Cinque Terre, Italy: travel guide
Five clifftop fishing villages linked by trails, trains and ferries
Five ancient fishing villages — Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, and Riomaggiore — cling to precipitous Ligurian cliffs above the Ligurian Sea, connected by dramatic coastal trails inside a UNESCO National Park.
About Cinque Terre
Cinque Terre is not one town but a stretch of the Ligurian coast containing five small villages: Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore. Each is a cluster of pastel houses clinging to a cliff above the sea, surrounded by steep vineyard terraces.
Things to do in Cinque Terre revolve around moving between the villages by coastal footpath, local train or boat. Anchovies, pesto and the sweet local wine Sciacchetrà are the flavours to look for, and swimming spots are scattered along the rocks.
Cinque Terre suits walkers and photographers who are happy with simple pleasures. Spring and autumn are the most comfortable times for hiking, and summer is the busiest.
- Country
- Italy
- Currency
- EUR
- Time zone
- Europe/Rome
Last updated
Top places to visit in Cinque Terre
Vernazza Village
Coastal Village · 4.8 rating · about 3 h · check the fee at the gate
The most dramatic of the five villages — Vernazza's medieval harbour, castle, and pastel-painted towers cascade down a rocky promontory into the only natural harbour in the Cinque Terre. The panoramic view from the castle is the definitive…
Manarola & Via dell'Amore
Coastal Village · 4.8 rating · about 3 h · check the fee at the gate
Manarola is the oldest village in the Cinque Terre (11th century), built on a vertical black volcanic cliff above a sheltered boat harbour. The Via dell'Amore — the "Lovers' Path" — links Manarola to Riomaggiore through natural tunnels and…
Riomaggiore Village
Coastal Village · 4.7 rating · about 2 h · check the fee at the gate
The southernmost of the five villages, with the most dramatic main street — Via Colombo — which plunges steeply to the boat harbour through a canyon of medieval tower houses painted in vibrant shades. The nearest village to La Spezia train…
Monterosso al Mare Beach
Sandy Beach · 4.6 rating · about 4 h · check the fee at the gate
The largest and most accessible of the Cinque Terre's beaches — the only proper sandy beach in the region, set beneath a 14th-century Capuchin convent and backed by Monterosso's medieval tower. Clear Ligurian water perfect for swimming.
Sentiero Verde-Azzurro Full Trail
coastal-trail · 4.9 rating · about 6 h · check the fee at the gate
The complete Sentiero Verde-Azzurro — the legendary 11km coastal trail connecting all five villages of Cinque Terre on a single 5-7 hour hike, with the most spectacular Mediterranean coastal scenery in Italy.
Cinque Terre Card Train Pass
transit-pass · 4.6 rating · about 0.5 h · entry €22 (≈ ₹2,350)
The Cinque Terre Card with unlimited train rides between the five villages — the essential transit pass, allowing easy combination of train, walking, and boat for the optimal exploration of all five villages in a single day.
Via dell'Amore New Section
coastal walkway · 4.8 rating · about 0.5 h · check the fee at the gate
The famous clifftop "Lovers' Walk" between Riomaggiore and Manarola partially reopened in 2024 after major reconstruction; the most scenic short walk in the Cinque Terre.
Manarola Punta Bonfiglio Park
sunset-park · 4.9 rating · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate
Punta Bonfiglio park above Manarola — the elevated park with the most iconic photographic vantage point of Manarola at sunset, the small chapel, the cemetery overlooking the sea, and the panoramic walking trail.
Manarola Belvedere Lookout
village-belvedere · 4.9 rating · about 0.8 h · check the fee at the gate
The Manarola Belvedere lookout — the most iconic viewpoint of Cinque Terre, with the entire village of Manarola laid out below on its rocky promontory, the colourful houses, and the dramatic terraced vineyards behind.
Vernazza Harbour
harbour · 4.9 rating · about 1.5 h · check the fee at the gate
Cinque Terre's only natural harbour — a small, photogenic port surrounded by pastel-coloured houses, the 14th-century Doria Castle, and a sun-trap piazza with beach swimming.
Manarola Sunset Viewpoint
sunset viewpoint · 4.9 rating · about 0.8 h · check the fee at the gate
The rock promontory above the Manarola harbour gives the most iconic Cinque Terre photograph — the coloured village houses reflected in the dark sea at sunset.
Blue Path (Sentiero Azzurro) Section 2
coastal trail · 4.7 rating · about 1.5 h · entry €10 (≈ ₹1,070)
The famous coastal trail connecting all five villages (UNESCO-listed); only the Vernazza–Monterosso section (1 hr) and Corniglia–Vernazza section (1.5 hr) are currently open; requires Cinque Terre Card.
