Soggiorna
The Cinque Terre are five villages squeezed between the sea and the mountains, and the railway is the only line that reaches all of them. That is why the train is the simplest way to arrive, and to move from one village to the next. You can use a car to get to the area, but in the villages parking spaces are few and expensive: it is better to leave it in La Spezia or Levanto.
By train
Regional trains between Levanto and La Spezia stop at all five stations: Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore. La Spezia Centrale, on the Genoa-Pisa line, is the southern terminus, and long-distance trains stop there too.
What it costs. From 14 March to 1 November 2026, anyone not resident in Liguria pays 5, 8 or 10 euros for each single journey between two Cinque Terre stations, depending on the day's crowding band (A, B or C). On departures from Levanto or La Spezia after 7.30 pm the lowest fare always applies. A single ticket must be validated and is good for one journey only, with no stops on the way, within 75 minutes of validation.
If you take the train more than four times in a day, or if you also walk the Sentiero Azzurro, the Cinque Terre Train Card pays off: unlimited travel between Levanto and La Spezia, from 22 euros a day. Prices and sums in the Cinque Terre Card guide.
By car
From the A12 motorway the exits recommended by the Park are La Spezia, then follow the signs for the Cinque Terre, and Carrodano, towards Levanto and the Cinque Terre. The roads down to the villages are narrow and winding, and parking spaces are few and almost all paid.
Leave the car and take the train
| Where | Car park | Rates |
|---|---|---|
| La Spezia | Park Centro Stazione, in Piazzale delle Medaglie d'Oro in front of the station: 218 spaces, open 24 hours | 1 October to 30 April €1.50/hour by day (8 am-8 pm) and €1/hour at night; 1 May to 30 September €1.50/hour for the first two hours, then €2/hour |
| Levanto | P4 Piazza Stazione FS, Via Zoppi | €2 for one hour, €13 for 8 hours, €24 for 24 hours |
| Levanto | P2 Via Albero d'Oro and P15 Via Sant'Anna | free all year |
The Levanto rates come from the town's tourism website and should be checked on site.
Parking in the villages
| Village | Car park | 2026 rates |
|---|---|---|
| Monterosso | Loreto, near the old town: 160 spaces | €3/hour, €30 for 24 hours (26 March to 1 November) |
| Monterosso | Fegina, near the beaches: 270 spaces | €3/hour from 8 am to 10 pm, €0.50/hour at night, €30 for 24 hours; public toilets included |
| Vernazza | two private car parks 1.3 km from the centre, 35 and 49 spaces | €2.50/hour, €20 a day including the shuttle into the village |
| Manarola | Posella and Acquarino, at the entrance to the village | 1 April to 31 October €3/hour, €20 a day; 1 November to 31 March €1.50/hour, €15 a day |
| Manarola | Zorza | €1/hour |
In Monterosso, from the third to the seventh day you pay 12 euros every 24 hours. The Vernazza car parks can be booked by phone, which is a good idea in summer.
Riomaggiore and Corniglia have very few spaces, and we have not found up-to-date official rates: for these two villages the train is the safest choice.
By boat
In spring and summer boats leave from La Spezia, Lerici and Portovenere. An internal line connects Monterosso, Vernazza, Manarola and Riomaggiore, with Monterosso as the terminus. Corniglia has no landing: it sits on top of a cliff and can only be reached from the station or by road. Timetables and services depend on the season and the sea.
By bus
From La Spezia, Explora 5 Terre buses reach Riomaggiore, Manarola, Volastra, San Bernardino, Corniglia, Vernazza, Monterosso and the sanctuaries. Inside the Park there are also the Park buses, free with the Cinque Terre Card: they serve each village and its hamlets, for example the shuttle between the station and the village of Corniglia, but they do not connect one village with another, and the card is not valid on the buses of La Spezia and Portovenere.
By plane
The nearest airports are Genoa and Pisa; from both you continue by train to La Spezia or Levanto.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the best place to park to visit the Cinque Terre?
In La Spezia, in the central station car park, or in Levanto, and then carry on by train. In the villages spaces are few: in Monterosso a day costs 30 euros, in Vernazza and Manarola 20.
Can you drive to Vernazza?
As far as the car parks above the village, 1.3 km from the centre, from where a shuttle included in the price takes you into the village. You cannot drive into the village itself.
How much is the train between the Cinque Terre villages?
Between March and November 2026, for non-residents of Liguria, 5, 8 or 10 euros a journey depending on the day. With more than four journeys the Train Card pays off.
Can you reach Corniglia by boat?
No, Corniglia has no landing. You arrive by train and walk or take the shuttle up from the station.