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Cinque Terre Day Trip from Lucca by Train

By The Travel FieldbookPublished on Updated on 15 min read
Colourful houses of Manarola rise above the sea in the Cinque Terre.
Manarola, one of the villages of the Cinque Terre, on the Ligurian coast. (Annija U · Pexels License · Edited)

Riomaggiore’s houses drop towards a rocky inlet, Manarola’s terraces frame a view back over the village, and Vernazza brings a natural harbour and a church beside the water. From Lucca, these three villages make a full-day rail trip, not a quick coastal afternoon: you travel out and back through Pisa and La Spezia. This circuit leaves out the paid Via dell’Amore walk between Riomaggiore and Manarola. Walking it takes roughly 30 minutes plus entry checks instead of the short village train ride, so drop Manarola’s optional viewpoint detour to keep lunch and the return in roughly the same place, or expect to reach Lucca at least half an hour later, before connection waits.

Trains from Lucca, or a guided tour?

Outbound and return
Rail via Pisa Centrale and La Spezia Centrale; change at both
Lucca–Pisa rail leg
about 32 minutes out; about 29 minutes back
Pisa–La Spezia rail leg
about an hour and a quarter out; about 2 hours on the mapped return leg
La Spezia–Riomaggiore rail leg
about 8 minutes
Seasonal village service
Approximately every 30 minutes, 14 March–1 November 2026; about 46 additional daily services on the Levanto–La Spezia line
Regional-train seats
No seat reservation required

Yes, you can go from Lucca to Cinque Terre by train, changing at Pisa Centrale and La Spezia Centrale, and the return passes through the same cities. Leave room for the connections, particularly on the return leg between La Spezia and Pisa, which includes intermediate changes. During the 5 Terre Express season, leave room for a missed village departure on either weekdays or weekends, but outside it, do not build the day around half-hourly departures.

At La Spezia Centrale, switch from the longer rail journey to a village-bound regional train. National services such as Intercity and Frecciarossa have compulsory reserved seats included in their tickets, unlike the unreserved regional trains. A faster train may appear among the available connections, but this day does not depend on catching one. Allow time for platforms and connections on the way back, because the projected return is not a last departure.

A guided small-group road outing instead includes minibus travel from Lucca and a return to Porta San Pietro, with train tickets and, weather permitting, boat travel within Cinque Terre. Do not count on it visiting this circuit’s particular villages: the tour does not guarantee a named village set. Choose it if you prefer organised transfers, while independent rail lets you linger in Vernazza or remove Monterosso without following a group’s programme.

Village train tickets and the Train Card

Adult one-day Train Card, 14 March–1 November 2026
€22 / €29.50 / €35 on low- / medium- / high-affluence days
Adult one-day Train Card, 2 November–31 December 2026
€17.30
Village single, one way
€5 / €8 / €10 on A / B / C days; €5 for departures after 19:30 until 04:00
Train Card rail area
Unlimited second-class regional trains from La Spezia Centrale through the five villages to Levanto
Card validity
Until 24:00 on the selected day
Via dell’Amore access
Included with Train Card; separate date-and-time reservation required

The Train Card covers the local regional trains and access to the Blue Trail sections between Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia and Manarola, as well as Via dell’Amore with its separate timed reservation. It also includes local buses. Buy your Lucca–La Spezia journeys separately: the card’s rail validity begins at La Spezia Centrale. The Trekking Card admits eligible park paths but does not cover local trains.

For the three-village route, the rail rides are La Spezia to Riomaggiore, Riomaggiore to Manarola, Manarola to Vernazza and Vernazza back to La Spezia. Adding Monterosso replaces that final ride with Vernazza to Monterosso and Monterosso to La Spezia, making five local rides. For four daytime rides, singles cost less on an A day but the card costs less on B or C days. For five daytime rides, the card costs less in each matching seasonal fare band. The cheaper evening single can change that calculation, so count your intended departures rather than buying for the village count alone.

The full-day rail route through the villages

Times are estimates from your start time

Public-transport lines and journey times are based on a representative Saturday departure at 10:00 (Europe/Rome). Check live schedules for your date and time. Changing the itinerary day or start time does not update these connections.

on foot
5.5 km
getting around
5 h 51
the day
07:15 20:10

  1. Lucca station

    07:15

    Start the regional rail journey.

