Getting around by bus
In the Cinque Terre National Park, the protection of the environment is of high importance
so you can travel only in an environmentally friendly way in the villages.
Besides trains and boats, electric buses are used,
which run between the coast and the villages and sanctuaries higher above the hills.
You can use these buses free with the Cinque Terre Card, otherwise one ticket
costs 2.50 EUR if you buy it on the bus and 1.50 EUR if you get it at the tourist information centers of the National Park or
at a Tabacchi shop, before boarding.
I think it is worth getting on these little buses: you can get to some smaller, quieter villages,
like Groppo and Volastra, or you can visit some hidden churches.
On the coastal road, where the buses run, you can enjoy an amazing view over the sea and the terraces.
The drivers are usually local guides as well so they might tell you about local life and answer your questions.
In some villages, you can take the bus from the parking area to the center if you wouldn't like to walk a few minutes.
In Corniglia, you can get by bus to the village center from the train station.
Please ask the Information Centers of the National Park for schedules.
The bus routes are:
- Riomaggiore – Monesteroli – Biassa – Telegrafo
- Manarola – Groppo – Cantina – Volastra
- Corniglia Stazione (railway station) – Corniglia paese (center of the village)
- Vernazza – Sant. Reggio – Drignana – Fornacchi – S. Bernardino – Murro – Vernazzola
- Monterosso – Santuario di Soviore
The combination of taking the bus and hiking is also a good way to discover the national park if you don't like tiring uphills.
It is nice to walk down from the Telegrafo to Riomaggiore. Another great option is taking the bus from Manarola to Volastra, then
hiking from Volastra to Corniglia. You could also take the bus from Vernazza or Monterosso up to the sanctuaries and walk down from there.
From Vernazza, just take a roundtrip with the bus to enjoy the great views.
The view of Vernazza from the top of the hill is one of my favourites in all of the Cinque Terre.
Although the drivers generally stop at the lookout point for a quick photo stop, it's always better to ask them.
The buses are usually used by locals living further up the hills.
Please note that these small buses don't connect the five villages. So to get from one Cinque Terre village to the other one,
please use the train or the ferry boats.
