Permit needed to visit CInque Terre?

Kelly, You don't need a Permit to visit the towns, but you will need a Park Permit to hike the Sentiero Azurro trails between the five towns (currently two of the trails are still closed due to slide damage). You can obtain the Permit either at stations or from the staff in the small booths at the start of the trails. Were you planning to stay in one of the towns for a day or two? It's very easy to travel between them using the local train. Happy travels!

You don't need a permit to visit the five Cinque Terre towns. However, there are trolls on famous hiking trails between the towns. They will charge you to pass. Also, you may be referring to the Cinque Terre Treno card that is a special card that permits unlimited rides on the train between Levanto and La Spezia. It also covers all fares on the trails as well as the small minivans in each town. You can buy them at any TI or in other places in the CT. It is different from the Cinque Terre Card which is for the park. Treno refers to the train. The last one I had showed the Trenitalia logo on it. They come in 1, 2, 3 and 7-day versions. Here's a link to a picture of the Cinque Terre Treno cards. http://www.parconazionale5terre.it/upload/5terre%20treno%20loca-ita.pdf

Thanks so much!

Is the Treno card the best value for tains, etc. we are coming by train from Florence this thursday to la spezia, staying in Verraza for 3 nights. Then back out of la spezia to Pisa. Chip...currently watching it rain in Florence.

The Cinque Terre Treno card is probably not the "best" value but it certainly is the most convenient if you are riding the train up and down the CT and walking the trails. I don't see a price for the 3-day card but the 2-day card is 19Euro. If you happen to change trains at La Spezia Centrale to enter the CT, there's a TI office in the train station. If not, you can buy them in numerous places throughout the CT.