    REG32 min23 km
    Stops and alternatives

    REGabout 32 min 23 kmRecommended

    Recommended route
    1. REG 31 min Lucca → Pisa CentraleDirection Pisa Centrale 4
    2. Walking 1 min 100 m

    REGabout 30 min 23 km

    Alternative 1
    1. REG 29 min Lucca → Pisa CentraleDirection Pisa Centrale 5
    2. Walking 1 min 100 m

    E3about 64 min 23 km

    Alternative 2
    1. Walking 16 min 1.1 km
    2. E3 43 min LUCCA Piazzale Verdi → Pisa P.Za S. AntonioDirection PISA Sesta Porta 25
    3. Walking 4 min 300 m

    E8, E3about 60 min 24 km 1 change

    Alternative 3
    1. Walking 3 min 200 m
    2. E8 4 min Regina Margherita Fs → LUCCA Piazzale VerdiDirection LUCCA Piazzale Verdi 2
    3. Walking 1 min 100 m
    4. E3 43 min LUCCA Piazzale Verdi → Pisa P.Za S. AntonioDirection PISA Sesta Porta 25
    5. Walking 4 min 300 m
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  2. Pisa Centrale

    07:50

    Change for La Spezia.

    IC62 min79 km
    Stops and alternatives

    ICabout 62 min 79 kmRecommended

    Recommended route
    1. Walking 1 min 100 m
    2. IC 61 min Pisa Centrale → La Spezia CentraleDirection Torino Porta Nuova 4

    1+, FlixBus, SAabout 108 min 80 km 2 changes

    Alternative 1
    1. 1+ 11 min Stazione 1 → Pietrasantina 2 – ParkDirection Park Pietrasantina 11
    2. Walking 3 min 250 m
    3. FlixBus 65 min Park Pietrasantina → La Spezia Giosue CarducciDirection Milan Lampugnano Bus Station 1
    4. Walking 1 min 50 m
    5. SA 7 min Istituto Cardarelli → La Spezia FsDirection Spallanzani La Spezia Fs 7
    6. Walking 1 min 100 m

    REG, FlixBus, SAabout 156 min 101 km 2 changes

    Alternative 2
    1. Walking 1 min 100 m
    2. REG 26 min Pisa Centrale → LuccaDirection Aulla Lunigiana 4
    3. Walking 3 min 250 m
    4. FlixBus 65 min Regina Margherita Fs → La Spezia Giosue CarducciDirection Grenoble 1
    5. Walking 1 min 50 m
    6. SA 7 min Istituto Cardarelli → La Spezia FsDirection Spallanzani La Spezia Fs 7
    7. Walking 1 min 100 m

    1+, FlixBus, SAabout 118 min 80 km 2 changes

    Alternative 3
    1. 1+ 11 min Stazione 1 → Pietrasantina 2 – ParkDirection Park Pietrasantina 11
    2. Walking 3 min 250 m
    3. FlixBus 75 min Park Pietrasantina → La Spezia Giosue CarducciDirection Milan Lampugnano Bus Station 1
    4. Walking 1 min 50 m
    5. SA 7 min Istituto Cardarelli → La Spezia FsDirection Spallanzani La Spezia Fs 7
    6. Walking 1 min 100 m
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  3. La Spezia Centrale

    08:50

    Change for Riomaggiore.

    REG8 min7.7 km
    Stops and alternatives

    REGabout 8 min 7.7 kmRecommended

    Recommended route
    1. REG 8 min La Spezia Centrale → RiomaggioreDirection Sestri Levante 1

    REGabout 6 min 7.7 km

    Alternative 1
    1. REG 6 min La Spezia Centrale → RiomaggioreDirection Levanto 1

    REGabout 7 min 7.7 km

    Alternative 2
    1. REG 7 min La Spezia Centrale → RiomaggioreDirection Levanto 1

    REGabout 6 min 7.7 km

    Alternative 3
    1. REG 6 min La Spezia Centrale → RiomaggioreDirection Sestri Levante 1
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  4. Riomaggiore station

    09:00

    Arrive at the first village.

    11 min550 m
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  5. Riomaggiore village

    09:101 h 15 min

    Explore the steep main street and houses above the inlet.

    6 min350 m
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  6. Riomaggiore harbour, optional

    10:3020 min

    Look back at the houses around the rocky inlet.

