Cinque Terre is Italy’s famous colorful coastline. Made up of five cities situated on the cliffside, this unique part of Italy is a must-see.
How Long to Visit
Though you could explore Cinque Terre for as little as 2 days, I recommend spending about 4 days in the area. Since many Cinque Terre activities are weather dependent, you should factor in the expected forecast when planning your trip.
Where to Stay
I recommend this Airbnb in the new town of Monterosso al Mare. It is a long walk to the bustling old town but still surrounded by plenty of nice restaurants and a beach. It is also fairly close to the train station. I was very pleased with our decision to stay in new town Monterosso Al Mare.
For those wanting to stay in a more picturesque location, I recommend checking out Vinery Buranco. Though I haven’t stayed here, I can attest to the hospitality of the owners and the beauty of the property!
You can’t go wrong with staying in any of the five cities in Cinque Terre. In general, most people stay in Monterosso Al Mare or Riomaggiore. When choosing your accommodations, make sure you are close to restaurants and your city’s train station! It is also good practice to check on how inconvenient it is to get to your accommodation – some may be located at the top of a hill (lots of stairs!) or simply won’t have an elevator.
What to Do
Each town in this region has something unique to offer! From beaches to hikes to vineyards, your trip will be jam-packed with activities.
Beaches
The gorgeous beaches of Cinque Terre are a must-see attraction. Due to bad luck with the weather, I was unable to experience the beaches during my trip. For all the details, check out this Follow Me Away article on the best beaches in Cinque Terre.
Town Hopping
For the quintessential Cinque Terre experience, I recommend hopping from town to town. The Cinque Terre towns are Monterosso Al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, and Riomaggiore. If you move quickly, you can see all five towns in one day. However, I prefer to take 2-3 days to experience this area. Check out the how to get around section for more info on town hopping.
Monterosso al Mare
Monterosso al Mare is my favorite of the five cities that make up Cinque Terre. I recommend spending a day in this town!
Take a scenic hike up the mountain separating old town and new town. Halfway up, you will find the iconic Monument of Saint Francis. This captivating statue has the best view of the ocean and Old Town Monterosso al Mare. Continue up the mountain until you find the modest Convent of the Capuchin Friars. Further along the hike, you will find the Cemetery of Monterosso. This traditional cemetery has columbarium walls with multiple burial spaces stacked on top of each other. It is a unique sight to see! I recommend mapping yourself to the Monument of Saint Francis, then continuing up the mountain. This hike is primarily a cobblestone road and is very steep, but worthwhile!
For a relaxing day in Monterosso Al Mare, visit the lovely Vinery Buranco. This winery offers picturesque views of their vineyard with the colorful old town of Monterosso Al Mare as a backdrop. Most importantly, their wine is delightful. Make sure to book a wine tasting in advance and enjoy their very affordable assortment of wine and food. This experience is a must! If your budget allows, you can also book a room at Vinery Buranco.
Vernazza
My time spent in Vernazza was minimal, but it is a favorite of many. While in this area, visit the Port of Vernazza and walk along the water. For a scenic view, you can pay to visit Doria Castle.
Corniglia
After stepping off the train in Corniglia, you will be greeted by the Lardarina staircase. This staircase leads 382 steps up to the beautiful hillside town. If you don’t want to make the hike, your Cinque Terre card will cover the public bus into town (but you may have to wait for its arrival). I recommend stopping by the Church of San Pietro at the top of the staircase. Afterward, spend some quality time traversing the narrow walkways and cobblestone streets. This city is quaint and full of surprises. For a view of the town itself, I recommend walking down via Stazione towards Cecio Ristorante Camere. This is just a road with cars parked along the side, but the view of the city and its vineyards below is lovely.
