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?".  And most important, click here to understand how far ahead you can 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...

Back to top


Cinque Terre to Florence or Siena...

Back to top


Cinque Terre to Rome...

Back to top


Cinque Terre to Naples, Sorrento, Amalfi, Capri...

Back to top


Cinque Terre to Venice...

Back to top


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 direct sleeper train.  An epic ride in your own private sleeper, direct to Sicily...

  • A direct sleeper train leaves La Spezia just after 23:00, travelling along the scenic coast towards the toe of Italy next morning, before being shunted onto a ferry to cross the Straits of Messina, a unique experience, have your camera ready.  It arrives in Sicily late afternoon.  This sleeper train originates in Milan.

    It has Comfort couchettes with 4-berth compartments, ideal for families.  It has 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.  See more information & photos of Italian domestic sleeper trains.

  • Fare start at €39.90 including a Comfort couchette or from €79.90 with a bed in a cosy 2-bed sleeper.  Book ahead for Trenitalia's cheap Super-Economy and Economy prices.

  • Buy tickets from La Spezia to Sicily at either www.raileurope.com, www.italiarail.com or Italian Railways' own site www.trenitalia.com.

    If you're starting at one of the Cinque Terre villages, add a separate ticket from there to La Spezia allowing at least an hour between trains in La Spezia.  In fact, I'd allow more time and have dinner in La Spezia.

    All 3 sites sell the same tickets, all offer ticketless travel for Italian intercity & high-speed trains, you simply print out your booking reference or show it on your phone.  Booking usually opens 4 months ahead, except when the mid-June & mid-December timetable changes are imminent when the booking horizon shrinks to less than this with some trains loaded before others.

    1.  www.raileurope.com is easy to use, it's written in plain English, it can be used in €, £ or $. There's a small booking fee.

    2.  www.italiarail.com is also easy to use, it's in plain English, it can be used 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.

    3.  www.trenitalia.com is fairly easy to use but it uses Italian-language place names and has a few quirks so see this advice on using it.  You will need to understand Italian to book sleepers, if you're not happy with this, stick with www.raileurope.com or www.italiarail.com.

Option 3, by train to Rome then sleeper to Sicily.  Time-effective, but better timed than option 2 so probably the option I'd choose...

Back to top


Cinque Terre to all other Italian destinations...

Back to top


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.

Back to top


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...

Back to top


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 information 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...

Back to top


Cinque Terre to all other destinations...

Back to top


Back to home page