🚗 How to Get to Cinque Terre from Montaretto

1️⃣ Reach Levanto (key step)

Montaretto (above Bonassola) does not have a train station, so you first need to get to Levanto, one of the main gateways to Cinque Terre.

Options:

• 🚗 By car: about 20–30 minutes
• 🚌 Local bus from Montaretto/Bonassola
• 🚖 Taxi (fastest but more expensive)

👉 Levanto is ideal because:

• it has a major train station
• it’s one of the endpoints of the Cinque Terre railway line [cinqueterre.com]

2️⃣ From Levanto to Cinque Terre by train

From Levanto, take regional trains or the Cinque Terre Express.

Stops:

• Monterosso → Vernazza → Corniglia → Manarola → Riomaggiore

Frequency:

• about every 15–20 minutes [thetrainline.com]

⏱ Travel times:

• Levanto → Monterosso: ~5 minutes
• between villages: 2–5 minutes [in3giorni.com]

💡 The train is:

• the fastest option
• the most convenient (roads are narrow and parking is limited) [cinqueterr...turist.com]

🎟️ Train Tickets: Where to Buy Them

✅ Option 1 – Single ticket

You can buy tickets:

• at the train station (ticket office or machines)
• via the Trenitalia app or website
• at tourist information centers [visitcinqueterre.eu]

💶 Prices:

• about €5–€10 per ride depending on the season [cinqueterre.eu.com]

👉 Best if you only take a few trains.

✅ Option 2 – Cinque Terre Train Card (recommended)

👉 Best option if you want to visit multiple villages

Includes:

• ✅ unlimited train travel between Levanto and La Spezia
• ✅ access to paid hiking trails
• ✅ local buses
• ✅ additional services (Wi‑Fi, restrooms, etc.) [cinqueterre.eu.com]

💶 Price:

• about €22–€35 per day [cinque-terre.org]

📍 Where to buy the Cinque Terre Card

You can purchase it:

• online (official site) :
  👉 Buy Cinque Terre Card [card.parco...e5terre.it]

• official info page:
  👉 Cinque Terre Card Info [parconazio...e5terre.it]

• also available at:

  • train stations
  • park info points [cinqueterre.eu.com]

🥾 Hiking Trails Tickets

⚠️ Important

Some trails are NOT free.

👉 You need the Cinque Terre Card for:

• the famous Blue Trail (Sentiero Azzurro) connecting the villages [it.cinquet...iviera.com]
• other regulated park trails

🎫 Types of hiking cards

1. Trekking Card

Includes:

• access to paid trails
• park shuttle buses

💶 Price:

• about €7.50–€15 per day [it.cinquet...iviera.com]

👉 Best if you mainly hike and don’t use trains.

2. Train + Trekking Card (recommended)

Includes:

• trails + trains + services

👉 Best choice for most visitors.

💡 Useful note

• In winter, trails are often free
• During high season, checks are in place at trail entrances [it.cinquet...iviera.com]

✅ Recommended Strategy

If you start from Montaretto:

1. Go to Levanto
2. Buy the Cinque Terre Train Card (online is easiest)
3. Use trains to move between villages
4. Do 1–2 hikes (e.g. Monterosso → Vernazza)

👉 This is:

• the easiest way
• the fastest
• often the most cost-effective

🧭 Quick Summary

• 🚗 Montaretto → Levanto
• 🚆 Levanto → Cinque Terre (train every 15–20 min)
• 🎟️ Tickets:
  • single tickets (few trips)
  • ✅ card (recommended)
• 🥾 Trails:
  • card required for main ones