Train from Domodossola to Cinque Terre in one day--possible?

Suggestions for what? It's a 5-6 hour train trip to Monterosso..

Easy trip. We did it from Stresa (about 30 minutes south of Domodossola). We left mid-morning and arrived in Vernazza in the afternoon. Even had enough time to grab a snack in the Milan station.

Is that one way or Round trip? One way yes it's do-able. As the above person put it's between 5-6 hour trip with either 1 train change (Milan) or 3 train changes depending on departure time and that's using Monterosso as the destination since you can get from Milan to Monterosso without a change. If you are going to one of the other villages you'll need another change and about 10-20 extra minutes depending on the schedule.

If you want to do that as a round trip, you'll be wasting your time. Unless you just want to sit in a train for 10 hours and see the landscape on the train ride down and back up with no time to enjoy the CT.

Linda,

YES, it is absolutely possible. That's a very easy trip. Are you staying in Domodossola, or coming from somewhere else?

That would be One way from Domodossola to Cinque Terre. Yes, you're right, it would be far too much to attempt for just a day trip. Yes, I should plan to leave as early in the morning as possible, and I would want to take trains with only one change--in Milano Centrale, if at all possible. Less chance of missing a connection where I am not that familiar taking trains. I was looking for suggestions for which trains--Intercity etc.

You can request schedules through www.trenitalia.com or through the DB link at How to Look Up Train Schedules and Routes Online. These search engines will reveal the fastest connection options, so just choose the departure time that looks best for you. The fastest total travel time may not always be the same as the departure with the fewest connections, but on this route it looks like you'll usually get both benefits together. Search to your actual destination town, such as Monterosso or Vernazza.

Which city in the CT are you staying? If it's Monterosso you can do it in 1 connection. If another you'll need 2 connections.

On the TrenItalia website between Domodossola and Monterosso there is one that leaves at 10:17 and arrives in Monterosso at 15:05 with 1 change in Milan. There is an earlier train at 6:51 but that has 3 difference changes and gets in at 13:47 (basically an hour earlier you arrive but you leave 3.5 hours earlier)

If you are staying in Vernazza that same 10:17 train would put you in Vernazza at 15:15. It changes in Milan, and then again in Monterosso. You'll board a regionale train from Monteross to Vernazza (and any of the other villages if you stay there)

We'll be staying in Monterosso in Cinque Terre. Thanks so much for your replies about train travel in Italy--the knowledge of experience, I'm sure.
Linda