Genoa, Cinque Terre and the Riviera di Levante
Best over 5–7 nights: Genoa 2, Cinque Terre 2–3, the Riviera or Portovenere 1–2. The villages are steep and hard with luggage — especially Corniglia, Vernazza, Manarola and Riomaggiore.
Good to know
La Spezia
Checked 2026-09-23 · with notes
The practical base — trains, luggage, value, and mostly flat.
Good to know
Levanto
Checked 2026-09-23 · with notes
Beach and a quieter northern base on the same line.
Good to know
Monterosso
Checked 2026-09-23 · with notes
The easiest village for a beach and logistics.
Good to know
Vernazza, Manarola, Riomaggiore
Checked 2026-09-23 · with notes
Harbour evenings, views and the Via dell’Amore; steps everywhere.
Good to know
Corniglia
Checked 2026-09-23 · with notes
Quiet, but the station is below the village.
Good to know
Santa Margherita, Camogli, Portofino
Checked 2026-09-23 · with notes
Santa Margherita for practical Portofino access; Camogli for San Fruttuoso; Portofino for luxury.
Good to know
Portovenere
Checked 2026-09-23 · with notes
Scenery and the castle, but no railway.
Good to know
Book first
Accommodation, Via dell’Amore, the Aquarium, boats and private tours, and San Fruttuoso.
When to go
Good to know
5 Terre Express 2026
Checked 2026-09-23 · with notes
Runs 14 March–1 November with 46 extra daily trains.
Good to know
Via dell’Amore hours
Checked 2026-09-23 · with notes
29 March–24 October 2026 09:00–21:00; 26 October 2026–28 March 2027 09:00–18:00.
Good to know
Genoa events 2027
Partially verified · 2026-09-23
UlisseFest confirmed for 2027–28, exact dates and the 2027 Rolli Days not yet out.
| Period | Traveller picture | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Apr–Jun | Best overall; Easter and public holidays are crowded. | partial |
| Jul–Aug | Crowded villages and trains; go early or late in the day. | partial |
| Sep–Oct | Best overall again; trail closures after storms are common. | partial |
| Nov–Mar | Museums and food in Genoa; ferries and seasonal businesses reduce service. | partial |
Getting there
Transport option
Genoa Airport → city
Checked 2026-09-23 · with notes
- Published facts
- Volabus to Piazza Principe and Brignole, about 30 min.
Transport option
Genoa Airport taxi
Checked 2026-09-23 · with notes
- Published facts
- Fixed €25 airport–city centre.
Transport option
Cinque Terre
Checked 2026-09-23 · with notes
- Published facts
- Regional trains serve all five villages plus Levanto and La Spezia; 2026 one-way fares €5 / €8 / €10 by fare band; children 4–11 half price.
Transport option
Corniglia
Checked 2026-09-23 · with notes
- Published facts
- Station below the village: Park shuttle bus or the Lardarina stairway.
Transport option
La Spezia parking
Checked 2026-09-23 · with notes
- Published facts
- Piazza d’Armi and Piazzale Pozzoli: first 12 h free, then €2/hour; daily €5.
Transport option
Portofino
Checked 2026-09-23 · with notes
- Published facts
- Train to Santa Margherita, then AMT bus 782 (€5), ferry or a walk.
Transport option
San Fruttuoso
Checked 2026-09-23 · with notes
- Published facts
- Boat or hiking trail only — no road.
Transport option
Portovenere
Partially verified · 2026-09-23
- Published facts
- No station: bus or seasonal boat from La Spezia.
Where to stay
Area to stay
La Spezia
Partially verified · 2026-09-23
Value, luggage and trains — the practical base.
Area to stay
Monterosso
Partially verified · 2026-09-23
Easiest village for the beach and logistics.
Area to stay
Vernazza, Manarola, Riomaggiore, Corniglia
Partially verified · 2026-09-23
Harbour evenings, views, the Via dell’Amore, or quiet — all with stairs.
Area to stay
Genoa
Partially verified · 2026-09-23
Culture, the Aquarium, food and rail connections.
Area to stay
Santa Margherita, Camogli, Portofino
Partially verified · 2026-09-23
Practical Portofino access; San Fruttuoso and the beach; luxury at high prices.
Area to stay
Portovenere
Partially verified · 2026-09-23
Scenery, but no railway.
