How to Get to Cinque Terre from Milan

The Ligurian coast has five municipalities considered to be the most prized jewels of northern Italy: Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza, and Monterosso al Mare. These locations are nestled within twenty kilometres between cliffs and vineyards. A visit here is one of the best things to do in Milan, and you can get there by various means of transport.

In addition, let's take a look at how to get to these towns from the Lombard capital, the prices and the most convenient recommendations.

Guided tours are usually more feasible when time is limited. This way of discovering Cinque Terre and its wonders offers a range of options that can be adapted to your budget and the length of your trip.

So, if you want to end your trip to the Italian Riviera on a high note, here are a couple of ideal options for you.

Option I: Group excursions to Cinque Terre from Milan

Through group tours, you can discover the most emblematic locations of this paradise. Yes, all five: Manarola, Vernazza, Corniglia, Monterosso and Riomaggiore.

The tour begins with a bus transfer from Milan to the Mediterranean coast of Liguria, about 241.9 km away. Depending on the route of each excursion, the itinerary includes activities such as visiting Manarola, exploring the famous local vineyards and strolling along the quays or taking a train to Monterosso al Mare to enjoy the old town.

In some cases, your excursion may include a heavenly 2-hour cruise.

Details of interest

• Price: between £120 and £140
• Duration: between 13 and 14 hours.
• Advantages: these types of excursions usually include full transfer service, bilingual guide, train tickets and cruise tickets.
• Disadvantages: as this is a group excursion, the maximum number of passengers is 30, which is quite a large group. It is not suitable for wheelchair users and meals and drinks often incur an additional cost.
• Suggested activities during the tour: there are semi-independent group excursions that allow you to go hiking in the Cinque Terre National Park, as well as stopping at restaurants to sample authentic Italian cuisine.

Option II: Private excursions to Cinque Terre from Milan

Travelling to Cinque Terre is love at first sight. And without a doubt, private excursions are the perfect option if you want personalised attention. Trust me, you won't regret it.

Through private tours, you will be able to get to know everything Cinque Terre has to offer in greater depth. Although this type of experience is more expensive, the convenience of deciding on the activities is a huge advantage.

These private tours offer an even more flexible itinerary so that you and your companions can explore the Italian Riviera without any worries.

Details of interest

• Price: available from £300 to £400 per person. Some prices may include discounts depending on the group size.
• Duration: between 13 and 14 hours. The time varies according to the itinerary.
• Advantages: private driver, specialised guide, full transfer services, train tickets, Wi-Fi service.
• Disadvantages: not suitable for wheelchair users, no food or drinks provided.
• Suggested activities during the tour: these types of experiences are flexible, so you can enjoy each stop and do other tours such as visiting the Castle Tower in Vernazza, exploring the Via di Mezzo in Manarola, tasting the best Ligurian focaccia at La Cambusa and visiting the Church of St. John the Baptist in Riomaggiore.

The most flexible way: by car

Whether by private car or car share, the most flexible way to travel is by car. Here's how you can do it.

By private car

People who choose to travel by car largely do so for the flexibility of being able to stop whenever and wherever they want. This may be the case for you, but you should know that among the villages of Cinque Terre, Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza and Monterosso al Mare, you are only allowed to stop and park in one village: Monterosso al Mare.

In the other towns, you will have to park on the outskirts, usually at the highest point, from where you can see the valley and walk down to explore it. There are two options for this route:

From Milan to Monterosso al Mare

You can start in the east, which is 225 km away. This route passes through Genoa. Taking the A7 and A12 motorways, you will need around 3 hours and 20 minutes.

From Milan to La Spezia

From west to east, although you cover the same distance (225 km), you will pass Parma. The A1 and A15/E33 motorways are in better condition, which can save you up to half an hour in your car. You will reach your destination in 3 hours.

Details of interest

• Price: in addition to the cost of petrol, if you decide to hire a car, at Hertz for example, prices start at £30 per day.
• Duration: between 3 hours and 3 hours and 20 minutes
• Advantages: this type of excursion allows you to plan your itinerary as you wish. Stops to take photographs, breaks... you control the schedule.
• Disadvantages: the fatigue of driving on the narrow, winding road that winds through the mountains, plus the cost.
• Suggested activities: once you reach the northern or southern end of Cinque Terre, connect to the rest of the villages via regional trains. The average journey time between stations is 4 to 6 minutes.

Car sharing

Carpooling continues to gain popularity in Italy. Prices are affordable, particularly on long routes, you meet other people, you help the environment by reducing the carbon footprint left by numerous cars, and you enjoy beautiful scenery.

Useful information

• The price of car sharing starts at £10.
• The duration of the journey varies between 2 hours and 30 minutes and 3 hours.

The most popular carpooling company in Italy

Blablacar is the most popularcompany. They offer long and short trips to almost all cities in Italy. For Milan-La Spezia, for example, you can get a ticket from £10.

This alternative is usually one of my recommended transport options due to its value for money and variety of routes, but there is only one option for the Milan-Cinque Terre connection: Milan - La Spezia with one transport line.

If you choose this option, please note that the journey is not direct. You will need to take a bus in San Donato M3 and change in Genova Fanti d'Italia, Principe. The waiting time is between 2 hours and 5 minutes. After that, take the bus to Via Carducci in La Spezia. This section will take 1 hour and 35 minutes.

