Train from Florence to Corniglia (Cinque Terre)

The 113 miles (182 km) between Florence and Corniglia may seem easy to cover by car, but having a car in the Cinque Terre region is not recommended. You can’t drive into the towns themselves, parking is difficult to find and these become even bigger inconveniences during the high season when tourism is at its peak. Let the Trenitalia network take you from Firenze Santa Maria Novella station to Corniglia, which sits hundreds of feet above the sea, surrounded by vineyards.

Frequent Trains from Florence Santa Maria Novella to Corniglia

Getting from Firenze Santa Maria Novella station to the Cinque Terre-Corniglia station requires taking either two or three trains. No matter which option you choose, the trip takes from 2.5-3 hours, and tickets cost $20-28.

Your first option, with just one connection, is to take the Regionale train from Firenze Santa Maria Novella to La Spezia station, and then another 13-minute Regionale train from La Spezia to Corniglia. The option with two connections requires you to first go to Pisa Centrale on a Regionale train, then an InterCity to Levanto, and finally another quick Regionale train from Levanto to Corniglia.

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

Direct Trains from Florence to Cinque Terre-Corniglia

There are no direct trains from Florence to Corniglia. Your itinerary will include one or two connections.

Amenities on Trains from Florence to Cinque Terre-Corniglia

Regionale trains have 1st class and 2nd class cars, but there is not a huge difference between the two. Because reservations are not required on these trains, you simply find an available seat on a car in the appropriate class for your ticket. There is no food service or cafe car on these trains, and the on-board air conditioning doesn’t always work.

InterCity trains are similar to Regionale trains, but there is a food and beverage cart that passes through the train on longer rides. It serves basic sandwiches, snacks, and non-alcoholic beverages.

Florence and Cinque Terre-Corniglia Train Stations

Florence's Santa Maria Novella station, the main station in the city, is close to the historic center, and is a major hub for city and regional buses, making it easy to get to and from the station if you're traveling light.

La Spezia Centrale is the city’s main station, located in the city center on Piazza Medaglie. Several bus lines stop outside the station, and there are regular trains from La Spezia to the Cinque Terre towns nearby.

Pisa Centrale station is also the city's primary station, located 1.4 miles (2.3 km) from main attractions, including the leaning tower and cathedral. There is a luggage storage office at the station if you need to store your bags while you make a quick trip to see the tower. Take the number 1 bus from the station to get to the Campo dei Miracoli.

Levanto station also includes a bar, bathrooms, and a ticket desk.

PLEASE NOTE that the Corniglia train station is at the bottom of a very steep hill, and Corniglia is at the top of the hill. Your two options to get to Corniglia are to take the 400 steps to the top of the hill, or to take one of the frequent buses that make the round trip to and from the station.