    6 min350 m
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  7. Riomaggiore station

    10:55

    Board the village train.

    REG2 min950 m
    Stops and alternatives

    REGabout 2 min 950 mRecommended

    Recommended route
    1. REG 2 min Riomaggiore → ManarolaDirection Sestri Levante 1
    2. Walking 1 min 200 m

    REGabout 2 min 950 m

    Alternative 1
    1. REG 2 min Riomaggiore → ManarolaDirection Levanto 1
    2. Walking 1 min 200 m

    Walkingabout 38 min 2.1 km

    Alternative 2
    1. Walking 38 min 2.1 km
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  8. Manarola station

    11:00

    Arrive for the village visit.

    3 min250 m
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  9. Manarola village

    11:001 h 25 min

    Explore the lanes and terraces above the boat basin.

    5 min400 m
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  10. Manarola viewpoint, optional

    12:3025 min

    Look back towards the houses and the sea.

    9 min600 m
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  11. Manarola station

    13:05

    Board for Vernazza.

    REG6 min5.4 km
    Stops and alternatives

    REGabout 6 min 5.4 kmRecommended

    Recommended route
    1. Walking 1 min 200 m
    2. REG 6 min Manarola → VernazzaDirection Sestri Levante 2

    REGabout 8 min 5.4 km

    Alternative 1
    1. Walking 1 min 200 m
    2. REG 8 min Manarola → VernazzaDirection Levanto 2

    REGabout 7 min 5.4 km

    Alternative 2
    1. Walking 1 min 200 m
    2. REG 7 min Manarola → VernazzaDirection Levanto 2

    REGabout 8 min 5.4 km

    Alternative 3
    1. Walking 1 min 200 m
    2. REG 8 min Manarola → VernazzaDirection Sestri Levante 2
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  12. Vernazza station

    13:10

    Arrive for lunch.

    3 min200 m
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  13. Lunch on Via Roma, Vernazza

    13:151 h 5 min

    Eat in the lanes inland from the harbour.

    Next door

  14. Vernazza harbour

    14:201 h 45 min

    See the church and spend time by the waterfront.

    Next door

  15. Vernazza station

    16:10

    Board for Monterosso.

    REG3 min3.3 km
    Stops and alternatives

    REGabout 3 min 3.3 kmRecommended

    Recommended route
    1. REG 3 min Vernazza → MonterossoDirection Levanto 1

    REGabout 4 min 3.3 km

    Alternative 1
    1. REG 4 min Vernazza → MonterossoDirection Sestri Levante 1
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  16. Monterosso station

    16:10

    Arrive for the optional old-town visit.

    11 min850 m
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  17. Monterosso old town, optional

    16:2045 min

    Explore the medieval lanes by the harbour.

    11 min850 m
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  18. Monterosso station

    17:20

    Begin the rail return.

    REG27 min17 km
    Stops and alternatives

    REGabout 27 min 17 kmRecommended

    Recommended route
    1. REG 27 min Monterosso → La Spezia CentraleDirection La Spezia Migliarina 5

    REGabout 27 min 17 km

    Alternative 1
    1. REG 27 min Monterosso → La Spezia CentraleDirection La Spezia Centrale 5

    ICabout 14 min 17 km

    Alternative 2
    1. IC 14 min Monterosso → La Spezia CentraleDirection La Spezia Centrale 1
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  19. La Spezia Centrale

    17:45

    Change towards Pisa.

    SA114 min84 km2 changes
    Stops and alternatives

    SA, FlixBus, 1+about 114 min 84 km 2 changesRecommended

    Recommended route
    1. Walking 1 min 100 m
    2. SA 15 min La Spezia Fs → Istituto CardarelliDirection Sarzana 12
    3. Walking 5 min 400 m
    4. FlixBus 60 min La Spezia Giosue Carducci → Park PietrasantinaDirection Venice Tronchetto Train Station 1
    5. 1+ 17 min Park Pietrasantina → PISA stazioneDirection Stazione 4 15
    6. Walking 1 min 100 m

    SA, FlixBus, 80about 107 min 83 km 2 changes

    Alternative 1
    1. Walking 1 min 100 m
    2. SA 15 min La Spezia Fs → Istituto CardarelliDirection Sarzana 12
    3. Walking 5 min 400 m
    4. FlixBus 60 min La Spezia Giosue Carducci → Park PietrasantinaDirection Venice Tronchetto Train Station 1
    5. Walking 5 min 400 m
    6. 80 8 min Pietrasantina 5 → Pisa P.Za S. AntonioDirection Pisa Battisti 4
    7. Walking 4 min 300 m

