Cinque Terre stretches along the coastline of northwest Italy, and consists of five unique villages. The villages are known for their clustered pastel buildings hanging over the Mediterranean sea. The town has some of the best beaches, seafood, white wine, and coastal views that Italy has to offer, easily earning it a spot on my:
☆ Top 3 Destinations in Italy
I was shocked by how quaint and truly picturesque Cinque Terre felt, it truly superseded my expectations.
While it is a destination on the top of many people’s Italy travel list, it still feels incredibly authentic and untouched (structurally) by tourism.
The villages that make up Cinque Terre are Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza, and Monterosso. While they are similar in overall aesthetic appearance, each village offers a unique way to experience the coastline.
When to Visit
The summer months of June-August are the most popular times to visit Cinque Terre, and for good reason! This is when the weather is the best and all of the shops, restaurants and attractions the city has to offer are completely open. You are able to take part in any water activities you please, and experience the villages at their most vibrant time.
This is when the most people are visiting, and as a result, is very crowded and accommodations are at their most expensive.
Fall and spring (September-November and late March-May) see fewer crowds, but still provides decently pleasant weather and a majority of the attractions and restaurants are open.
The winter months of December-early March sees the least amount of tourism and many restaurants, water attractions, shops and hiking trails are closed. However, the views of the town and coastline are still absolutely beautiful!
I once visited in mid-January and had an incredible experience!
Read my Cinque Terre in the off-season guide for more information.
A Breakdown of the 5 Villages
Riomaggiore
The first village that the train will stop at coming from La Spezia. It is very hilly, and you truly feel as though you are suspended over the ocean. Riomaggiore is the first village on the trail that connects all 5 villages, so I recommend it as a starting spot.
I opted to stay in Riomaggiore and work my way up the coast to visit each of the subsequent towns.
Manarola
Manarola is typically what comes to mind when people think of Cinque Terre. It offers the most classic view of pastel buildings perched over the edge of the sea. It is considered by many to be the most romantic, so we had to stop for a lunch date here.
I enjoyed eating the incredible seafood (a must in Cinque Terre), pesto pasta, and white wine from the area.
Corniglia
Corniglia isn’t directly on the water like the other villages, and its location is further up on the hill. This gives you a vast view of the surrounding landscape and Mediterranean sea. If you don’t have time to visit all towns, many people skip this one as it is both the smallest village and the most difficult to reach with many stairs.
Vernazza
Here you can walk all the way out to a ledge over the water for a great view of the village and many fishing boats in the harbor. You can jump in and swim, or just take in the beautiful architecture around you. There is a medieval church on the edge of the water that you can explore, and plenty of restaurant options. Trying a “Fritto Misto” (cone of fried fish) here is a must. You can access a hiking spot behind the church to get the most incredible views of the village below.
Vernazza was my favorite village. I enjoyed the food and proximity to the water, but the viewpoint from up above on the hike was unforgettable.
Monterosso
Monterosso is the largest and flattest of the villages, and is the only village where you can lay out on the sand by the beach. Many travelers spend a majority of time here because of the variety of restaurants, bars, and shops here.
Which village should you stay in?
Most people opt to stay in Riomaggiore or Monterosso for the variety of accommodations, food and shopping options. In these towns, you are in the middle of the action. Those looking to stay away from the crowds often stay in Corniglia or Vernazza.
I would recommend spending at least 3 nights in Cinque Terre. You will want ample time to spend in each of the towns, try hiking, and enjoy time on the beach. Some of the villages are smaller than others, and you can easily visit multiple in a day if you’d like.
How to get to Cinque Terre
The fastest, easiest and least expensive way to get to Cinque Terre is by train (which is true for a majority of travel in Italy).
You can catch the train from any major city. Find a train with the destination of Cinque Terre (or ask an agent in the station if you aren’t sure, they are usually very helpful and polite). Number of stops and travel time can vary slightly depending on time of day and time of year. You may need to get off and on a few different trains, so be sure to actively pay attention to your assigned route throughout the ride. Once you arrive in Cinque Terre, decide which of the 5 villages you may choose to start at, and be sure to hop off there!
Travel times from many major cities in Italy are as follows:
Rome ≈ 4 hours
Milan ≈ 3 hours
Florence ≈ 2.5 hours
You can also take a boat from nearby towns like La Spezia or Levanto. Keep in mind that the boats do not run year around.
Moving Around Cinque Terre
To move between the five villages:
- Take the train (fast, inexpensive, can purchase a Cinque Terre train pass to get unlimited rides between villages)
- Take a ferry (scenic, more expensive, slow, not open during off-season)
- Hike between villages by purchasing a national park pass (scenic, inexpensive, slow, some trails may be closed during off-season).
To move within one village:
- Walk
- Shuttle bus (some of the villages are very hilly, and the shuttle is a convenient and inexpensive way to avoid the hills)
Accommodations
Cinque Terre is a collection of small fishing villages, and does not have many large hotel and resort structures (which makes it such a unique place to stay).
You may be able to find a few hotels in Monterosso or Riomaggiore, but the most common accommodations are made by booking individual rooms, villas and apartments found through third party sites.
I stayed in an adorable, ocean-themed room perched right on the edge of Riomaggiore that can be found here.
To find our room, the host sent us a video showing how to weave through many unmarked pathways, as it wasn’t possible to simply navigate via Google Maps. This was such a unique experience that truly added to the charm of staying in the village.
What To Do In Cinque Terre
☆ Hike between villages
☆ Try the seafood and local white wine
☆ Take in the view of Vernazza from up behind the old church
☆ Take a ferry ride to view the town from the sea
☆ Swim in Monterosso
☆ Take a picture in front of the beautiful buildings in Manarola