The Cinque Terre are a group of five small villages perched on the Italian Riviera between Levanto and La Spezia : Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, and Riomaggiore. Visiting the Cinque Terre in Italy means immersing yourself in magnificent postcard-worthy landscapes, with medieval villages featuring colorful facades surrounded by terraced vineyards and bordered by the blue waters of the Mediterranean Sea.
What is the best things to do in Cinque Terre ? How do you get around and how many days should you plan ? I explain everything in this travel guide on my blog. If you would like more information on where to stay in the Cinque Terre, I have written a dedicated article about accommodation.
Travel guide and tips for visiting Cinque Terre
How to get to Cinque Terre ?
By plane : the closest airports for visiting the Cinque Terre are in Genoa and Pisa. You will then need to reach Cinque Terre by car or train. To find the best airfare deals, I recommend using this price comparison tool.
By train : there are direct trains between La Spezia (one of the two gateways along with Levanto) and major Italian cities such as Genoa, Pisa, Florence, Parma, Milan, and Rome.
By car : this is the option we chose because Nice (France) is only a 3.5-hour drive from Levanto. If you are taking a road trip through Northern Italy, you will also arrive in Cinque Terre by car. However, you will not be able to access the village centers, and you will need to park in one of the nearby parking lots (see below).
How to get around between the villages ?
By car : this is far from the best idea. The villages are not easily accessible by car, and the parking lots located nearby are limited and quite expensive. Not to mention that, given the crowds, you may end up waiting an hour before a parking space becomes available. If you arrive by car, the best option is to leave your vehicle at your accommodation or at the parking lots of Levanto and La Spezia train stations and continue your trip by train.
By train : this is the best way to get around between the villages, with frequent departures and short travel times (only 15 minutes between Monterosso and Riomaggiore). Trains run between La Spezia and Levanto from 4 a.m. to midnight; get the detailed timetable sheet when you arrive at the train station. If you do not purchase the Cinque Terre Card, which allows unlimited train travel (see below), each journey between any village costs a flat rate of €4.
By boat : from April to October, the company “Consorzio Marittimo Turistico 5 Terre – Golfo dei Poeti” operates daily departures. Prices are higher than the train, but the views are also more enjoyable. You can choose the routes you want. From Riomaggiore, a one-way trip to Manarola costs €6 and €11 to Vernazza. Find schedules and prices for visiting the Cinque Terre by boat on the company’s official website : https://www.navigazionegolfodeipoeti.it/fr/
The Cinque Terre Card
The Cinque Terre Card is valid for 1, 2, or 3 days and provides access to various services within the Cinque Terre National Park. There are two different versions :
Cinque Terre Trekking Card : Hiking
Price 1 day : €7.50 | 2 days €14.50 (discounts for children aged 4 to 12 and those over 70, as well as family packages).
In Cinque Terre, the SVA trail (formerly Azzurro), which runs along the coastline and passes through all the villages, requires a fee. This card gives access to all park trails, public restrooms, and WiFi. For your information, the WiFi code printed on my card did not work, but with free 4G in Europe this was not an issue.
Please note: following a landslide a few years ago, some trails are still closed, including the famous Via dell’Amore between Corniglia and Riomaggiore. In 2026, the reopening date is still unknown. Before you leave, check the park’s official website to find out the status of the trails and plan your hikes: http://www.parconazionale5terre.it/Fsentieri-outdoor.php
Cinque Terre Treno Card : Train + Hiking
Price 1 day : €18.20 | 2 days €33 (discounts for children aged 4 to 12 and those over 70, as well as family packages).
In addition to the previous benefits, this card allows unlimited train travel between La Spezia and Levanto stations. It also includes free access to the shuttle bus between the train station and the village of Corniglia, allowing you to avoid climbing the 377 steps. There is no card that includes only unlimited train travel.
Where to buy the card ?
It can be purchased at park offices, most often located in train stations. Please note that Levanto and La Spezia stations are very crowded in the morning. If you know your itinerary in advance, it is possible to buy the card online on the official website : https://card.parconazionale5terre.it/
Should you buy the Cinque Terre Card ?
The question may seem strange, but this card is not necessarily cost-effective depending on your planned itinerary. For example, if you do not plan to visit more than two villages in one day and do not intend to hike, there is no benefit in purchasing the card. By train, this would only cost you 3 journeys, or €15 instead of €18.20. However, if your plan is to visit 3 to 5 villages in a single day, then it is the best option you can choose.
