The train is the easiest way to get around the Cinque Terre: the Levanto–La Spezia line stops in all five villages, and each hop takes just a few minutes. In 2026, from 14 March to 1 November, the Cinque Terre Express runs on top of the ordinary regional trains, with 46 extra departures a day, roughly every half hour. During this period a special fare applies: a single ticket costs €5, €8 or €10 depending on the day.
This page covers 2026 prices for tickets and the Cinque Terre Card, how to work out which one pays off, journey times, validation, bikes and dogs. Minute-by-minute timetables change often, so we don’t print them: check the official timetable on Trenitalia or in the app on the day.
- Cinque Terre Express: 14 March–1 November 2026, about every 30 minutes, Levanto–La Spezia
- Single ticket: €5, €8 or €10 depending on the day’s fare band; children 4–12 half price
- After 7.30pm: you always pay the lowest band, €5
- Cinque Terre Train Card: 1 day €22, €29.50 or €35 for an adult
- Times: La Spezia–Riomaggiore about 10 minutes, La Spezia–Monterosso about 20
- Validity: a single ticket covers one journey, 75 minutes from validation
The Cinque Terre Express in 2026
The Cinque Terre Express isn’t a special train: it’s extra Trenitalia regional services shuttling between Levanto and La Spezia (Centrale or Migliarina), stopping at Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore. In 2026 it runs from 14 March to 1 November with 46 extra daily services, about one every half hour. Nine of them continue to Sestri Levante, handy if you’re staying on the Tigullio coast.
Together with the ordinary regional trains on the Genoa–La Spezia line, in season you get at least one train every half hour in each direction, from morning to evening. Around midday on summer weekends trains are packed and the narrow village platforms fill up: if you can, travel before 10am or after 5pm.
Tickets: 2026 prices and fare bands
From 14 March to 1 November 2026, regional trains stopping in the five villages require a Cinque Terre fare ticket. The price follows a demand calendar with three bands, A (low), B (medium) and C (high), published by Trenitalia as a PDF: check it before you go.
| Band | Adults | Children 4–12 | Supplement from outside the Park |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | €5 | €2.50 | €3 |
| B | €8 | €4 | €5 |
| C | €10 | €5 | €6 |
The ticket covers a single journey with no stopovers: if you’re going from Riomaggiore to Monterosso and hop off at Manarola, you’ll need another ticket. It’s valid for 75 minutes from validation. The supplement applies when you arrive from a station outside the Park, say Genoa or Pisa, on an ordinary regional ticket.
For departures after 7.30pm and until 4am, the Levanto–La Spezia stretch is always charged at band A, even on the priciest days. Useful if you have dinner in a village and head back late. Liguria residents travel on the normal regional fare by showing ID.
Hotels, B&Bs and rooms in the Cinque Terre villages: compare prices and availability.
Cinque Terre Train Card: prices and when it pays off
The National Park’s Cinque Terre Train Card gives unlimited second-class regional trains between Levanto and La Spezia (as far as La Spezia Migliarina, not Intercity or Frecciabianca) until midnight, plus everything in the Trekking Card: Sentiero Verde Azzurro and Via dell’Amore (with booking), Park buses in the villages, station toilets, wi-fi and free entry to the CAMeC museum in La Spezia. The card also follows bands A, B and C.
| Train Card 2026 | Band A | Band B | Band C |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adults, 1 day | €22 | €29.50 | €35 |
| Adults, 2 days | €36.50 | €51 | €61 |
| Adults, 3 days | €49 | €68 | €81 |
| Children 4–12, 1 day | €15 | €20 | €23.50 |
| Over 70, 1 day | €18.50 | €25 | €29.50 |
| Family (2 adults + children), 1 day | €56.50 | €77 | €91.50 |
From 2 November to 31 December 2026 there’s a single lower price: €17.30 for one adult for one day. The card is personal, non-transferable and non-refundable: carry it with photo ID for inspections.
Single tickets or the card?
Count your journeys. In band A the card is worth a little over four single tickets, in band C about three and a half. In practice it pays off from four journeys in bands B and C and from five in band A, or four if you also walk the Via dell’Amore; the full calculation is on our Cinque Terre Card page. If you only go out, make two hops between villages and come back in band A, compare with single tickets; for a single village and back, buy two singles. With the Sentiero Verde Azzurro closed since 10 September 2026, the hiking side of the card matters less: decide mainly on the number of trains. Trail status is on our Cinque Terre hiking trails page.
If you only want to hike and won’t take the train, the Trekking Card is enough, from €10 a day (€15 on peak days).
