Has anyone taken the train from Nice to the Cinque Terra? Is so, did you transfer to the local train in Genova? Was it an easy or difficult transfer and did you have to buy a ticket in the station for the local train, or did you buy it in Nice? Would it be easier to transfer to an IC train that goes to La Spezia or Levanto?
Thanks for you help.
Posted by
Minneapolis, MN, USA
8700 posts
Your first transfer will be at Ventimiglia. From there some trains go directly to La Spezia (with a stop in Genova). At some times of the day you will have to change trains in Genova. For detailed timetables, go to www.bahn.de. After you get summary timetables for Nice Ville-La Spezia Centrale, click on "Details for all" to see the connecting points.
You can buy a one-day pass in La Spezia for the local trains that go to all five villages.
Posted by
dallas, tx, usa
1358 posts
You will have to change trains to a local. But when you get on the local train for CT National Park, get off at the first of the five villages, which is Monterosso al Mare.
If you go to La Spezia you have gone too far south and passed the CT.
Posted by
Edmonton, AB, Canada
668 posts
We caught a Nice train at Monte Carlo and went on to Geneva where we changed (didn't have to change at the border)We were going on to Pisa, and then back to CT via La Spezia. On the way back we got the local rain to Genoa and changed to the IC there. It was not a difficult change. We were on a Pass, so did not have to worry about ticketing, but I would think you would get a ticket all the way at Nice.
Watch the local train from Genoa, they all do not stop at all the villages in CT. Make sure teh one you catch is stopping at the village you want. This local service was teh most unreliable we used in 5 weeks in Europe. It tended to be late and when we left we took an earlier train than we really needed to ensure we were on time for the IC in Genoa.
Posted by
Minneapolis, MN, USA
8700 posts
I now see that my post was misleading when I recommended going via La Spezia. If you enter the CT villages of your choice on www.bahn.de, you'll see which local trains departing from Genova stop in one or more of the CT villages.
Posted by
Elk Grove, CA, USA
6898 posts
All train runs from Nice Ville to either Monterosso or La Spezia will require a train change at Ventimiglia, Genoa or both. If you have Vernazza, Manorola or Corniglia as your ticket destination, you will see very few train runs. You will see more runs if you choose La Spezia Centrale as your detination. The difference in fares is negligable. Most runs to La Spezia Centrale will stop at Monterosso where you can get off and catch the local to the other 4 towns. Some runs will not stop in the CT at all. See sample schedule below.
CLICK HERE to see a sample train schedule. Click on details and then the highlighted train number to see the intermediate stops.