Passes

Cinque Terre Card: 2022 updated rates

/ Amy Inman / Leave a comment

TrenItalia, Italy’s national railway system, has recently raised rates which has caused the multi-service Cinque Terre Card (which includes the hiking pass + unlimited train trips between the five villages, La Spezia Centrale and Levanto) to increase in price.

See below for the new rates, valid from March to November, 2022:

Where can I buy a Cinque Terre Card?

Cinque Terre Cards can be purchased in person at the Cinque Terre National Park TI offices throughout the Cinque Terre or at the train stations in Levanto or La Spezia Centrale. The passes can also be purchased online via the national park’s website, which I highly recommend doing so that you can avoid standing in long lines.

What about the hiking pass? Has it increased in price as well?

Unlike the multi-service Cinque Terre Card, the hiking pass (a.k.a Trekking Card) has not seen an increase in price (as it does not include the trains). To refresh your memories, here’s the current rates for the hiking pass:


Hear, hear: You can finally purchase your Cinque Terre passes online 

/ Amy Inman / 51 Comments

You read that right, the promises have finally become a reality! You can *finally* purchase your Cinque Terre National Park passes online. 

To purchase your passes (directly from the Cinque Terre National Park, this isn’t a third party platform) go to: https://card.parconazionale5terre.it/en


You can purchase the hiking pass (called the Trekking Card) or the all-inclusive Cinque Terre Card (at the moment they are calling it the Train Card*) online. 

*I really wish the park could streamline their marketing efforts and call the passes the same thing on all of their platforms, making it a little less confusing for visitors.

It’s pretty straightforward to purchase your passes, just follow the prompts.

Some of the translating gaffes on this site are downright funny! 

In case you were wondering (don’t worry, I was, too), “aggregate” is a supplement for groups larger than 25 persons and “guys” is a translating blunder and should be “youth” (for kids age 4-11 years).

You will have to create a login and password for the site (ugh, don’t they realize we already have nine zillion passwords and logins to remember?).

Payment can be made by credit card (Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Maestro), no PayPal. 

After you’ve made your purchase you should receive an email with a PDF file to download.  You can do one of two things:  1) Print this file and keep a hard copy with you, or 2) save the file (or simply screenshot) on your phone or device to display to the controller when requested (make sure that the QR code is visible).

Ta-dah! You’re all set.

FAQs

  • Do I have to purchase passes in advance? Absolutely not. But you’ll save yourself quite a bit of time if you do.
  • If I decide to purchase my passes when I’m there instead, where can I do so? You can purchase passes in person at any of the Cinque Terre National Park Info Points. You’ll find them in all five villages + at the La Spezia Centrale and Levanto train stations. If you are wanting the hiking pass, you can actually just start walking the coastal trail and buy the Trekking Card when you reach a checkpoint.
  • Help! I’m confused as to which passes I’ll need. Check out my previous post here that details all of the different options and their relative prices.
  • Do I have to print something?  Not necessarily.  If you prefer not to print (or you just simply don’t have the possibility to print) you can save the PDF file on your phone or device (or simply take screenshots of it).  You’ll need to show the QR code so that it can be scanned by the controller.  With that said, we all know that technology has its disadvantages (namely, batteries that don’t stay charged forever), so a paper copy is always great to have.

If you have any other questions just let me know.

Amy

Staying in the Cinque Terre for 3+ days? This train pass could be for you

/ Amy Inman / 17 Comments

So, you’ve planned to dedicate 3 or more days to the Cinque Terre… bravo! This area has so much to offer and those that stay for more than just a day or two get to really experience our area (versus merely scratching the surface).

For those staying on longer in the Cinque Terre, I have an insider tip for you. While TrenItalia abolished the weekly train pass (for everyone minus local residents) with the introduction of the Cinque Terre Express, they didn’t eliminate the monthly train pass (although you’ll never actually see it publicized). The monthly pass can be purchased by anyone (resident or non) and costs €33.50 per person. That’s unlimited train travel between the five villages: Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza & Monterosso.  Keep in mind that otherwise the cost is €4 per train trip between the villages. If you plan to take at least nine trains while in the Cinque Terre, the pass has already paid for itself (not to mention the convenience of not having to purchase and validate single tickets).

