La Spezia / Cinque Terre: Just Got Back

La Spezia is a coastal port city in northwestern Italy. Most folks take excursions rather than explore the port city itself. Among your choices here:

• Explore the city of La Spezia: Highlights include walking around the picturesque waterfront parks, The Italian Naval Technical Museum, Basilica of Santa Maria Assunta, Chiesa di Nostra Signora della Neve church, and San Giorgio Castle.
  
• Visit Cinque Terre: Located Northwest of La Spezia, Cinque Terre is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is comprised of 5 very picturesque coastal villages and the first village is just 10 minutes away by train.
  
• Visit the Leaning Tower of Pisa: about a 75-minute train ride to an iconic site.
  
• Visit Florence: 2 hours each way.
  
• Visit other quaint towns: Camogli, Chiavari, Genoa, Rapallo, and Santa Margherita Ligure are also accessible by train.
  
• Other nearby options: Visit Isola Palmaria, Parco Naturale Regionale di Porto Venere, and Lerici.
  

Since you cannot walk on the pier, Celebrity provides free shuttles from the ship to the Largo Fiorello Port Entrance. It takes just 5 minutes. Walk through the small terminal and you'll see taxis lined up across from the port traffic circle. The earlier you get off the ship the more time you will have to explore.

We considered visiting the Leaning Tower of Pisa since it's very easy to get to Pisa by train from La Spezia. You can take the regional train that leaves La Spezia Centrale at 9:12 AM on weekdays and Saturdays, arriving at Pisa San Rossore at 10:20 am. The fare is €5,20 in second class and €7,80 in first. "San Rossore" is the station where you get off since it's only a 5 minute walk to the tower at Piazza dei Miracoli. (Don't wait for "Pisa Centrale"). If you're traveling all the way there, you'll likely want to climb the tower, in which case you should reserve your tickets in advance.

We decided instead on visiting Cinque Terre, a series of five very picturesque fishing villages on the coast, just northwest of the port. Cinque Terre means "The Five Lands". They are also known for their terraces of olives and grapes (and you guessed it, locally produced wines). Although we considered taking a ferry to Cinque Terre, we instead took the train as it got us there quicker and much earlier. The train was also less expensive and made it easy to move from village to village.

I understand you can walk from the port to the train station. We are really glad we didn't. Six of us got off the ship about 7:00 am and shared a €20 cab ride to La Spezia Centrale train station. (Yes, it's further away than La Spezia Migliarina terminal but their trains to Cinque Terre don't start running until 10:46 AM; and yes, cabs to and from the port are expensive although I understand a cab for 4 is €15).

All six of us had purchased our 1-day Cinque Terre Train (Treno) Card online before we left the states. The cost when visiting from April 1 to November 1 is €16 pp. The Treno gives you unlimited train travel for the day between La Spezia and the 5 Cinque Terre villages, along with admission to the walking paths of Cinque Terre, free wi-fi at the train stations, and use of the Cinque Terre shuttle bus between Corniglia station and the village of Corniglia in the hill above --- allowing you to avoid the stairs. Additional helpful information can be found here

One of the charms of the villages are the walking trails included with the Treno pass. Most of the trails are best left for folks spending more than one day in port, or who have chosen not to visit all of the villages. We actually wanted to walk one easy coastal trail, the Manarola to Riomaggiore segment known as "Via dell'Amore", but I learned that it won’t reopen until at least 2021.

If you don't buy tickets in advance you can queue up and buy them at the train station. I've read warnings were you must stamp the Cinque Terre Card into one of the validating machines at the train station before taking your first train. Failure could subject you to fines if you are randomly checked by a conductor. The printed online passes will not fit in a validation machine (I tried) and apparently are not a problem (as we were indeed randomly checked by a conductor, while riding the wrong train).

From La Spezia, the 5 villages in order of distance are Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza and Monterosso el Mare. By train, it's only 10 minutes to the nearest village in Riomaggiore and 25 to the furthest in Monterosso. Trains run at least every 30 minutes but not all trains stop at all stations. Our plan was to take a train to the further town first (Monterosso) and then work our way back towards the port.

