Planning a Trip to Cinque Terre, Italy
The iconic cliffside views from Manarola, Cinque Terre, Italy
IN THIS ARTICLE
HOW TO GET TO CINQUE TERRE
HOW TO GET AROUND CINQUE TERRE
WHERE TO STAY + HOW LONG TO STAY
WHAT TO EXPECT IN EACH TOWN
THE HOT SPOTS YOU CANNOT MISS
THE MOST EPIC EXCURSIONS TO TAKE
Cinque Terre, Italy, on the northwest corner of the country, is the smaller and lesser-known region of Italian cliffside sea towns after the Amalfi Coast. The Cinque Terre five towns of Manarola, Riomaggiore, Corniglia, Vernazza, and Monterosso each offer a different atmosphere, coastline, and vibe. The sun-drenched beaches, craggy rocks, and waters made everything feel cheerful and golden as we spent our days swimming and sightseeing.
HOW TO GET TO CINQUE TERRE
Views from one of our favorite restaurants in Cinque Terre: Torre Aurora in Monterosso
By Train
High-speed trains from many major cities in Italy (Milan, Florence, Pisa, Genoa) will offer service to the trainline that will lead you directly into Cinque Terre: the Genoa - La Spezia trainline. Once you reach La Spezia, you can access the local Cinque Terre train that takes you between all five towns.
Genoa and Pisa are the closest major Italian city to the region. Each Cinque Terre town has a train station from which you can walk into the town.
By Rental Car
If you plan to rent a car and drive to Cinque Terre, there are parking lots outside each town where you can leave your car. You’ll have to pay at the pay stations for the duration of time that you leave your car in the lots.
There is NO driving in ANY of the Cinque Terre towns themselves, so you’ll have to bring your suitcases into town from the parking lots. There are luggage services that will haul the bags in for you, as the walks are super inclined and full of stairs - very exhausting after a long trip in!
HOW TO GET AROUND CINQUE TERRE
The Trenitalia Express pulling into the train station perched above the sea in Manarola
The Cinque Terre Express Trainline by Trenitalia
The Cinque Terre Express trainline offered by Trenitalia offers transportation from town to town. It's not the most reliable nor the most scenic, but is definitely the easiest, most cost-effective, and most accessible way to get from town to town. Bear in mind that the trains run most often in high season from late March to early November.
You can purchase a day pass at any of the train stations that will allow you to hop on and hop off between the towns throughout the day.
By Ferry
Ferries generally run between all the Cinque Terre villages except for Corniglia from late March to early November. Corniglia is the only Cinque Terre town without water access, as it is perched up high on a cliff, so it cannot be accessed by boat.
The ferries are generally more expensive than the trains, but offer stunning views of the coastlines from village to village. You can purchase a hop-on hop-off ferry pass for the day or for a half-day (generally around 40-50 euros for an adult for a full-day pass).
Hiking
For the bold, it is possible to hike between the towns from the southernmost Riomaggiore to the northernmost Manarola. There are hiking trails that run from town to town and in both directions. For us, walking in and around the towns themselves was enough of a hike, as they were full of steep inclines and plenty of stairs, so we opted not to try our hand at the hikes.
WHERE TO STAY AND FOR HOW LONG
Pick One City As a Home Base
The best way to do Cinque Terre is to pick one city as a home base and do half-day or full-day trips to the other cities. The best cities to base yourself in are Riomaggiore and Manarola. We chose to stay in Manarola, where the most iconic view of the Cinque Terre is located — the city built into the cliff. Hotels in Cinque Terre are scarce and virtually nonexistent, so this is one place in the world I would recommend looking for AirBnBs in. Ours offered a gorgeous terrace and view of the city of Manarola. Book well in advance, as accommodations are very limited and always in high demand.
AirBnB views in Manarola
How Long to Stay
I would not recommend trying to do all of Cinque Terre in a day as a day trip. You’ll miss a ton and find yoursef scrambling just to get through it all - with all the walking and exploring, you’ll find yourself exhausted by the end and will have missed many beautiful sights and spots. Plan to stay at least 3-4 days in Cinque Terre and plan for full day trips to Manarola, Monterosso al Mare, and Riomaggiore, and half day trips to Corniglia and Vernazza.
