How long is the train ride from Cinque Terre from Florence Italy?

Frequent Trains from Florence to Cinque Terre-Monterosso Many go through Pisa or La Spezia, but there are other options. Also note that some routes require two connections. The trip takes from 2.5-3 hours, and tickets cost $20-28.



In 2026, the train journey from Florence (Firenze Santa Maria Novella) to the Cinque Terre villages (typically starting at La Spezia) takes between 1.5 to 3 hours, depending on whether you catch a high-speed or regional train. Most travelers take a regional train from Florence to Pisa or Empoli, then transfer to a train heading to La Spezia Centrale. From La Spezia, you hop on the "5 Terre Express" which takes only minutes to reach each village. A supportive peer "travel hack": look for the rare direct Intercity trains that can cut the travel time down significantly, though they only run a few times a day. If you are doing this as a day trip in 2026, aim for the 7:00 AM departures to maximize your time. Total distance is only about 160 km, but the frequency of stops and the necessary transfer at La Spezia mean you should budget at least 2.5 hours for a stress-free transition from the city to the coast.

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If you want to make a day trip to the Cinque Terre from Florence you have two options: A self-planned day trip. An organized excursion, including transport and accompanied by a tour leader.

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The cheapest way to get from Florence to Cinque Terre is to train which costs €13 - €23 and takes 2h 29m. What is the fastest way to get from Florence to Cinque Terre? The quickest way to get from Florence to Cinque Terre is to drive which costs €29 - €45 and takes 2h 4m.

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Cinque Terre is a collection of five seaside villages on a 2-mile (3 km) stretch of Italy's northwest coast. Known as the Italian Riviera due to its dramatic setting, it takes a mere day to visit each of these gems. Two to three days would allow you to enjoy its beaches and discover the culture via a cooking class.

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You can walk the entire route in about six hours, if you take short breaks—although many hikers prefer to spread the route out over a few days at a strolling pace, stopping to enjoy the towns along the way. You can start from either direction (Monterosso, heading south, or Riomaggiore, heading north).

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September-October The shoulder season of September to October is the best time to visit Cinque Terre.

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If you do decide to day-trip, the big but easygoing town of La Spezia is far closer than Genoa or Pisa, with just a seven-minute commute to the closest Cinque Terre village, Riomaggiore, and around 15 to 25 minutes to the farthest village, Monterosso.

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Cinque Terre is only 105 miles (169 km) away from Florence, making it an easy side trip that takes between 1.5-3 hours one way. There are a few options for making your way here—train, car or private transfer—but before choosing your means of transport, consider the geography.

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Visit some of the villages Choose to visit two or three of the villages, for example Vernazza, Manarola and Riomaggiore. You have to skip Corniglia situated on top of a cliff 100 metres above sea level. If you are limited on time, take the train between the villages.

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Discover Pisa and the picturesque Cinque Terre on this day trip departing from Florence. Snap a photo with the famous Leaning Tower of Pisa before heading to the coast to see the seaside villages of the Italian Riviera. There, travel through the pink- and yellow-hued towns of the Cinque Terre, a World Heritage Site.

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Shopping and prices The Cinque Terre is not cheap. As everywhere in the world, tourism has raised prices. I often go to the market of La Spezia to shop for food, it's much cheaper than the stores of the villages. In restaurants, you have to expect Western European prices.

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Though it does not happen every year, Liguria and the Cinque Terre, like the rest of Italy, has seen increasingly intense and frequent autumn thunderstorms, with violent wind and heavy rain.

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