Your travel guide between the stunning 5 villages of Cinque Terre in Italy; including where to go and what to eat!
Cinque Terre is famous for its colourful houses on steep cliffs, the region of pesto and romantic restaurants and stunning views that look far across the Mediterranean Sea. Cinque terre means 5 towns in Italian.
If you’re looking for an authentic yet charming destination that has stunning views, sea and delicious Italian food and enough to keep you entertained, then this guide to Cinque Terre will convince you to put this destination to the top of your bucket list.
Cinque Terre is a coastal area in Liguria, Italy, consisting of 5 small villages: Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza & Monterosso.
You’ve no doubt seen Cinque Terre all over social media or perhaps in the disney movie, Luca.
Cinque Terre Key info:
When to visit: April – Oct
I wouldn’t say to definitely avoid July and August here as I visited in August and it was still not overly crowded and pleasant but it is quite hot to walk/hike around, but there are trains and beaches to keep you cool. If you’re more of an active person set on hiking the trails that Cinque terre offers, then perhaps Spring or Autumn would be a better choice. If you are the train hop and beach bum type of traveler, then the summer months would be better for you.
How to get there:
Fly into Pisa or Genoa airports and then take a train to La Spezia (the main gateway to Cinque Terre) the train takes around 1.5 hours. From La Spezia you can then take the train to any of the 5 towns.
How to get around:
Trains easily connect all 5 villages, and each stop is only a few minuites ride. If you’re planning to visit a few villages during the day then you can get a Cinque Terre rail card which costs around EUR 25 per day and you can hop between the towns as much as you like.
Ideal trip length: 2-4 days.
You can visit all 5 towns in one day with the rail pass, but you wouldn’t have time to spend much time at restaurants, strolling around or swimming in the sea. Therefore, to get the whole experience I advise 2-2.5 full days in Cinque terre and leaving an extra day to visit Portofino (only an hour by train from Cinque Terre.)
Must-visit restaurants:
Nessun Dorma (iconic views with home-made pesto and wine, focaccia burrata platters; found in Manarola)
La Regina di Manarola (the prettiest restaurant in Cinque terre matched with the best pizza spot in Cinque terre; foundi n Manarola)
Il Pescato Cucinato (authentic Frito Misto aka. fried seafood in a cone; found in Riomaggiore)
Pastacita – (the best pasta spot in Cinque terre; located in Monterosso)
The best things to do in Cinque Terre:
1. Sunbathe & swim at Monterosso’s famous beach
The only sandy beach in Cinque Terre, but spacious enough and picturesque with it’s orange and green parasol’s. You can reserve 2 sunbeds and a parasol for 25-30 euros for the full day. I highly recommend spending at least half a day here to take in the Italian riviera.
2. Boat tour
A scenic boat tour is not to be missed in Cinque Terre. Whatever your budget, you can take a shared or a private tour. There are a few routes: primarily one that goes between all of the towns in a few hours and you’ll get stunning views from the water. I highly recommend taking the tour at sunset for the best weather and views. You can book a tour which costs around EUR 87 per person here.
3. Hike the scenic trails of Cinque Terre
Cinque Terre is perfect for hiking fanatics. The trails vary in distance and difficulty between the towns but are all very do-able. Corniglia is the steepest town, and even if you’re taking the train, expect to hike up to the town. Hiking is best during the cooler months or at sunrise or sunset in the summer. Definitely prepare hiking boots if you are planning to hike the trails, as they can be rocky and quite advanced.
4. Take a local wine tasting grown in the vineyards of Cinque Terre
There are somany locally grown wines in the towns of Cinque Terre, as the towns offer an amazing climate on the mountains. Many restaurants offer their own wine tastings or local bottles which is not exported anywhere else, meaning you’ll really get a feel for an authentic local experience. My favourite was at Nessun Dorma in Manarola (in the photo above) I highly recommend spending a sunset there with their local platter and wine on the terrace.
Pesto is a super famous italian sauce, but did you know it comes specifically from Cinque Terre? Once you try it here, you’ll realize it’s the best you’ve ever had and not to be missed. You can it here from around EUR 65 per person here.
6. Take a sunrise or sunset stroll of Via dell’Amore trail between Riomaggiore and Manarola
This trail is not to be missed, it takes around 15-20 mins and offers stunning cliff views across a fairly flat path, making it easily accessible for everyone. Note this trail is paid, and you will need to buy a ticket for around 8 euros per person from the local tourist office just outside the train station at either town.
Where to stay?
Cinque Terre consists of 5 small villages: Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza & Monterosso. You’ll want to visit all 5 on your trip but you only need to stay in one of them as your home base since they are closely connected by train (5-minute journeys in between each village).
I’d advise staying in any of them except Corniglia as Corniglia has hundreds of upwards steps from the train station.
You could also stay at La Spezia which is only 5 mins by train from Monterosso or Riomaggiore; it is a much bigger town and connects well from the major airports like Genoa or Pisa.
We stayed in Riomaggiore but if I had to stay again, i’d probably prefer Monterosso for the fact that it’s the biggest town, has a huge beach, and is much more flat and has more restaurants and evening life. If you’re visiting with younger children, i’d definitely only recommend staying here or in La Spezia to avoid all of the steps.
Cinque Terre doesn’t boast a huge amount of aethestic hotels; so i’d advise finding an apartment online that looks clean and provides good Wi-Fi and AC. You probably won’t spend much time in your room anyway!
To add Portofino to your trip which I highly recommend for a day visit or 1 night stay; check out my Portofino guide here.
