My traveling partner and I just tried to purchase the Treno Card for three consecutive days in May 2025 from the Cinque Terre National Park website and discovered that it requires us to pick the travel times (half- to one-hour intervals) on each of the covered days. Since we don't know when we'll need the train, it looks like we'll need to purchase individual tickets as needed at the train stations. I thought I would reach out to the community to confirm that this is the case and see if there might be other options. Thank you!
Just purchase from the kiosk as you need them. They are just commuter trains short rides between the towns. They don't sell out. Buy just the hiking one.
I'm guessing that you're looking at the card that includes access to the Via Dell Amore segment of the Blue Trail/Sentiero Azzurro that runs between Riomaggiore and Manarola. That piece requires a timed-entry reservation but only for that segment, not for the rest of the trails, but I can't do a dummy booking far enough into the process to tell if that's what's hanging you up. That segment recently reopened after many years of (expensive) stabilizing work and was the most heavily used of the trails as it's paved and the easiest of them. The reservation system is for crowd control and probably to help pay for the work.
That card is the "Train Card Plus":
https://card.parconazionale5terre.it/en
More info on the Via Dell Amore:
https://www.cinqueterre.eu.com/en/cinque-terre-via-dell-amore
https://www.parconazionale5terre.it/Edettaglio.php?id=82019
Aside from dynamic pricing for the card based on high/low season and busiest/quietest days, I'm not seeing any information anywhere about have to commit to specific daily travel times other than for the Via Dell Amore. Also, it looks like you can add that piece to a standard MS Treno pass once you arrive.
I'll assume that you know that there are MANY trails in addition to the overrun "Blue" route?
If anyone else is aware of different information than the above regarding mandatory trail reservations, please post?
Thank you both! Kathy, thank you for the explanation about the cards. You were right, we originally selected the "Train Plus" card which includes the Via dell'Amore trail. I went back to the website and selected "Train" only which provides access to the trains and trails at any time during their hours of operation. Thank again!
You're welcome! Hope you have a dry and enjoyable visit to the CT!