Flying into Milan and want to know how to get to the Cinque Terre? This guide has all the information, including advice on buses, train journeys and transfers from all three of Milan’s airports and the city itself.

Updated March 2024

One of Italy's most alluring destinations, the Cinque Terre offers quintessential coastal charms and experiences to the traveller in summer or shoulder-season.

It doesn't have an airport however, so anyone looking to begin their Italian adventure there has to fly in a little further afield and take public transport onward. The airports of Genoa and Pisa are closest, but Milan is also a sensible and viable option for those of you looking to arrive by air and make your way straight to the coast.

Similarly, the Cinque Terre is a realistic and accessible next stop on your Italy itinerary once you've spent a few nights or longer in Milano.

In this short guide, we've shared the essential information on how to make the onward journey from Milan to Cinque Terre by train, bus, rental car, or taxi - whether you're already in the city or about to fly into it - with a clear breakdown of costs, times, and insider tips.

The essentials

// Whether your start point is one the Milan airports or the city centre, you need to get to Milano Centrale train station.
// Quickest travel time is 3 hours, costing €19 per person.
// Travelling from Milan to Cinque Terre by bus, rental car, or tour is possible but does have disadvantages.
// If you’re looking for a tour from Milan to Cinque Terre, this one is highly rated

Where To Go in Cinque Terre?

We provide more Cinque Terre travel advice in this guide, but the first thing you need to know before planning your journey from Milan is that there are five villages in the Cinque Terre National Park: Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, or Riomaggiore.

Each has a train station, with frequent connections between them and to other parts of northern Italy. From Milan, you'll be able to reach all of the villages via public transport with only a slight difference in total cost and travel time.

There’s no ‘Cinque Terre’ station, and you instead need to search schedules using the specific village you’re looking to end up in.

If you're planning on spending a few nights in the Cinque Terre, we recommend you have your accommodation booked well in advance and that village will be your end destination from Milan. If you're, rather ambitiously, planning a day trip, then you can arrive and begin at any of the villages.

Read Later // 23 Things To Know Before You Visit Cinque Terre

Milan Airports to Milano centrale

Milan actually has three airports serving international routes, as well as budget airlines.

Milan Malpensa International Airport (MXP) is the largest and most likely entry point for the majority of you reading this, whilst Milan Bergamo Airport (BGY) / Orio Al Serio Airport is the budget alternative situated quite far outside the city. There's also Milan Linate (LIN) / Airport Enrico Forlanini, but that's more of a domestic route option.

We’ve summarised all of the options below but, whichever you fly into, all rails and roads lead to Milano Centrale train station for the next stage of your journey to Cinque Terre (covered in the following section). If you’re planning on renting a car at your Milan Airport, then we’ve covered all the important information in the final section of this blog post.

Milan Malpensa Airport

Train | From arrivals in Terminal 1 or 2, simply follow the Treni/Trains signs for the Malpensa Express. There are three lines running, each ending at a different train station in Milan, so just make sure you get on the one with Milano Centrale train station as the final stop.

This fast airport train service runs 7 days a week and will connect you with Milano Centrale train station in 52 minutes. Departures from the airport begin at 4.57 am and run every 30 minutes, with the last train departing shortly after 11.15 pm.

Tickets can be easily purchased at the airport from the machines or staffed desk, and cost €13 per person (children 4-13 years old are half price). Find more information on tickets and schedules on the the Malpensa Express website.

Bus | There are several shuttle bus companies running the route from Malpensa airport to Milano Centrale, with departures starting from 6am.

Travel time is about an hour, depending on traffic and time of day. One-way tickets cost €8-10 for adults, €5 for children aged 2-12 and can be bought in advance here, or when you arrive at the airport. Find more information and schedules here.

Transfer | You can book a private transfer service in advance.

Taxi | Fixed price taxi cost approximately €95 (travel time 50 minutes)

Bergamo Airport

Train | It's a 10 minute public bus to Bergamo station (€2), then a 50 minute direct train journey (€5.50) to Milano Centrale. This train leaves every hour, on the hour from 5 am to 10 pm. Should you just miss one, there are alternative trains that require a connection, with journey times of up to 1hr 50 minutes.

For this reason, we’d wouldn’t really recommend this route into Milan.

Bus | The best option to go from Bergamo Airport to Milano Centrale is with one of several shuttle bus companies leaving outside arrivals.

The Orio Shuttle runs every 30 minutes from 3 am to midnight. Travel time is just under an hour, and tickets cost €12. Find out more here. There's also another bus service operated by Terravision.

Taxi | A taxi will cost at least €100.

Linate Airport

Bus | If you do fly into Linate Airport, then simply jump on the Linate Shuttle bus service runs to Milano Centrale to Linate. Departures are every 30 minutes, tickets cost €5, and journey time is just under half an hour.