Once at La Spezia Centrale, with preprinted tickets in hand, we simply looked for the platform that had the first train heading for Cinque Terre. The final train destination was Levorno. We got off in Monterosso about 25 minutes later. There is a little Cinque Terre office in the station with really helpful folks. Show your pre-printed passes and they will give you a map, a train timetable, and your personal wi-fi password.

Monterosso is the most northern and western, and second largest, of the villages. We exited the station and found ourselves overlooking a very pretty and impossibly empty beach on a clear blue sea. This is by far the largest beach in Cinque Terre, and we figured it was a good time to tip our toes in the Mediterranean. It was cold. In the summer, Monterosso would make for a nice beach day.

Walking 4 blocks North (to your right as you face the water) you'll come across IL GIGANTE (The Giant), a pretty cool statue that you can't currently see because it's being rebuilt. So we walked South instead, around the point and into the old town. There was almost no one on the beach or in town while we were there. It was a great start to our day.

Next up was Vernazza, about 10 minutes away, but I led our party onto the express train to La Spezia by accident. This is where we were randomly checked for tickets. 40 minutes, and two trains later, we were finally in Vernazza.

Vernazza is a beautiful small fishing village surrounded by steeply-terraced olive groves and colorful houses. It usually ranks as one of everyone's favorite villages. Follow the crescent-shaped road downhill from the train station, past shops, a farmers market (with huge sweet peppers over twice the size of your fist) and cafes, to the rocky waterfront with a beautiful piazza right on a little beach.

A rock wall protects a small natural harbour. We shared a Margherita slice (€3) from the Focacceria to hold us until lunch.

Our next stop was Corniglia, an ancient Roman town with grape vine terraces and no port. We got off the train and headed straight for the shuttle bus behind the station to take us up the hill to Corniglia. For whatever reason, the shuttle bus was not running on May 8 and rather that walk up the 377 - 382 stairs (depending upon the source) we jumped back on the train.

Although beachless, we found Manarola's coastal view to be the most picturesque. She's the second smallest of the villages. Colorful village pictures can be yours by following the pedestrian pathway to the right from the crystal clear waterfront. This is where we had hoped to walk the beautiful shoreline trail that ends at the Riomaggiore train station, but since it is closed we simply took the train.

Riomaggiore is the largest, easternmost, and southernmost of the five coastal villages. It has two halves linked by a long tunnel from the train station. After visiting the waterfront half, we found lunch at Il Grottino on the mountain side. They specialize in fresh fish and pasta, with a local house red wine that accompanies both really well.

We took a train back to La Spezia Centrale train station and 10 minutes later caught a taxi back to the port. Had the La Spezia Migliarina train come first we might have taken that one and walked back to the port. I understand it's a pleasant 1.25-mile (20 to 30 minute) walk from that station.

Once you get used to finding the right platform and learn to read the monitors, the trains are a fun, quick, inexpensive and easy way around Cinque Terre from La Spezia. We completed our tour of the Cinque Terre including lunch in Riomaggiore in 6 hours, so we had time to spare in returning to the ship.

Complete detailed review of Celebrity Reflection and 8 Western Mediterranean Ports

http://www.lavasurfer.com/info/western-mediterranean.html

Secrets of the Mediterranean: details, hints, and tips for over 20 Mediterranean Cities

http://www.lavasurfer.com/info/mediterranean-secrets.html

Thanks for taking the time to pass on all that valuable info. Hope the water is a bit warmer in September when we are there...

Sent from my SM-N950F using Tapatalk

Thanks for this info. You are very detailed and it is very helpful.

Sent from my iPad using Forums

Indeed, this is helpful. Thank you very much.

Also, I like to thank you for you chapter about decorum on your web page. If just everybody would behave respectful.

I appreciate the comments.

Since you cannot walk on the pier, Celebrity provides free shuttles from the ship to the Largo Fiorello Port Entrance. It takes just 5 minutes. Walk through the small terminal and you'll see taxis lined up across from the port traffic circle.

 

 

I understand you can walk from the port to the train station. We are really glad we didn't. Six of us got off the ship about 7:00 am and shared a €20 cab ride to La Spezia Centrale train station. (Yes, it's further away than La Spezia Migliarina terminal but their trains to Cinque Terre don't start running until 10:46 AM; and yes, cabs to and from the port are expensive although I understand a cab for 4 is €15).

