Visiting Cinque Terre by train is the easiest and cheapest way to see all five villages and the towns along this stretch of coast. The line runs from before sunrise to around 1 am, with the regional trains that make up the Cinque Terre Express stopping at every village between Levanto and La Spezia.
Tickets and validation
You can buy single tickets directly at the station or on the Trenitalia app, which saves you the queue. If you are coming from a village outside this line, from Bonassola for instance, you will need a ticket to Levanto first, then a separate Cinque Terre Express ticket.
A single ticket is valid for 75 minutes and one stop only, no intermediate stops allowed. Remember to validate it in the grey-green machines on the platform or in the underground corridor before boarding, whether it is a paper ticket or a Cinque Terre Card.
When the Cinque Terre Card is worth it
If you plan to take the train two or three times in a day, or to walk the Sentiero Azzurro (Blue Trail) and use the park buses to reach the hamlets and shrines, the Cinque Terre Card is usually the better deal. It includes unlimited train travel for the day, access to the paid hiking trails, park buses, museum admissions in La Spezia, and a 24-hour Wi-Fi code at Info Points and stations.
It comes in one, two or three-day versions, and you can buy it at our front desk any time of day, so you skip the ticket line at the station entirely. Full details, prices and what it does and doesn't cover are in our dedicated guide.
Reading the timetable
Trains with no letter above the column run daily. Letters mark exceptions (weekdays only, Sundays and holidays, and so on), explained in the key at the bottom of the schedule. Find your starting village in the left-hand column, then follow that row to your stop.
A practical note on the timetable below: it is compiled and published by the ATI 5 Terre consortium and is explicitly marked as unofficial, so treat it as a very reliable guide rather than the gospel, especially as your travel date approaches. For the binding, real-time version, always cross-check on Trenitalia or the FS app, particularly if you are catching a specific train for a booking, a ferry connection, or the last train of the night.
Timetable valid from 15 June 2026, Levanto to La Spezia and return.
FAQ
Do I need to book Cinque Terre Express trains in advance?
No. Regional trains on this line don't require reservations; you simply buy or validate your ticket and board.
How long is a single ticket valid for?
75 minutes and one stop only. If you plan to hop between more than two villages in a day, the Cinque Terre Card is almost always a better value.
Where can I check the exact, official timetable?
On Trenitalia or the FS app. The printed timetable displayed at village stations and the one on this page come from the local ATI 5 Terre consortium and are marked unofficial.
Is the Cinque Terre Card worth it just for the trains?
If you're taking two or three train journeys in a day, yes, it usually works out cheaper than single tickets, on top of everything else it includes.
Further reading
- The ultimate guide to the Cinque Terre Card: https://www.oasihotel.eu/blog/the-ultimate-guide-to-cinque-terre-card
- Official Trenitalia timetable and tickets: https://www.trenitalia.com/en.html
