One of the really nice things about European train stations, is that they are within walking…read moredistance of where the action is. This allows for a longer layover stop to be a place where you can explore a bit, and even perhaps get a bite to eat. This is definitely the case for the Genova Piazza Principe, which is very close to the Cruise Boat Port and near many restaurants that serve both transportation hubs. We arrived around lunch time on a Saturday from Ventiglia around 12:20 pm. We grabbed some lunch from a nearby restaurant, and came back around 1:30, and found a place outside to sit. Sitting outside pretty much means being near cigarette smoke. We were going to Pisa, and they announced the track about an hour before arrival. There was an elevator from the tunnel underneath (each track has their own). Ground level is always 0 in Europe and the basem ent levels are -1. (no G or B here). The train to Pisa had a final destination of Rome, so a lot of people had luggage for the weekend. The train came to Track 20 at 2:42 for a 3:01 departure, so we had plenty of time to find our assigned seats. There was space for our luggage overhead, and our American size luggage fit fine. We left at precisely 3:01, and made the following stops. We noticed that at each stop, they allowed 3 - 5 minute layover to allow people to easily get in and out with luggage. 3:05 Genova Brignole - left at 3:10 3:29 Rapallo. Left at 3:36 3:42 Chiavari. Left at 3:44 4:22 La Spezia Centrale. Left at 4:24 4:41: Massa Centro. Left at 4:43 4:52: Viareggio. Left at 4:53 5:07: Pisa Centrale. Left at 5:09 This definitely did inspire for future trips to know that we could take a train into Rome from France. The trip cost 11,9€ each.

The two main stations in Genoa are Bringole and Principe, with connections to everywhere. There are…read morestores and caffès both in this station and all around the area. Many hotels too. You are close to the waterfront, the winding dark alleyways of the old town, tourist attractions, and numerous hotels and restaurants.

One of the stops as I traveled through Cinque Terra by train…read more I loved Vernazza, beautiful seaside town with a fantastic church, small shops, restaurants, and a marina. The train station leaves you off right at the top of the town. I definitely recommend stopping there.

The Vernazza village was once a fortified town with a strong military defense. There's no car…read moretraffic within the city center, and the little town is known for post cards theme by colorful houses facing towards the water.

Its crazy leave plenty of time and can be confusing…read more Great trains to Milan though Tickets are relatively inexpensive and the trains and station pretty clean You no longer need to validate your tickets like the old days

Quaint station, organized and helpful staff. And they have McDonald's, what else could one ask for?read more

Relatively bigger train station compared with the stations at other cinque terre villages. The…read moreticketing staff is very polite and patient. All the ticketing machines were occupied while there is no one at the ticketing window, so I bought my ticket with the staff.

The train is the way to jump on and off to visit the towns of Cinque Terre.....hiking each one is…read morealso fun but might not be for some. Trains are really clean, well run, fast, and sort of on time. Get a pass for a day or two and discover this magical area.

Very clean and peaceful station before noon, not a lot of traffic on weekends. The station has only…read moretwo platforms and is easy to figure out. There are benches and some seating in the shade with a view. The homes perched up high on the hills is nice.

Small but busy station with only two platforms. Hard to get a staff to help you, especially before…read more8:30am. Several Slef service ticketing machines are available

As the southernmost town, Riomaggiore is the largest of the five towns and is often the starting or…read moreending point for exploring the other four. The tunnel connecting the station and the center of the town is interesting, full of mosaic arts.

The village Manarola has a lot of colorful buildings and houses that slide down the rocky and…read morerugged coast. It's also known for its wine production. There's a smooth walking path going up the hills and you'll see the ocean town from few different angles. I would recommend visiting this village if you ever come to this region.

This station was a little bit difficult to find at first as we arrived in the town from The Blue…read moreTrail and wandered a bit. It is down the hill at the base of the town. After strolling through the streets, we saw the sign for the station. You access the station through a long tunnel and then wait for the train. There wasn't anywhere to sit, so be sure you time your trains right. They do run pretty frequently, though.

As one of the less touristic villages, the Corniglia has no natural port, and I think you need to…read moreclimb the Lardarina with 300+ steps to get to the streets and alleyways. It's probably one of the more boring ones among the five villages.

On our first full day in Cinque Terre, we headed out to hike from village to village. It took us…read moreabout 3.5 hours (with breaks and a climb up the signature tower) to go from Monterosso al Mare to Vernazza, and finally to Corniglia. The main trail to Manarola and then to Riomaggiore were closed (due to previous mud slides), but taking a higher (and more difficult) way was possible. At that point, Gayle put her foot down in front of her "Mountain Goat Husband" and bluntly stated - No Mas! At that point we had a nice Lunch (at Osteria Mananan) in Corniglia and since we had the combination Trail/Train pass, we decided to get to Manarola by Train. The walk to the Coniglia Train Station is an adventure in itself. You get there via a LONG stairway that seems to go on and on. It was a good thing that we were going down instead of up! The Station itself is small and basic, but with some great views coming and going.