Actually, from the Largo Fiorello cruise terminal La Spezia Centrale is closer, it's just a tad over a mile on foot. The trip is a bit longer by car/taxi because of one-way streets. La Spezia Migliarina is a mile and a half from the cruise terminal on foot and even further by car/taxi.





It makes me crazy that taxi drivers get away with absurd fares like that for short distances but it seems to happen at every cruise port, I guess the authorities just look the other way.

Wow! Thank you for such detailed information! We will be there in July and this has helped our planning!

euro cruiser... thanks for that update.

Most taxis are regulated. Is it possible the authorities charge taxis a higher rate for port access like is done at a lot of USA airports, and allow a higher fare? Also curious where the closest off-port taxi stand might be and if that would avoid the higher fees? I didn't look into that question.

Oh thank you so much for the detailed info. We are going in July and your description really helps!

euro cruiser... thanks for that update.

Most taxis are regulated. Is it possible the authorities charge taxis a higher rate for port access like is done at a lot of USA airports, and allow a higher fare? Also curious where the closest off-port taxi stand might be and if that would avoid the higher fees? I didn't look into that question.

The cruise terminal at La Spezia isn't port access, it's not within a restricted area. This is just one of those things … it happens at Civitavecchia as well. Yes, they are regulated and they are supposed to use the meter and they are not allowed to refuse a fare but if no one enforces the rules, then …

I don't know about another taxi stand but since it's only a mile to the train station there may not be one.

Taxis aren't alone in trying to wrest extra money out of cruise passengers. With many of the car services if you book the exact same eight hour trip but start it from a hotel in town vs. the cruise port you'll find you get a different, lower rate.

La Spezia is a coastal port city in northwestern Italy. Most folks take excursions rather than explore the port city itself. Among your choices here:

• Explore the city of La Spezia: Highlights include walking around the picturesque waterfront parks, The Italian Naval Technical Museum, Basilica of Santa Maria Assunta, Chiesa di Nostra Signora della Neve church, and San Giorgio Castle.
  
• Visit Cinque Terre: Located Northwest of La Spezia, Cinque Terre is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is comprised of 5 very picturesque coastal villages and the first village is just 10 minutes away by train.
  
• Visit the Leaning Tower of Pisa: about a 75-minute train ride to an iconic site.
  
• Visit Florence: 2 hours each way.
  
• Visit other quaint towns: Camogli, Chiavari, Genoa, Rapallo, and Santa Margherita Ligure are also accessible by train.
  
• Other nearby options: Visit Isola Palmaria, Parco Naturale Regionale di Porto Venere, and Lerici.
  

Since you cannot walk on the pier, Celebrity provides free shuttles from the ship to the Largo Fiorello Port Entrance. It takes just 5 minutes. Walk through the small terminal and you'll see taxis lined up across from the port traffic circle. The earlier you get off the ship the more time you will have to explore.

 

We considered visiting the Leaning Tower of Pisa since it's very easy to get to Pisa by train from La Spezia. You can take the regional train that leaves La Spezia Centrale at 9:12 AM on weekdays and Saturdays, arriving at Pisa San Rossore at 10:20 am. The fare is €5,20 in second class and €7,80 in first. "San Rossore" is the station where you get off since it's only a 5 minute walk to the tower at Piazza dei Miracoli. (Don't wait for "Pisa Centrale"). If you're traveling all the way there, you'll likely want to climb the tower, in which case you should reserve your tickets in advance.

 

We decided instead on visiting Cinque Terre, a series of five very picturesque fishing villages on the coast, just northwest of the port. Cinque Terre means "The Five Lands". They are also known for their terraces of olives and grapes (and you guessed it, locally produced wines). Although we considered taking a ferry to Cinque Terre, we instead took the train as it got us there quicker and much earlier. The train was also less expensive and made it easy to move from village to village.

 

I understand you can walk from the port to the train station. We are really glad we didn't. Six of us got off the ship about 7:00 am and shared a €20 cab ride to La Spezia Centrale train station. (Yes, it's further away than La Spezia Migliarina terminal but their trains to Cinque Terre don't start running until 10:46 AM; and yes, cabs to and from the port are expensive although I understand a cab for 4 is €15).

