Train, car, parking with shuttle, ferry and trails: how to reach Vernazza, 2026 train fares and where to leave your car.
Vernazza and its harbour seen from the trail
Best option
the regional train between Levanto and La Spezia, with a station in the villageLa Spezia about 18 minutes, Monterosso and Corniglia about 3, Levanto about 8
Train fares 2026
Cinque Terre fare until 1 November, 5, 8 or 10 euros a trip depending on the dayafter 19:30 always the 5-euro band
By car
A12, Carrodano–Levanto exit, about 30 km and an hour on hill roadscentre closed to non-residents
Car parks
Vernassoa Parking and Vernazza Parking on the SP 51, paid, with a shuttleprices and hours to be confirmed
Ferry
seasonal service from La Spezia, Portovenere, Levanto and the other villagesCorniglia has no landing
Trails
the Corniglia–Vernazza–Monterosso section has been closed since 10 September 2026with no reopening date
To reach Vernazza, take the train: the station is in the village and La Spezia is about 20 minutes away. By car it is awkward: the centre is for residents only and the two private car parks are on the provincial road, about 1.5 km from the harbour, with a shuttle. Here is what we checked in October 2026 and which option suits each kind of trip.
By Italian Riviera editorial team·Updated on ·6 min read
By train: the easiest choice
From Vernazza station walk down Via Roma and in a few minutes you are in the square on the harbour. The station is on the Genoa–La Spezia line and is served by the regional trains that stop in every village. From Genoa Brignole it takes about an hour and a half on a direct train; from Pisa and Florence you change at La Spezia Centrale. Times are indicative: check the day’s timetable on Cinque Terre train timetable.
Tickets and fares 2026
Until 1 November 2026, regional trains that stop in the Cinque Terre require a Cinque Terre fare ticket: 5, 8 or 10 euros for adults depending on the day’s band (A, B or C), and 2.50, 4 or 5 euros for children aged 4 to under 12. It is valid for one trip, to be validated before boarding, within 75 minutes. On trains between Levanto and La Spezia Centrale leaving after 19:30 you always pay band A. If you start from a station outside the Park, the regional ticket carries a supplement of 3, 5 or 6 euros. The band calendar is on the Trenitalia site. We have not checked the fare after 1 November: the ordinary regional ticket applies.
Cinque Terre Card: when it pays off
The Park’s Train Card costs 22, 29.50 or 35 euros for one day (adults, depending on the band; 17.30 euros from 2 November to 31 December) and covers regional trains between Levanto and La Spezia, buses in the villages and the paid trails. In band A it pays off from five trips, in bands B and C from four. The Trekking Card costs 10 euros (15 on the busiest days) but is of little use for Vernazza at the moment: the paid trails that reach it are closed. The Via dell’Amore is included in both cards, with compulsory booking. Adult prices and dates at card.parconazionale5terre.it; more in Cinque Terre Card.
Works and suspensions this autumn
RFI has announced works at Riomaggiore and Manarola stations. To carry them out it will suspend service for 48 hours between Corniglia and La Spezia on the weekends of 14–15 November, 19–20 December, 9–10 January and 6–7 February, and at night (22:30–6:30) from Friday to Sunday on the Levanto–La Spezia section. The notice is on the Park website. During an orange weather alert the Park closes all trails and stops selling the Cards.
By car: road and parking
Vernazza is not on the coast road: you arrive from above. From the Carrodano–Levanto exit of the A12 take the SP 566 towards Levanto, then follow the signs for Monterosso and, before dropping to the sea, turn left uphill towards Vernazza. You pass the Soviore sanctuary, follow the SP 38 and then the SP 51 to the village: about 30 km and an hour. Alternatively you can leave at Brugnato–Borghetto Vara and climb towards Pignone. The last kilometres after San Bernardino are narrow and steep.
Where to park
You cannot drive into the village. Along the SP 51 there are two private paid car parks a little over a kilometre from the village: Vernassoa Parking, guarded, on the left going down, and Vernazza Parking a little further on, on the right. Both have a shuttle to the village. The listings we found are undated and disagree on prices (roughly 20 euros a day), hours and spaces, so we do not publish figures: call ahead or ask on arrival, especially if you plan to collect the car in the evening or in summer, when spaces run out early.
The alternative: leave the car and take the train
For a day trip it often makes sense to stop in Levanto or La Spezia, where car parks are bigger, and continue by train: you avoid the bends and can visit the other villages too. If you are staying in Vernazza, ask your accommodation where to leave the car. For the whole area see how to get to the Cinque Terre.
By ferry
The ferry is the slowest but the most beautiful way. Line 02 of the Consorzio Marittimo Turistico 5 Terre Golfo dei Poeti links Riomaggiore, Manarola, Vernazza and Monterosso with La Spezia, Portovenere and Levanto; Corniglia has no landing. The 2026 day ticket costs 42 euros (15 reduced); a single trip from Monterosso to Vernazza costs 10 euros, from Levanto 12, from Riomaggiore or Manarola 15. Line timetables run until 1 November; from 2 November to 8 December there is only the “Cinque Terre Trip” tour (37 euros). In rough seas sailings stop. Current times and prices: Navigazione Golfo dei Poeti. More in ferries to the Cinque Terre.
On foot
Vernazza is linked to Monterosso and Corniglia by the Sentiero Verde Azzurro, but since 10 September 2026 the Park has closed the Corniglia–Vernazza–Monterosso section pending geological checks. On 25 October the Park’s website showed no notice of reopening. Check the Park’s notice before planning to arrive on foot, and see Cinque Terre trails for alternatives; to plan your day around trains and stops, see the Cinque Terre itineraries.
By plane
The nearest airports are Pisa and Genoa, both about 110 km by road. From Pisa take the train to La Spezia Centrale and change for the Cinque Terre; from Genoa get to Brignole or Principe and continue along the coast.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Can you drive to Vernazza?
As far as the car parks, yes; into the village, no: the centre is for residents only. Cars are left on the SP 51, a little over a kilometre from the village.
How much is the train to Vernazza in 2026?
Until 1 November a single trip on the Levanto–La Spezia section costs 5, 8 or 10 euros depending on the day’s band; after 19:30 always 5.
How long does the train take from La Spezia?
About 18 minutes, according to indicative times. From Monterosso or Corniglia about 3 are enough.
Cinque Terre Card or single tickets?
The Train Card pays off from about five trips in band A and four in bands B and C. For a single return trip, tickets are enough.
Is there a shuttle from the car parks to the village?
Yes, both car parks have one. We have no verified times: ask on arrival for the last run if you return in the evening.
Can you reach Vernazza by ferry?
Yes, from La Spezia, Portovenere, Levanto and the other villages except Corniglia. In rough seas sailings are suspended.
Can I walk from Monterosso to Vernazza?
Not at the moment: the section has been closed since 10 September 2026 and the Park has not announced a reopening.
Do trains stop on autumn weekends?
On some: RFI has planned 48-hour stops between Corniglia and La Spezia on 14–15 November, 19–20 December, 9–10 January and 6–7 February.
Where to stay
Where to stay in Vernazza
All places to stay in Vernazza on Booking: compare prices and availability.
