When I saw my first view of Cinque Terre, I knew that this was a place that I NEEDED to visit and it quickly became at the top of my bucket list. This area of Italy is full of small-town charm and picturesque corners everywhere you turn.
I decided to go to Cinque Terre over a long weekend and I did a lot of research before traveling here to make sure that I had time to see every town, eat the best food and capture those picture-perfect moments. I’ve created this guide with a curated list of hotspots for insta-worthy views, food & drinks and accommodation, so you’re set for your perfect Cinque Terre trip.
WHAT IS CINQUE TERRE?
Cinque Terre is a small coastal area on the northwestern coast of Italy in the Liguria region which is considered a part of the Italian Riviera. Literally translated, Cinque Terre means Five Villages and it is exactly that – five picturesque fishing villages nestled among the cliffs of the Mediterranean Sea.
From north to south, the names of the villages are: Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore. Each village appears almost untouched by modern times, with quaint pastel colored buildings and turquoise blue waters combining to make the most sublime environment.
HOW LONG SHOULD I VISIT CINQUE TERRE?
While its possible to visit all of the Cinque Terre towns in one day, I highly recommend staying overnight to fully experience the villages. How long you should stay really depends what kind of traveller you are:
- If you’re efficient and looking for a quick weekend getaway, Cinque Terre is definitely do-able in 2 days. You will have time to explore each of the villages, eat nice meals, take some beach time, and enjoy the sunset.
- If you are wanting to relax and take your time to really discover each of the villages, you should plan your stay for 3-4 days. In this amount of time, you will be able to spend a full day at the beach, go hiking or visit the local vineyards and lemon groves.
HOW TO GET THERE
The closest major cities to Cinque Terre are Genoa or Pisa, each of which is an hour away by train or by car. Two train stations at Monterosso and La Spezia connect the Cinque Terre area to other major cities in Italy, making it relatively accessible to travel to. Once you reach either of these train stations, you can then take the regional train to each of the five villages.
If you’re trying to get to Cinque Terre from abroad, the closest airports will be in Genoa or Pisa. Both major and low-cost airlines frequent Pisa, so this will likely be your best bet.
If you’re already traveling in Italy and are planning to add Cinque Terre to your itinerary, you can also easily reach Cinque Terre by train from major cities like Rome, Milan or Florence. To give you a better idea of how long it takes to get to Cinque Terre from any of these cities, see below:
- Florence to La Spezia: 2.5 hours by train and 1h45 by car
- Milan to Monterosso: 3 hours by train and 3 hours by car
- Rome to La Spezia: 4 hours by train and 4.5 hours by car
If you’re coming in from La Spezia, the closest Cinque Terre town is Riomaggiore which is only 8 minutes away by train. If you arrive by train in Monterosso, you’re one step ahead as you have already reached your first Cinque Terre village.
GETTING AROUND
BY TRAIN
Once you finally reach Cinque Terre, it is extremely easy to hop from town to town thanks to local trains that run frequently in each direction every hour. By train, each town is only a few minutes apart from one another, with the longest train ride being only 15 minutes from Monterosso to Riomaggiore.
If you’re wanting the flexibility to travel between several villages throughout the day, I highly recommend purchasing the Cinque Terre Card. This card gives you unlimited access to the Cinque Terre trains, hiking paths and other perks like wifi, plus its usually less expensive than buying train tickets separately.
BY CAR
It is possible to visit Cinque Terre by car, but I do not recommend this as the roads are extremely narrow, parking is impossible and it will take you much longer to travel from town to town. If you are planning to come by car, it’s best to park your car in La Spezia or Monterosso and take the train between towns.
BY FOOT
If you’re feeling adventurous and have enough time, the Cinque Terre towns are also accessible by hiking. The trails are clearly marked from town to town and the views are incredible. The duration between towns really depends on your level of hiking, but you can estimate to spend the amount of time below :
- Monterosso – Vernazza : 1.5 hours
- Vernazza – Corniglia : 1.5 hours
- Corniglia – Manarola : 1 hour
- Manarola – Riomaggiore : 30 minutes
WHAT TO DO
The main activities in Cinque Terre consist of exploring the towns, relaxing at the beach and enjoying the views. I’ve put together a small summary of each of the towns below, so you can know what to expect.
MONTEROSSSO AL MARE
The largest village of Cinque Terre. If you’re looking for some beach time, Monterosso is the perfect place for you. It is the only town in Cinque Terre that has large stretches of pebble beach where you can relax and enjoy the sun.
There are two different beaches in Monterosso Al Mare: one larger beach close to the “new town” and the train station and one smaller beach close to the old town. Both have small beach stands where you can rent beach chairs and umbrellas and pick up a small snack or a drink.