 

All six of us had purchased our 1-day Cinque Terre Train (Treno) Card online before we left the states. The cost when visiting from April 1 to November 1 is €16 pp. The Treno gives you unlimited train travel for the day between La Spezia and the 5 Cinque Terre villages, along with admission to the walking paths of Cinque Terre, free wi-fi at the train stations, and use of the Cinque Terre shuttle bus between Corniglia station and the village of Corniglia in the hill above --- allowing you to avoid the stairs. Additional helpful information can be found here

 

One of the charms of the villages are the walking trails included with the Treno pass. Most of the trails are best left for folks spending more than one day in port, or who have chosen not to visit all of the villages. We actually wanted to walk one easy coastal trail, the Manarola to Riomaggiore segment known as "Via dell'Amore", but I learned that it won’t reopen until at least 2021.

 

If you don't buy tickets in advance you can queue up and buy them at the train station. I've read warnings were you must stamp the Cinque Terre Card into one of the validating machines at the train station before taking your first train. Failure could subject you to fines if you are randomly checked by a conductor. The printed online passes will not fit in a validation machine (I tried) and apparently are not a problem (as we were indeed randomly checked by a conductor, while riding the wrong train).

 

From La Spezia, the 5 villages in order of distance are Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza and Monterosso el Mare. By train, it's only 10 minutes to the nearest village in Riomaggiore and 25 to the furthest in Monterosso. Trains run at least every 30 minutes but not all trains stop at all stations. Our plan was to take a train to the further town first (Monterosso) and then work our way back towards the port.

 

Once at La Spezia Centrale, with preprinted tickets in hand, we simply looked for the platform that had the first train heading for Cinque Terre. The final train destination was Levorno. We got off in Monterosso about 25 minutes later. There is a little Cinque Terre office in the station with really helpful folks. Show your pre-printed passes and they will give you a map, a train timetable, and your personal wi-fi password.

 

Monterosso is the most northern and western, and second largest, of the villages. We exited the station and found ourselves overlooking a very pretty and impossibly empty beach on a clear blue sea. This is by far the largest beach in Cinque Terre, and we figured it was a good time to tip our toes in the Mediterranean. It was cold. In the summer, Monterosso would make for a nice beach day.

 

Walking 4 blocks North (to your right as you face the water) you'll come across IL GIGANTE (The Giant), a pretty cool statue that you can't currently see because it's being rebuilt. So we walked South instead, around the point and into the old town. There was almost no one on the beach or in town while we were there. It was a great start to our day.

 

Next up was Vernazza, about 10 minutes away, but I led our party onto the express train to La Spezia by accident. This is where we were randomly checked for tickets. 40 minutes, and two trains later, we were finally in Vernazza.

 

Vernazza is a beautiful small fishing village surrounded by steeply-terraced olive groves and colorful houses. It usually ranks as one of everyone's favorite villages. Follow the crescent-shaped road downhill from the train station, past shops, a farmers market (with huge sweet peppers over twice the size of your fist) and cafes, to the rocky waterfront with a beautiful piazza right on a little beach.

 

A rock wall protects a small natural harbour. We shared a Margherita slice (€3) from the Focacceria to hold us until lunch.

 

Our next stop was Corniglia, an ancient Roman town with grape vine terraces and no port. We got off the train and headed straight for the shuttle bus behind the station to take us up the hill to Corniglia. For whatever reason, the shuttle bus was not running on May 8 and rather that walk up the 377 - 382 stairs (depending upon the source) we jumped back on the train.

 

Although beachless, we found Manarola's coastal view to be the most picturesque. She's the second smallest of the villages. Colorful village pictures can be yours by following the pedestrian pathway to the right from the crystal clear waterfront. This is where we had hoped to walk the beautiful shoreline trail that ends at the Riomaggiore train station, but since it is closed we simply took the train.

 

Riomaggiore is the largest, easternmost, and southernmost of the five coastal villages. It has two halves linked by a long tunnel from the train station. After visiting the waterfront half, we found lunch at Il Grottino on the mountain side. They specialize in fresh fish and pasta, with a local house red wine that accompanies both really well.

