Pisa to cinque terre. 4 hours or 75 mins validity and is stopovers allowed.

Posted by cardozomargarida0261 on 10/11/20 08:59 AM

Hi everyone, I would like to know the most cost effective way to travel from Florence to Manarola by train with stopover in Riomaggiore. I would only like to go to Riomaggiore and Manarola. Is it better to buy a ticket from Florence to Pisa and then a separate ticket from Pisa to Manarola and stopover at Riomaggiore and then catch a later train to Manarola within 4 hours? Does the journey have to be completed within 4 hours or the journey needs to be started in 4 hours. For example if I depart Pisa at 12pm, do I have to be at Manarola by 4pm. What if the train from Riomaggiore delays and it reaches Manarola just after 4pm?

What I am unclear about is why does some tickets have validity for 4 hours and some have 75mins and some don't allow stopovers. I have read multiple forums and still not clear if I can stopover at Riomaggiore with the same ticket. I know I asked many questions but your help will be appreciated.

Posted by Robert

Colorado Springs

10/11/20 12:14 PM

3031 posts

On a Regionale paper ticket your journey must be completed within 4 hours of validation.
For an E-ticket the clock starts at the departure time of the train.
If your proposed enroute stops exceed that limit you'll need to buy another ticket.

Posted by Dario

Italy

10/11/20 12:29 PM

3812 posts

Why don't you buy separate tickets for each leg? Get them all at once at the first station/ticket machine you'll pass by and time-stamp each ticket when needed, just before boarding the next train. It seems you are stressing over a price difference of around 2 Euros pp.

Why is stopping over "at Riomaggiore with the same ticket" so important while on vacation? Buy a ticket to Riomaggiore and another one from Riomaggiore to your next stop, wherever it is.

Posted by Frank

Tresana, Highlands Ranch, CO, USA

10/11/20 06:48 PM

23650 posts

You are making it too complicated. Regional train tickets are very cheap. So just buy them as you need them. I am not sure where you are getting the info about 75 mins and no stop over. The Italian train system is pretty simple. For all trains, EXCEPT the Regional trains, a seat reservation is required and is included when you purchase that ticket. That is why cannot get off a non-regional train and back on a later time because you would not have a seat reservation for the second train. You could get off a regional train and back on as long as you did it with the four hour window for completion because there are no seat reservation. No seat, you stand till one becomes available.

In Italy there are several levels of trains service from fast trains (Ferro) will fewer stops, to IC - Intercity - a little slower because of more stops and finally the Regional train that is more like a bus on wheels --- hits almost every stop and is the slowest. You do pay for speed - faster the train more expensive (in general) the ticket. And again excluding the Regional train, there are three levels of fares from the deep discounted tickets with many restrictions to a full fare with almost no restrictions. The discount tickets are fairly cheap but sell out quickly. The base fare is the walk up fare and is always available unless on a very rarely occasion the train is sold out.

Posted by samuelito

Sunnyvale, CA

10/11/20 08:08 PM

149 posts

IIRC, there is no direct train from PIsa to any villages in Cinque Terre, you have to change train in La Spezia.

Posted by Dan

San Mateo, CA, USA

10/12/20 02:14 AM

257 posts

Actually there are direct IC trains from Pisa to Monterosso several times a day it shows, and cost would include a seat reservation. There are no direct trains from Florence to any of the Cinque Terre cities. And once in Monterosso you could take the local Cinque Terre trains that are $4 euro to either of the towns you want to visit.