Train from Venice to Cinque Terra (Monterosso)

Several years ago my wife and I took a direct train from Venice to Milan. I would do separate searches, one from Venice to Milan and then one from Milan to CT. I would not try linking them.

Everything I am seeing has me going Venice/Florence/Pisa/CT.

That is probably the best route. Generally you will also have to go thru La Spezia. This is a long trip. Pick the fastest route. You can look at https://www.bahn.com/en to get the fastest route and book on the Italian train site.

Not sure when you checked the Trenitalia site last but it appears to be having some sort of difficulty. Just for kicks, I've tried to figure your journey (Venezia S. Lucia > Monterosso) and it just sits there trying to process. Same thing with other random journeys I tested so I think there might be an issue on their end. Try again later tonight or tomorrow?

When the Trenitalia site is twitchy, use this:

https://www.thetrainline.com/

CT you need to pick one of the 5 villages. Packing up in a Venice hotel and walking out of one in say Monterosso, figure 8.5 hours.

1. Did you put Monterosso as arrival station? It's the only village with direct trains from Milan. If you enter a different village in the Cinque Terre, trenitalia.com will show the quickest route, not the easiest.
2. Did u use a day of travel before December 12?
3. Nothing prevents you from making two separates searches and two separate purchases: from Venice to Milano Centrale and from Milano Centrale to Monterosso. Did you try?
4. avoid resellers' site like thetrainline, if you want direct trains use the "no changes" button here: https://www.lefrecce.it/Channels.Website.WEB/#/?tab=biglietti

Kathy, you tried at 4:20 AM, that's the time when vampires and webmasters are on duty. They were probably loading some new trains running after December 12.

For the love of Mike.... Dario, you're absolutely right that I must have searched during the Witching Hour! Site is working fine now; thanks for that piece of enlightenment!

So at a glance, it looks like the decision needs to be how quickly one wants to get to Monterosso, or how to do it with the least amount of train changes? Going with the latter, at least right now & using Nov. 25th as a random date, there's a big gap between a "fast" train from Venezia S. Lucia > Milano Centrale (7:18 - 9:45; 2h 27min) and the next no-changes train (in fact the next train of any kind) leaving Milan for Monterosso (IC 12:10 - 15:05; 2h 55min). So it would be kicking heels between trains in Milan for almost 2.5 hours that's the time killer; total journey would take abt. 8 hours.

Going with Trenitalia's fastest solution, yes, it appears to route Venice>Firenze SM Novella>Pisa Centrale> Monterosso in a total of 5 hours, 27 minutes, 2 train changes (7:26 - 12:53 or 9:26 - 14:53) . That's really almost identical time sitting on trains themselves as going through Milan but without the long wait time between them, and just 1 additional train change.

Maybe later they'll fill that gap with another train leaving Milan sooner than 12:10 but pretty sure Dario will have the best guess there. :O)

Once you get to Milano Centrale it's quite simple. Choose your train to either Levanto or La Spezia where you will change trains and get on the line that serves the 5T. I prefer Levanto but have done both depending on train schedules. It's been a few years but I think the trip from Milan was 3.5-4 hours. I have done this trip but never all at once. Pick up a copy of Tim Parks' book "Italian Ways" if you're interested in Italian train travel, it's quite entertaining and informative.
Good luck!

Why should the OP choose a train to either Levanto or La Spezia when he/she's headed to the Cinque Terre? The direct Intercity train from Milan stops in Monterosso before calling at La Spezia! And Levanto would be the last station right before Monterosso! It takes 2h54 minutes, as long s one avoids both backtracking and getting off too early.

Looks like the fastest route with the least changes is 5:27 with 2 changes. The first train is with Frecciarossa, Venice to Florence. You may need a reservation. Next is a regional train Florence to Pisa. Second change is in Pisa to an Intercity train. Pisa to Monterosso.

Yes 5:27 to Monterosso, 26 more minutes to the other villages.

The first train is with Frecciarossa, Venice to Florence. You may need a reservation.

Every train in Italy which beyond a Regionale or Regionale Veloce, that is for IC and any flavour of Freccia needs a reservation. If you buy tickets it is included. With a Eurailpass it is another wodge of money.

Looks like the fastest route with the least changes is 5:27 with 2
changes. The first train is with Frecciarossa, Venice to Florence. You
may need a reservation. Next is a regional train Florence to Pisa.
Second change is in Pisa to an Intercity train. Pisa to Monterosso.

That's exactly the route I'd published above.