Area to stay
City tax, Genoa
Checked 2026-09-23 · with notes
€2.50 / €3 / €4 / €5 for 2- to 5-star hotels, maximum eight nights.
Getting around
Transport option
Regional rail
Checked 2026-09-23 · with notes
The spine of the Cinque Terre and the Riviera.
Transport option
Park buses
Checked 2026-09-23 · with notes
Serve villages and hamlets but don’t link the five villages directly.
Transport option
Boats
Partially verified · 2026-09-23
Seasonal and weather-dependent — don’t rely on them to catch a flight.
Transport option
Genoa Museum Card
Checked 2026-09-23 · with notes
Includes AMT urban buses, metro, lifts and funiculars; not Volabus, Navebus or trains.
Transport option
Cars
Partially verified · 2026-09-23
Impractical for the villages; park in La Spezia, Levanto or Santa Margherita.
Scooters, bikes & apps
Getting around without a car: sharing apps, bike rental and the rules. Check the app’s live map — operators change.
Watch out
Train, not bike
Partially verified · 2026-09-24
No sharing in the Cinque Terre or La Spezia; Dott lists Genoa. Cliff roads and tunnels aren’t for bikes — use the train and ferries.
Article
Scooters, bikes and apps in Italy
Helmet rule, operators by city, apps to install and bikes on trains.
Tickets & passes
Ticket
Cinque Terre Trekking Card
Checked 2026-09-23 · with notes
- Price and rules
- One-day adult €10 / €15; paid trails, Via dell’Amore, Park buses and services.
Ticket
Cinque Terre Train Card
Checked 2026-09-23 · with notes
- Price and rules
- One-day €22, €29.50 or €35 depending on category and date; includes trains Levanto–La Spezia.
Ticket
Via dell’Amore
Checked 2026-09-23 · with notes
- Price and rules
- Timed reservation required; now part of the Card — older rules mention a €10 supplement.
Ticket
Aquarium of Genoa
Checked 2026-09-23 · with notes
- Price and rules
- Adult from €26, reduced €20, child 4–12 €16; open all year.
Ticket
San Fruttuoso Abbey
Checked 2026-09-23 · with notes
- Price and rules
- Adult €10, child 6–18 €5, student to 25 €5, family €26.
Ticket
Doria Castle, Portovenere
Checked 2026-09-23 · with notes
- Price and rules
- Adult €5, under 14 €3; 1 Apr–31 Oct daily 10:00–18:00.
Ticket
Museo Lia, La Spezia
Checked 2026-09-23 · with notes
- Price and rules
- Adult €9; five-museum ticket €14 for 72 h; Tue–Sun 10:00–18:00.
Ticket
Genoa Museum Card
Checked 2026-09-23 · with notes
- Price and rules
- 24 or 48 h, 28 museums + urban AMT.
Genoa and Portofino prices
Ticket
Genoa Museum Card
Verified 2026-09-24
24 h €24, 48 h €45: one entry to 28 museums plus the AMT urban network (a €1 presale fee may apply).
Ticket
Lanterna of Genoa
Verified 2026-09-24
€6 park + museum; €9 including the first lighthouse terrace.
Ticket
Castello Brown, Portofino
Verified 2026-09-24
€10 park + castle, free up to 12; no online booking. September 10:00–19:00, last entry 30 min before closing.
Transport option
Cinque Terre Express
Verified 2026-09-24
Extra 2026 trains ran 14 Mar–1 Nov; 2027 dates not published yet. Fares vary by band and date.
Things to see
Place
Genoa
Partially verified · 2026-09-23
The Rolli palaces, Via Garibaldi museums, the Cathedral, Palazzo Ducale, the Aquarium, Porto Antico, the Lanterna, Galata, Boccadasse and Castelletto.
Place
Camogli and Portofino
Partially verified · 2026-09-23
Camogli’s seafront, Basilica and Punta Chiappa; Portofino’s Piazzetta, San Giorgio, Castello Brown and the lighthouse.
Place
Santa Margherita and Levanto
Partially verified · 2026-09-23
Villa Durazzo and Paraggi; Levanto’s beach, medieval centre and the former-railway cycle path.
Place
The five villages
Partially verified · 2026-09-23
Monterosso’s Fegina and Aurora tower; Vernazza’s harbour and Doria tower; Corniglia’s Belvedere; Manarola’s sunset viewpoint; Riomaggiore’s marina and castle.