    C, FlixBus, 1+about 141 min 84 km 2 changes

    Alternative 2
    1. Walking 1 min 100 m
    2. C 15 min La Spezia Fs → QuesturaDirection Pian Di Madrignano 13
    3. Walking 10 min 700 m
    4. FlixBus 60 min La Spezia Giosue Carducci → Park PietrasantinaDirection Venice Tronchetto Train Station 1
    5. 1+ 17 min Park Pietrasantina → PISA stazioneDirection Stazione 4 15
    6. Walking 1 min 100 m

    S, FlixBus, 1+about 129 min 84 km 2 changes

    Alternative 3
    1. Walking 2 min 150 m
    2. S 17 min La Spezia Fs V.Fiume → Vecchia DorgiaDirection Sarzana Ospedale 14
    3. Walking 9 min 650 m
    4. FlixBus 60 min La Spezia Giosue Carducci → Park PietrasantinaDirection Venice Tronchetto Train Station 1
    5. 1+ 17 min Park Pietrasantina → PISA stazioneDirection Stazione 4 15
    6. Walking 1 min 100 m
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  20. Pisa Centrale

    19:40

    Change for Lucca.

    REG29 min23 km
    Stops and alternatives

    REGabout 29 min 23 kmRecommended

    Recommended route
    1. Walking 1 min 100 m
    2. REG 28 min Pisa Centrale → LuccaDirection Lucca 4

    E3, 1+about 66 min 23 km 1 change

    Alternative 1
    1. Walking 5 min 350 m
    2. E3 43 min Via Crispi 93/95 → LUCCA Piazzale VerdiDirection LUCCA Piazzale Verdi 25
    3. Walking 1 min 50 m
    4. 1+ 6 min Via Vittorio Emanuele → Stazione fs LuccaDirection Ospedale San Luca 5
    5. Walking 1 min 100 m

    E3, 5about 66 min 23 km 1 change

    Alternative 2
    1. Walking 5 min 350 m
    2. E3 40 min Via Crispi 93/95 → San LazzaroDirection LUCCA Piazzale Verdi 22
    3. 5 9 min San Lazzaro → Stazione fs LuccaDirection Via Don Sturzo 10
    4. Walking 1 min 100 m

    E3, 1+about 67 min 23 km 1 change

    Alternative 3
    1. Walking 5 min 350 m
    2. E3 44 min Sesta Porta → LUCCA Piazzale VerdiDirection Verdi 3 26
    3. Walking 1 min 50 m
    4. 1+ 6 min Via Vittorio Emanuele → Stazione FsDirection Ospedale San Luca 5
    5. Walking 1 min 100 m
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  21. Lucca station

    20:10

    Finish the excursion.

  22. Ends around 20:10

From Lucca, the regional legs through Pisa and La Spezia get you to Riomaggiore before the village visits begin. This is a full day even without a hike: the circuit includes about 6 hours across its mapped travel legs, including village walks, before time spent at the stops. Allow for platform waits and the changes at Pisa and La Spezia, because the projected arrival in Lucca is not a last train. If arrival slips, lose the Riomaggiore harbour detour first, then the Manarola viewpoint, rather than shortening lunch or rushing Vernazza.

Riomaggiore is built down a steep ravine, its multicoloured houses stacked towards the sea. Follow the village street to see how abruptly it meets the coast. The station approach and the village proper feel quite different. The core stop leaves time to look into the side lanes without turning it into a coastal hike.

The optional Riomaggiore harbour detour takes you to a small rocky inlet, where fishing boats sit below the houses. It is a worthwhile short look back at the village from the water’s edge, but its steps make it the simplest stop to cut when the outbound connections run late.

Riomaggiore harbour, with boats in the water and buildings rising around the inlet.
Riomaggiore’s harbour in the Cinque Terre.
Federica Cidale · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Edited

From Riomaggiore, take the village train to Manarola. Here narrow lanes climb between pastel houses while vineyard terraces rise behind the village. The small boat basin gives the streets a clear end at the rocky shore. Keep the main visit for the lanes, rather than treating it only as a photograph stop.

