Visiting the 5 Towns of the Cinque Terre: The Essential Guide (2024)

Written by Barbara Radcliffe Rogers
Updated May 26, 2022
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Visiting the 5 Towns of the Cinque Terre: The Essential Guide (1)

Few places in Italy are as memorable as the Cinque Terre, a land and culture so unique that it has been protected as a national park and designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Perhaps what travelers like best is its almost complete lack of traditional must-see sights such as important artworks, churches, palaces, museums, and castles.

Instead, the ambience and natural beauty are the attractions. Popular things to do include walking the breathtaking paths along the cliffs, pausing over gelato in a café surrounded by candy-colored houses, cooling off with a swim, capturing pictures of some of Italy's best views, and just absorbing the Old World charm.

Until the 1960s, these five towns in the cliffs of the Riviera di Levante, between La Spezia and Levanto on the Gulf of La Spezia, were virtually unknown to tourists and difficult to reach, except by boat. Even today, a car is more of a liability than an asset when visiting the five towns of the Cinque Terre and seeing the coast's attractions.

Trains and boats (in good weather) connect the five towns and run frequently. If you have time to see only a few, Vernazza and Riomaggiore are the most photo-worthy and atmospheric and perhaps the best places to visit in the Cinque Terre.

On This Page:

  • Walking the Cinque Terre
  • 1. Monterosso al Mare
  • 2. Vernazza
  • 3. Corniglia
  • 4. Manarola
  • 5. Riomaggiore
  • Swimming and Boating in the Cinque Terre
  • How to Make the Most of Your Visit

Walking the Cinque Terre

Visiting the 5 Towns of the Cinque Terre: The Essential Guide (2)

It's often named one of the best hikes in the world. If you possibly can, walk at least one portion of the path carved in the cliffs between the villages. The shortest and widest of these connects Riomaggiore and Manarola, called, in typical Italian fashion, Via dell'Amore (Path of Love). It's also the most crowded, so if you visit in high season and seek more solitude, walk another section. Note that the Via dell'Amore has been closed for repairs, and is expected to reopen in 2023.

Maps are available in park offices (at train stations) where you need to buy an entrance ticket to use the trails. It is also essential to stop there to check the condition of trails and to understand that any or all of them may be closed due to weather or damage.

The prime experience is to hike the entire 12-kilometer Sentiero Azzurro from Monterosso to Riomaggiore, but only for those in good condition with proper boots and no fear of heights. The trail is often very narrow and skirts the face of vertical cliffs with no barriers between hikers and the sea crashing far below.

To walk any section of the trail, you will need to buy at pass. The Cinque Terre Trekking Card gives you access to the paths, while the Cinque Terre Train Card allows you to use the hiking trails with unlimited travel on the Cinque Terre trains. You can buy these at the information desks at every train station in Cinque Terre, Levanto and La Spezia, or online in advance.

1. Monterosso al Mare

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The largest of the five towns is Monterosso al Mare. It is less photogenic but the only one with a sizable beach. In the old part of the town, near the train station, are the 14th-century Loggia del Podestà and the parish church of San Giovanni Battista, whose campanile was built as a Genoese watch-tower.

On a crag above the sea, the medieval Torre Aurora was built to protect the town from frequent pirate attacks. High above, on the road to Vernazza, the pilgrimage church of the Madonna di Soviore has a painted Baroque interior and spectacular views. The sanctuary serves simple meals of local foods to pilgrims and hikers.

High on a promontory overlooking Monterosso Bay, the Convent of the Capuchin Friars is a monastery founded in 1618. Notable artworks include a Crucifixion attributed to Flemish painter Antoon Van Dyck and Saint Girolamo the Penitent by Luca Cambiaso. The setting and the peaceful, contemplative atmosphere make the convent a restful stopping place.

2. Vernazza

Visiting the 5 Towns of the Cinque Terre: The Essential Guide (4)

The prettiest of the five villages snuggles in a cleft between rocky cliffs, with colorful houses that seem to be stacked atop each other along its steep, narrow main street. Everything spills into a very pretty little piazza, and below it, little boats bob in the rocky harbor basin when they are not pulled up into the piazza itself.