How many days should you plan to visit the Cinque Terre ?
If you have very little time (for example during a road trip in Italy), it is possible to visit Cinque Terre in one day, provided that you do not go hiking. The villages are not large, you can walk around them in about an hour and a half without rushing. During the day, trains run every 10 to 30 minutes, allowing you to quickly move from one village to another if you start your visit fairly early.
Of course, this is far from what I recommend. It is better to devote at least 2 days to visiting the Cinque Terre over a weekend, or more if you want to go hiking (we stayed there for 4 days).
Best time to visit Cinque Terre
The Cinque Terre are a VERY touristy destination in Italy. The beauty of the area and its UNESCO World Heritage status attract around 2.5 million tourists each year. If you do not want your trip to turn into a nightmare, absolutely avoid the peak season in July and August. We visited at the end of September and there were still many people. According to the owner of our agriturismo, the best time for a quieter experience is november.
The best periods to visit the Cinque Terre are from April to June and from September to November. You will also avoid the peak heat on the hiking trails.
Which is the most beautiful village in the Cinque Terre ?
This ranking is entirely personal and not official; every traveler will have their own opinion depending on their impressions. What I can say is that none of them disappointed me—they all have their charm. However, my clear favorite is Vernazza. I invite you to leave a comment telling me which one you preferred during your stay. One piece of advice : do not leave without visiting all the villages, it would truly be a shame.
Even if you only have one day to visit Cinque Terre, it is possible to get a glimpse of each one by traveling by train (the villages are only a few minutes apart by rail). Here is my top 5 of the most beautiful villages in Cinque Terre :
- Vernazza
- Manarola
- Riomaggiore
- Monterosso
- Corniglia
What to do in the 5 villages of the Cinque Terre?
Riomaggiore : the colorful harbor
Although we were staying in Levanto, we started our visit with the village closest to La Spezia : Riomaggiore. The reason is simple—we planned to hike between Levanto and Monterosso al Mare the following day, so we began with the farthest village and worked our way back. It takes barely 20 minutes to reach Riomaggiore from Levanto by train. At the end of September, there are still many tourists, and the train is completely packed from the first villages.
The village of Riomaggiore is divided into two parts. The train station is located in the newer section, and you must go through a pedestrian tunnel to reach the historic center. The old brightly colored houses of this medieval town, founded in the 13th century, are stacked in the narrow valley of a stream. They are connected by narrow stairways; in fact, you spend your time going up and down stairs when visiting Cinque Terre. A word of advice, ladies—leave your high heels in your suitcase.
Riomaggiore has a tiny fishing harbor in a cove, by heading down here you will find one of the best photo spots in Riomaggiore. Beyond the harbor, you reach the boat shuttle pier and then a small pebble beach.
Hotels in Riomaggiore
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Manarola: the postcard setting
From Riomaggiore we take the train to Manarola (3 minutes), one of the most beautiful villages of Cinque Terre (my favorite being Vernazza). Surrounded by an amphitheater of terraced vineyards, Manarola, founded at the end of the 13th century, is characterized, like the other villages, by tower houses and fishermen’s dwellings in pastel tones. The village is at its most beautiful at sunset, when golden rays illuminate the house facades. The best photo viewpoint is located north of Manarola, along the concrete path that starts from the village’s central square.
Manarola has a small 14th-century church (Chiesa San Lorenzo) that houses remarkable 15th-century works, including a triptych and a crucifix. To reach the church from the viewpoint north of the village, take the stairs toward the cemetery to access a path that runs through the vineyards. You will be rewarded with magnificent views of Manarola and the coastline.
The Via dell’Amore, a superb path linking Manarola to Riomaggiore, offers beautiful views of the coast and the other villages. Unfortunately, the trail has been closed since the floods of 2011, and in 2019 the reopening date was still unknown. To find out whether the Via dell’Amore will be open during your visit, check the official park website for the status of the hiking trails.
Cooking class
Why not take advantage of your visit to Manarola to join a cooking class and learn how to make authentic Ligurian pesto ? This 2-hour class will teach you all the secrets of this famous recipe.
Hotels in Manarola
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Monterosso al Mare: the beach of Cinque Terre
We arrived in Monterosso al Mare via the hiking trail that connects it to the small seaside resort of Levanto (see further below for a description of this hike). Monterosso al Mare is the only village in Cinque Terre with a real beach, and it is also the largest. It is divided in two by a rocky promontory extending into the sea. On one side, there is a beautiful sandy beach with its iconic orange and blue umbrellas, the modern district, and the train station; on the other side, accessible via a tunnel, lies the old town founded in the 11th century.
