Is Cinque Terre Safe for Tourists in 2026?

The regional trains running between La Spezia Centrale and Levanto — and specifically the stops at Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza, and Monterosso — are among the most overcrowded in Italy during peak season. Organized pickpocket teams of three to four individuals exploit the crush of passengers boarding and disembarking at each stop, using jostling and distraction to lift wallets, phones, and small bags, often without victims noticing until they are off the train. The situation is worst from June through September and on bank holiday weekends.

How to avoid: Wear a front-facing zipped bag or money belt and keep your phone in an inner jacket pocket. Avoid placing bags in overhead racks — keep them between your legs or on your lap. Be especially vigilant at the moment of disembarking when the crowd compresses at the doors. Report any theft immediately to the Carabinieri (112) — there is a station at La Spezia Centrale.

Where: All stops on the La Spezia Centrale–Levanto regional line (Trenitalia lines R and RE), most frequently at Vernazza and Monterosso al Mare stations where platform crowds are densest. The platform stairwells at La Spezia Centrale are also active theft zones.

Individuals posing as park representatives sell unofficial or counterfeit Cinque Terre Cards near trail entrances and ferry piers, charging inflated prices — sometimes €25–40 for a card that should cost €7.50–18.20 depending on the trails selected. The fake cards may look convincing but are rejected by park inspectors stationed along the Sentiero Azzurro, leaving buyers to purchase a legitimate card again or face a fine. Official cards are personal and require the buyer's name written on the reverse — vendors who skip this step are a strong indicator of fraud.

How to avoid: Purchase your Cinque Terre Card only at official Cinque Terre National Park Infopoints located inside the railway stations from La Spezia Centrale to Levanto, or online at card.parconazionale5terre.it. Never buy from anyone approaching you on the street, near trailheads, or at ferry landings. The legitimate price for a Trekking Card (Sentiero Azzurro only) is €7.50; the Cinque Terre Card with unlimited trains costs €18.20 for one day.

Where: Near the Sentiero Azzurro trail entrance between Riomaggiore and Manarola (Via Discovolo area), at the Vernazza and Monterosso al Mare station exits, and along the Via dell'Amore access point above Riomaggiore harbor.

Travelers who drive to La Spezia and park at or near the La Spezia Centrale train station car parks before taking the train to Cinque Terre frequently return to find their vehicles broken into, with luggage, electronics, and documents stolen from the boot. Thieves use electronic jamming devices to prevent the car from locking properly — the driver hears a click but the car never fully locks. This is a well-documented pattern across Italian tourist gateway cities and has been reported specifically at La Spezia for years.

How to avoid: Never leave any bags, luggage, or valuables visible inside the car — this includes items in the boot. Before walking away, physically pull the door handle to confirm the car is locked; do not rely on the key fob click alone. Use the multi-storey car park at Via del Canaletto in La Spezia rather than surface lots near the station where surveillance is lower. Consider leaving your vehicle at a hotel with secure parking outside the city.

Where: La Spezia Centrale train station car parks and surrounding surface lots along Viale Garibaldi and Via XX Settembre in La Spezia, used by travelers parking before taking the regional train to Cinque Terre villages.