F.A.Q’s Cinque Terre

Which are the most frequent doubts of travelers who come to the Cinque Terre? We have collected them on this page, which is updated with the latest informations. So we tried to give everyone a tool, before and after booking, to find their way around easily and in order to fully experience this trip.

Before booking – about Cinque Terre

What is the best way to see cinque terre?

We suggest to visit Cinque Terre by train and doing some trekking path. If you are coming by car, leave it parked for the whole stay. You can buy the Cinque Terre train card (one, two or three days) which allows you to get on and off at all stops between La Spezia and Levanto for the entire validity of the card. It also allows you to access the SVA path between Monterosso and Corniglia which is subject to a fee and to take buses inside the park (more info on the card here). We recommend you to wear suitable shoes for trekking.

How many days should I spend in Cinque Terre?

Some people visit the Cinque Terre in one day, which we strongly advise against. To fully enjoy the beauty of the place, we suggest you do at least 2 full days, and if you like walking,  swimming or try some local experience it is better to take more time, even 3, 4 or more days.

Which is the most beautiful village in Cinque Terre?

Many think that Manarola and Vernazza are the most beautiful villages in the Cinque Terre, the ones not to be missed. Manarola for the colorful houses overlooking the sea and Vernazza because it’s small and cozy. Monterosso is the largest one, the only town with a sandy beach. Riomaggiore is the most populous, whose Marina is very beautiful to see. Finally Corniglia, the less visited village due to its uncomfortable position (it can be reached by taking 400 steps) but equally interesting from a scenographic point of view.

How long does it take to walk the Cinque Terre? Can you walk between the Cinque Terre villages?

You can walk between one village and another through the high paths. The lower ones, the famous Via dell’Amore between Riomaggiore and Manarola and the second stretch between Manarola and Corniglia have been closed for years.

You’ll need at least a couple of days to walk between Cinque Terre and to take enough time for a quick visit. Please read this article for details.

What food is Cinque Terre known for?

Cinque Terre food is a combination of land and sea food. Famous are anchovies and lemons of Monterosso, Cappun magru, pesto and focaccia, Cinque Terre d.o.c. wine, sweet Sciacchetrà wine, farinata.

How far is it from La Spezia to Cinque Terre?

By train: It takes about 10 minutes from La Spezia to Riomaggiore, the first village of Cinque Terre. 30 minutes to reach Monterosso, the last village.

By car: It takes about 30 minutes from La Spezia (railway station) to Riomaggiore, the first village of Cinque Terre. About 50 minutes to reach Monterosso, the last village.

How much is the train from La Spezia to Cinque Terre?

From mid-March to early November each train ride costs € 4, while in the low season, from November to March, it costs about the half depending on the length of the ride. If you plan to take the train and buses more often, it becomes convenient to buy the Cinque Terre card, for 1 day (€ 16) or 2 days (€ 29). The card also includes the train, the busses in the Cinque Terre and the paths between Monterosso and Corniglia.

How much is a Cinque Terre card and how it works?

You can read this article for detailed informations

What is the best time to visit Cinque Terre?

Cinque Terre can be visited all year round. The intermediate seasons like spring and autumn are, of course, the best time but you can consider wintertime as well, as temperatures are never excessively cold. If you hike, in summer the heat is almost never a problem as there is always a breeze from the sea and some parts of the trails are shaded by woods. 

Can you do a day trip from Florence to Cinque Terre?

We usually offer this full-day private tour  to visit the Cinque Terre in one day from Florence. The tour includes an English speaking guide for max 7 hours, all train rides from La Spezia to Cinque Terre. To reach Cinque Terre you can drive, take a train or book a transfer (write us for more infos: info@arbaspaa.com).

Is there a direct train from Florence to Cinque Terre?

There are no direct trains, but there are 18 trains departing Firenze Santa Maria Novella station each day that will get you to the Cinque Terre (Monterosso) station. The station at which you’ll change trains varies, so check your itinerary closely. You can book here.

How long does it take to travel from Florence to Cinque Terre?

By train: 2,5-3 hours

By car: 1,5 hours

How do you get to Cinque Terre in 3 days?

There are various options to visit the Cinque Terre in 3 days, by train or by hiking trails. If you visit the Cinque Terre only by train, 2 days could be enough and the third day you could dedicate it to the surroundings, for example seeing the beautiful Portovenere. If you like walking, you can visit all the villages in just 2 days if you are fit, 3 if you are less fit. We have developed a series of “self guided” packages which include accommodation (of various levels), dinner and wine tasting. For long distance packages, luggage transport is also included. You can find more information on 3-4 day packages here, and 5-6 day packages here.

What airport is closest to Cinque Terre?

Pisa airport

How much is the ferry in Cinque Terre?

The ferry boats connect the Cinque Terre with Portovenere, La Spezia and Lerici. You can buy the ticket directly upon boarding. You can consult routes, timetables and prices directly on the Maritime Consortium website 

Do you need a car in Cinque Terre?

You won’t need a car to visit Cinque Terre, they are National Park, so it is strictly forbidden to enter inside the villages with the car. The train is the fastest and most practical way. If you come by car it is better to park it and always use the train. If, on the other hand, you stay for several days and want to explore the surroundings, then the car becomes essential. To visit Lerici and Tellaro, or the areas of Lunigiana and Val di Vara, Marble Quarries, etc., it is absolutely advisable to move by car.

Where do you park your car when visiting Cinque Terre?

