Cinque Terre in Italy is a place on many people’s bucket lists. These once-sleepy, beautiful fishing villages lie between Pisa and Genoa, hidden in the northwest of the country. We visited all of them, following the great walking routes through the UNESCO national park and hopping on the train. In this guide, we’ve put together what to expect from each village in Cinque Terre and how to visit them.
Things to do in Cinque Terre, Italy
The dramatic coastlines and picturesque villages of the Cinque Terre draw over 2.4 million visitors a year! We’ve visited all five: Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, and Riomaggiore. You can visit them on a day trip, but if you’re like us and enjoy hiking, we recommend two full days in the national park.
Vernazza, Cinque Terre
Vernazza is the most iconic village in Cinque Terre and, thereby, also the most visited. The harbor area has a couple of terraces, relaxing areas, a small beach, and an old castle tower that you can visit on top. We walked up the hiking trail leading to Monterosso to reach a viewpoint overlooking Vernazza’s harbor.
Manarola
Manarola in Italy, with its surrounding vineyards, is a small village similar to Vernazza. It’s less visited, but we found it has even better walking routes. Don’t miss the view from the Nessun Dorma terrace. Book a boat tour in the area for a totally unique perspective of the coastline.
Good to know: Do not visit Cinque Terre by car. It is hard to get into the villages, and parking fees are just as expensive as two train tickets from Pisa to Vernazza.
Riomaggiore
Most who spend the night in Cinque Terre stay in Riomaggiore. It’s one of the bigger villages and has lots of small hidden streets to get lost in. As the village is built against steep rocks, it requires a bit of hiking to reach the top (make sure to wear good shoes!).
We think the best part of Riomaggiore is the view of the harbor. It’s stunning to see all the differently colored buildings lining the hills.
Also read: 11 Top Things to do in Venice
Monterosso
Ready to relax on a beach? In high season, Monterosso’s large sandy beach is dotted with sunbeds and umbrellas. This village is also a good option to book a hotel and watch the sunset. However, we didn’t think it was as beautiful as the other villages.
We also saw lots of boat tours from Monterosso
Corniglia
Corniglia is a more local and laid-back village. It’s the least visited because it’s the only village where the train doesn’t stop in the center. When you get to the train station, you can either hop on a shuttle bus or take the stairs up to Corniglia. We chose the latter, which is a bit of a walk. Corniglia is popular with hikers; you can do a few great routes from here.
Also read: 2-week Italy travel guide
Portovenere
While Portovenere is not actually part of Cinque Terre National Park, we think it’s definitely worth a visit. There’s a medieval town with loads of little alleys to get lost in, a harbor with terraces, and, inside the old city, a narrow, colorful shopping street that leads towards the old church: Chiesa di San Pietro.
How to Visit Cinque Terre
To reach Cinque Terre by air, fly to the nearest airport, Pisa or Genoa. From there, hop on a 1-hour train ride. (Get your train tickets here).
We wouldn’t recommend visiting Cinque Terre by car, as the area is difficult to reach and parking fees are very high. If you do have a rental car:
- Park it near the train station in La Spezia.
- Hop on the 10-minute train ride to reach the first village.
Tip: You could use Cinque Terre (La Spezia) as a starting location for your Tuscany road trip.
We recommend to rent a car in Italy through Sunny Cars with free cancellation and insurance included. Book your rental car here.
Getting Around
By train: Hop from one village to another by train (runs every couple of minutes). A single train ticket costs 4 EUR, a Cinque Terre day pass costs 16 EUR, and we got a two-day pass for 29 EUR. The price includes entrance to all the hiking routes!
By ferry: Another option to get from one village to another is using the Cinque Terre Ferry. A day pass costs around 25 EUR per person.
By tour: Join an organized tour from cities like Florence or Milan that includes return transport, a guide, and other tickets you might need for Cinque Terre National Park.
Where to Stay
Accommodations in Cinque Terre National Park are booked months in advance. You’ll find most hotels in Riomaggiore and Monterosso, but expect to pay much more than your typical budget per night.
We stayed in La Spezia, where hotels start around 35 EUR a night. Alternatively, for the most budget-friendly option, search for a hostel in the area.
Best Time to Visit Cinque Terre
We visited Cinque Terre in April, making it less crowded than it is during the summer months. Most make a day trip, but if you have the flexibility, it’s worth staying a bit longer.
If you do make a day trip, get the train as early as possible. They run 24/7, so you might want to start at 6:30 AM and enjoy the calm morning. (Find the best train tickets here)
- Best season: Before April or after October (a bit more rain then, though).
- Best time: Before 9:30 AM or after 4:30 PM.
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Hi!
Wij vertrekken deze week naar N-Italië met een stop in Cinque Terre.
Ik kan maar niet kiezen tussen Manarola en Vernazza om te logeren (in beide dorpjes hebben we een fijne én betaalbare accomodatie gevonden). Wat zouden jullie aanraden tussen deze beiden om te overnachten?
Groetjes Michelle
Hi Michelle, we definitely recommend Vernazza to stay. It’s beautiful! Have an amazing trip ✨