Venice to Cinque Terre (Vernazza)

Venice to La Spezia via Florence. then North to Vernazza. Leave by 1000 and get there by 1500. No advance train reservation needed, but you should have lodging secured ahead of time. try http://www.elisabettacarro.it/

What do you mean by "best" way? Fastest, cheapest, or fewest changes? Me, I'll take fewest changes and best price. So I would go via Milan, catching the 12:10 IC 665 that goes to Monterosso with no changes. You can change to the regional train to Vernazza at either monterosso or Sestri Levante. Book early and you can get 9 euro mini fares on the ES from Venice to Milan and the IC from Milan to Monterosso.
Tthis route takes an hour longer than the one suggested by Bob. Just so you know.

Thanks all! By "best" train I mean most direct and the cheapest. Would like to leave Venice early in the morning to have time to settle in to Vernazza. I have read a few lodging recommendations in Rick's books, but welcome any recommendations and current contact info. Newly married and looking for a romantic, but reasonable room for 4 nights in Vernazza. Thanks again!
Tim

If you want the cheapest fare, then do as Sasha suggests and book early (3 to 4 months ahead) to get the "mini" fares, which start as low as 9 euros. Since the Florence route iinvolves some regional trains, you can't book the whole route tha far ahead. The Milan route, on the other hand, is on the trains that offer mini fares, so you could go from Venice to Monterosso for 18 euros each (2 9-euro mini fares). Monterosso to Vernazza is a hop of a few minutes and only costs a few euros.

Timothy, I agree with Sasha regarding the easiest travel route from Venice to Vernazza. The shortest time I could find on the Trenitalia website with their "suggested route" is ~5.5 hours, with three changes. If you travel via Milano Centrale, you may have to buy separate tickets for each segment. This is the method I'd use: > Depart Venezia S.L. 08:50, Arrive Milano CE 11:25 (time 2H:35M, Freccia Mini fare listed at €29) > Depart Milano CE 12:10, Arrive Vernazza 15:26 (time 3H:16M, one change at Sestri Levante, Intercity Mini fare €9, Regionale €3.90 - DON'T forget to validate). Total travel time 5H:51M. Regarding accommodations, check This List for a list of current status of businesses in Vernazza. Note that accommodations in Vernazza tend to be smaller B&B's (some don't provide any breakfast). Considering the occasion, if you want more of a Hotel, you might also consider staying in Monterosso. One other possibility for a Luna di Miele is This B&B in Manarola. Whichever accommodations you choose, I'd suggest booking SOON!!! I'm still trying to arrange one night in Monterosso in September. I'd suggest packing along a copy of the Italy 2012 Guidebook, as it has LOTS of information on accommodations in all of the five towns (as well as a wealth of information on touring, transportation, etc.). Finally, Congratulations and Happy travels!!!

I'll suggest another route. Take a high-speed EuroStar Italia train from Venezia Santa Lucia to Firenze S. M. Novella, departing at 08:57 and arriving at 11:00. If you book well in advance (up to 120 days allowed) on the Trenitalia site, you can get a MINI fare as low as €9.00. Leave Firenze at 11:28, connect in Pisa and La Spezia, and arrive in Vernazza at 14:28. Those three legs will be on Regionale trains and the total fare is €11.10. Buy your tickets for those three legs at the station in Venice. Your total travel time will be 5hr31min.

I did what Tim said. It cost me 54.30 EU at the train station in Venice a few days in advance. Venice to La Spezia. Save some cash with the lower fares if you can. I had tried but failed to buy tix on the Trenitalia site before my trip. The route thru Firenze was simplest and left Venice at the time I wanted.