There is one caveat: The monthly pass is good for one calendar month, not for 30 days from the purchase date. In other words, if you buy your monthly pass on August 1st it will be good for 31 days but if you buy it later in the month it will still expire at the end of the month regardless of the purchase date. Think of it like this: new month, new pass required. This shouldn’t be an issue unless your dates in the Cinque Terre bridge two different calendar months (in which case you’ll need to do your sums to see if buying the monthly pass is worthwhile for you).

The monthly pass can be extended to include other stops as well (obviously at a higher rate). Here are some examples of prices for other monthly pass solutions (the map above should help with your sense of geography):

  • La Spezia Centrale to Monterosso (and everything in between): €45
  • Riomaggiore to Levanto (and everything in between): €39
  • La Spezia Centrale to Levanto (and everything between): €55.50

You can purchase monthly passes either upon arrival to Italy or online on the official TrenItalia website (recommended, it will be just one less thing for you to worry about).

How to purchase your monthly pass online

I’m doing this step-by-step because the site isn’t incredibly intuitive in English (*sigh*).

First go to www.trenitalia.com Click on the British flag to change the language to English if need be.

You should see something that looks like this (it might be slightly different based on what device you’re navigating on, my screenshots are from my iPhone):

Click on SUBSCRIPTION & CARNET. 

A new window will come up. Make sure to click on the SUBSCRIPTION tab on the left.

Now enter the names of the two stations (on the extreme ends of the area you’d like your pass to encompass). TIP: For the Cinque Terre villages only, enter “From: Riomaggiore” and “To: Monterosso” or vice versa.


Choose everything else as you see above, and select the monthly option for the duration from the drop-down list.

Click SEARCH.

The following page will come up. Click on the > symbol following the price if you’re ready to confirm and purchase.
This will bring you to the final page where you enter your payment details.If you’ve never used the TrenItalia website before, you’ll need to sign up for a User ID and password before proceeding (which is a pain, I know). Click on SIGN UP which is located just beneath the red ENTER button. Once you’ve taken care of that, proceed with filling out the remaining fields and enter your payment information (I personally prefer using PayPal for payment).

IMPORTANT: Make certain that you enter the details correctly for the person that the pass is intended for in the section that says SUBSCRIPTION HOLDER. The monthly passes are non-transferable and the holder will have to present valid ID that matches the name on the pass when requested by the controller.

A few things to remember:

  • This monthly pass is exclusively for the use of the trains; no buses or hiking pass or other perks are included. For the all-inclusive pass, check out my post on the Cinque Terre Card here. The Cinque Terre Card is a great option for those staying just a day or two in our area but for those staying on longer it can become quite costly (and you may not need all of the services that it includes). Don’t forget that you can purchase the hiking pass separately for €7.50 (and that the hiking pass is required only on the coastal trail, all other trails are free of charge).
  • If you decide to purchase the monthly pass for the trains once you are here in Italy, ask for the abbonamento mensile at the ticket counter. Don’t forget that you’ll need to specify the stations and provide your ID.

Safe travels,

Amy

Explora: The new transport option to discover the Cinque Terre

/ Amy Inman / 8 Comments

img_8990You probably already know that the main modes of transport in the Cinque Terre are foot, train and ferry.  Add to that the Explora 5 Terre, a new bus system that expands upon (and improves) the already existing bus service in the Cinque Terre.  Whereas before the ATC buses in the Cinque Terre traveled vertically (going up and and down within the villages themselves as well as connecting to secondary villages on the hilltop) the new service actually goes between the main villages of the Cinque Terre.  At the moment, the stops are as follows:

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  • LA SPEZIA (on most days there are two stops, one at La Spezia Centrale train station and one at Piazza del Mercato, although on certain days an extra stop is added near the cruise facility)
  • RIOMAGGIORE (two stops,one at the roundabout at the top of the village and one on the road just above the castle)
  • MANAROLA (one stop, at the church square)
  • CANTINA SOCIALE (where the Cinque Terre D.O.C. cooperative wine is made, tastings can be arranged by contacting them directly here, 3 days advance notice requested)
  • VOLASTRA (one stop, near the parking area)
  • SAN BERNARDINO (one stop, it’s a teeny-tiny village so it’s a cinch to find the bus)
  • CORNIGLIA (one stop, on the square near the church of San Pietro)
  • VERNAZZA (one stop, near the parking area)

You might be wondering why Monterosso isn’t an option.  That’s because the road connecting the villages (SP-51) is currently closed between the villages of Vernazza & Monterosso.  Once this stretch of road is reopened, Explora 5 Terre intends to add Monterosso as a destination, thus connecting all five villages by bus for the very first time, ever.