Manarola
Manarola is known for its iconic Vineyard Walk. This easy hike brings you through the hillside vineyards and ends with a panoramic view of Manarola on the sea. This was my favorite activity we did in the Cinque Terre Area! The entrance to this hike is very close to San Lorenzo church, near the entrance of Cappun Magro restaurant. On Google Maps, this is marked as Trail 6p. Near the beginning of the hike, Trail 6P will fork up the hill and to the right – do NOT follow it! Instead, continue straight. You will end up walking along the hillside and eventually reaching the Cemetary Manarola with the panoramic view. After taking in the vista, walk down to Manarola Marina.
Riomaggiore
Riomaggiore is one of the most famous towns in Cinque Terre. Riomaggiore Harbor has one of the most iconic viewpoints in the Cinque Terre – if you can find it. From the town center, walk back to the tunnel towards the train station. Instead of going right, head left towards the harbor. Once you reach the outside, continue up to the left for the viewpoint! I also recommend walking around the upper part of the town to the Church of San Giovanni.
Where to Eat
Monterosso al Mare
Il Fornaio Di Monterosso Street Pizza
Let’s be honest, you’re probably just coming to Italy for its famous pizza. If this is the case, this quaint pizza shop should be your first stop. Located in the quiet new town of Monterosso al Mare, you’re guarenteed to enjoy this Italian meal. The staff is kind and even offered us English menus.
Bar Gio 5 Terre
Even though getting eggs for breakfast is a telltale sign that you’re an American in Italy, sometimes you need some protein to start the day. This tiny cafe has exceptional lattes, fresh-squeezed orange juice, scrambled eggs (hard to find!), and fresh bread. Make sure you sit on the outdoor patio and take in the ocean view.
Enoteca Internazionale
I absolutely adore this market and restaurant combo. I recommend getting a cheese plate and a bottle of local wine to enjoy on the outdoor terrace.
Ristorante Miky
If you’re in the mood for a nicer dinner, I recommend making a reservation at Ristorante Miky. Cinque Terre is famous for its pesto, and the pesto pasta here certainly didn’t disappoint. It is also featured on the Michelin Guide.
Corniglia
Cafe Matteo
For a simple meal in a bustling courtyard, check out Cafe Matteo. I stumbled upon this cafe while exploring the narrow streets of Corniglia. As always, get a fresh-squeezed orange juice!
Manarola
pan & pumate
Cinque Terre is known for its Focaccia. This pillowy variation of pizza is delicious, cheap, and easy to find. The pan & pumate focaccia was a perfect lunch in preparation for the vineyard walk around Manarola!
How to Get Around
The easiest way to get around Cinque Terre is the train. I recommend buying the Cinque Terre Card for 16 euros per day. This grants you unlimited access to trains between the 5 cities, as well as the use of buses in the towns and the “Blue Path #2” hiking trail between the cities. You can buy this card at any train station the day you need to use it. Make sure that you validate it with the small validation machine next to the ticket counter.
The primary way to get around the cities is to walk. Be aware that these cities are very hilly, with steep inclines and many stairs. When you plan out your days, consider this rugged terrain.
Lastly, Cinque Terre is famous for its hiking. The “Blue Path #2” links all of the cities. Hiking is heavily weather-dependent and trails are subject to close at any time. Since we had lousy weather during my visit, I wasn’t able to go hiking. I recommend checking out this Walks of Italy article on hiking in Cinque Terre.
General Tips
Stairs, stairs, and more stairs
Cinque Terre has to be the world’s capital for hilly terrain. Come prepared for many steep streets and an obnoxious amount of stairs. Also, keep in mind that most accommodations will not have elevators. In general, I would not consider this city to be handicap accessible.
Public Water Fountains
Public water fountains are scattered all around the five cities making up this region. I definitely recommend bringing a reusable water bottle and filling it up! The water is safe to drink.
Weather
Unfortunately, many activities in Cinque Terre require nice weather. Hiking trails are subject to close in the event of rain, and a day at the beach can be derailed by an inclement storm. Consider the forecast when planning out your days here. If it does rain, I recommend visiting some local wineries.
More of Italy
Planning on spending more time exploring Italy? Check out my Florence, Italy Travel Guide for everything you need to know about the artistic side of Italy.
