Cinque Terre is a series of 5 colourful villages on the coast of northwest Italy in the region of Liguria. The Cinque Terre villages are some of the most beautiful and popular destinations in Liguria, alongside pretty Portofino. The five Cinque Terre villages are Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore, and each village is slightly different to the last. There is a local train connecting the villages, as well as popular hiking trails, making it easy to visit all five villages of Cinque Terre in one trip.
I’ll share my highlights from each of the Cinque Terre villages below, but my recommendation for where to stay in Cinque Terre is either in Monterosso, Riomaggiore or just outside Cinque Terre in the larger town, Levanto. I stayed in Levanto and Riomaggiore when I visited Cinque Terre, although in hindsight there was no need to move between towns – they are so close together! Levanto is a larger town, and less crowded, which is nice for escaping the Cinque Terre crowds. However, staying in the heart of a Cinque Terre village in Riomaggiore was an amazing experience.
All of the Cinque Terre villages are beautiful, the only one I would recommend not staying in is Corniglia, because it is perched high on the cliffs, so you’ll have to hike up a long and steep set of stairs to reach the other villages, or the train station, and there is no beach.
The largest villages in Cinque Terre are Riomaggiore, Monterosso and Vernazza.
Monterosso Al Mare
Monterosso al Mare is the best town in Cinque Terre for beaches & swimming. Monterosso is the second largest village in Cinque Terre, with a population of just over 1400 residents. Monterosso’s best beach, Spiagga Fegina, is the best beach in Cinque Terre, with a large sandy beach, excellent swimming and beach club facilities. Spend the day on the beach at Monterosso, breaking only for lunch at one of the restaurants overlooking the beach. Perfection!
Vernazza
Vernazza is one of the most beautiful towns in Cinque Terre, with a picturesque harbour. Arrive in Vernazza by boat (from Levanto) for a spectacular view on arrival as you approach the village from the sea. You can swim and sunbathe in Vernazza by the harbour, but it’s not the best Cinque Terre village for swimming. Vernazza has one of the most beautiful old towns in Cinque Terre, and is regarded by many as the prettiest village in Cinque Terre.
Corniglia
Corniglia is the only town in Cinque Terre that is not on the sea. Instead, it’s perched on the edge of a cliff, with a steep set of steps from the train station up to the village. Perhaps due to its location on the cliffs, Corniglia is the smallest village in Cinque Terre, with a population of only 150 people! Corniglia offers some beautiful views, but in my opinion, you can allocate the least amount of time to Corniglia because of its size.
Manarola
Manarola is the second smallest village in Cinque Terre, with just 300 residents. Manarola is the postcard village for Cinque Terre, with colourful houses cascading down the hillside, towards a picturesque harbour. You can swim in the harbour or sunbathe on the rocks, and explore the steep streets that lead up from the harbour through the Old Town. Get the best views of any Cinque Terre village, by taking the trail from the harbour around the headland, to get a stunning view back towards Manarola.
Riomaggiore
Riomaggiore is the largest village in Cinque Terre, but with only 1500 residents it’s still a small town by any measure. Riomaggiore is one of my favourite villages in Cinque Terre, and is where we stayed for the second half of our stay in Cinque Terre. Riomaggiore is full of the brightly coloured buildings that Cinque Terre is famous for, and a lively old town lined with bars and restaurants, and plenty of fresh seafood, of course!
Levanto
Levanto is not one of the Cinque Terre villages, but is very close, which makes it an excellent place to stay to visit Cinque Terre if you’re on a budget. It’s larger than the Cinque Terre villages, but with only 6000 residents it still has a lovely relaxed atmosphere. I stayed in Levanto for a couple of nights at the start of my trip to Cinque Terre, and I fell head over heels for this charming seaside town. There are far less tourists, there’s a lovely beach, and you’ll meet many more locals.
Vernazza: Located to the north of the Cinque Terre, Vernazza is probably the most beautiful and picturesque fishing village of Cinque Terre, where its colourful houses hang above the sea level on rugged cliffs. It has a charming natural port and an old castle, built to protect the area from pirates.