 

We took a train back to La Spezia Centrale train station and 10 minutes later caught a taxi back to the port. Had the La Spezia Migliarina train come first we might have taken that one and walked back to the port. I understand it's a pleasant 1.25-mile (20 to 30 minute) walk from that station.

 

Once you get used to finding the right platform and learn to read the monitors, the trains are a fun, quick, inexpensive and easy way around Cinque Terre from La Spezia. We completed our tour of the Cinque Terre including lunch in Riomaggiore in 6 hours, so we had time to spare in returning to the ship.

 

 

Complete detailed review of Celebrity Reflection and 8 Western Mediterranean Ports

http://www.lavasurfer.com/info/western-mediterranean.html

 

Secrets of the Mediterranean: details, hints, and tips for over 20 Mediterranean Cities

http://www.lavasurfer.com/info/mediterranean-secrets.html

Dear Carribean Bound, can you please let me know if LaSpezia Centrale is the best station to go to Pisa from? Also, is there a way to see the train schedule ahead of time? Lastly, any tips on visitng Pisa aside from getting tks in advance ?

La Spezia is a coastal port city in northwestern Italy. Most folks take excursions rather than explore the port city itself. Among your choices here:

• Explore the city of La Spezia: Highlights include walking around the picturesque waterfront parks, The Italian Naval Technical Museum, Basilica of Santa Maria Assunta, Chiesa di Nostra Signora della Neve church, and San Giorgio Castle.
  
• Visit Cinque Terre: Located Northwest of La Spezia, Cinque Terre is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is comprised of 5 very picturesque coastal villages and the first village is just 10 minutes away by train.
  
• Visit the Leaning Tower of Pisa: about a 75-minute train ride to an iconic site.
  
• Visit Florence: 2 hours each way.
  
• Visit other quaint towns: Camogli, Chiavari, Genoa, Rapallo, and Santa Margherita Ligure are also accessible by train.
  
• Other nearby options: Visit Isola Palmaria, Parco Naturale Regionale di Porto Venere, and Lerici.
  

Since you cannot walk on the pier, Celebrity provides free shuttles from the ship to the Largo Fiorello Port Entrance. It takes just 5 minutes. Walk through the small terminal and you'll see taxis lined up across from the port traffic circle. The earlier you get off the ship the more time you will have to explore.

 

We considered visiting the Leaning Tower of Pisa since it's very easy to get to Pisa by train from La Spezia. You can take the regional train that leaves La Spezia Centrale at 9:12 AM on weekdays and Saturdays, arriving at Pisa San Rossore at 10:20 am. The fare is €5,20 in second class and €7,80 in first. "San Rossore" is the station where you get off since it's only a 5 minute walk to the tower at Piazza dei Miracoli. (Don't wait for "Pisa Centrale"). If you're traveling all the way there, you'll likely want to climb the tower, in which case you should reserve your tickets in advance.

 

We decided instead on visiting Cinque Terre, a series of five very picturesque fishing villages on the coast, just northwest of the port. Cinque Terre means "The Five Lands". They are also known for their terraces of olives and grapes (and you guessed it, locally produced wines). Although we considered taking a ferry to Cinque Terre, we instead took the train as it got us there quicker and much earlier. The train was also less expensive and made it easy to move from village to village.

 

I understand you can walk from the port to the train station. We are really glad we didn't. Six of us got off the ship about 7:00 am and shared a €20 cab ride to La Spezia Centrale train station. (Yes, it's further away than La Spezia Migliarina terminal but their trains to Cinque Terre don't start running until 10:46 AM; and yes, cabs to and from the port are expensive although I understand a cab for 4 is €15).

 

All six of us had purchased our 1-day Cinque Terre Train (Treno) Card online before we left the states. The cost when visiting from April 1 to November 1 is €16 pp. The Treno gives you unlimited train travel for the day between La Spezia and the 5 Cinque Terre villages, along with admission to the walking paths of Cinque Terre, free wi-fi at the train stations, and use of the Cinque Terre shuttle bus between Corniglia station and the village of Corniglia in the hill above --- allowing you to avoid the stairs. Additional helpful information can be found here

 

One of the charms of the villages are the walking trails included with the Treno pass. Most of the trails are best left for folks spending more than one day in port, or who have chosen not to visit all of the villages. We actually wanted to walk one easy coastal trail, the Manarola to Riomaggiore segment known as "Via dell'Amore", but I learned that it won’t reopen until at least 2021.

