Cinque Terre card and train
 

Hi all,

I had a couple of question about arriving in Cinque Terre by train from Sestri Levante.

Our plan was to get to Monterosso (there's a quick InterCity available in the morning) and once there, purchase the Cinque Terre Card Train (Family rate) for the day. Given the state of the walking paths between the towns and our kids ages (6 and 8), I assume we will be taking some trains between the towns.

Does that make sense?

Can the CT card be purchased at the Tourist Office next to the Monterosso train station?

Thanks.

You can buy the CT card at the train station I believe. I seem to recall I bought mine at the Levanto train station ticket office in 2011 as soon as I arrived there from Pisa.

Do you want to limit yourselves to the train? There might be boats running between the towns. (When is your trip?)

I know some train stations have CT ticket booths (e.g. La Spezia), but not all.

Since we're coming from Sestri Levante, I was hoping to just get the CT card when we get off the train at Monterosso.

I think we'll stick to the trains, as opposed to boats. (Trip is is July).

Monterosso is a big enough town that it most certainly ought to sell the CT card at the train station. I'd be very surprised if not.

I suggest rethinking the boats. Views are gorgeous and July is the right time to do it.

Thanks all. My DH is very susceptible to motion sickness -- are the waters very calm between the villages?

The water was very calm last week. It is a big ferry. Sit out in the open and look at the views. He will not get sick.

Where do you purchase ferry tickets? How long does it take to get between the villages by boat? Thx.

Consorzio Marittimo 5 Terre - Golfo dei Poeti ferry, be careful of the schedule. We bought tickets for rt, 25 euro and could not get back. We left on first boat out of La Spezia, stopped at one village, ferry stops every 45 min, took the boat to Monterosso, ate lunch and hiked to next village and could not get a boat back. It took us several hours to hike. You can do it faster but only if you don't stop to take pics and there is not a lot of traffic. It is one way only on some parts of the paths. We then had to buy a train ticket. The lady selling tickets in Vernazza was RUDE. If you hike the views are more beautiful than from the boat. You see amazing things. It was foggy when we left at 9 am so all my boat pics were awful.

The boats werent running when we were there in May 2010 because the sea was too rough...it depends on the day and the winds etc. You may want to make the decision on the day.

We were unable to do the boats both times we were in CT.. Trains are just fine Hop on then hop off and on again..Walk from Manerola to Riomaggio(or reverse) easy 20 minutes..Some paths may be closed if raining..
wait until you get there to decide.

Thanks all. This is so helpful.