Train from Milan to Monterosso (Cinque Terre)

Taking a day trip from a base city can be a great way to explore other Italian cities. One idea can be taking a day trip from Milan to hike the famous trails in Cinque Terre.  You may find yourself charmed by these little seaside towns, like Monterosso, and decide to spend a few extra days there! Whether you’re going for one day or a few days, the train is the best way to get there.

It is best to take a train to any of the towns in Cinque Terre because once you arrive, you can’t drive into or park in the center of the towns themselves. It’s far easier and less confusing to take the train.

Frequent Trains from Milan to Cinque Terre-Monterosso

You can take the train to Milano Centrale, the city's main train station, to the Monterosso train station in Monterosso al Mare, the largest of the five towns in the Cinque Terre region. Half of the day's 14 trains are a direct route, and the other half have one connection in Levanto.

There is a direct route from Milano Centrale to Monterosso. This route goes through Levanto and you will have to switch to a regional train. The trip takes approximately three hours regardless of which itinerary you choose, and tickets cost $31-32.

Note that weekends and holidays typically mean less frequent service and sometimes longer travel times.

Direct Trains from Milan to Cinque Terre-Monterosso

There are seven direct trains per day from Milan to Monterosso al Mare.

Amenities on Trains from Milan to Cinque Terre-Monterosso

Regional trains do not provide all of the amenities that you would see on high-speed trains. There are sometimes both 1st and 2nd class cars, but the 1st class cars aren't anything like the high-speed 1st class. Sometimes regional trains don't even have air conditioning in every car. Reservations on these trains aren't necessary.

Milan and Cinque Terre-Monterosso Train Stations

Milan's main station, Centrale, is a local transportation hub, with buses and trams stopping outside and a Metro (subway) stop in a lower level of the station itself. Porta Garibaldi station is a smaller station, though it also has a Metro stop and several bus lines stopping nearby.

Monterosso al Mare is the largest of the five Cinque Terre towns, and of those towns, Monterosso has the biggest train station. In addition to the slow trains that run through Cinque Terre, Monterosso also has service from faster trains coming into the region from places like Milan or Rome. The station is in the town center, and you can take a local bus or walk to where you need to go from there. Levanto station also includes a bar, bathrooms, and a ticket desk.