You’ve seen the TikToks. Deep blue water in Bellagio. Pastel houses clinging to cliffs in Vernazza. It looks like they’re right next door, doesn’t it? Just a quick hop across Northern Italy.
Actually, no.
Getting from Lake Como to Cinque Terre is a logistical puzzle that trips up even seasoned travelers. It’s a journey that cuts across the Lombardy and Liguria regions, and if you don’t time it right, you’ll spend six hours staring at a train station wall in Voghera. I’m not joking. I’ve seen people lose an entire day of their vacation because they assumed "Italy is small." Italy is vertical. The mountains don’t care about your itinerary.
Honestly, the distance isn't the problem. It’s the transfers. You are moving from a glacial lake surrounded by the Alps to a rugged coastline where cars are basically banned. Here is the reality of the trek and how to actually pull it off without losing your mind.
The Train Reality: Milan is the Gatekeeper
If you aren't driving, you are going through Milan. Period.
🔗 Read more: The Grand Canyon National Park History Nobody Tells You About
Most people starting at Lake Como are in Como San Giovanni or Varenna-Esino. If you’re in Varenna—which is the smarter place to stay, by the way—you’ll take a regional train down to Milano Centrale. It’s about an hour. It’s cheap. It’s usually reliable, though Trenord (the regional operator) loves a good unannounced "sciopero" (strike) every now and then.
Once you hit Milano Centrale, the real game begins. You’re looking for the Intercity or Frecciarossa lines heading toward Levanto or La Spezia. This is where most people mess up. They book the cheapest regional train from Milan to the coast. Don't. You’ll stop thirty times. Pay the extra ten Euros for the Intercity. It cuts the trip down significantly and you actually get a reserved seat.
Keep in mind that Lake Como to Cinque Terre by rail isn't a "scenic route" for the first two hours. You’re passing through the industrial outskirts of Milan and the flat plains of Pavia. It only gets pretty once you hit the tunnels near Genoa. Suddenly, the train pops out of a mountain and—boom—the Mediterranean is right there. It’s a literal light-at-the-end-of-the-tunnel moment.
The Connection Breakdown
- Varenna to Milan: 1 hour.
- Transfer at Centrale: Give yourself 30 minutes. The station is huge and confusing.
- Milan to Monterosso: Roughly 3 hours on an Intercity.
If you’re coming from the town of Como (the southern tip), you have two stations: Como San Giovanni and Como Lago. San Giovanni is the one you want for the main line. It’s faster. If you end up at Como Lago, you’re on the "slow boat" commuter line to Milano Cadorna. If that happens, you then have to take the subway across the city to get to Centrale. It’s a nightmare with luggage. Don't do it.
Driving: The Autostrada vs. The "Scenic" Trap
Thinking of renting a car? It’s faster, sure. About 3 to 3.5 hours if the traffic gods are kind.
The A7 and A12 motorways are engineering marvels, but they are also terrifying. You’ll be flying through tunnels and over massive viaducts. Italian drivers in Liguria treat speed limits as mere suggestions. If you aren't comfortable with a Fiat 500 tailgating you at 130km/h while you’re suspended 200 feet in the air, take the train.
And then there’s the parking.
Cinque Terre is essentially a no-car zone. If you drive from Lake Como to Cinque Terre, your car will spend the rest of its life in a pricey parking garage in La Spezia or the "top" of Monterosso. You cannot drive into Vernazza. You cannot drive into Riomaggiore. Well, you can, but you’ll be greeted by a ZTL (Zona Traffico Limitato) camera and a fine that will arrive in your mailbox six months after you get home. It’ll be about 150 Euros. Happy memories!
👉 See also: Why a Road Atlas Map of North Carolina Still Beats Your Phone in the High Country
If you must drive, Monterosso is the only village with a sizable public parking lot (Fegina). Even then, in July? Forget it. You’ll be circling until sunset.
