Money

Currency

The official currency of Cinque Terre is the euro. While the citizens of the European Union have already become familiar with this currency and with its subdivisions, people who travel to Cinque Terre from outside the union must keep in mind banknotes refer to 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200 and 500 euro bills, and coins consist of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 cents and to 1 and 2 euro coins.

Money exchange

In order to exchange money, visitors can turn to the banks and to the exchange desks located in tourist hotspots like the airports and the train stations. As a rule, the venues which provide exchange services are signposted in three languages (Italian, English and German). The banks and the exchange desks also accept travelers’ checks, though these means of payment are less and less accepted. The post offices in Cinque Terre also provide currency exchange services.

Communications

Post offices

Next to the currency exchange services, the post offices in Cinque Terre also offer all sorts of other specific services. Post offices can be spotted in each of the five villages in Cinque Terre, but, as the case may be, tourists can also rely on the post offices in the surroundings of the region. For general information on the specific services provided by each of these offices, opening hours and the like, visit Poste Italiane.

Riomaggiore Post Office

Name:
Riomaggiore Post Office
Address:
7, Via Pecunia, Riomaggiore, Italy
Telephone:
0039 0187 920121
Fax:
0039 0187 920121
Website:
www.poste.it

Manarola Post Office

Name:
Manarola Post Office
Address:
216, Via Discovolo, Manarola, Italy
Telephone:
0039 0187 920198
Fax:
0039 0187 920198
Website:
www.poste.it

Corniglia Post Office

Name:
Corniglia Post Office
Address:
5, Via della Stazione, Corniglia, Italy
Telephone:
0039 0187 812238
Fax:
0039 0187 812238
Website:
www.poste.it

Vernazza Post Office

Name:
Vernazza Post Office
Address:
30, Via Gavino, Vernazza, Italy
Telephone:
0039 0187 812239
Fax:
0039 0187 812239
Website:
www.poste.it

Monterosso al Mare Post Office

Name:
Monterosso al Mare Post Office
Address:
73, Via Roma, Monterosso al Mare, Italy
Telephone:
0039 0187 818394
Fax:
0039 0187 818191
Website:
www.poste.it

Internet connection

The Internet connection platform in Cinque Terre is not as developed as one might expect, mostly due to the fact Cinque Terre is a destination where the chief and the most rewarding activities are related to the exploration of the stunning outdoors of the region. However, the access to the Internet is provided by certain sleeping venues. If it is essential for visitors to be provided with this service, they should definitely analyze the packages made available by the hotels they take into account and make sure the access to the Internet is guaranteed.

There are, of course, Internet cafes in Cinque Terre, but they are scarce and, given they are tourist-oriented, the prices are quite considerable. Tourists are advised to turn to Monterosso al Mare, which is the northernmost and the most modern of all the five towns, or to the larger localities in the surroundings of Cinque Terre. The Net is an Internet point which, besides the access to the Internet, also provides a range of services more or less related to the Internet connection (from printing services to accommodation solutions).

The Net

Name:
The Net
Address:
55, Via Vittorio Emanuele, Monterosso al Mare, Italy

Telephones

Public phones in any of the villages in Cinque Terre are quite scarce. However, there are public phone booths in places like the major infrastructural knots (train stations, for instance). In order to make use of these facilities, one must first buy a prepaid card (from the tobacconists’ shops, for instance).

In order to make calls to a landline network in Cinque Terre from outside Italy, one must first dial the country code (0039), the province code (0187, the province code for La Spezia) and then dial the number proper which consists of 6 digits.

Useful phone numbers and addresses

Carabinieri

Name:
Carabinieri
Telephone (nationwide):
112
Telephone (Monterosso):
0039 0187 817524
Telephone (Vernazza):
0039 0187 920112

Hospital

The nearest hospital is the one located in Levanto.

Name:
Levanto Hospital
Address:
Via Nuestra Senora della Guardia, Levanto, Italy
Telephone:
0039 0187 800409

Others

Time zone

One hour ahead of GMT

Language

The official language spoken in Cinque Terre is Italian. However, given the wide popularity the region enjoys with the English and the German visitors, there are plenty of tourist venues where English and German are widely spoken. Unsurprisingly, knowing a bit of Italian, the common phrases at least, before going to Cinque Terre is, of course, recommendable.

Tourist information offices

Each of the villages in Cinque Terre has a tourist information office. These offices are run by the authority which manages the National Park of Cinque Terre. In the surroundings of Cinque Terre there are, of course, plenty other offices of this kind, some of them being managed by the local administrative or tourist authorities.

Papers

Citizens of the European Union can enter Italy and come to Cinque Terre only by presenting a valid identity card. U.S. citizens, as well as visitors from other countries outside the Union should also hold a valid passport.

Another advantage of the European Union citizens is they can benefit from free medical services if they hold and E 111 form (this does not hold true with respect to the visitors from countries other than the members of the European Union).

Customs regulations

Visitors are allowed to bring in or out of Italy no more than 10,000 euros. For larger amounts of money must make a customs declaration.

Limits of products refer to 200 cigars, 400 cheroots, two bottles of wine and one bottle of liquor, just to cite a few examples. The limits of the products transported by non-European citizens are even lower. However, the advantage they can enjoy is they can require a VAT refund for the products acquired from Cinque Terre.

Tourists are strongly advised against purchasing counterfeit goods. If they do not comply with this regulation and if caught, they expose themselves to the risk of being forced to pay a 10,000 euros worth of fine.

Electricity

Generally speaking, in Italy, and virtually the entire Europe, for that matter, most of the plugs have two holes, so people who travel from outside Europe should keep in mind to bring or to purchase a plug adaptor. The sockets are supplied with 220 volts.

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