Scenes don't get much better, nor do places from which to enjoy them. A round tower and a few sections of the old Genoese fortification walls are a reminder of Genoa's war with Pisa in the 1100s.

Even earlier, the town was fortified as a military stronghold to defend the Cinque Terre towns from raids by Saracen pirates. For the best views, climb the steps to the headland opposite the tower and look back.

Each July 20, Vernazza celebrates its patron saint with fireworks and a festival, at the Feast of Santa Margherita.

3. Corniglia

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The only one of the Cinque Terre without a harbor, Corniglia stands more than 182 meters above the sea. Also unlike the others, visitors arriving by train must climb up instead of descending into the village.

At the top of the 300-plus steps (which are terraced and not very steep), the church of San Pietro is on the right. It is a good example of the local Gothic style built in the early 1300s, with a painted interior, a 12th-century baptismal font, and a painted altarpiece.

4. Manarola

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Claim a table in one of the little restaurants in the piazza and savor just-caught seafood with a view over the miniature harbor. Above, the 1338 Gothic church of the Natività di Maria Vergine (also called the church of San Lorenzo) has a beautiful rose window of Carrara marble.

Opposite the church are its freestanding bell tower and a 16th-century watchtower. Although few tourists are here to see it, during December and January, more than 10,000 lamps and 200 figures light the surrounding hillsides in what may be Italy's largest Christmas illumination.

5. Riomaggiore

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At the eastern end of the Cinque Terre, Riomaggiore is the easiest to reach. The 19th-century Italian artist Telemaco Signorini often stayed here and brought the first attention to the village through his paintings, making it the first of the five to be "discovered" by tourism.

Artists and photographers are still drawn to the village, which is caught in the narrow cleft between two steep headlands. Inside the 14th-century church of San Giovanni look for the carved marble pulpit, painted wooden crucifix, and Renaissance triptych.

Northwest of the village, on Colle di Cerricò, a 10-minute climb brings you to parts of the walls and two round towers, all that remains of a 15th-century castle that was later reinforced by the Genoese. As from nearly any height in the Cinque Terre, the views from the castle are spectacular.

If you are driving here from La Spezia, stop at the Sanctuary of Madonna di Montenero to savor one of the best land-based views encompassing the whole Cinque Terre coast.

Swimming and Boating in the Cinque Terre

Visiting the 5 Towns of the Cinque Terre: The Essential Guide (8)

While most tourists concentrate on seeing the villages and walking the trails, the Cinque Terre offers a lot of things to do in the sea. Not known for beaches, it nonetheless has several good places to swim or catch the sun.

While Monterosso al Mare has the only sand beaches, apart from a tiny one at Vernazza, you can join the locals at their favorite spots to sun on the smooth rocks at the old harbors, where you can spread a towel and go for a refreshing swim in the marinas.

Manarola is one of these, especially popular for local youths who delight in jumping off the rocks into the sea, and there's a small rocky beach in Riomaggiore. Remember that these rocks can be very slippery and are no place for flip-flops.

The Ligurian Sea offers more things to do than swim and sun. You can bask in the coast's legendary sunsets on a Cinque Terre Sunset Boat Tour from Monterosso, sailing under the soaring cliffs and photographing these coastal villages from the sea. There's a stop to go ashore in Vernazza.

Or explore the coast under your own power on a Paddle along the Cinque Terre kayak tour with a guide. You can choose from a single or double kayak and learn about the history of this coast from your guide.

How to Make the Most of Your Visit

You can make the trip to the Cinque Terre from Florence by train, but a far more convenient way if you have only a limited time to spend is to join a full-day tour to the Cinque Terre that includes direct transportation by bus or van. Tours feature the best places to visit in the Cinque Terre and are accompanied by a guide who knows the area, its history, and where to find the best views.