We went to both beaches, but my personal preference is the larger beach. The view of the coast is incredible, especially combined with those iconic striped umbrellas that this beach is so well-know for. Definitely make a stop at this one if you’re looking for the perfect photo-op.
Monterosso also has a great selection of shops, restaurants and bars, so don’t forget to explore the charming streets in the old town.
VERNAZZA
Vernazza is the only town with a wide piazza that extends to the sea, making it a prime spot for a outdoor picnic or aperitivo along the docks. This was my favorite spot because it has a perfect view of the town.
For a view from above, you can follow the hiking trail towards Monterosso for 5-10 minutes and you will have a post-card worthy view of the village. To access this trail, you will need to have your Cinque Terre Card on you as there are regular checks around this viewpoint.
Disclosure: If you’re wanting to capture that perfect Instagram shot past the guard rails, you will have to slip under the fence as this area is off the trail. When we went, we had not done any research on this spot and were planning to picnic here. The fence was not blocked off, so we went down, but we were soon approached by the trail guard to come back up which made us incredibly nervous! If you have similar plans, I suggest going at sunrise when the guards aren’t around or simply enjoy the view from behind the railing.
For a unique view of the town from behind, follow the stairs up to Ristorante Bar La Torre. We went here for sunset and had almost the whole place to ourselves. If you want to come here for drinks, make sure to go before the dinner service otherwise the will likely not serve you.
CORNIGLIA
Corniglia is the only town not at water level. Perched high atop the cliffside, this town has incredible views, but it requires a hike to get to which is why it is often skipped by Cinque Terre visitors. Despite this, Corniglia should not be overlooked if you have the time and stamina to make the climb. The town has charming little streets and cafes with views that do not disappoint.
From the train station, you will see signs leading you to the town and guiding you towards an intimidating trail of stairs- 377 to be exact. Don’t let this number scare you off! The hike is relatively quick and easy if you’re in decent shape (we decided to use this hike as a workout to burn off some of the pasta we had the night before, so it took us only 15 minutes to reach the top!)
MANAROLA
My favorite of the villages. Manarola is perfectly situated between two cliffs around a small fishing dock. There is a trail on the cliffside facing the towards the town, allowing you to get the best views. I took the most photos of Manarola because of this!
If you keep following the trail, you will reach Nessun Dorma, which is likely the most popular restaurant in Cinque Terre because of the epic views (and amazing food & drinks). Unless you come here when it opens, there will likely be a queue to get in, but it is well worth the wait to be able to enjoy a meal or a drink with a view you will never forget. This was by far my favorite moment on the trip!
RIOMAGGIORE
Riomaggiore has a lot to offer with charming streets, bars, and restaurants. Instead of hiking for a view, Riomaggiore is best seen from below. The smallest of the Cinque Terre towns, Riomaggiore only has one main street which leads down to the fishing marina where you can catch gorgeous sunset views over the town while enjoying a gelato, spritz or a pizza to-go.
Travel Tip: Head down to the marina rocks for some epic views facing the town
WHERE TO STAY
If you’re looking for resort-style accommodation, you will not find this in Cinque Terre. Most of the accommodation options are either small locally-run hotels, guest houses or apartments.
We wanted to relax at the beach between visiting the villages, so we choose Monterosso as our home base, but we wished we had stayed in one of the other towns for a night to avoid traveling back and forth by train at night for dinners.
CINQUE TERRE FINDS
HOTELS:
AIRBNB:
- Monterosso Beachside Guesthouse
- Riomaggiore Balcony Views
- Cosy Riomaggiore House with a Terrace
- Charming Studio in Vernazza
WHERE TO EAT & DRINK
For the best views, eat at Nessun Dorma in Manarola, Ristorante Belforte or Ristorante Bar della Torre in Vernazza or L’Ancora della Tortuga in Monterosso.
For local cuisine, try Da Eraldo in Monterosso, Trattoria Dal Billy or Il Porticciolo in Manarola or Dau Cila in Riomaggiore.
TRAVEL TIPS
The weather in Cinque Terre is mild and sunny with temperatures reaching 86°F/ 30°C in the summer and 54°F/ 12°C in the winter. Rainy season occurs in the fall and spring, so be prepared if you come during these months. The main travel period is from May to September, with the majority of tourists arriving in July and August to enjoy the beach season.
Also, some of the small shops do not accept credit cards, so make sure to bring some cash with you!
WHAT TO WEAR
Traveling the Italian Riviera calls for a dose of La Dolce Vita in your wardrobe. Have fun with lemon prints, gingham and polka dot outfits for those sunny Italian days!
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