Monterosso al Mare Transportation

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Navigazione Golfo dei Poeti runs shuttle boats between Monterosso - Vernazza - Manarola - Riomaggiore (they don't stop at Corniglia, as there is no harbour).

You can buy a day pass and jump on and off along the way, or just a one-way ticket.

A great way to see the beauty of the Cinque Terre!

Daily trip 11,50euro - Daily trip reduced rate 6,50euro
Monterosso - Vernazza: Return ticket 4,50euro - One way only 3,00euro

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To travel to Monterosso, and between the five villages of the Cinque Terre you can catch the train that runs between La Spezia and Genoa.

Besides hiking, it is the easiest and quickest way to travel from village to village, but not very scenic - most of the time you are in tunnels through the mountains, with only an occasional glimpse of the ocean.

The train is pretty slow, and not that frequent. There is usually 1-3 trains per hour in summer, and less as the weather gets colder. Some trains don't stop at all the villages, so make sure you check the timetable in advance.

A one ride ticket costs around 1.50 euro and there is a day pass that you can buy too. Tickets are available at each of the towns stations, and make sure you pick up a timetable as well.

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To really enjoy the Cinque Terre it is a must to go on a boat tour from Monterosso to Riomaggiore (or vice versa)! Only that way you can appreciate the view of the villages snuggled against the mountains - with all bright colors of the houses and the vinyards all around!

We went on a boat tour from Monterosso to Riomaggiore, which cost € 8 per person one way. It is also possible to buy a day pass, so that you can hop on and off the boat and spend some time in the villages before visiting the next one!

Just be sure to watch the sun and the light before deciding which direction to take at what time of the day! Do check out the timetable here!

Please note that the service will start on March 31st, 2007!

There are several options for getting to Monterosso, as with all the Cinque Terre villages. On our first visit we had planned to take the ferry from Riomaggiore, only to find that rough seas meant that it was not stopping in the latter, so we came by train instead. Towards the end of our visit to the Cinque Terre we came back, this time by ferry from Vernazza, to revisit a shop whose various goods had taken our fancy.

If you arrive by train you will be in the newer part of town, its northern half. This is the place to be if you want to spend time on the beach, but if like us you want to explore the older part of Monterosso you will need to follow the path round the headland to the south, with its old fort, or walk through the tunnel beneath it, to reach the harbour (where the ferry docks) and the quainter old town.

You can also walk here, following the path from Vernazza. This is apparently the longest and most demanding stretch of the Cinque Terre cliff walk, but well worth doing if you have more time (and energy!) than we did.

There is more information about the trains and ferries on my Riomaggiore page, or check out these useful websites:
Trains ~ www.ferroviedellostato.it/
Boats ~ www.navigazionegolfodeipoeti.it/

Do not visit the Cinque Terre by car. It's impossible to get rid of your car in the small mountain towns.
We bought a Trenitalia Cinque Terre Card that included train service between Levanto and La Spezia (including all the Cinque Terre towns, of course) AND 'battello' (boat) service between Riomaggiore and Monterosso. The card is valid for 24 hours and costs (Sept. 2004) 13.50 euro in 2nd class. You can hop on and off the train and the boat as much as you like.
Very convenient!
Remember to validate your ticket before boarding the train!

Do not visit the Cinque Terre by car. It's impossible to get rid of your car in the small mountain towns.
We bought a Trenitalia Cinque Terre Card that included train service between Levanto and La Spezia (including all the Cinque Terre towns, of course) AND 'battello' (boat) service between Riomaggiore and Monterosso. The card is valid for 24 hours and costs (Sept. 2004) 13.50 euro in 2nd class. You can hop on and off the train and the boat as much as you like.
Very convenient!

To go from one Cinque Terre village to the other, the train is very convenient as well! Just don't expect great views: it is mostly tunnels!

The fares are very reasonable: we paid 1 € to go from Vernazza to Monterosso (2006), but then it is only 5 km....

Forget about bringing your car to this part of the country. The train is the BEST way to get around here. It is very affordable and convenient. We used it to travel to the area from Siena. We used it to get to Riomaggiore for our hike back to Monterosso. Then we used it to travel out of the area to Florence.

$3 (in 2001) will get you a day pass that will allow you to hop on and off at the five towns.