Genoa & Liguria tickets

Book these before you go

Genoa Aquarium. The one place in the region where waiting costs you money: the online price rises as the day fills, and the desk price for adults is €34. A date and slot are compulsory for everyone. If you're unsure about the weather, the Open Flexi ticket lets you move the date once.

Via dell'Amore. Included in the Cinque Terre Card, but you must book a limited time slot separately. Do it when you buy the card.

Toirano Caves. Guided tours only, booking compulsory. In autumn they open Wednesday to Sunday with a lunch break.

Everything else can wait until the morning: the five villages have no ticket, and the Cinque Terre Card is also sold at the station Infopoints.

The only pass worth thinking about

For the places in this guide, the pass question comes down to one choice: the Cinque Terre Train Card or the Trekking Card. If you'll take the train more than two or three times in a day, the Train Card saves you buying single tickets, each valid for one journey. Staying in one village and walking? The Trekking Card is enough. Both are personal and must be shown with ID. From March to early November the same card costs more on peak days, and you can only change the date within the same price band.

How to split your days

• Genoa, one day at the Old Port. Aquarium in the morning (about two and a half hours), then the Bigo lift, the Biosphere or the Galata Sea Museum. Piazza Principe station is a 10–15 minute walk away.
• Cinque Terre, a full day. Train from La Spezia or Levanto, the Via dell'Amore from Riomaggiore to Manarola, then the northern villages. Trains are less frequent out of season, so check the timetable.
• Western Riviera, half a day. Toirano Caves from Loano or Borghetto Santo Spirito; your ticket includes the village's Ethnographic Museum.

Coming from Florence without a car, an organised Cinque Terre day trip handles the transport for you. It costs more than going independently, but you won't be juggling train connections.