The closest major city to the Cinque Terre is La Spezia, located just to the southeast of the five villages. It serves as the primary "gateway" for most travelers; the train ride from La Spezia Centrale to the first village, Riomaggiore, takes only about 7 to 9 minutes. While La Spezia is a bustling naval port city rather than a "quaint" village, it is where many tourists choose to stay because hotels and restaurants are significantly cheaper than those within the Cinque Terre itself. To the northwest, the town of Levanto is the other primary neighbor, often considered the "sixth" village; it is only 5 minutes by train from the northernmost village, Monterosso al Mare. If you are looking for a major "metropolitan" hub with an international airport, Pisa is the closest at approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes away by train, followed by Genoa, which is about 1 hour and 30 minutes to the north. For 2026 travelers, La Spezia remains the most practical base for exploring the region via the "Cinque Terre Express" train line.