If you are planning to walk the coastal trail or hop on and off the local trains between the five villages, at some point you will run into the Cinque Terre Card. Here is what it actually covers, when you need it, and when you can happily skip it.
What is the Cinque Terre Card
The Cinque Terre National Park introduced the card to help look after the trails that farmers originally cut into the hillside to reach their terraced vineyards. It funds trail maintenance and gives you access to paid paths, park buses, some museums in La Spezia, and a handful of other perks.
There are two versions, and picking the right one depends entirely on how you plan to get around.
Trekking Card: covers the paid hiking trails and the village buses, but no trains. Makes sense if you are based in one village and mostly walking, or arriving by car.
Treno Card (Train Card MS): everything in the Trekking Card, plus unlimited travel on the Cinque Terre Express between Levanto and La Spezia. Worth it as soon as you plan two or more train journeys in a day, since single tickets add up fast in high season.
When you actually need it
This is where most guides, including our old one, get vague. Here is the precise version.
You need the card for:
- The Sentiero Azzurro (Blue Trail) between Corniglia, Vernazza and Monterosso
- The Via dell'Amore, the short cliffside path between Riomaggiore and Manarola, which reopened in August 2024 after over a decade of restoration works. Access is included in the card this season, but you still need to reserve a timed entry slot when you buy it
You do not need it for:
- The Alta Via delle Cinque Terre, the high ridge trail above the villages, with some of the best views and none of the crowds
- The walk from Levanto to Monterosso via Punta Mesco, one of the finest and least crowded hikes on this coast
- The alternative route from Manarola to Corniglia via Volastra, useful whenever the coastal path is closed
- Simply visiting the villages by train without walking the connecting paths
- Visiting between 3 November and 13 March, when the season is closed and every trail is free
A word of honest advice on the Via dell'Amore, since we get asked about it constantly. It is a beautiful stroll, flat, paved, with the sea right beside you the whole way, but it is not a hike in any real sense. If you are looking for the trail with the drama, the climbs and the views that make people fall in love with this coast, this is not it. It is perfect if you want an easy, scenic seafront walk, ideally at golden hour, with no effort required. For proper trekking with real terrain and real payoff, our founder's own hiking notes on Silvia's Trips go into exactly which routes deliver that, and are worth reading before you decide where to spend your day.
Prices for 2026
The card runs on dynamic, colour-coded pricing (A, B and C days, roughly low, medium and high demand) rather than a single flat rate. The Trekking Card starts from around €7.50 for one day on quieter dates, the Treno Card from around €19.50, with both rising on the busiest days of spring and early autumn. Children under 4 travel free, with reduced family and over-70 rates available.
Because the exact figure depends on your specific date, check the official calendar before booking if your dates are flexible. It can genuinely be worth shifting a day trip by 24 hours to land on a cheaper one.
How to buy it
You can buy the card at any Info Point between Levanto and La Spezia, or online in advance to skip the queues and secure your Via dell'Amore time slot, especially important in July and August.
If you are staying with us, just tell us when and for how many days you need it, and we will sort it out before you even head down to the station.
FAQ
Do I need the Cinque Terre Card just to visit the villages?
No. Entry to the villages is always free. The card is only needed if you want to walk the paid section of the coastal trail or the Via dell'Amore, or if you want unlimited train travel between the villages.
What's the difference between the Trekking Card and the Treno Card?
The Trekking Card covers trail access and village buses only. The Treno Card (Train Card MS) adds unlimited travel on the Cinque Terre Express between Levanto and La Spezia, and pays for itself once you take more than two or three train journeys in a day.
Is the Via dell'Amore included in the card?
Yes, this season access is included in the Cinque Terre Card, but you still need to reserve a timed entry slot when purchasing it, particularly in high season.
Is the Via dell'Amore a proper hiking trail?
Not really. It is a short, flat, paved seafront walk, lovely for the view but with none of the climbing or terrain of the coast's real hiking trails.
Do I need the card in winter?
No. Between 3 November and mid-March, the park season is closed, and all trails are free, so no card is required.
Where can I buy the Cinque Terre Card?
At any Info Point from Levanto to La Spezia, or online in advance. If you are staying at the Oasi, we can arrange it for you.
Further reading:
- Official Cinque Terre Card purchase and calendar: https://card.parconazionale5terre.it/nuovoecommerce/
- Official Cinque Terre Card information: https://www.parconazionale5terre.it/Ecinque-terre-card.php
- Real hiking routes and trekking tips in the area, from Silvia's Trips: https://silvias-trips.com/cinque-terre-hiking-tips/