Monterosso al Mare does not offer the same photogenic viewpoints as the steeper villages of Manarola and Vernazza, but strolling through Monterosso’s old streets is the most pleasant experience in the Cinque Terre. Monterosso al Mare also has some historical remains, such as the Gothic church of San Giovanni Battista (13th century) with its black-and-white facade.
To eat cheaply in Monterosso al Mare, we found an excellent focacceria, “Il Frantoio” at the corner of Via Roma and Via Vincenzo Gioberti in the north of the village. It is a bit hidden, but you will recognize it by its ochre-colored facade (focaccia and pizzas are sold by weight).
If you are looking for a sporty activity other than hiking, it is possible to take this kayaking excursion (2-3 hours) or this kayaking trip (2 hours) from Monterosso.
Hotels in Monterosso
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Vernazza : the most beautiful village
To reach the village of Vernazza, I had planned to take the 4 km coastal hiking trail between Monterosso and Vernazza. However, after spending the morning hiking from Levanto to Monterosso, Daniela did not feel like continuing to walk. We therefore opted for the train, which shortened the journey to 4 minutes instead of 2 hours on foot. The coastal trail from Monterosso to Vernazza offers superb views. Even if you do not hike between the two villages, I recommend walking a small portion of the path toward Monterosso. After a few minutes of walking, you will reach a viewpoint offering one of the most beautiful views of the Cinque Terre National Park. It was from this trail that I took the last two photos overlooking Vernazza.
Vernazza is certainly the most beautiful of the Cinque Terre villages, with its natural harbor, its intertwined colorful houses, and its defensive bastion extending into the sea. The small main square where fishermen’s boats are hauled ashore is lined with pleasant cafés and restaurants, perfect for having a drink or a bite to eat while watching the sunset. You will also find a 14th-century church (San Margherita di Antiochia) whose interior is rather massive, contrasting with the more decorated churches we had seen until then.
From Vernazza’s main street, you will certainly notice an arch carved into the rock that leads to a pebble beach (access is blocked by a rope, but all tourists step over it). This small beach was formed following the floods of 2011. Vernazza was the village most affected by these floods, and you can see a few photos of this disaster at the top of the street.
The defensive bastion Castello Doria can be visited (€1.50), but the only thing I found interesting was its magnificent viewpoint over the village of Vernazza and the Ligurian coast.
Hotels in Vernazza
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Corniglia : the perched village
Corniglia is the smallest of the Cinque Terre villages (200 inhabitants) and the only one without direct access to the sea. As the train station is located along the coastline, you must climb 377 steps to reach the village, which sits almost 100 m above sea level. The alternative is to take the shuttle bus departing every 15 minutes from Corniglia station (included with the Cinque Terre Card, otherwise €3 per trip payable to the driver). The shuttle is quite small and fills up very quickly when each train arrives. I imagine that in peak season there must be quite a long wait.
Corniglia is somewhat different from the other villages of Cinque Terre. It is a mountain village perched on a rock at the edge of a valley surrounded by vineyards. Its position, however, offers a beautiful panorama over the Ligurian coast, although the weather was quite cloudy during our visit.
Hotels in Corniglia
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Hiking from Levanto to Monterosso al Mare
Rather than taking the train to reach Monterosso from Levanto, we chose to go on foot via the trail that connects the two villages. The 7 km hiking trail between Levanto and Monterosso is free, and it is not necessary to have the Cinque Terre Card (unlike the other trails within the park).
The starting point of the hike is located at the very southern end of Levanto’s beach, there is a red sign marked “Monterosso” next to a staircase. After a series of steps, you reach the Castello di Levanto and then join the “via Mesco,” which you must follow before turning onto the hiking trail marked with a white and red stripe. What follows is simply a series of ascents, descents, and staircases. I had thought the trail was fairly flat and nearly lost Daniela along the way, it must be said that it was her first hike.
The hike from Levanto to Monterosso is not difficult, but I found it rather monotonous. Apart from a few sections with nice viewpoints over the coast, most of the time you only see the trail. The landscapes are the same as on the French Riviera (and I even find it more beautiful at home), so I did not feel particularly out of place. At the top of the Mesco promontory, just before beginning the descent toward Monterosso, you can see the ruins of the small church of San Antonio del Mesco, which was abandoned in the 18th century.
