Cinque Terre Travel Guide

You. Me. And the big, blue Italian sea. Let’s fall hard for the Cinque Terre.

Follow this Cinque Terre Travel Guide for an unforgettable Italian getaway in 2023.

You’ve probably heard of Italy’s Amalfi Coast, a popular summer destination in southern Italy for Europeans and Americans alike. But do you know about the lesser known–yet equally idyllic–spot in Northern Italy? The Cinque Terre is a series of five seaside villages on the Italian Riviera. This UNESCO World Heritage Site will take your breath away.

If you’re planning a summer in Italy, do yourself a favor and add a trip to Cinque Terre to your itinerary. Below, you’ll find comparisons of the five towns to help you decide what to do and where to stay in Cinque Terre.

Get To Know Cinque Terre?

First and foremost, you need to get to know Cinque Terre. Let’s break down the basics such as location, transportation, and the best time of year to visit.

Location

The Cinque Terre is located in the province of La Spezia, Italy. Fortunately, this destination is just a short train ride from many of the most popular cities in northern Italy. This is precisely why it’s such an easy addition to any Italy itinerary – because you can stop on your way to or from cities like Milan, Florence, or Venice!

The Towns

Most importantly, you should know the names of each of the five towns. Below, they are listed in the order you would reach them when traveling from the main train station of La Spezia. All trains stop in La Spezia before continuing on to Cinque Terre.

Riomaggiore
Manarola
Corniglia
Vernazza
Monterosso al Mare

Transportation Between Towns

Thankfully, these five towns are quite close together. Trains connect all five towns and the price to travel between them is as low as just 2-3 euros. Additionally, you can buy day passes that allow you unlimited transportation between the towns.

During the summer months, you can lace up your hiking boots and walk the scenic trails that connect the towns. The Sentiero Azzurro cliffside hiking trail links the towns and offers some of the best viewpoints to look out over the Italian coastline.

When To Visit Cinque Terre

In short, Cinque Terre is known as a European summer destination – a seasonal spot that’s busiest from May to September. Therefore, if you want to have this place more to yourself, try visiting in April or October during the shoulder season. While a few of the shops and restaurants might be closed, you’ll get the chance to walk the quieter streets and snap photos of the stunning scenery, without the crowds.

Cinque Terre Travel Guide: The 5 Towns

Now you’re ready to get to know each town individually. Of the five towns, we couldn’t possibly pick a favorite – each is unique for its own reasons. So, when it comes to where to stay in Cinque Terre, you should decide based on your travel type. Do you like the cute and quiet guy, do you seek a little stability, or are you always after the lookers?

Which of the five towns in the Cinque Terre will be your perfect match? If you’re like us, you’ll probably want to play the field a bit and explore all five. However, you should still pick one to settle down in for the length of your stay.

There are so many adorable Airbnbs in Cinque Terre that you can find a short term rental in any of these 5 towns! Plus, there’s more than a few adorable locally-owned and operated hotels in each of the towns. We recommend deciding which town you want to make your home base first, and then searching for rentals in that specific place.

Riomaggiore

The Stable Option

Riomaggiore will meet all your needs. Picture perfect views of the pastel homes, an easy to navigate main street (known as Via Colombo), and a harbor filled with fishing boats. This is the first town you’ll reach when you take the train in from La Spezia. Riomaggiore is the best place to start in Cinque Terre, because it boasts just a taste of what each town has to offer. Ultimately, it’s the kind of town that has a little bit of everything, but maybe not the very best of any one thing. If balance and stability are what you seek, settle down in this town to have everything within reach.

You might stop in Riomaggiore and stay a while, but do continue on because the next town is known for its unmatched views…

Manarola

The Looker

Manarola has our hearts. If you’ve seen pictures of Cinque Terre, it’s likely of the pastel-colored homes perched along the Manarolian cliffside. This town consists of one main strip that leads down to the water. This street is filled with quaint shops you can pop in and out of.

What To Do In Manarola

Eat The Best Food

When in Manarola, you can spend your morning exploring the shops. Then, make your way toward the harbor, and up the walking path on the far right side to reach the best viewpoint. Along this path you’ll find the restaurant with the best view in all of Cinque Terre – Nessun Dorma.

This locally owned eatery was our favorite for a few reasons. First, it’s run by two young locals with a passion for delicious food. Take a break from all the pizza and pasta – because this eatery offers fresh local cuisine, full of fruits and vegetables. Secondly, this restaurant has a great origin story, of being converted from an abandoned terrace overlooking the sea, into a trendy bar. Tables are set against a railing that overlooks the pastel homes and rocky waters below.

Explore the Vineyards

Manarola is also a great place to explore the vineyards of Cinque Terre. Nessun Dorma offers a wine experience. During this excursion, guests enjoy a walk through the vineyards above Manarola. Following that, you’ll have a delicious wine tasting with locally selected food.

Swim in the Harbor

Now that you’re full of food and wine, slip into the evening in Manarola with a sunset dip in the pristine waters. If it’s too chilly to swim, you can explore the Church of San Lorenzo instead.