 

If you don't buy tickets in advance you can queue up and buy them at the train station. I've read warnings were you must stamp the Cinque Terre Card into one of the validating machines at the train station before taking your first train. Failure could subject you to fines if you are randomly checked by a conductor. The printed online passes will not fit in a validation machine (I tried) and apparently are not a problem (as we were indeed randomly checked by a conductor, while riding the wrong train).

 

From La Spezia, the 5 villages in order of distance are Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza and Monterosso el Mare. By train, it's only 10 minutes to the nearest village in Riomaggiore and 25 to the furthest in Monterosso. Trains run at least every 30 minutes but not all trains stop at all stations. Our plan was to take a train to the further town first (Monterosso) and then work our way back towards the port.

 

Once at La Spezia Centrale, with preprinted tickets in hand, we simply looked for the platform that had the first train heading for Cinque Terre. The final train destination was Levorno. We got off in Monterosso about 25 minutes later. There is a little Cinque Terre office in the station with really helpful folks. Show your pre-printed passes and they will give you a map, a train timetable, and your personal wi-fi password.

 

Monterosso is the most northern and western, and second largest, of the villages. We exited the station and found ourselves overlooking a very pretty and impossibly empty beach on a clear blue sea. This is by far the largest beach in Cinque Terre, and we figured it was a good time to tip our toes in the Mediterranean. It was cold. In the summer, Monterosso would make for a nice beach day.

 

Walking 4 blocks North (to your right as you face the water) you'll come across IL GIGANTE (The Giant), a pretty cool statue that you can't currently see because it's being rebuilt. So we walked South instead, around the point and into the old town. There was almost no one on the beach or in town while we were there. It was a great start to our day.

 

Next up was Vernazza, about 10 minutes away, but I led our party onto the express train to La Spezia by accident. This is where we were randomly checked for tickets. 40 minutes, and two trains later, we were finally in Vernazza.

 

Vernazza is a beautiful small fishing village surrounded by steeply-terraced olive groves and colorful houses. It usually ranks as one of everyone's favorite villages. Follow the crescent-shaped road downhill from the train station, past shops, a farmers market (with huge sweet peppers over twice the size of your fist) and cafes, to the rocky waterfront with a beautiful piazza right on a little beach.

 

A rock wall protects a small natural harbour. We shared a Margherita slice (€3) from the Focacceria to hold us until lunch.

 

Our next stop was Corniglia, an ancient Roman town with grape vine terraces and no port. We got off the train and headed straight for the shuttle bus behind the station to take us up the hill to Corniglia. For whatever reason, the shuttle bus was not running on May 8 and rather that walk up the 377 - 382 stairs (depending upon the source) we jumped back on the train.

 

Although beachless, we found Manarola's coastal view to be the most picturesque. She's the second smallest of the villages. Colorful village pictures can be yours by following the pedestrian pathway to the right from the crystal clear waterfront. This is where we had hoped to walk the beautiful shoreline trail that ends at the Riomaggiore train station, but since it is closed we simply took the train.

 

Riomaggiore is the largest, easternmost, and southernmost of the five coastal villages. It has two halves linked by a long tunnel from the train station. After visiting the waterfront half, we found lunch at Il Grottino on the mountain side. They specialize in fresh fish and pasta, with a local house red wine that accompanies both really well.

 

We took a train back to La Spezia Centrale train station and 10 minutes later caught a taxi back to the port. Had the La Spezia Migliarina train come first we might have taken that one and walked back to the port. I understand it's a pleasant 1.25-mile (20 to 30 minute) walk from that station.

 

Once you get used to finding the right platform and learn to read the monitors, the trains are a fun, quick, inexpensive and easy way around Cinque Terre from La Spezia. We completed our tour of the Cinque Terre including lunch in Riomaggiore in 6 hours, so we had time to spare in returning to the ship.