Place
La Spezia and Portovenere
Partially verified · 2026-09-23
Museo Lia, CAMeC, the Naval Museum and market; San Pietro, Doria Castle and Byron’s Grotto.
Place
Free ideas
Partially verified · 2026-09-23
Harbours and old-town lanes, Boccadasse and Castelletto in Genoa, the Levanto cycle path, the Monterosso seafront, Vernazza harbour, Corniglia terraces, Manarola’s sunset viewpoint, Riomaggiore marina, La Spezia’s market and Portovenere old town.
Film & TV locations
Places from famous films and series — what’s real, what’s a set, and what you can visit. All film locations in Italy →
Place
Luca — inspired by, not filmed in
Checked 2026-09-24 · with notes
Pixar’s Portorosso is fictional, inspired by Vernazza, Manarola, Riomaggiore, Portovenere and Camogli — it’s an animation, not a filming location. Visit by train or boat and follow park trail rules.
Things to do
Good to know
Hiking
Checked 2026-09-23 · with notes
Use the live Park trail map. On 10 Sep 2026 the Park reported Corniglia–Vernazza–Monterosso closed pending geological checks, and Manarola–Corniglia closed for landslide risk.
Good to know
Boats
Partially verified · 2026-09-23
Operators cover the Cinque Terre, Portovenere, the Gulf of Poets, Portofino and San Fruttuoso; weather can suspend service.
Good to know
Beaches
Partially verified · 2026-09-23
Monterosso, Camogli, Levanto, Santa Margherita and Paraggi.
Good to know
Food classes
Partially verified · 2026-09-23
Pesto and focaccia classes in Genoa; focaccia di Recco in Recco and Camogli.
Football
Matches, stadium tours, museums and club shops in Genoa. Open the Genoa football guide →
Ticket
Museo della Storia del Genoa
Checked 2026-09-24 · with notes
Via al Porto Antico 4, daily 10:00–19:00 (last entry 18:00). €6 full, €4 reduced (under 16), €3.50 over 60 and disabled visitors, free under 8. Step-free.
Good to know
Match tickets
Checked 2026-09-24 · with notes
Genoa and Sampdoria official ticket pages. No stable price table published.
Food & restaurants
Food & drink
What to try
Partially verified · 2026-09-23
Pesto, focaccia genovese, focaccia di Recco, farinata, trofie, pansoti, cima genovese, cappon magro, Monterosso anchovies, Ligurian whites and Sciacchetrà.
Food & drink
Where to eat what
Partially verified · 2026-09-23
Genoa for pesto and focaccia; Recco and Camogli for focaccia and seafood; the Cinque Terre for wine and aperitivo; La Spezia for everyday dining; Portovenere for seafood.
Itineraries
Route
1 day Genoa
De Ferrari, the Cathedral, the Rolli palaces, Porto Antico and the Aquarium, then aperitivo.
Route
1 day Cinque Terre
Pick two villages and go by train.
Route
1 day Portofino
Santa Margherita, Portofino, Castello Brown and the lighthouse.
Route
2 days Cinque Terre
Monterosso and Vernazza, then Manarola and Riomaggiore.
Route
3 days
Two nights in La Spezia or Levanto, then Genoa or Santa Margherita.
Route
Rainy day
Genoa’s museums, Aquarium and Palazzo Ducale; La Spezia’s Museo Lia, CAMeC and Naval Museum.
Route
Without a car
Genoa, Santa Margherita, Levanto and La Spezia.
Day trips & next stops
Route
Genoa → Camogli
Partially verified · 2026-09-23
By train.
Route
La Spezia → Cinque Terre
Checked 2026-09-23 · with notes
Regional train.
Route
La Spezia → Portovenere
Partially verified · 2026-09-23
Bus or seasonal boat.
Routes from here
Scenic trains, long walks, islands, wine roads and seasonal trips that start or pass here.
Transport option
The Cinque Terre line
Verified 2026-09-24
Levanto to La Spezia by regional train with the Cinque Terre Treno MS Card; pairs with the Sentiero Azzurro.
Useful tips
Good to know
Trails
Checked 2026-09-23 · with notes
Check the status on the day — not all trails are open.
Good to know
Ferries
Partially verified · 2026-09-23
Not guaranteed; never rely on them for an airport connection.