Where to buy and how to validate
Cinque Terre fare tickets are sold on every Trenitalia channel: website, app, ticket offices and self-service machines in the stations. The Train Card is sold on the same Trenitalia channels, at the Park Infopoints in the stations from La Spezia to Levanto and online on the Park’s card website. In high season the ticket queues can be long: buy online or the day before.
- Paper ticket: validate it in the machines at the station before boarding. Without validation you risk a fine, even if you’ve paid.
- Digital ticket: a regional ticket bought in the app or online activates automatically at the time of the train you chose; follow the instructions on the ticket.
- Card: it’s personal and you don’t stamp it: one bought at an Infopoint already shows the date and a QR code. Write your full name on it before use, or it isn’t valid, and always carry ID.
Journey times
| Route | Approximate time |
|---|---|
| La Spezia Centrale–Riomaggiore | about 10 min |
| Riomaggiore–Manarola | about 3 min |
| Manarola–Corniglia | 2–3 min |
| Corniglia–Vernazza | 3–5 min |
| Vernazza–Monterosso | about 5 min |
| Monterosso–Levanto | about 5 min |
| La Spezia Centrale–Monterosso | about 20 min |
| La Spezia Centrale–Levanto | under 30 min |
These are approximate: some trains take a few minutes longer. From Genoa it’s about an hour and a half on a direct regional train; from Pisa about an hour to La Spezia, the usual gateway if you fly into Pisa. At Corniglia the station is at sea level and the village up on the headland: the climb up the Lardarina or the bus adds a quarter of an hour.
Off season: November to March
From 2 November to 13 March there’s no Cinque Terre Express, only the ordinary regional trains, which run less often: check the timetable before heading out, especially in the evening. The Cinque Terre fare doesn’t apply in this period and you pay the ordinary regional fare, which is much cheaper. It’s also the best time to see the villages without the crowds; over Christmas you can see the illuminated nativity on the hill above Manarola.
Bikes and dogs on the train
Bikes: on regional trains in Liguria bikes travel free, but only on trains showing the bike symbol and in the marked carriages. Before boarding, ask the on-board staff for the free bike supplement. In peak months the village trains are crowded and space is tight: a folded folding bike is the easiest option. For an easy ride, the cycle path from Levanto towards Bonassola and Framura starts in Levanto.
Dogs: dogs, cats and small pets travel free in a carrier (up to 70×30×50 cm). Larger dogs board on a lead and muzzled with a 50% reduced ticket; ask at the ticket office for the exact fare on the Cinque Terre stretch. Bring your dog’s papers. Guide dogs travel free.
Practical tips
- Stay near a station: in La Spezia, Levanto or a village; see how to plan it in the Cinque Terre from La Spezia.
- Start with the farthest village: go to Monterosso or Riomaggiore first thing and work your way back towards your base.
- Leave the car: parking in the villages is scarce and expensive; driving to Vernazza is tricky, see how to get to Vernazza.
- Strikes and alerts: check Trenitalia’s news; during strikes some time bands are guaranteed.
For the bigger picture, where to stay and when to go, see our Cinque Terre guide. From late March to early November you can also arrive by boat from Portovenere.
Frequently asked questions
How much is the train in the Cinque Terre in 2026?
From 14 March to 1 November a single journey costs €5, €8 or €10 depending on the day’s band (children 4–12 half price). After 7.30pm it’s always €5. Outside that period the ordinary regional fare applies.
How often do Cinque Terre trains run?
In season the Cinque Terre Express runs about every half hour, plus the ordinary regional trains. In winter trains are less frequent: check the Trenitalia timetable.
Is the Cinque Terre Train Card worth it?
In bands B and C, yes, from four journeys in a day; in band A you need five journeys, or four plus the Via dell’Amore. For one village and back, two single tickets are enough.
Do I need to validate my ticket?
Paper tickets yes, in the station machines before boarding; from then on they’re valid for 75 minutes. Digital tickets bought in the app or online activate automatically at the time of the chosen train.
Can I hop on and off with one ticket?
No, a single ticket covers one journey with no stopovers. To visit several villages in a day you need a ticket for each leg or the Train Card.
How long is the train from La Spezia to Monterosso?
About 20 minutes; about 10 to Riomaggiore. Between villages it’s just a few minutes.
Can I bring a bike or a dog on the train?
Bikes yes, free on regional trains with the bike symbol, space permitting. Small dogs travel free in a carrier; larger ones on a lead, muzzled and with a reduced ticket.