Cinque Terre is made up of five small villages along the coastline, all connected by train, which makes it really easy to explore. You can also hike between the towns if you’re feeling more adventurous.
Each village has its own feel, but they all share colourful buildings and incredible views. It’s one of those places where you can spend your days moving between towns, stopping for food, a swim, or just sitting by the water.
When planning our trip, I found it confusing figuring out how to get there, how to get around, and where to stay. So I’ve put together this guide with everything you need to know, along with a simple three day itinerary.
When to Visit
Like most coastal towns in Europe, if you are planning on relaxing by the water and enjoying the sunshine, summer is the best time to visit. However, if you want to avoid the crowds that come with the European summer, I would recommend visiting in the shoulder season of May or September.
How to get there
The easiest way to get to Cinque Terre is by train. You can fly into cities like Milan, Florence, or Pisa, then take a train to La Spezia. To find the best route, I recommend using Omio, as it makes it easy to compare trains, buses, and flights in one place.
From La Spezia, you can take the Cinque Terre Express, the local train service that connects all five villages. I recommend purchasing the Cinque Terre Train Card, as it not only serves as your ticket from La Spezia to one of the five villages but also provides unlimited train travel between the villages and includes access to the main hiking trails.
How to get around
Getting around Cinque Terre is best done by train, on foot, or by boat. The Cinque Terre Express train runs every 10-15 minutes, making it easy to hop from one village to another.
You can also hike between the towns if you want to slow things down a bit, or take a boat for a different perspective along the coastline.
Where to stay
Like many small European towns, Cinque Terre is made up of small villages with lots of stairs and cobblestone streets, so I’d recommend choosing one town as your base and exploring the others from there.
We stayed in Riomaggiore, in a cute pink Airbnb right on the water overlooking the harbour, and it ended up being the perfect base.
RIOMAGGIORE
Riomaggiore is the first village you’ll reach from La Spezia and one of the most vertically built. The colourful houses are tightly packed along a cliff that runs down to a small harbour.
The main street is lined with shops, restaurants, and bars. During the day, you’ll find people sunbaking along the rocks and swimming in the harbour, and in the evening it’s a great spot to sit and watch the sunset.
MONTEROSSO AL MARE
Monterosso is the largest and flattest of the five villages, and it’s divided into two parts: the old town and the newer resort style area.
It’s known for its turquoise water and shoreline lined with colourful umbrellas, and is the only village with a sandy beach. Because of this, it’s where most people come to spend the day by the water.
VERNAZZA
Vernazza is built around a natural harbour and is often considered one of the most well preserved villages. It has a small port, a central piazza, and a church right on the waterfront.
Surrounded by olive groves, Vernazza is also known for producing some of the finest olive oil in the country. There’s no real beach, but there are small spots for swimming near the harbour.
MANAROLA
Manarola is one of the most iconic villages along the Cinque Terre coastline, with colourful buildings set into the cliffs overlooking the water.
There’s not much of a beach, but it’s still a popular swimming spot. In summer, you’ll find the harbour lined with towels and people sunbaking. It’s easy to see why this was the busiest village we visited.
CORNIGLIA
Corniglia is the quietest of the five villages and the only one without direct beach access. Perched on a hilltop, it requires a climb of 382 steps to reach it from the train station.
The effort is rewarded with wide views over the coastline and a more peaceful atmosphere.
Three Day Cinque Terre Itinerary
Day One
Catch the train to Cinque Terre early and leave your bags at a luggage storage near the station if your accommodation doesn’t allow early check-in. We stored ours just outside Riomaggiore station, but there are a few options around.
Spend the morning wandering through Riomaggiore. You’ll find colourful buildings, narrow streets, and views over the harbour at almost every turn. Stop somewhere for lunch, or grab takeaway fish and chip cones from Tutti Fritti and explore as you go. After lunch, head to Lo Scalo Lounge Bar for a drink. It’s small inside, so try to get a seat outside overlooking the harbour.
Once you’ve finished exploring, collect your bags and head to your accommodation for check-in. Take some time to relax before heading back out for the evening.
For dinner, catch the Cinque Terre Express to Vernazza and make your way to Ristorante La Torre. The walk from the station takes a bit of time, as you’ll need to head up the trail towards Corniglia, but the views along the way are worth it.
Be sure to book in advance, especially in peak season. When we visited, a lot of people were turned away without a reservation. We contacted the restaurant on Instagram to secure a booking.
Day Two
Start your day early with a sunrise hike to the Vernazza lookout. Take the train to Vernazza station — if you’ve purchased a Cinque Terre Express pass, this covers both your train ride and hiking access. Otherwise, you’ll need to purchase a pass from the Tourist Information points at the station.
Once you arrive, follow the trail towards Monterosso. After a short climb, you’ll reach a clearing overlooking Vernazza.
Afterwards, head back into town for breakfast at Blue Marlin Bar.
If you’re there on a Tuesday, there’s sometimes a small farmers market held in Vernazza in the morning, so it’s worth having a wander through before you leave.
Next, head to Manarola for lunch at Nessun Dorma. Expect a wait — it’s one of the most popular spots in Cinque Terre, and the views over the village make it easy to see why.
Booking the pesto-making class is a good way to skip the queue, or you can download the Nessun Dorma app and join the virtual line while you explore.
After lunch, make your way down to the boat ramp where you can swim, relax, or just sit by the water.
In the evening, head back to Riomaggiore and make your way down to the marina. Grab a pizza, find a spot along the rocks, and watch the sunset over the water. It does get busy, so it’s worth getting there a little early.
Day Three
Spend your last day in Cinque Terre in Monterosso, the largest of the Cinque Terre villages. Start with a walk along the path that runs along the beach, taking in the coastal views. Then stop at Gelateria La Scogliera for breakfast — despite the name, they also do pancakes and coffee.
From there, book an umbrella and spend the morning relaxing on Monterosso beach. It’s the only village with a sandy beach, making it the best place to properly unwind. There’s also a small section of free beach, though it fills up quickly in summer.
If you feel like getting out and exploring one more village, catch the train to Corniglia in the afternoon. From the station, you’ll need to climb the stairs up to the village, but the views from the top are worth it. Grab a gelato from Alberto Gelateria and spend some time wandering through the quiet streets and taking in the views over the coastline.
If you’re staying another night, consider booking a sunset boat cruise. This is a fantastic way to experience the beauty of the Cinque Terre coastline from the water. Unfortunately, we didn’t have time for this, but it’s something we would have loved to do!
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