White sandy beaches and blue waters in Monterosso al Mare
WHAT TO EXPECT IN EACH TOWN
Manarola
The city built into the cliff, with the most iconic view and mini harbor. What Manarola lacks in beach it makes up for in views — you won’t take a step through this gorgeous town that isn’t utterly picturesque. Full of life, cafes, and shops, locals often head down to the little bay and take out boats and kayaks, cliff jump, and sunbathe.
The iconic view of Manarola by sunset
Monterosso al Mare
This is the town for beach lovers - white sandy beaches eclipsed by the most blue-green waters and rows of orange umbrellas are the hallmark of this gorgeous beach town. Monterosso is one of the towns with less intense inclines, so heading to the sandy beach will feel like less of a workout. Get there early and you'll be rewarded with a perfect sunbed at any of their beachside cafes.
The iconic orange umbrellas leading out to perfect blue-green waters in Monterosso al Mare
Riomaggiore
A popular home base in Cinque Terre, Riomaggiore is known for its vineyards and sunsets. Well-connected by ferry, Riomaggiore can connect you by both water and train to all the Cinque Terre towns except for Corniglia. This is also the best place to find kayaking and boating tours that will take you along the entire coast, with views of the iconic city from the water that will take your breath away.
Vernazza
Vernazza's charming Via Roma street winds along a coastal and cobblestoned way, ending in sundrenched pastel-colored buildings set under an ancient castle in its skyline. Known for its single Main Street and path down to the harbor, you'll find plenty of fishers in its harbor and expansive coastline views. The road culminates in the cutest little beach below its ancient Doria Tower.
Beachgoers at Vernazza’s tiny beach below the ancient Doria Tower
Corniglia
The tiniest of the 5 Cinque Terre towns, Corniglia is perched up high and notoriously tricky to access. But if you don't let that scare you away, you'll find a quaint and quiet town high above the sea with panoramic views of the Mediterranean.
THE HOT SPOTS YOU CANNOT MISS
Nessun Dorma, Manarola
All I can say is you really missed out if you don’t make it up to Nessun Dorma in Manarola. The restaurant on top of Manarola offers unbelievable views of the sea and the town of Manarola. And they don’t rely on those views — the food is incredible. From frozen cocktails to frosé to cheeses, bruschettas, pestos, and prosciutto galore, you won’t want to leave. Not only that, but they offer pesto-making classes — a specialty of the Cinque Terre region.
No wonder there are long lines at all times; you can download their app “Nessun Dorma” to add yourself to the waitlist. Go a little before sunset for dinner and you will be treated to one of the most beautiful golden hours you’ve ever experienced — it is nothing short of magical.
Torre Aurora, Monterosso al Mare
A beautiful cocktail bar and restaurant right on the sea and into a Tower that was built around the year 1000 to protect against pirate attacks. We happened upon it and were ecstatic to find tables atop the tower — each side has a different view of the sea, beach, and cliffs. We opted for some cocktails, pasta, and seafood and everything we tried was fresh and delicious. It was the perfect break from the sunny beach in Monterosso.
Il Pescato Cucinato, Riomaggiore
You want calamari from here. You want seafood from here. And you’ll often see lines outside of people waiting for the iconic takeaway cone of fresh fried calamari for good reason — it’s delicious. We’d recommend doing takeaway and grabbing some calamari and fried veggies to enjoy on the water — it makes for the perfect afternoon in Riomaggiore.
Cappun Magru, Manarola
Pasta, pesto, pastries. The three p’s of Cappun Magru pair beautifully with their specialty wines and outdoor seating. It feels quaint and cute, and it’s the perfect stop on a Manarola afternoon when you need a good refresher.
Il Pirata delle 5 Terre, Vernazza
Opened by two Sicilian brothers who really knew what they were doing, this spot specializes in Sicilian-style specialties and breakfast pastries. Everything is made by hand and on premises, and you know you’re getting a real, fresh, and authentic Italian meal.
Breakfast at Fouquet’s in Cannes
The Most Epic Excursions to Book
Our favorite Cinque Terre excursions are here — we would say you do not want to miss a boat ride — or even several, as viewing the towns from the water is an even more stunning vantage point. Pesto-making and wineries are a ton of fun here as well, and will give you a nice taste of the region’s culinary and wine specialties. Book the four BEST excursions that we highly recommend below:
Golden Hour in Manarola
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