Cinque Terre

The train serves all 5 of the towns. Monterosso is the largest of the 5 and the furthest north. We chose to stay there because we wanted to hike in the Monterosso -> Vernazza direction. You will want to check the current condition of the hiking trails after the storm damage. You can take the train from town to town, unless there is a strike like there was when we were there. You can also take a ferry that goes from town to town, so long as the sea is calm enough. That is especially nice because you can get a different perspective from the sea. It is especially pleasant in the evening, traveling toward the north. I have some spectacular pictures I took from the boat.

There are about 20 trains a day that stop in the CT. Most stop at Monterosso and Riomaggiore. A few less stop at Vernazza and Manarola. Corniglia gets a few less trains a day. Still, you won't have trouble getting to any of the five towns. Corniglia is up high on a bluff. You will need to take the minibus up to the town. Or, you can walk up about 425 stairs. For the other 4 towns, it's really easy to get around between the train tracks and the water. As the 4 towns rise into the hills, the streets can be steep. But, there are minibuses in all of the towns. If the coastal trail is open between Riomaggiore and Manarola, its a really easy and level walk.

Elizabeth, One point to clarify - where else will you be visiting? It would be more efficient to travel Venice > Florence > Cinque Terre. Travel time from Venice to the C.T. will be 5 - 6 hours, which will use most of a full day. Travel time from Florence will be shorter. All of the Cinque Terre towns are easily accessible by train, and that's by far the easiest way to get around that area. Are you planning to stay there for a few days? If so, I would highly recommend getting accommodations booked SOON! When will this trip be taking place? Happy travels!