Good to know
Luggage
Partially verified · 2026-09-23
Avoid large suitcases in the villages; Corniglia’s station is below the village.
Good to know
The Card
Checked 2026-09-23 · with notes
Doesn’t cover La Spezia or Portovenere buses; Via dell’Amore needs a timed booking.
Good to know
Budget pieces (two adults, three nights)
Checked 2026-09-23 · with notes
Aquarium from €52, San Fruttuoso €20, plus trains or the Card by date.
Traveller tips
Traveller tip
Luggage
Candidate · not verified · 2026-09-23
“There are steep stairs all across Cinque Terre and it would be a pain carrying luggage.”
Traveller tip
La Spezia base
Candidate · not verified · 2026-09-23
“Staying in La Spezia since it's not only mostly flat, but had a lot of cheaper accommodation.”
Traveller tip
Driving
Candidate · not verified · 2026-09-23
“You can’t really get into the villages with a car.”
Traveller tip
With kids
Candidate · not verified · 2026-09-23
“With kids some hikes in the cinque terre are HARD.”
Research gapEditor · Coverage and gaps First/last departures, ZTL and parking tariffs, all tourist taxes (Levanto, La Spezia, Camogli, Portovenere), Genoa Museum Card, Castello Brown and Lanterna prices, 2026 lido prices, restaurant inventory, 2027 events, luggage storage, toilets and fountains. · Cinque Terre beach booking and crowds are covered by the Cinque Terre beaches article (G06).
Apps
What to install for this destination — official apps first.
Transport option
AMT Genova and the park guide
Partially verified · 2026-09-24
AMT’s app covers Genoa’s metro, buses, lifts and the Genova–Casella railway. For the trails, the park recommends the Cinque Terre Hiking Guide.
AMT Genova · app ↗ · Parco Nazionale Cinque Terre · trekking guide (PDF) ↗
Article
Apps for Italy: what to install
The essential 10, local transport apps by city, and the ones that don’t work for tourists.
Travel answers for Cinque Terre & Genoa
Short, checked answers to the questions travellers ask about Cinque Terre & Genoa. All Cinque Terre & Genoa answers →
Article
Every Italian airport to the city: trains, buses, fixed taxi fares, after midnight
20 airports: Malpensa Express €15, Marconi Express, Venice €40 taxi, Catania Alibus, night options.
- Topic
- Getting there & around
- Status
- Published
Article
10 Italy road trips: routes, bases, tolls, ZTL and car-free alternatives
Liguria, Tuscan coast, hill towns, Amalfi, Puglia, Sicily, Gallura, Dolomites, Como, Garda.
- Topic
- Itineraries
- Status
- Published
Article
Cinque Terre beaches: which village, and can you book?
Monterosso is the beach village; booking clubs; crowds on the 5 Terre Express.
- Topic
- Sea & islands
- Status
- Published
Article
Day-trip connections: Pompeii, Frascati, Tivoli, Burano, Bergamo, lakes + 2026 works
Pompei Scavi on EAV, FL2 to Tivoli, ACTV 12, Via dell’Amore booking, AV Florence–Rome works.
- Topic
- Getting there & around
- Status
- Published
FAQ
Where should I stay for the Cinque Terre?
La Spezia for logistics, Levanto for the beach, a village for atmosphere.
Which village has the best beach?
Monterosso.
Is the Via dell’Amore open?
Yes with a timed reservation — check live before you go.
Are all Cinque Terre trails open?
No — check the Park’s live map.
Can I drive into the Cinque Terre?
It’s impractical; park in La Spezia or Levanto.
How do I get to Portofino?
Train to Santa Margherita, then bus 782 or a boat.
How do I reach San Fruttuoso?
By boat or on foot only.
Does the Cinque Terre Card cover Portovenere?
No — it covers park trails, services and Park buses; Portovenere needs a separate bus or boat from La Spezia.
Where to go on a rainy day?
Genoa.
Are the ferries guaranteed?
No, they depend on the sea.
Plan by interest
This destination features in these trip themes — compare it with the rest of Italy.
Continue your Italy trip
Content: Genoa + Cinque Terre deep-research pack S5. Each card keeps its sheet Block ID in data-block-id. No block is publication-approved; prices, hours and timetables are high-freshness facts — recheck before booking. “EN from RU source” = English adaptation of Russian source text.