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WHAT’S TO LIKE

Why do I like this new bus transport option?

  • Because you can beat the crowds (as well as the pickpockets) at the train stations and on the trains.  The buses are small (22 seaters) so you won’t find yourself packed like a sardine (or should I say an anchovy?) between large tour groups.  Explora is targeting individual travelers who are really wanting to delve into the Cinque Terre and discover its wonders, not the big groups that congest the villages.
  •  The cooperative that created and runs the Explora bus system (called Manario) is small & local (therefore you’re supporting locals and their entrepreneurial spirit, something I champion).
  • The buses have A/C (a godsend in the warmer months) and are promised to be “low-impact” on the environment.
  • The views from the bus are vast and panoramic (unlike the train, which runs almost exclusively through tunnels). Just keep in mind that the roads in the Cinque Terre are narrow and a bit winding.
  • Most Explora passes can be purchased online in advance (check it out here) but it’s also possible to purchase day of at one of the Cinque Terre National Park Info Points or even on the bus itself.
  • Unlike the Cinque Terre Express trains, Explora offers a reduced rate for children (see pricing below).
  • When you board, you’ll be given a handy map showing not only the bus route but also trail heads that you can reach along the way.  Flip the map over and you’ll find individual village maps with recommended sites to visit and points of interest. In the near future there will also be the possibility to buy an optional audio guide (in English) so you can learn even more about the area.
  • Lastly, and quite possibly what I like best about this new transport option, the Explora buses will take you off the beaten path to places that most visitors to the Cinque Terre either overlook or cannot reach.

PRICE COMPARISONS

You might be wondering how the Explora 5 Terre stacks up price-wise with the more traditional means of transport in the Cinque Terre.  Here’s my comparison (prices are valid for the summer of 2016):

Explora unlimited all-day pass: €22*

That’s hopping on and off the Explora buses at your leisure for the entire day (the first bus leaves La Spezia at 8:30am and the last return finishes up right around 10pm). And don’t forget that kids ages 0-3 ride free with an adult and ages 4-12 pay a reduced rate of €17.

*Are you staying in authorized accommodation inside the Cinque Terre National Park?  If so, have your host contact Explora directly to reserve for you and you’ll pay a reduced rate of €18.50 for the all-day pass!  

Cinque Terre Card (with unlimited trains for the day + hiking on the coastal trail):€16 

You can find more details about the Cinque Terre Card in my previous post here.

Combined Explora Card + Cinque Terre Card: €26 (a savings of €14)

The Cinque Terre National Park has teamed up with the Manario cooperative that runs the Explora buses to offer this option, which is a lot of bang for your buck (basically you can hike the coastal trail, bus and train throughout the Cinque Terre).  I would recommend this only if you plan on packing in a lot in just one day.

All-day pass for the Cinque Terre ferries: €22 

You can consult the latest schedule and see other pricing options here.  Keep in mind that if you take the ferries you’ll be skipping over the village of Corniglia, as it’s located off the sea.

Hiking pass for the Cinque Terre: €7.50

Only required if you plan to hike the coastal trail, read more details here.  All other trails within the Cinque Terre National Park can be hiked free of charge.

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ROOM TO GROW AND IMPROVE

The Explora bus system is brand spanking new (it was inaugurated on July 26, 2016).  To get Explora up and running the small, local cooperative had to splash out lots of cash, not leaving much left over to fund marketing and advertising.  Explora will rely heavily on word of mouth and the brightly colored buses themselves to attract attention and passengers. I’m hoping that as word spreads Explora will widen its customer base and thus create the positive cash flow that is needed in order for it to survive.