Hiking path up to Nessun Dorma

Corniglia

The Cute but Quiet One

Corniglia is the perfect place to stay if you want to feel at-home and at-peace in Cinque Terre. This town is the quietest and most residential of the five. It’s the third town from La Spezia, making it an ideal base if you plan to hike between the towns.

If you only have a day or two in Cinque Terre, you can skip this town. But if you’re spending a week here, or if you really like the quiet type, Corniglia is the place for you. This town has the added bonus of being a bit more affordable than the other more lively spots. Just be aware that you won’t find as much nightlife or as many options for restaurants in Corniglia’s town. If you want to be near nightlife and resorts, keep reading, because there’s a town for that too.

Don’t forget to use Airbnb to check rental rates across each of the five towns. If you find a great deal, that’s one of the easiest ways to decide where to stay in Cinque Terre.

Trip Tips

Pack hiking boots if you plan to hike between the towns.
Train stations are centrally located in each town, so you should be able to walk to any accommodation.
If you plan to hit a few towns in a single day, purchase the Cinque Terre Train Card for 18,20 euros. You can also purchase this directly at any of the stations.

Mouth Watering Spots

Nessun Dorma Eatery in Manarola
Try Batti Batti Friggitoria in Vernazza for a cone of deliciously fried seafood

Cliffside from Vernazza

Hike up to the top of Vernazza

Vernazza

The Total Package

Vernazza has it all. This town has the only natural port, which is full of colorful fishing boats. In Vernazza, you’ll find winding paths that lead to scenic overlooks and historical castles. Plus, there’s even; a bit of sandy beach and boardwalk here. During our time in Cinque Terre, we stayed in an Airbnb in Vernazza and fell madly in love with this fishing village.

Overall, this town isn’t quite as resort-esque as the busy Monterosso, which overflows in the summer months. However, Vernazza offers better options for bars and nightlife than Corniglia.

What To Do In Vernazza

Visit the Church

Visit Santa Margherita di Antiochia Church. You can’t miss it – head down the town’s main street and look to your right as you approach the water. From there, you’ll spot its octagonal tower overlooking the Ligurian Sea.

Visit the Castle

Walk up to Castello Doria, Vernazza’s castle. It’s open 9:00 am – 7:00 pm daily. (you can search the location on Google Maps and follow this as a guide).

Hike to the Overlook

Hike to the town overlook. When you arrive in Vernazza, most people walk down toward the town center and the water. But if you walk upward from the train station and curve off to the right, there’s a winding path worth taking. This pathway leads you up past quaint homes and the view gets better with each step. After about 10 minutes, you’ll come upon a railing with an overlook that offers sweeping views of Vernazza town. In the distance, you can see the sparkling town of Monterosso, which is up next…

Convento dei Cappuccini overlook

Monterosso el Mare

The Beach Boy

Monterosso offers the only true beach in the five tiny towns of the Cinque Terre. This destination turns into a full blown resort town during the busy summer months. It’s the fifth and final town from La Spezia, but don’t skip it just because it’s last in line. No Cinque Terre travel itinerary is complete without a visit to Monterosso.

If you want a resort experience rather than an Airbnb, this is the town to choose. Additionally, if your travel goals include spending every day on the beach, this is the spot for you.

What To Do In Monterosso

Spend Time on the Beach

When in Monterosso, you can walk the long stretch of beach that makes this town so distinct from the others. Spend mornings here browsing the tucked away shops along narrow streets, and sit beneath rows of brightly colored umbrellas. Monterrosso is the stuff European dreams are made of.

Hike to the Convent of the Capuchin Friars

To escape the crowds, plan a hike up the hillside to Convento dei Cappuccini. Here, you can view the historical Aurora Tower from the best vantage point. This viewpoint is worth visiting – you’ll feel on top of the world as you stand and stare at the endless sea and sky before you.

How Much Time Do You Have?

If you have 3-7 days to spend in Cinque Terre, you should have enough time to hit all five towns.

On the other hand, if you find yourself pressed for time with only 1-2 days to explore – we recommend sticking to just three towns: Monterosso, Vernazza and Manarola. Start your morning in Monterosso, then head to Vernazza for the afternoon, and close your evening out at Nessun Dorma eatery in Manarola.

Best of – Cinque Terre Travel Guide

Best nightlife: Monterosso
Best village views: Manarola
Best ocean views: Monterosso
Best harbor: Vernazza
Best Food: Manarola

Wrap It Up

There you have it, a Cinque Terre Travel Guide that details just what makes each of these five towns so unique. If you’re planning to spend this summer in Italy, Cinque Terre is definitely worth adding to your itinerary.

We spent a few weeks exploring some of the most popular destinations in northern Italy, and fell most in love with Cinque Terre. There is something so charming about this destination, so authentically European – you simply have to experience it for yourself. The Cinque Terre is one of a kind – and it’s the place to be in 2023.