I have spent the last few hours searching the thread for help with this question. I am so new at this..and feeling quite dumb. I want to travel via train from the Figline Valdarno Station to any village in the Cinque Terra. It looks as if it goes to Florence first. Will one of you savy travelers interpret it for me? If there is an ES available out of Florence that would be wonderful. Thanks in advance.

Hi UNCGIRL
I can identify with yur feelings as it is my first time in Italy as well. We are staying in Manarola - it fit our budget. We are coming down from Switzerland and I think go to La Spezia on the train and then catch a bus to Manarola. Do you have reservations anywhere yet? We are going in Sept and I had to hunt for a room as they seem to be booking quickly.
This reply will bump you back to the top so maybe someone will have tips for us both.
Good luck. Colleenbee

It depends on which of the 5 cities in the CT you wish to go to. Monterosso (the largest city) has IC and ES service. For all other cities you must take a regional train that runs from La Spezia to Genoa (this train also stops in Monterosso). Looking at www.trenitalia.com if you enter Figline Valdarno for your departure and Monterosso for your arrival and search you will get a page that shows your departure city Figline , a change train section which shows the stations that you will actually have to get off and switch trains, and the train column, will show what kind of train you will be on for each leg. Clicking on the box on top of the chart that says “according to journey time” will display the choices from the shortest journey to longest. For example when I called up your itinerary (made up dates), I found the shortest trip to be 3 hours, 26 minutes, regional train from Figline to FI. SMN (Florence), Regional train from FI. SMN to Viaregg, and an IC Plus from Viaregg to Monterosso. Going to say Vernazza will add another train change, though not necessarily much more time. I hope I didn’t make this even more confusing.

ttt

I don't understand ttt. Does that mean I am asking stupid questions? If so, I apologize.

ttt= to the top

It brings the thread to the top of the list.

topping also works but does upset some folk !!