Because Explora is so new, their website is still a work in progress (as duly noted when visiting the site).  The schedule on the website is incomplete and can be confusing (or at least it was for me).  Hopefully they’ll get that fixed ASAP. In the meantime,  to hopefully simplify things for you I’ve taken some creative liberties (please pardon my photography and doodling skills).  Below (in green) you’ll find the current default schedule for 2016, which I’ve dubbed SCHEDULE A.  This is the schedule you’ll find posted on their website:

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Below, you’ll find the red SCHEDULE B (not currently posted on their website but available in paper form once you’re here).  This schedule will only run on the dates within the blue box:

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So, just to be clear, the Explora bus runs 365 days a year.  Unless it’s one of the dates highlighted in the blue box, SCHEDULE A (which is the default schedule) will be running.  If it’s a date in the blue box you’ll need to consult SCHEDULE B.  The main difference between the two schedules is that there’s an added stop in La Spezia in SCHEDULE B (Largo Fiorillo, which is just outside the cruise terminal) and there are more buses running.

My final thought and probably my best endorsement:  If my family was visiting, I’d be sending them on the Explora buses to check out the villages.  It’s safe, easy (minus some uphill walking to reach the bus stops, but this is Cinque Terre and that’s to be expected), relaxing and picturesque.  What more could you ask for?

Insider Tip: The pass they won’t tell you about…

/ Amy Inman / 12 Comments

Cinque Terre Insider

UPDATED MAY 2016

I’m saddened to report that with the introduction of the new Cinque Terre Express light rail (and the increased ticket prices that came with it), TrenItalia has done away with the weekly pass for the Cinque Terre trains*.  At this point, I’m recommending that visitors purchase the Cinque Terre Card if they plan to take numerous trains in one day.  For more information on the Cinque Terre Card and all that it entails, click here.  Rest assured that I will update on the blog if a loophole is found or if something more cost-effective comes out of the woodwork.

-Amy

*While not available to visitors, the weekly pass is still available for residents of the Cinque Terre, Levanto and La Spezia (but proof of residency is required).

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Insider Tip: The pass they won’t tell you about…

/ Amy Inman / 68 Comments

UPDATED JUNE 2017

I’m saddened to report that with the introduction of the new Cinque Terre Express light rail (and the increased ticket prices that came with it), TrenItalia has done away with the weekly pass for the Cinque Terre trains*.

For those than plan to visit the Cinque Terre for just one or two days, the all-inclusive Cinque Terre Card is probably the best option.  For more information on the Cinque Terre Card and all that it entails, click here.

Are you planning to stay in the Cinque Terre for three or more days?   The monthly train pass which I’ve detailed here is worth considering.  While this isn’t as inexpensive as the weekly pass once was, it can still be advantageous for those planning to use the trains frequently during their stay.

Safe travels,

Amy

*While not available to visitors, the weekly pass is still available for residents of the Cinque Terre, Levanto and La Spezia (but proof of residency is required).

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What’s the deal with the Cinque Terre Card?

/ Amy Inman / 82 Comments

UPDATED IN 2019 TO REFLECT CURRENT RATES AND TO INCLUDE DETAILS ABOUT PURCHASING ONLINE image

The Cinque Terre Card is the Cinque Terre National Park’s effort to streamline the hiking pass and transport services all into one card (which helps to make things much, much more convenient for those visiting).  The Cinque Terre card allows the card holder unlimited train travel between the Cinque Terre villages (actually, even as far as the city of La Spezia to the south and Levanto to the north), hiking along the SVA (coastal) trail and use of the ATC buses within the villages.  The card also includes WiFi access at the train stations in each of the five villages (at the national park info points), but don’t get your hopes up as the access is spotty and oftentimes inexistent.  Lastly, if you have the Cinque Terre Card you can take advantage of free guided hikes & tours offered by the national park during peak-season (I post the schedules here on the blog but you can also email visiteguidate@ati5terre.it  for more details).