Vernazza: Located to the north of the Cinque Terre, Vernazza is probably the most beautiful and picturesque fishing village of Cinque Terre, where its colourful houses hang above the sea level on rugged cliffs. It has a charming natural port and an old castle, built to protect the area from pirates.
You can walk the entire route in about six hours, if you take short breaks—although many hikers prefer to spread the route out over a few days at a strolling pace, stopping to enjoy the towns along the way. You can start from either direction (Monterosso, heading south, or Riomaggiore, heading north).
You have to skip Corniglia situated on top of a cliff 100 metres above sea level. If you are limited on time, take the train between the villages. The trains are running frequently all year round and stop in all five villages.
Cinque Terre in order from La Spezia are: Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza and Monterosso. From La Spezia you can decide to do a boat tour which lasts a day that will let you see all the 5 villages.
The five villages of cinque terre include Monterosso al Mare (the biggest), Vernazza (normally considered the prettiest), Corniglia (up high on the cliffs), Manarola and Riomaggiore.
La Spezia is one of the best places to stay in the Cinque Terre if you're looking for a larger base, with a cobbled old town, and museums and sights of its own. The first of the towns you reach from La Spezia is Riomaggiore, the largest town, and a great base for walkers.
The train ride between Monterosso and Vernazza is 3 minutes. The train ride between Vernazza and Corniglia is 3 minutes. The train ride between Corniglia and Manarola is 2 minutes. The train ride between Manarola and Riomaggiore is 2 minutes.
Trains are the easiest way to get to and around Cinque Terre. Trenitalia has direct connections to La Spezia from Rome, Florence, and Pisa (the closest airport). Once in Cinque Terre, the Cinque Terre Express train runs between La Spezia and Levanto in Sestri Levante, stopping at each village.
Corniglia - The Cinque Terre at its Best. Corniglia is the only one of the five Cinque Terre towns that isn't a fishing town and you need to walk up around 365 steps to get there. That puts most people off and means that Corniglia is the Cinque Terre town with the fewest tourists. What is this?
April can be ideal, with fewer crowds and cooler temperatures. The busiest months are May, June, September, and October; July and August can be less congested (but hotter).
Cinque Terre is smaller with more family-run guesthouses and backpacker hostels, making it a better option if you're short of time or have a lower budget. On the other hand, Amalfi might be more up your street if you enjoy higher-end resorts, beach clubs and restaurants.
Due to the location of accommodation, you will see the most amount of people staying in Riomaggiore and Monterossa al Mare but if you prefer a more quieter location, definitely look at options in Corniglia, Vernazza and Manarola. You'll find a more quieter atmosphere here especially in the evenings.
Volastra, a small village perched on a hilltop between Manarola and Corniglia, offers stunning panoramic views of the coastline and is a great starting point for scenic hikes. Nestled among vineyards and olive groves, Volastra offers a glimpse into traditional rural life in Cinque Terre.
The five villages are connected by hiking trails open all year round. For the trails Monterosso - Vernazza - Corniglia you will need a Cinque Terre Card. All other trails are free! The Cinque Terre Express trains are running every 20 minutes between the five villages.
Among the most rewarding sections of the park are the well-trodden coastal paths. Via Dell'Amore, or Love Way, between the Italian coastal towns of Riomaggiore and Manarola, is one of the most popular.
It really does not matter which village you stay in. The train takes only 15 minutes to go the whole distance from Monterosso to Riomaggiore. You have identified the main differences between Monterosso and Vernazza, but I would add that Monterosso is the only village with a sandy beach.
Vernazza and Manarola are both very beautiful towns, probably the Cinque Terre's two prettiest. There really is no better location - The towns are all very near each other, and very accessible by train, boat or trek. Vernazza is the more popular destination and probably more touristy, so Manarola may better suit you.
Manarola is like Riomaggiore's more mature older sister. They look alike, but this town is more chilled out, more… “grown-up” somehow. Fewer (if any) events and late-night parties, and a more sophisticated energy.
Introduction: My name is Rev. Leonie Wyman, I am a colorful, tasty, splendid, fair, witty, gorgeous, splendid person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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