The optional Manarola viewpoint frames the clustered houses against the Ligurian Sea. Late-day light is especially good for the view, though this lunch-bound route reaches it earlier, so keeping the stop is a choice about the view, not a sunset promise.

Manarola’s buildings cluster around the harbour beneath the surrounding hillside.
Manarola, one of the villages of the Cinque Terre.
Timothy A · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Edited

From Manarola, the train takes you to Vernazza for lunch and then its natural harbour. Colourful houses enclose the waterfront piazza. The Church of Santa Margherita d’Antiochia has an octagonal bell tower beside the sea, while Doria Castle stands above. Spend the longer village stop between harbour and church rather than trying to add another trail. The waterfront is attractive in softer late-afternoon light, and the clock leaves you time here before the return.

Vernazza’s harbour seen through a window of the church of Santa Margherita d’Antiochia.
Vernazza’s harbour, viewed from inside the church overlooking the waterfront.
Monica Rondoni · CC0 · Edited

From Vernazza, the optional Monterosso extension leads to old-town lanes and colourful buildings gathered around its harbour. Cut Monterosso if a rail connection has eaten into the day: the three core villages remain the reason for the outing. The return then goes via La Spezia and Pisa to Lucca.

Via dell’Amore instead of the village train

After Riomaggiore, the day normally takes the short train to Manarola. Via dell’Amore (the Path of Love) is an alternative, not an extra stop: entry is at Riomaggiore and the one-way exit at Manarola. The walk itself takes roughly 30 minutes, with additional time for the timed entry and access checks, against about 2 minutes on the rail leg. Drop the optional Manarola viewpoint to absorb much of that change before lunch. If you keep every detour, allow at least another half hour before waits on the return to Lucca.

Access is included with either the Train Card or Trekking Card, but you still need a separately reserved date and 30-minute entry slot. A one-day Trekking Card combined ticket starts at €10. The 2026 seasonal hours are 09:00–21:00 from 29 March to 24 October, last entry 20:30. From 26 October 2026 to 28 March 2027 they are 09:00–18:00, last entry 17:30. Reserve a slot that fits your arrival in Riomaggiore. The stated 72-hour advance-booking limit applies to groups, not necessarily to individual visitors.

The Corniglia–Vernazza coastal path is a different commitment, typically about 1½ hours of walking. Reaching Corniglia and doing that hike would replace a substantial village visit, not merely swap a short rail leg. Leave it for a day built around walking rather than taking it from the Vernazza harbour stop.

Vernazza lunch, steps and weather

From Manarola, reach Vernazza’s inland lanes before going down to the harbour. Trofie al pesto, short twisted Ligurian pasta with basil pesto, makes a fitting lunch here. Small restaurants and trattorias serve food along the lanes as well as around the waterfront. A sit-down lunch commonly falls within roughly 12:00–15:00, so the projected lunch stop sits inside the usual serving window, though a missed rail connection may narrow your choice.

The ground underfoot changes from village to village. At Riomaggiore, a tunnel leads from the station towards a main street that climbs steeply, and the harbour involves steps. At Manarola, the lower route from the station tunnel towards the water is gentler than the upper lanes. At Vernazza, the main street drops from station to harbour, leaving an uphill return. Stay on the main streets if you want the least climbing, because upper viewpoints cost more effort than their short distances suggest.

A ferry can give you a different view of the coastline, but sailing depends on weather and it is not part of this rail circuit. The village streets and harbour stops still give the day a purpose when a path or boat is unavailable.

Why not all five villages?

After Vernazza, decide whether to take the optional train on to Monterosso’s old town or turn back towards La Spezia. Monterosso has medieval lanes around its harbour. Its broad sandy beach suits a separate swim, but swimming would replace the old-town stop or another village visit, not fit into the same short detour.

Corniglia is the village this route skips altogether. Its station lies below the village: the Lardarina staircase has 377 steps and takes about 15 minutes on foot, while the shuttle takes around 5 minutes. Adding Corniglia would take time from the places you already came to see, and a coastal hike would ask for still more. If a shorter outing sounds preferable to a full day of rail changes, consider other day trips from Lucca instead.

Sources & fact-checking

Checks against the sources below cover: fares and charges, services, opening hours, and closures. Route times and distances were calculated from geolocated stops.

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