The current rates for the all-inclusive Cinque Terre Card are as follows:

  • Adult 1-day  €16
    from 12 to 69 years of age
    valid until midnight on the day it was stamped
  • Adult 2-day  €29
    from 12 to 69 years of age
    valid until midnight on the day after it was stamped
  • Adult 3-day  €41
    from 12 to 69 years of age
    valid until midnight on the third consecutive day after it was stamped
  • Youth 1-day  €10
    from 4 to 11 years of age
    valid until midnight on the day it was stamped
  • Senior 1-day  €13
    70+ years of age
    valid until midnight on the day it was stamped
  • Family 1-day  €42
    for families composed of 2 adults and 2 youths
    valid until midnight on the day it was stamped

There’s no doubt that the card is convenient, but is it worthwhile?  The answer will lie in what your plans are for the day.  If in one day you plan to take four or more trains between La Spezia Centrale, the Cinque Terre villages and Levanto then the card would already pay for itself. Even if you plan to take fewer trains but plan to hike the coastal (SVA) trail then it can be advantageous.

Here are prices “à la carte” so you can crunch numbers to see if the Cinque Terre Card is best for you:

Tip: Don’t forget to consider the “price” you’re willing to pay for convenience and time saved. Even if you don’t hit the €16 threshold, it might be worth buying the Cinque Terre Card just to avoid standing in long ticket lines. With the Cinque Terre Card you can literally hop on & off the Cinque Terre Express trains as much as you’d like.

Those hiking the SVA (coastal) trail will need to purchase a national park hiking pass.  These are the current rates for the Cinque Terre Trekking Card (which only includes hiking on the coastal trail):

  • Adult 1-day  €7.50
    from 12 to 69 years of age
    valid until midnight on the day it was stamped
  • Adult 2-day  €14.50
    from 12 to 69 years of age
    valid until midnight on the day after it was stamped
  • Youth 1-day  €4.50
    from 4 to 11 years of age
    valid until midnight on the day it was stamped
  • Youth 2-day €7.20
    from 4 to 11 years of age
    valid until midnight on the day after it was stamped
  • Senior 1-day  €6.00
    70+ years of age
    valid until midnight on the day it was stamped
  • Senior 2-day  € 10,00
    70+ years of age
    valid until midnight on the day after it was stamped
  • Family 1-day  € 19,60
    for families composed of 2 adults and 2 youths
    valid until midnight on the day it was stamped
  • Family 2-day  € 31,50
    for families composed of 2 adults and 2 youths
    valid until midnight on the day after it was stamped

The current price for a train ticket between any two points in the Cinque Terre using the Cinque Terre Express is €4.  Each time you get off the train and get back on you’ll need a new €4 ticket.  To give you an idea, if you start in La Spezia (or Levanto) and take the train to each of the five villages (getting off to have a look around and then getting back on the train) you’d need a total of 6 tickets (I’ve included a return ticket as well) which would cost you €24.  Obviously in this case, the Cinque Terre Card would be well worth it (as with just the trains and no other services you would save €8, let alone the hassle of purchasing and validating all of those individual tickets).

Bus ticket prices will depend on how far you are going but usually for short distance trips the price is €2 per ticket.

It’s important to note that the Cinque Terre Card does not include the boats (ferries) between the villages.  The boats are run by the Consorzio Marittimo Turistico 5 Terre – Golfo dei Poeti and are not affiliated with the Cinque Terre National Park.  Day passes are available for the ferries (hopping on and off in the Cinque Terre villages as much as you’d like for one calendar day), check recent posts on the blog for the latest schedules and prices.

Practical Info about the Cinque Terre Card

It is now possible to purchase the card online (woot woot!). Check out my blog post on the subject: Hear, hear: You can finally purchase your Cinque Terre passes online

If you purchase your Cinque Terre Card in person at one of the tourist information offices (in La Spezia, one of the five Cinque Terre villages or Levanto) you will be given a paper card (versus a virtual one like when you buy the card online). You will need to fill in your first and last name on the back in pen. Be sure to have valid government issued ID with you that matches the name you’ve put on the card!  

IMPORTANT: Before taking your first train on the day you plan to use the card, you will need to first stamp the Cinque Terre Card in one of the TrenItalia validating machines at the train station.

You will only need to validate the card once (as the validating stamp will indicate the day that the card is valid for).  If you buy a multiple day Cinque Terre Card keep in mind that the days are consecutive (e.g. if you by a two day card then it will be good for two consecutive days starting the day you validated your card).