In conclusion, you will need 5 hours and 35 minutes. The transport company operating this service is Flixbus.

Details of interest

• Price: from £17.
• Duration: 5 hours and 35 minutes
• Advantages: it is economical.
• Disadvantages: only one line operates on this route and requires a change.
• Suggested activities: relax and perhaps take some videos along the way, it is very beautiful.

Arriving in Cinque Terre by boat is one of the most attractive options. Just imagine enjoying the entire Ligurian coast as you stroll along its beaches. Sign up for this way of exploring it and check out the available options.

Option I: group boat trip to explore the beaches

The first thing you should know about this option is that it only runs from late March to early November due to weather conditions and safety issues. However, this is one of the best tours and excursions from Milan.

Of course, although Milan is not the best location for taking a boat to Cinque Terre (as most depart from La Spezia, Portovenere and Genoa), it is still a viable option.

From the Lombard capital, you can take a bus to La Spezia, then buy a ticket to board the boat and continue the route through Riomaggiore, Manarola, Vernazza and Monterosso al Mare. The only village you would miss is Corniglia because it has no access to the sea.

Useful information

• Price: from £20.
• Duration: it all depends on the route you choose, but around 6–7 hours.
• Advantages: this is an ideal option if you want to avoid crowds and prefer to enjoy the beaches. Groups are limited to around 20–30 people.
• Disadvantages: not suitable for people who suffer from seasickness and if you choose to take the bus, you will have to spend the night in one of the villages.
• Suggested activities during the tour: there are activities that complement the tour perfectly, such as snorkelling or diving.

Option II: day trip and mini-cruise from Milan to Cinque Terre

Now you have the luxury option you've been waiting for to discover Cinque Terre in a more private and relaxing way.

As we saw, Milan does not have a direct boat to Cinque Terre, but with these tours you can make your dream come true. These tours depart from Milan by bus to Manarola, one of the villages that make up Cinque Terre.

There you can stroll through the streets and then hop on the train that will take you to Monterosso, where you will take a 90-minute mini-cruise. The tour usually ends in La Spezia, and from there you can take the bus back to Milan.

Details of interest

• Price: between £120 and £170 per person.
• Duration: between 12 and 13 hours
• Advantages: enjoy a private boat trip along the Cinque Terre coast.
• Disadvantages: not suitable for people with heart conditions.
• Suggested activities during the tour: You can complement it with snorkelling and diving.

The cheapest option: the regional train

There are several ways to get around Cinque Terre, but one of the best is by train. The main reasons are its low price, the location of its stations and the ease of getting to any of the other towns.

The journey time between Milan and Cinque Terre by train is around 3 to 4 hours for a distance of approximately 216 km, including an average stopover time of 23 minutes. Of course, you can also opt for express train tickets.

Trains usually depart from Milano Centrale every 4 hours. If you board first thing in the morning, you can spend the day exploring Cinque Terre and return to Milan where you can spend the night. If you want to make the most of your trip to the Italian Riviera, be sure to check the routes in advance.

Useful details

• Price: from £12, you can even get tickets for £4 when they offer special promotions.
• Duration: the train from Milan to Cinque Terre takes between 3 and 4 hours.
• Advantages: you can travel in peace and quiet, adapting your itinerary to your needs. It is free, safe and an accessible option for everyone.
• Disadvantages: you will be surrounded by other tourists, as it is an economical option and therefore popular with many people.
• Suggested activities during the trip: if you choose the train, this is the time to visit Corniglia, the third village from north to south that makes up the Cinque Terre. This village breaks with the stereotype as it has no direct access to the sea. It is an ideal option for those who prefer a more peaceful, serene and less crowded trip. Just make sure you wear comfortable clothes for climbing lots of steps.

The shortest option: by plane

You can travel by plane to Cinque Terre, however, you can only get as close as approximately 80 km because there is no airport in these villages. You have two options.

From Genoa-Cristoforo Airport

Genoa Airport (GOA) is located 114.2 km away by road. Once your plane lands, you will need to travel approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes by road on the E80. If you decide to take the train from the airport, you have a couple of options:

• Via Levanto. The journey takes 2 hours and 35 minutes. Tickets are available from £6.
• Via Sestri Levante. The journey takes 3 hours and 10 minutes. You can buy your ticket for the same price as above, from £5.

From Galileo Galilei International Airport

Pisa Airport is located 112.7 km from Cinque Terre. Once you arrive there, you can drive to the village via the A12/E80. The journey takes around 1 hour and 40 minutes.

If you decide to take a train, you will need to take the E25 or E3 bus to Via Crispí 93/95, from there it is a 500-metre walk to Pisa Centrale station and if you arrive on time (trains run every 30 minutes), you will reach your destination in 48 minutes. You can buy a ticket from £5.

Frankly, this isn't my favourite option, but it is an alternative.

Useful information

• Price: available from £200 return.
• Duration: between 13 and 14 hours. The time varies according to the itinerary.
• Advantages: private driver, specialised guide, full transfer services, train tickets, Wi-Fi service.
• Disadvantages: not suitable for wheelchair users, no meals or drinks provided.
• Suggested activities during the tour: these types of experiences are flexible, so you can enjoy each stop and take other tours such as visiting the Castle Tower in Vernazza, exploring the Via di Mezzo in Manarola, tasting the best Ligurian focaccia at La Cambusa and visiting the Church of St. John the Baptist in Riomaggiore.