It's also possible to take the public bus, but the above option is the best to take given you are travelling onward.

Shuttle | Alternatively, you can arrange a shared shuttle.

By Train from Milan Centrale to Cinque Terre

If you're heading to the Cinque Terre after a few days in Milan, then you also need to make your way to Milan Centrale, the city's main train station, on foot or with the multitude of public transport connections. Find it here on Google Maps.

From the station, you'll find regular direct and indirect trains to bring you to Cinque Terre in 3-4 hours.

Remember, there’s no ‘Cinque Terre’ station, and you instead need to search schedules using the specific village you’re looking to end up in.

Milan to Monterosso

The best option is the Trenitalia Intercity line which goes from Milan to Monterosso in 3 hours - the quickest and most direct route. Tickets range from €15 to €19 per person, but this service only operates a handful of times each day.

If you're staying in Milan at the moment or will be staying in Monterosso, the largest of the five villages, then this would be the one to aim for.

This is also the quickest option for those of you staying in the other villages (Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, Riomaggiore), as you can simply connect to one of the very frequent Cinque Terre Express trains in Monterosso or Levanto.

Find out more about the Cinque Terre Express transport system, and how to save money on it, in 23 Things To Know Before You Visit Cinque Terre.

Direct vs. Indirect Cinque Terre Trains

Given the Milan to Monterosso line isn't too frequent, there are thankfully a number of alternative indirect train options which only take 15-45 minutes longer and cost about the same.

All journeys will require a change of train in one of the following stations: Genoa / Genova Brignole, Genoa Piazza Principe, Levanto, La Spezia, or Sestri Levante.

Do note that when searching for tickets, a few options come up with two or even three connections in various combinations: Genoa / Genova and Sestri Levante, Parma and La Spezia, or Voghera and Genoa, or even at both Genoa stations! Although these are usually the same price as the more direct routes and sometimes quicker, we do not recommend taking any train from Milan which requires two changes unless the cost versus time differential is significantly more in your favour and you’ve got hardly any luggage.

Time | 3-4 hours, depending on connections and route.

Cost | €15 - €25

Book | Find schedules and book tickets on the official Trenitalia website.

Travel Tip | When booking, always insert your final destination rather than trying to work out transfers or changes yourself with single tickets. In Italy, it's required to validate all tickets (paper or mobile) before boarding - find out more in Train Travel in Italy | 12 Essential Tips.

Tours from Milan to Cinque Terre

As we’re slow travel advocates and the Cinque Terre deserves much more than a single day, we don't recommend trying to visit it as a day trip from Milan. Even if you choose to do it independently, this would involve a minimum of six hours on the train and you won't enjoy it.

However, we do appreciate that some of you may have your heart set on visiting during your time in Italy. If that's the case, then you're going to be better served by taking this Cinque Terre Day Tour from Milan.

Rental Car from Milan

Some of you may be reading this as you plan for a longer Italian road trip, picking up the car at the airport and incorporating Cinque Terre alongside other highlights of northern Italy.

We're huge fans of road trips but the truth is that a rental car is not only impractical and unnecessary for accessing and enjoying the Cinque Terre, it's going to end up being an expensive burden for the nights you spend there (we've explained more in 23 Things To Know Before You Visit Cinque Terre).

However, if you're already planning on picking up your rental car at the airport in Milan and including a few nights in the Cinque Terre on your itinerary, then that is definitely understandable.

There are various routes to cover the 250 - 290 kms (3.5 - 4 hours) toward the coast, but you're strongly advised to only considering staying in Monterosso al Mare or Riomaggiore as they have parking for non-locals. However, spots are limited and expensive, and your car will only sit there for the days you're exploring the Cinque Terre on foot or by train. Further, the narrow, winding roads which lead to them ain't fun. If you do this option, please do further research to confirm parking availability and costs.

Therefore, we'd actually recommend those of you with a rental car travelling from Milan to consider basing yourselves in one of the larger towns outside the Cinque Terre i.e. La Spezia (3.5 hours, 275 kms from Milan) or Levanto (3.5 hours, 260 kms). Both these towns have more ample and affordable short and long-term parking, are much easier to navigate with a rental car, and they're also included within the Cinque Terre Express train network, which makes travelling to and between the villages quick and straightforward.

Less stress is always a good thing on road trips!

Time | 4 hours

Cost | Varies depending on where you park.

Book | We use and recommend AutoEurope when looking for an affordable car rental in Italy. Also, make sure to read 9 Car Rental Tips for Travellers before you book anything online or in person - it’s guaranteed to save you money.

Bus From Milan to Cinque Terre

There is no direct bus.

You are able to go by bus from Milan to either Genoa or Sestri Levante, and take a train connection from there. This takes longer, is more expensive, and more convoluted than simply taking the train though so we do not recommend it.