Things to do
- Cinque Terre Train Pass Sightseeing · 7 h · from EUR 20 per person
- Cinque Terre Card Train and Trail Sightseeing · 8 h · from EUR 14 per person
- Sentiero Azzurro Hike Hiking · 4 h · from EUR 16 per person
- Hike Sentiero Azzurro Blue Trail Hiking · 5 h · from EUR 10 per person
- Cinque Terre Boat Tour Boat · 5 h · from EUR 50 per person
- Riomaggiore to Manarola Walk Walking Tour · 1 h · from EUR 14 per person
- Boat Tour of Five Villages Boat · 6 h · from EUR 33 per person
- Cinque Terre Coast to Coast Hiking Tour Adventure · 6 h · from EUR 49 per person
Day trips and tours
- Cinque Terre Coastal Trail Full Hike (All 5 Villages) 8 h · from EUR 41
- Cinque Terre Private Boat Tour with Snorkelling 6 h · from EUR 98
Where to stay in Cinque Terre
- Monterosso al Mare about EUR 180 per night
Only village with a proper beach; most resort-like; good restaurant and hotel selection
Hotels
- Hotel Porto Roca Monterosso 5-star · INR 55,000 to INR 180,000 per night
- Hotel La Torretta Manarola 4-star · INR 11,000 to INR 22,000 per night
- Hotel Pensione Cuore Manarola 4-star · INR 9,500 to INR 20,000 per night
- Hotel Villa Steno, Monterosso 3-star · EUR 120 to EUR 280 per night
- Hotel Marina Piccola Manarola 4-star · INR 14,000 to INR 32,000 per night
- Hotel Pasquale Monterosso 4-star · INR 15,000 to INR 35,000 per night
Where to eat
- Nessun Dorma italian, wine_bar, ligurian · about EUR 32 per person
- Il Frantoio italian, bakery, ligurian · about EUR 8 per person
- Il Pescato Cucinato italian, seafood, street_food · about EUR 13 per person
- Ristorante Belvedere italian, seafood, ligurian · about EUR 52 per person
- Belforte Italian, Ligurian, Seafood · about EUR 50 per person
- Marina Piccola italian, seafood, ligurian · about EUR 55 per person
- Te la Do Io la Merenda italian, street_food, ligurian · about EUR 11 per person
- Belforte italian, seafood, ligurian · about EUR 75 per person
Getting to Cinque Terre
Nearest airport: Pisa (PSA), about 71 km away in a straight line. The road or rail journey is longer.
How visitors arrive in Cinque Terre
- Regional train between La Spezia and Levanto By train from La Spezia / Levanto · common
Trenitalia regional trains stop at the villages (Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, Riomaggiore) on the La Spezia-Levanto line. Source: trenitalia.com
- Mainline train to La Spezia or Levanto, then regional By train from Pisa / Genoa / Milan · common · unconfirmed
Most visitors change at La Spezia Centrale or Levanto onto the local line; Pisa and Genoa airports are the nearest big hubs. Source: trenitalia.com
From the railway station to the centre
- Village station on the line
Each village has its own station; buy or validate tickets at the platform machines before boarding. Source: trenitalia.com
Getting around
- Ferry
A seasonal ferry serves the Cinque Terre villages and Lerici, and gives views of the villages from the water.
- Train main way to get around
Regional trains link all five villages with each other and with La Spezia and are the main way to move along the coast.
- Walking
Safety and scams to avoid
Trail Closure Fraud
Monterosso and Riomaggiore entrances
Touts claim the official trail is closed and offer "alternative guide" for a fee
How to avoid it: Check official Parco Nazionale Cinque Terre website for closures; never pay touts
Best time to visit Cinque Terre
- Jan 9°C
- Feb 10°C
- Mar 12°C
- Apr 15°C
- May 19°C
- Jun 23°C
- Jul 26°C
- Aug 27°C
- Sep 23°C
- Oct 18°C
- Nov 14°C
- Dec 10°C
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Frequently asked questions about Cinque Terre
- What are the top-rated places to visit in Cinque Terre?
- The highest-rated places in our Cinque Terre guide are Sentiero Verde-Azzurro Full Trail, Manarola Punta Bonfiglio Park, Manarola Belvedere Lookout, Vernazza Harbour, Manarola Sunset Viewpoint.
- Where should I stay in Cinque Terre?
- Our guide covers these areas to stay in Cinque Terre: Monterosso al Mare.
- How do I get around Cinque Terre?
- Ways to get around Cinque Terre covered in our guide: Ferry, Train, Walking.
- What scams should I watch out for in Cinque Terre?
- Scams reported to us for Cinque Terre include Trail Closure Fraud. Each is explained in the guide, with how to avoid it.
- What is the weather like in Cinque Terre?
- Average daytime highs in Cinque Terre run from 9°C in Jan to 27°C in Aug.