To sum up, I did not find much interest in doing this hike. If you only plan to do one hike, I would instead recommend taking the trail between Monterosso and Vernazza.
Levanto : the seaside resort
If you have a little extra time, the small seaside resort of Levanto is worth a visit, particularly to enjoy its beautiful sandy beach. Levanto also has a charming historic center, a 16th-century fortress overlooking the town, and charming villas dating from the early 20th century.
In the old town, Via Garibaldi—representing Levanto’s expansion in the 17th and 18th centuries—is particularly interesting, with houses featuring facades painted in the traditional Ligurian style. Via Garibaldi leads to the Municipal Palace (the former Saint Clare convent), whose construction began in 1605.
I really liked Levanto with its wide sandy beach (both public and private) and its small historic center, and you will also find some good restaurant addresses here. Levanto is an excellent base for the best things to do in Cinque Terre..
Hotels in Levanto
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La Spezia : the large city
La Spezia is a port city (military and commercial naval base) nestled at the end of the Gulf of Poets. It is located 9 minutes by train from Riomaggiore, the first village of the Cinque Terre when coming from the east.
If you stay in La Spezia or have a little time during your visit in Cinque Terre, the historic center and the promenade along the harbor—where you will find beautiful Art Nouveau residences—make for a pleasant walk. Please note that there is no beach in La Spezia and it is impossible to swim there, but in return the city has excellent museums.
Want to discover the best dishes of La Spezia’s cuisine? Join this food tour to discover the blend of Ligurian and Tuscan flavors that define La Spezia’s culinary tradition (five stops at different establishments are planned).
La Spezia is the main gateway for visiting the Cinque Terre and is also a stop for cruise ships, so there are many more tourists here than in Levanto.
Hotels in La Spezia
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Boat trip in Cinque Terre
For a different and even more beautiful view of the colorful villages, I recommend taking a cruise. There are several options, ranging from a full day to just a few hours. The sunset cruise with an aperitif is highly recommended, as this is when the colors of the villages are at their most beautiful. You can also choose a full-day cruise with swimming, which allows you to visit all the villages, including Portovenere, while enjoying paradise-like coves. All these activities can be canceled with a full refund up to 24 hours in advance, so do not hesitate to book.
Portovenere
The superb village of Portovenere is located on a rocky promontory between La Spezia and Riomaggiore. Even though it lies outside the Cinque Terre National Park, it is often considered the sixth village because of its striking resemblance. The train does not pass through Portovenere, but it is easy to get there by boat from one of the Cinque Terre villages or from La Spezia. Its colorful houses, Romanesque churches, and imposing castle will keep you busy for half a day, or more if you plan to visit the islands opposite.
What to do in Cinque Terre : the surroundings
Portofino
If you are still not satisfied with beautiful Italian villages with colorful facades after visiting the Cinque Terre National Park, you can continue your road trip in Liguria. This region of Italy has many treasures. After visiting Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, Riomaggiore, and Portovenere (the latter is not accessible by train), I suggest discovering Portofino.
This well-preserved small fishing village located at the end of a cove is magnificent. It is located 1 hour by car from the Cinque Terre National Park. One piece of advice : absolutely avoid the summer period of July and August, when the village is overrun by tourists and jet-set personalities who gather here every summer (it is the Italian Saint-Tropez).
Pisa
It is one of the most visited cities in Italy thanks to its leaning Tower. Pisa is located less than 50 minutes by train from La Spezia (1 hour by car). A round trip can easily be done in a day from Cinque Terre, especially since the must-see sites (the Leaning Tower of Pisa, the Duomo, and the baptistery) are all grouped around the Piazza dei Miracoli. Visiting these three monuments will only take a few hours, but do not hesitate to venture into the southern part of the old town to discover the historic center. The Arno River, which runs through the center, is lined with beautiful palaces featuring multicolored facades.
Lucca
The charming medieval city of Lucca is located just north of Pisa. If you visit the latter, you might as well take the opportunity to stop there. Lucca is located 1 hour by car from Cinque Terre, by train there is no direct connection, and you will need to change in Pisa.
Lucca is, in my opinion, one of the most underrated cities in Tuscany. The old town is surrounded by ramparts and contains many historical monuments, including churches and a palace with a superb garden.
I hope this blog post will help you for what to do in Cinque Terre. If you have any questions, feel free to ask them in the comments below.