  • Full-Day Tour to the Cinque Terre from Florence: The best way to maximize your time in the Cinque Terre on a day trip from Florence is to join a tour that includes bus or van travel. The 10-hour Cinque Terre Small Group Day Trip from Florence assures an intimate experience with no more than eight guests in an air-conditioned van, and once there traveling between the towns of Manarola and Vernazza by boat for the best views.
  • Full-Day Hiking Tour to the Cinque Terre from Florence: Active travelers can explore these five towns on foot with an experienced guide on a Cinque Terre Hiking Day Trip from Florence, with air-conditioned coach transport to the first town and from the last. Between spectacular hikes, the tour includes a seafood lunch overlooking the sea, a train ride between Vernazza and Monterosso, and a 40-minute boat ride along the Riviera. The total hiking distance is about 5.6 kilometers, and the tour includes the National Park fee.
  • Visiting the Cinque Terre on Your Own: The most dependable access is by the local trains, which stop in each village. Even more scenic, but less dependable, is visiting these towns by water from Portovenere, then hopping from town to town by boat. If the sea turns rough, or the boatmen are taking their lunch break, follow the cliff path to the next town or simply climb to the station and move on to the next by train. The only of the five towns you cannot reach by boat is hilltop Corniglia, which has no harbor.
Visiting the 5 Towns of the Cinque Terre: The Essential Guide (2024)

FAQs

Which of the five towns in Cinque Terre is best? ›

5 Towns of Cinque Terre Ranked
  1. Vernazza. Best Village for Couple Travel. ...
  2. Manarola. Best Village for Hikers. ...
  3. Monterossa. Best village for family travel. ...
  4. Riomaggiore. Best Village for Younger and Solo Travelers. ...
  5. Corniglia. Best Village for Mediterranean Views.
Oct 16, 2023

Which Cinque Terre town to skip? ›

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.

What is the prettiest village in Cinque Terre? ›

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.

How long does it take to walk the 5 villages of Cinque Terre? ›

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).

How do tourists travel between the five villages of Cinque Terre? ›

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.

Where is the best place to base yourself for Cinque Terre? ›

La Spezia is a great base if you prefer staying in a city full of shops and restaurants, and accommodation prices are also more affordable. The coastline between the Cinque Terre and Portofino is also full of quiet towns with small family-run hotels, not to mention the luxury villas around Portofino.

What is the most photographed town in Cinque Terre? ›

VERNAZZA

This town should be without any doubt on your “to go” list, no matter how little time you have. Talking about photo compositions, you can go really crazy here: to start, the most famous take on this place is the one from above the town center.

What is the most scenic part of the Cinque Terre? ›

Manarola is often the first village that comes to mind when people talk about the Cinque Terre. Along with Vernazza, it is widely regarded as one of the most picturesque and charming villages of the five.

Which is more beautiful Amalfi or Cinque Terre? ›

Yes, both the Cinque Terre and Amalfi coast have spectacular, seaside views. But when it comes to specific cultural or historic sights, the Amalfi coast has the Cinque Terre beat.

Is Cinque Terre expensive? ›

While it's often considered a pricey destination, with a bit of savvy planning, visiting Cinque Terre without breaking the bank is entirely possible. In this guide, we'll show you how to visit Cinque Terre on a budget.

What to wear on a day trip to Cinque Terre? ›

What to pack for Cinque Terre, whether you hike or not
  • swimsuit.
  • t-shirts and tops accordingly to the length of your stay.
  • shorts to walk around during the day and hike.
  • a dress or a shirt for the evening.
  • flip flops for the beach.
  • running/tennis shoes for hiking.
  • socks etc. ...
  • a suit shirt for cooler evenings.
Aug 11, 2015

Is Manarola or Riomaggiore better? ›

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.

Is it better to stay in Vernazza or Monterosso? ›

Just returned from Cinque Terre. Of the 5 towns, I suggest using Monterosso as a homebase instead of Vernazza. Vernazza is much cuter and more charming than Monterosso, which is darling in its own right. However, Monterosso is slightly larger and provides more options of hotels, room rentals, restaurants, and bars.

Is it better to hike Vernazza to Monterosso or Monterosso to Vernazza? ›

Recommended direction: The trail is easier with fewer steps if you walk from Vernazza to Monterosso.

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