La Spezia is the perfect city to use as a base for exploring the villages, beaches and mountains of magical Cinque Terre. But you’re obviously here because you’re wondering how to actually get from La Spezia to Cinque Terre? I’m telling you now pals, travelling by road is not an option.
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The beginners’ guide to Cinque Terre
Cinque Terre is one of Italy’s most famous national parks, located on the coast of the Liguria region. The landscape is characterised by steep, rugged hills, which have been carved into centuries-old steps in order to grow knotted olive trees and grape vines.
It’s an idyllic place all round, and possibly one of my favourite parts of Italy. Named after the five villages- cinque terre– that are tucked in amongst the cliffs and hills, it’s also one of the most visited of Italy’s tourist destinations. So in summer, pals, each of the villages’ streets can get absolutely rammed with people.
If you’ve ever watched Luca- the Disney Pixar movie- you’ll have an idea of the aesthetic of a Cinque Terre village, because the fictional village of Portorosso is based on a blend of all five. Colourful houses are stacked into cliffsides, and rocky coves are filled with crystal clear water. In summer, children propel themselves into the sea from these rocky outcrops, whilst in shady streets couples tuck into salty fried anchovies and catch drips of gelato running down cones.
Hotel prices within Cinque Terre can be high (although staying within one of the villages would definitely allow you to be there during quieter hours), so plenty of people opt to stay in nearby La Spezia instead. At the height of summer, the city also welcomes boat-loads of cruise passengers in the cruise port, ready to explore Cinque Terre or head further away to Pisa and Livorno.
The five villages of Cinque Terre
The five villages of Cinque Terre are Monterosso, Corniglia, Vernazza, Manarola and Riomaggiore, and a question that frequently comes up is ‘which Cinque Terre village is the best?’ I do not have an answer for you, folks, because each one is simply stunning.
Corniglia tends to be the quietest, with fewer visitors, and this village is the only one not built directly next to the sea. Riomaggiore, Manarola and Vernazza are equally as picturesque, with several restaurants and hotels to stay in, and places to swim, mainly in the form of ladders into the sea or rocks to jump in from. Monterosso is definitely the largest of Cinque Terre’s villages, and the one with more facilities, places to stay, and a wide beach.
All five villages are connected by rail- and this same train line connects La Spezia to Cinque Terre- but they’re also all connected by hiking paths. Because, back in the day, walking between the villages was the only method possible.
Read all about my hike from Riomaggiore to Manarola, and learn from our crucial mistakes.
Can you visit all 5 villages in Cinque Terre in one day?
Whilst it’s possible to visit all five villages in Cinque Terre in one day, I personally don’t feel that that you should.
In fact, if you’re the type of person who needs endless activities to entertain yourself, Cinque Terre might not be the place for you. Each village is fairly small, although they do differ in size. They’re the ideal places to explore simply by wandering through the streets, taking a leisurely dip (or plunge off of a rock) into the sea, and enjoying the food and drink that this region has to offer. Cinque Terre is for soaking in slowly, not running through in a mad dash to find the best instagram shots.
My advice is to take it a bit slower. Stick to a couple of villages rather than trying to cram them all in at once, or alternatively spend a few days hiking between them and enjoying the wild nature and breathtaking views of the national park.
How to get from La Spezia to Cinque Terre
Although it’s technically possible to visit Cinque Terre by car, it’s truly not advised. The roads are narrow, winding and hilly, and the historic centres of each village are completely off-limits anyway. The real options you have for travelling from La Spezia to Cinque Terre are either the train, the ferry, or as part of a guided tour.
Train from La Spezia to Cinque terre
The best way to get from La Spezia to Cinque Terre is definitely by train- it’s very easy to use, and the Cinque Terre Express runs every twenty minutes, linking every single village with La Spezia and the town of Levanto.
Here’s the exact location of La Spezia Centrale train station on Google Maps.
It only takes 6 minutes to travel by train from La Spezia to Riomaggiore (the closest Cinque Terre village to La Spezia), and the journey from La Spezia to Monterosso (the furthest village), takes about 25 minutes.
During the height of summer, a single train ticket from La Spezia to Cinque Terre (regardless of which village you’re heading to) is €10, however this drops to €5 per person off-season. You can buy tickets from machines at the stations, or online at TrenItalia.
If you buy a physical train ticket, remember to validate it at one of the green machines before you board the train! (Here’s a video explaining the process.)
If you’re planning to get several trains, or are planning to spend a few days in Cinque Terre, it’s worth looking into the Cinque Terre Card. This allows unlimited train travel, buses, access to hiking trails (a lot of the hiking trails within the national park require an entrance fee), and some extras like museum entry. The card can be bought for 1, 2, or 3 days. Check out the PN5T Treno Card.
A guided boat tour from La Spezia to Cinque Terre
There are a lot of guided tours to sift through when looking for the best way to see Cinque Terre, but plenty of them start from within the national park, meaning that you still have to travel in under your own steam. One of the most unique options for getting from La Spezia to Cinque Terre, without any of the stress or crowded train platforms, is to book onto a boat tour.
A boat trip from La Spezia to Cinque Terre is a much more relaxed option, allowing you to take in the scenery from the water as well as from land. This tour sails with a guide from La Spezia to Cinque Terre and back again, allowing three stops for you to explore the villages, as well as swimming time.
Ferry from La Spezia to Cinque Terre
If you want to reach Cinque Terre by boat, but aren’t so fussed about dealing with public transport, from March-November it’s possible to take a ferry from La Spezia to Cinque Terre. (Although bear in mind that you can only dock at four of the five villages, because Corniglia is further inland.)
Buy your ferry ticket from the office in La Spezia before you board. (Here’s the location on Google Maps.)
An unlimited hop-on hop-off day ticket for the Cinque Terre ferry costs €42 per person (2026), but it’s generally slightly less crowded than the train can be.
Check timetables for the La Spezia to Cinque Terre ferry.
So pals, you might have guessed by now that my personal opinion on what is the best way to get from La Spezia to Cinque Terre is definitely the train. It’s both the quickest, and the best value option. It does, however, suffer from overcrowding, and there can be delays. If you’ve got cash to splash and don’t fancy the crowds, I’d go for a boat tour over a ferry. Whichever mode of transport you choose, there’s no denying Cinque Terre’s beauty. This part of Italy is a stunner, and it’s easy to see why it’s become so popular.
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