This page explains how to buy train tickets from La Spezia or any of the Cinque Terre villages to other European cities at the cheapest prices, buying online direct from the operators, usually with print-at-home tickets.  Click here to buy tickets starting in another city.

I want to go from La Spezia or Cinque Terre to...

      Florence   Rome   Naples
  Venice   Siena   Cinque Terre
  Sicily   Paris   Anywhere else in Italy
  Switzerland   Nice, Monaco   All other destinations

Before you buy your tickets

Take a moment to read these important tips for buying European train tickets.  It answers all the usual questions, "Do I need to book in advance or can I just buy at the station?", "Can I stop off?", "Are there Senior fares?" and that old favourite, "Should I buy an $800 railpass or just buy a €35 point-to-point ticket online?".  How far ahead can you buy train tickets?

Which station in Cinque Terre?

European train travel FAQ

An introduction to European train travel

 

Senior fares (over 60)

 

Guide to Eurail passes (overseas visitors)

Important tips for buying European train tickets

Youth fares (under 26)

 

Guide to Interrail passes (for Europeans)

How to check European train times

Child fares & child age limits

 

Couchettes & sleepers on night trains

Do I need to book in advance?

Luggage on European trains

 

Train seat numbering plans

How far ahead can I book?

Luggage storage at stations

 

Wheelchairs & special needs

Can I stop off on the way?

Taking a bike by train

 

Real-time service updates

Should I travel 1st or 2nd class?

Taking a car by train

 

Hotels & accommodation

How long to allow for connections?

Taking dogs & pets by train

 

Changing stations in Paris by metro or taxi

How early to arrive at the station?

Maps of the European rail network

 

What to do when things go wrong...


Cinque Terre to Pisa

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Cinque Terre to Florence or Siena

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Cinque Terre to Rome

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Cinque Terre to Naples, Sorrento, Amalfi, Capri

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Cinque Terre to Venice

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Cinque Terre to Palermo, Catania, Siracuse & Sicily from €39.80

Option 1, by daytime train.  La Spezia to Sicily in a day

Option 2, by sleeper train.

  • Take a train to Rome, then an Intercity Notte sleeper train from Rome direct to Messina, Cefalω, Palermo, Catania, Taormina or Siracuse on Sicily.  These trains are shunted onto a ferry to cross the Straits of Messina, a unique experience.

    The Intercity Notte has Comfort couchettes with 4-berth compartments, ideal for families.  They have a sleeping-car with 1, 2 & 3 bed compartments with washbasin.  The couchettes convert to seats for daytime use, the sleepers convert to a private sitting room with sofa.  There's no restaurant car, so bring your own picnic and bottle of wine or beer.  More about Intercity Notte trainsMore about trains to Sicily.

  • Monterosso to Rome starts at €19.90 in 2nd class or €29.90 in 1st class.

    Rome to Sicily starts at €39.90 in a couchette, €79.90 with a bed in a cosy 2-bed sleeper or €87 in a single-bed sleeper.

    Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

  • Buy tickets at one of these sites:

    1.  www.italiarail.com, easy to use, in plain English, in €, £, $ & Aus$.  Their small booking fee will be refunded if you email seat61@italiarail.com after you book.  It can be cheaper than Trenitalia.com for 2 or more people travelling together as explained here.

    2.  www.thetrainline.com, also easy to use, in €, £ or $, small booking fee.  Also sells tickets for Italo and for other countries.

    3.  www.raileurope.com, also easy to use, in €, £ or $, small booking fee.  Also sells tickets for Italo and for other countries.

    4.  www.trenitalia.com, you'll need to uses Italian-language place names, it has a few quirks, see tips for using it.  You will need to understand Italian to book sleepers as the site does not translate sleeper types, if you're not happy with this, stick with www.thetrainline.com, www.raileurope.com or Italiarail.com.

    I recommend booking in two stages:  First book the sleeper from Rome to Sicily, then book a train from Monterosso or another of the 5 villages to Rome that gives you at least an hour between trains in case of delay.

    All these sites sell the same tickets and all offer ticketless travel, you print your booking reference or show it on your phone.  Booking opens up to 4 months ahead, but this varies, trains to Sicily can open for sale later than this, sleepers especially so.

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Cinque Terre to all other Italian destinations

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Cinque Terre to Paris from €48.90

Option 1, by daytime train - The scenic option

TGV bar car   TGV from Milan to Paris

Turin to Paris by high-speed TGV...  Above left, the cafe-bar serving drinks, snacks & hot dishes  Above right, the TGV at Paris Gare de Lyon.  Larger bar photo.

TGV interior by Christian Lacroix, second class   TGV 1st class by Christian Lacroix

A table for four in 2nd class on the TGV to Paris.  360 degree photo.

 

1st class seats on the Turin-Paris TGV.  360 degree photo.

Mountains from the TGV train to Italy

Take a good book, a bottle o' red, and enjoy the scenery from Italy to Paris with your feet up.  These are mountains in France...  Watch the Paris-Milan TGV video guide.

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Cinque Terre to Monaco, Nice, Cannes & South of France
Italian InterCity train

Steps 1 & 2, take an Intercity or Frecciabianca train from La Spezia or Monterosso to Genoa then Genoa to Ventimiglia.  This is an Intercity at Milan Centrale.

2nd class   1st class

2nd class.  Larger photo.

 

1st class.  Larger photo.

TER train at Juans-les-Pins station

Step 3, take a TER local train from Ventimiglia to Monaco, Nice & Cannes.  Ventimiglia to Nice takes an hour along the coast.  Here, a TER rolls into Juan les Pins station, between Nice & Cannes.

Coastal scenery between Nice & Ventimiglia

Coastal scenery from the upper deck of the TER from Ventimiglia to Nice & Cannes...

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Cinque Terre to Switzerland from €48.90
ETR610 EuroCity train from Switzerland at Milan Centrale   2nd class seats on an ETR610 EuroCity train to Italy

EuroCity train, at Milan Centrale.  More about these EuroCity trains.

 

2nd class seats on an ETR610 EuroCity train.

Lake Lugano, seen from a Milan to Zurich train

This is Lake Lugano, seen from a Milan-Zurich EuroCity train.

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Cinque Terre to all other destinations

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