If you want to reach Cinque Terre by car, the villages develop from top to bottom and the parking lots are located in the upper part of the towns. The only village that is an exception is Corniglia, here the village and the parking lot are at the same height. Always keep in mind that parking spaces are limited, we suggest you to leave your car in La Spezia (there is a guarded car park at the station) and travel between the towns by train.

Are the Cinque Terre wheelchair accessible?

Unfortunately the Cinque Terre are not very suitable for the wheelchairs, there are steps, narrow and irregular roads, continuous ups and downs. The small railway stations are not equipped with services for disabled, the only way to reach the villages is by car (at certain times it is allowed to enter by car up to a point, it is necessary to inquire by calling the police of the municipality). Among all the Cinque Terre we recommend Monterosso, which is the largest in width and the one with the most regular road. An interesting solution can be to take the ferry boat to La Spezia and reach Monterosso, admiring the other villages from the sea. These are the only easy stops for getting on and off in a wheelchair.

Are there beaches in Cinque Terre?

If you are looking for a sandy beach in the Cinque Terre, the only one is to go to Monterosso. However, all the Cinque Terre have access to the sea. After Monterosso you will find all villages with beaches. Bonassola beach is also well known and appreciated, frequented mainly by locals.

After booking – practical informations

Accessibility: by train or by car?

The Cinque Terre have been part of the UNESCO World Heritage since 1997 and are located within the Cinque Terre National Park. The five villages are exclusively for pedestrians, you’d need special permits to access with your own vehicle. The villages develop from top to bottom and the parking lots are located in the upper part of the town. In the high season, parking spaces run low and are inconvenient to reach. In addition, by car it takes much longer. The train is the cheapest and fastest way to reach the villages.

Parking in Manarola, instructions

Arriving by car from the coast road, going down towards the town you will find many parking lots with blue stripes that you can use, these are pay parking lots. On the side of the road there are some points where you can park for free. Arbaspàa also has garages available at affordable rates, write to us for more information (info@arbaspaa.com). During peak season, you may find everything full, in this case we suggest to leave your car in La Spezia.

Parking in Riomaggiore, instructions

Arriving by car from the coast road, going down towards the town you will find many parking lots with blue stripes that you can use, these are pay parking lots. On the side of the road there are some points where you can park for free. During peak season, you may find everything full, in this case we recommend that you leave your car in La Spezia.

Check in with Arbaspàa

BY CAR: If you arrive by car you cannot go beyond the first barrier and you have to look for parking between the blue lines. On the other hand, if you have booked a garage with Arbaspàa, you can ask to have the first bar opened to get your car to the second bar at the most. Further it is not possible to continue. The Garage is located in the pink and white striped building. Check the instructions received via email or whatsapp to access the garage. Attention, all car parks located between the first and second bar are yellow striped, for residents, therefore parking is prohibited.

Once parked, you can go to the Explora trekking shop, in via Discovolo 204, the check-in time is from 2 pm to 6 pm.

BY TRAIN: once you exit the station tunnel, turn right and walk uphill on the main road. After about 100m you will find the Explora trekking shop on the left, in via Discovolo 204, the check-in time is from 2 pm to 6 pm.

What is the best way to see cinque terre?

We suggest to visit Cinque Terre by train and doing some trekking path. If you are coming by car, leave it parked for the whole stay. You can buy the Cinque Terre train card (one, two or three days) which allows you to get on and off at all stops between La Spezia and Levanto for the entire validity of the card. It also allows you to access the SVA path between Monterosso and Corniglia which is subject to a fee and to take buses inside the park (more info on the card here). We recommend you to wear suitable shoes for trekking.

Where can I store luggages in Cinque Terre?

La Spezia: train station

Riomaggiore: Circolo Riomaior (in front of the train station)

Manarola: Explora shop, via Discovolo 204 (main road. Turn right after the tunnel of the train station and walk 100m).

Vernazza: National Park shop, train station

Monterosso: Pro Loco Monterosso, train station

How do I get a Cinque Terre card?

You can buy the Cinque Terre card at the train stations of the Cinque Terre villages, but also in Levanto or La Spezia. The alternative, to skip the line, is the online purchase.

How much is the ferry in Cinque Terre? How it works?

The ferry boats connect the Cinque Terre with Portovenere, La Spezia and Lerici. You can buy the ticket directly upon boarding. You can consult routes, timetables and prices directly on the Maritime Consortium website 

Where can I find informations about the trails, if they are open or closed?

You can go to the National Park office at the railway station in each village of the Cinque Terre or check in the National Park website
if the trails are closed on that day you’ll see them in black colour.

Where can I find a laundry service?

The washing machine is available in our superior category apartments, and in Manarola there is no laundry service. You can find a launderette in Riomaggiore, in via Colombo 97-99, while in the city of La Spezia and Monterosso there are several.

What happens if there is a weather alert during my stay?

There are 4 types of weather alerts, green, yellow, orange and red.

Green: no intense and dangerous phenomena are expected

Yellow: Intense phenomena expected, locally dangerous or dangerous for the performance of particular activities

Orange: More intense phenomena than normal expected, dangerous for things and people.

Red: Extreme phenomena expected, very dangerous for things and people.

In the presence of weather warnings, shops on the street level can close. We suggest to buy food supply before the alert begins.

You can check the weather situation here, and keep updated about the alert type and duration here.

Which are the best restaurants in Cinque Terre?

There are excellent restaurants to eat fresh fish and typical local specialties, we have made our selection in this article, with a special attention to the sea view.