How to get to Cinque Terre from Milan by train?

Frequent Trains from Milan to Cinque Terre-Monterosso There is a direct route from Milano Centrale to Monterosso. This route goes through Levanto and you will have to switch to a regional train. The trip takes approximately three hours regardless of which itinerary you choose, and tickets cost $31-32.



Getting to Cinque Terre from Milan in 2026 is straightforward via the Milano Centrale station. The most convenient option is the direct Intercity (IC) train to Monterosso, which is the northernmost of the five villages. There are typically 7 to 10 direct trains per day, and the journey takes approximately 3 hours. Tickets in 2026 start as low as €15 if booked in advance. If a direct train isn't available at your preferred time, you can take a high-speed Frecciarossa to Genoa (Genova Piazza Principe) and transfer to a regional "Cinque Terre Express" train that stops at all five villages (Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, and Riomaggiore). For 2026 travelers, it is a "pro-tip" to buy a Cinque Terre Card at the Monterosso station, which gives you unlimited rail travel between the villages and access to the hiking trails for the day.

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Trains are the easiest way to get to and around Cinque Terre. Trenitalia has direct connections to La Spezia from Rome, Florence, and Pisa (the closest airport). Once in Cinque Terre, the Cinque Terre Express train runs between La Spezia and Levanto in Sestri Levante, stopping at each village.

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Depending on where you are coming from, one stretch of coastline will usually be far more accessible than the other! From Florence, you can get to the Cinque Terre in about 2 hours, either by car or train. From Milan, you can drive to the Cinque Terre in a little under 3 hours, or get there by train in 3.5 hours.

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If you want glamour, beaches, and easier travel between towns then the Amalfi Coast is perfect for you, whereas if you're looking to get more off the beaten track and explore some incredible coastline then Cinque Terre is your best choice.

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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 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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Is one day long enough in the Cinque Terre? The Cinque Terre is Italy's smallest National Park and frequent train services along the coast mean it's easy to get around. So although a day trip to the Cinque Terre isn't long enough to thoroughly explore the area, it will give you a taste of each village.

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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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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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You will often hear that the Cinque Terre is car-free, you cannot enter the villages, you should not come by car, etc. Well, actually, it is only partly true. Most of the villages are really for walking only but you can enter in some areas.

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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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Trains are the easiest way to get to and around Cinque Terre. Trenitalia has direct connections to La Spezia from Rome, Florence, and Pisa (the closest airport). Once in Cinque Terre, the Cinque Terre Express train runs between La Spezia and Levanto in Sestri Levante, stopping at each village.

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La Spezia is a bit of a hidden gem as it is not as touristy as its surroundings and offers beautiful panoramas of the gulf and Apuan Alps as well as fascinating museums, a historic city centre, great markets and streets lined with lovely cafes and restaurants.

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Of course you can find some hotels in the Cinque Terre villages, mainly in Monterosso, but the number of rooms is limited. There is no space for new constructions or big buildings, which is good because the villages have already too many visitors.

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