We will be winding up a choir tour in Venice on 7/16/18 and have thought about extending our stay to visit Cinque Terra and then Siena. 2 adults. Any train recommendations? Thanks!
Posted by
Rick Steves' Europe
16894 posts
Take the train connection that best fits your preferred departure time. Once you're sure of that, you might purchase ahead for a discount; see Trenitalia.com. But if tickets aren't for sale now, or the selection seems minimal, then wait a couple of more weeks, until after the June 10 schedule change, when more regional train options will be confirmed. You almost always need regional trains in the mix for these routes.
Posted by
28 posts
I looked up on Bahn.de and there is a train at 6:20am, 8:20am, 9:35am, 12:20pm, 2:20pm, etc. The 12:20pm and 2:20pm trains are faster. I don't think you can buy yet but maybe on another site. You want to look for Venice to La Spezia Central. Then you'll take a little train to whichever of the five towns you're staying in. You will love Cinque Terre!!! There is the small train that goes to all five towns and there are boats to take you to all five towns and you can walk the trail to all five towns! We walked to the 3rd town and took the train back and then the next day took the train to the 5th town, walked back to the 3rd town and took the train back.
Posted by
Minnesota 🎒
15861 posts
...and you can walk the trail to all five towns! We walked to the 3rd
town and took the train back and then the next day took the train to
the 5th town, walked back to the 3rd town and took the train back.
While it's possible to "walk" between the towns, it's not possible to entirely do on the famed Sentiero Azzurro (SVA2 Blue Path). Two of the sections - between Corniglia and Manarola, and Manarola to Riomaggiore (most of the Via dell'Amore) have been closed to damage for some years now and will remain so through 2018.
This is only relevant if the intention is to hike during your visit. There are other ways around the 2 closed sections but longer and more strenuous.
http://www.parconazionale5terre.it/Esentieri-outdoor.php
and there are boats to take you to all five towns
The ferries serves 4 of the 5 towns (and some locations outside of the CT) but not Corniglia as it doesn't have a proper harbor.
https://www.apathtolunch.com/2014/06/complete-cinque-terre-portovenere-la.html