The Europe CruiseFor the American voyager

La Spezia

Gateway to Cinque Terre villages, Portovenere, Pisa, Florence

Photo: This Photo was taken by Timothy A. Gonsalves., CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The short answer

The Cinque Terre villages are reached by regional train from La Spezia Centrale. The Cinque Terre Train Card gives unlimited 2nd-class regional trains between La Spezia and Levanto plus trails and park buses; it is in your name and you must carry ID. WARNING: no trains between Corniglia and La Spezia on Nov 14-15 and Dec 19-20, 2026, and Jan 9-10 and Feb 6-7, 2027.

Getting ashoreShip docks
Distance to townLa Spezia Centrale train station is in town (walk distance from the pier not verified).
Gateway forCinque Terre villages, Portovenere, Pisa, Florence
Regional train to Cinque Terre villages (Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza, Monterosso)Unverified · Cinque Terre Train Card (price varies by date, check card.parconazionale5terre.it or Trenitalia app)
On the chart

Where La Spezia lies

Antique-style chart of Western Mediterranean with ports markedLa SpeziaAvignonBarcelonaRomeGenoaMarseilleRavennaSavonaVallettaAjaccioAlicanteAlmeríaAmalfi and PositanoBastiaBilbaoCadizCagliariCannesCartagenaCataniaGibraltarIbizaLivornoMahón, MenorcaMalagaMessinaMonacoNaplesOlbiaPalermoPalma de MallorcaPortoferraioPortofino / Santa Margherita LigurePulaRovinjSaint-TropezSalernoSèteŠibenikSorrentoTarragonaToulonValenciaVillefranche-sur-Mer and NiceZadar

Where your ship docks

Ships dock at the cruise pier in the port of La Spezia, near the city center (not verified).

Shuttle. Not verified.

From the gangway

Getting to the sights

The wayTimeCost
Regional train to Cinque Terre villages (Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza, Monterosso)UnverifiedCinque Terre Train Card (price varies by date, check card.parconazionale5terre.it or Trenitalia app)
Ferry to VillagesUnverifiedUnverified
Train to Pisa / FlorenceUnverifiedUnverified

Regional train to Cinque Terre villages (Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza, Monterosso)

Time UnverifiedCost Cinque Terre Train Card (price varies by date, check card.parconazionale5terre.it or Trenitalia app)
  1. Walk to La Spezia Centrale.
  2. Buy the Cinque Terre Train Card at the station, park point, Trenitalia website or app.
  3. Carry ID; the card is in your name.
  4. Ride toward Levanto; hop off at the villages.

Trains get very crowded in season. Check Trenitalia for works and strikes.

Ferry to Villages

Time UnverifiedCost Unverified
  1. Boats leave from the La Spezia waterfront in season.

Weather-dependent; season-dependent.

Train to Pisa / Florence

Time UnverifiedCost Unverified
  1. From La Spezia Centrale.

Florence is a long day from here; consider a ship tour.

Worth the trip

What to see

Vernazza

Postcard harbor village.

How
Train.
Time
1-1.5 hours
Tickets
Train card.

Manarola

Famous viewpoint over colorful houses.

How
Train.
Time
1 hour
Tickets
Train card.

Monterosso

Largest village with a beach.

How
Train.
Time
1-1.5 hours
Tickets
Train card.

Via dell'Amore (Riomaggiore-Manarola)

Famous seaside path.

How
Walk.
Time
30 minutes
Tickets
Included in the Cinque Terre Card (trekking access); rules on use are set by the park.
A day ashore

Your day, hour by hour

Planned for a typical call. Check your ship's all-aboard time and be back an hour early. The ship will not wait.

  1. 8:30 Off the ship; walk to La Spezia Centrale.
  2. 9:00 Buy the Train Card (carry passport).
  3. 9:15 Train to Monterosso (farthest village) first.
  4. 10:00-11:00 Monterosso.
  5. 11:15 Train to Vernazza; lunch.
  6. 13:15 Train to Manarola; viewpoint.
  7. 14:30 Riomaggiore.
  8. 15:15 Train back to La Spezia.
  9. 15:45 Walk to the ship. On board 60 minutes before all-aboard.
Wise counsel

What goes wrong, and how to avoid it

Beware

  • Train suspensions Corniglia-La Spezia on Nov 14-15, Dec 19-20 2026, Jan 9-10 and Feb 6-7 2027.
  • Very crowded trains and narrow platforms in summer.
  • Corniglia station is far below the village (many steps).
  • Italy has frequent announced transport strikes (trains, local buses, ferries), often on Fridays. A national general strike was called for Oct 30, 2026 and then postponed (EAV notice), and the Uffizi listed a strike day on Oct 30, 2026. Check the Italian Ministry of Transport strike list (scioperi.mit.gov.it) the week before your port day.
  • Trails can close after rain.

Do this

  • Start at the farthest village and work back toward La Spezia.
  • Park infopoint: 0187 762600, [email protected].
Practical matters

Fees, money and access

Rules & fees

  • Cinque Terre Card is required for the paid park trails.
  • Train card is nominative and non-transferable; show ID if checked.
  • Change of start date allowed once, up to 24 hours before.

Accessibility

Villages are steep with many steps. Manarola and Riomaggiore stations have tunnels and stairs. Not a good DIY day for wheelchair users.

Money

Euro (EUR). Visa and Mastercard work in most shops, restaurants and museums; tap-to-pay is common. Carry 20-40 euros in cash for small cafes, toilets, markets and some buses. Use a bank ATM (inside a bank) and always choose to be charged in euros, not dollars, when a card machine or ATM asks.

Onward

More of the Western Mediterranean

Palma de MallorcaSpain Ship docksValenciaSpain Ship docksMalagaSpain Ship docksCartagenaSpain Ship docksCadizSpain Ship docksGibraltarUnited Kingdom (British Overseas Territory) Ship docksMarseilleFrance Ship docksToulonFrance Ship docks
Sources & what we could not confirm · 3 sources · checked 2026-11
Still being confirmed
  • Cinque Terre Train Card prices for 2026-27.
  • Walk from cruise pier to station.
  • Train trip times.
  • Ferry schedules and fares.
  • The rule that a Cinque Terre Card is required for the paid park trails was not confirmed by the cited source. Check the national park site before you go.