome to the Cinque Terre?
By train: a Frecce or Intercity train from Roma Termini to La Spezia Centrale, 3 to 4 hours, then a regional train to your village. There are no direct trains from Rome to Monterosso.
How long is the train from Florence or Milan?
From Florence, about two and a half hours to La Spezia on a direct regional train, plus 10–20 minutes to the villages. From Milan, about three hours on a direct Intercity to Levanto or Monterosso, when one runs on your date.
Can you drive into the villages?
Only as far as the car parks: the centres are closed to non-residents. Parking in Monterosso and Riomaggiore is paid and fills up early in summer. It is often easier to leave the car in La Spezia or Levanto.
Should I arrive in La Spezia or Levanto?
La Spezia if you come from Rome, Florence or Pisa, and for Riomaggiore and Manarola. Levanto or Monterosso if you come from Genoa, Milan, Turin or Nice, and for the northern villages.
How do you pronounce Cinque Terre?
CHEEN-kweh TEH-rreh. “Ci” sounds like “chee”, “qu” like “kw”, and both words are stressed on the first syllable. The double “r” in Terre is rolled. The name means “Five Lands”.