 

 

Complete detailed review of Celebrity Reflection and 8 Western Mediterranean Ports

http://www.lavasurfer.com/info/western-mediterranean.html

 

Secrets of the Mediterranean: details, hints, and tips for over 20 Mediterranean Cities

http://www.lavasurfer.com/info/mediterranean-secrets.html

Can you please tell me if you did the train ride to Pisa before? Is it realy a 5 min walk? Getting nervous, I booked the tickets to train and Pisa, using the suggestions of the stop you recommended, but some people said it's more like 30 min walk from the train to Pisa. Can you confirm please? Also, the stop at Pisa San Rossore is definitely the right one, correct? Lastly, do you know what time the ship usually needs passengers back approximately? 2 hrs prior ? Later? Thank you again

First, please edit when you post a quote, there's no need to repost all the pictures, etc.

As for Pisa, from S. Rossore it is a most a ten minute walk to the tower area (Piazza dei Miracoli). From Pisa Centrale it's a thirty minute walk, that accounts for the confusion.

What train ticket did you already purchase, and from what site?

eurocruiser... thank you for chiming in.

shenkean...

You ask good questions. Since we've never been to Pisa I can't post definitive answers. I posted those notes from my pre-cruise research. Search the Italy ports-of-call board for Pisa. Yes, you can find a train schedule online. It may require a brief explanation on how to read it. I'm not qualified.

I understand "San Rossore" is the station where you get off since it's only a 5 minute walk to the tower at Piazza dei Miracoli. (Don't wait for "Pisa Centrale" which is a 20-30 minute walk).

Final boarding call on Celebrity is 30 minutes before the posted sailing time. You'll want to plan to be on board no later than 60 minutes prior if you want to avoid the stress. The ship will leave without you. We even left several ports early, though I'm assuming it was because everyone was accounted for.

@CaribbeanBound - thanks for the post, very helpful. We're stopping in La Spezia in early July, planning to take ferry to Monterosso and train back from village to village. Is the 4 euro train ticket good from Monterosso to La Spezia including all stops or do we need to buy a ticket for each segment? (we were advised to validate tickets)

Yes, the Treno card ticket includes all 5 villages and La Spezia.

As for Pisa, from S. Rossore it is a most a ten minute walk to the tower area (Piazza dei Miracoli). From Pisa Centrale it's a thirty minute walk, that accounts for the confusion.

What train ticket did you already purchase, and from what site?

Dear Eurocruiser, thank you. Somehow I did not see your reply. I did book direct train from Centrale to S. Rossore. However, my trip is later in the afternoon, quite a few people told me trains are quite unreliable and frequently late. I’m getting back to La Speziaby 6 pm, ship leaves at 8:30. Still , what is train is delayed ? I’m not sure if I made the right decision

Another bonus of the Cinque Terre card is that at a number of the train stations it gives you access for free to the bathroom :-).

I would suggest heading to one of the prettier villages first such as Vernazza. Then you get to enjoy it without all the midday crowds. Our least favorite was Monterosso - does not have the charm of the others.

Thanks for this great review. We sail in October and dock at la Spezia and lots of people are booking for Florence or Pisa. We will come and do Florence as a weekend break sometime and decided we'd try Cinque Terre with no real idea of where to start. This is really helpful

Glad to hear it. Have a great trip!

 

I would suggest heading to one of the prettier villages first such as Vernazza. Then you get to enjoy it without all the midday crowds. Our least favorite was Monterosso - does not have the charm of the others.

I agree with this and thanks to OP for great overview. Only thing I would add is doing one of the open hikes is well worth it if you have the energy and time. The views are spectacular and walking through olive and grape fields with one of the towns in the distance is amazing. Also consider taking the boat from La Spezia. Seeing the towns from the water is also special.

HI Caribbeanbound - My DH and I have been to Cinque Terre before but we stayed overnight on a land trip rather than a port stop and we purchased our tickets at the train station.

We will be back again in September when we stop in La Spezia while on Symphony of the Sea from 830am to 830pm so we want to head back to this area.

Your post was very helpful on the timing and I have also prepurchased the Cinque Terre Rail card and printed the ticket that was emailed to me.

From your review, I read we do not need to exchange it for an actual card - is that correct?

We can just board the train?

I "try" to be a "rule follower" and I don't want to have any issues if the paper that I printed from the email can't be validated or have an issue with a person who is checking tickets.

I too am trying to save time and not have to stand in another line.

Thank You in advance. Patti :o