Why Everyone Gets the Timing Wrong
Most travel blogs tell you this trip takes three hours. They are lying.
They are calculating station-to-station time. They aren't calculating the ferry from Bellagio to Varenna. They aren't calculating the 20-minute uphill hike with a suitcase to the Varenna station. They aren't calculating the fact that Italian trains are "on time" even if they are five minutes late.
Realistically, if you leave your hotel in Lake Como at 9:00 AM, you will be checking into your Airbnb in Cinque Terre around 3:00 PM. That is a huge chunk of your day.
Seasonality Matters
In the winter (November to March), the direct Intercity trains from Milan to the coast are fewer. The "Cinque Terre Express"—the shuttle that runs between the five villages—runs less frequently. Everything slows down. Conversely, in the summer, the heat in Milano Centrale is oppressive. There is no air conditioning in the main concourse. You will sweat. You will be grumpy. Buy water before you get to the station.
Hidden Gems Along the Route
If you have a flexible schedule and you’re driving, don't just blast through. Stop in Pavia. The Certosa di Pavia is a Carthusian monastery that puts most cathedrals to shame. It’s just south of Milan and almost nobody stops there.
Alternatively, if you’re on the train, see if you can find a connection that stops in Santa Margherita Ligure. It’s just north of Cinque Terre. It’s where the Italians actually go. It’s got the same charm, better food, and slightly fewer "I’m an influencer" straw hats per square inch. You can take a quick ferry from there to Portofino, then hop back on the train to finish the leg to Monterosso.
Logistic Hacks for the Sane Traveler
- Luggage is the enemy. The trains in Italy have tiny overhead racks. If you are hauling a "Grand Tour" sized suitcase, you will be that person blocking the aisle. Everyone will hate you. Ship your bags if you can, or pack light.
- The Trenitalia App is your god. Don't use third-party booking sites that charge a fee. Use the official app. You can check platforms (binari) in real-time. This is crucial because platform changes happen fast and the announcements are often muffled.
- Validation. If you buy a paper regional ticket at a kiosk, you MUST stamp it in the little green or yellow machines before boarding. If you don't, the conductor will fine you. They don't care if you're a tourist. Digital tickets bought on the app are usually pre-validated for a specific window, but check the "check-in" button on the app.
- The "Left Side" Rule. When traveling south from Genoa to Cinque Terre, sit on the right side of the train for the best sea views. Wait, no—Genoa to La Spezia is southbound, so the sea is on your right. If you’re heading north, sit on the left.
The Verdict on Lake Como to Cinque Terre
Is it worth the hassle? Yes. But only if you stay at least three nights in Cinque Terre. Doing this as a day trip is a form of self-torture that I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy. You’ll spend 8 hours in transit to see a village for 90 minutes.
The contrast between the two locations is what makes the trip special. Lake Como is "Old Money." It’s polished, quiet, and smells like expensive jasmine. Cinque Terre is "Old Salt." It’s sweaty, vertical, and smells like fried calamari and sea spray. Moving between them feels like moving between two different countries.
Your Actionable Next Steps:
- Check the Strike Calendar: Before booking anything, Google "sciopero trasporti Italia." If a strike is planned for your travel day, move your trip by 24 hours. They are usually announced weeks in advance.
- Book the Intercity: Go to the Trenitalia website right now. Look for the "Intercity" or "Frecciabianca" trains from Milano Centrale to Monterosso or La Spezia. Book these in advance to save money and guarantee a seat.
- Download EasyPark: If you ignore my advice and drive, download the EasyPark app. It works in most Italian cities and saves you from fumbling with coins at broken meters in the heat.
- Pack a "Transit Bag": Keep your essentials—passport, water, power bank—in a small bag you can keep on your lap. The luggage racks are often at the end of the train car, out of sight.
Enjoy the chaos. It’s part of the Italian charm, or at least that’s what you’ll tell yourself when you’re sprinting through Milano Centrale.