Ever since the boom of social media, people started posting pictures of the picturesque villages of Cinque Terre attracting massive amount of tourist to flock to Cinque Terre all year round especially in the summer. They all come to see the beautiful coastline and five colorful villages that cling to the rugged cliffs overlooking the Ligurian Sea.
The five villages that make up Cinque Terre are Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, and Riomaggiore. These villages are renowned for their architecture, stunning views, and hiking trails that offer breathtaking vistas of the sea and the surrounding hills. Over centuries, people have carefully built terraces to cultivate grapes and olives on the rugged, steep landscape right up to the cliffs that overlook the Mediterranean Sea. The breathtaking views of harbors far below the wild but hospitable coastline along with the medieval fortresses and plentiful vines and vibrant colors does make a memorable holiday.
Cinque Terre is also famous for its delicious local cuisine, particularly its seafood dishes and the region’s famous wines, such as Sciacchetrà. The area has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage site due to its unique beauty and cultural significance.
How to get to Cinque Terre
Cinque Terre is located in the coastal region in Liguria, Italy. Here’s how you can get there:
By train: The easiest way to get to Cinque Terre is by train. You can take a train from major Italian cities such as Milan, Florence, Pisa, and Rome to La Spezia or Levanto, which are the two main train stations in the region. From La Spezia and Levanto, you can take a local train that stops in all five villages.
By car: If you prefer to drive, you can rent a car and take the A12 motorway to La Spezia or Levanto. Parking in the villages are difficult so you need to park your car in La Spezia or Levanto and travel by local train to visit the five villages.
By boat: You can also reach Cinque Terre by boat. From April to October, ferries run between La Spezia and the villages, as well as other nearby towns such as Portovenere and Lerici.
Where to Stay in Cinque Terre
Many people stay in La Spezia and do day trip to the villages because the accommodation in Cinque Terre does get expensive especially in the summer. Simply because the villages are small and there are not many accommodation available. If you are eyeing to stay in one of the villages like us, you need to book ahead especially in the summer. Cinque Terre consist of 5 Villlages: Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza and Monterosso. Manarola is the most beautiful but it also has the most obstacles in the form of stairs. If you are travelling with large suitcases and with young children, Monterosso is the most convenience. Vernazzza comes second, because it has elevator in their train station and it also has porter service to help guests transporting their belongings.
After browsing thru many pictures of the five villages, I chose to stay in Manarola as the most voted picturesque village out of the 5 villages. Being the smallest village, it also has the most obstacles if you come with large suitcases because the village has many stairs everywhere and the street is elevated. Manarola train station only has stairs so your struggle with luggage will start as you get off from the train.
We booked our apartment “Le Storie Di Manarola” with booking.com and it was located in the upper area as I picked an apartment with sea view. I started to regret my choice of apartment as we struggled with our suitcases and when we got to the apartment we found that our room was on the second level which means more floor 😰 However as we settled down at the apartment, I had no regret. The apartment was small but it has all the necessary amenities, even the drying clips which I found very thoughtful. Plus the shower was also good. The owner was very responsive and he gave detailed instruction on how to reach the apartment and how to retrieve the key. He also provided free cold drinks and all kind of snacks for us.
How to get around within the 5 Villages
The villages are linked by Cinque Terre express train and sometimes regional train. So there is always a train every 15 – 30 minutes and then every hour after 7pm in summer. There is daily ticket for the train cost €16 which is a good option if you want to explore the villages in one day so you don’t have to buy ticket from the machine everytime. Each ticket within 5 villages between La Spezia and Levanto cost €4 each way.
Ticket is bought at the self service ticket machine, available in the train station. There is almost always a queue during the day and there was a time where the machine broke down in Monterosso but we found another machine in the platform. If you want to hike you need to buy Cinque Terre card. More about it here. Both cards can be bought in the tourist info center in the train station in 5 villages and La Spezia. There is also a boat service with daily ticket €30 but they stop operating after 7pm. Timetable here
La Spezia
La Spezia is located right on the border between Liguria and Tuscany not far from Cinque Terre, Pisa and Florence. It is the ideal starting-point for those who want to make day trips by train to Cinque Terre.
From Pisa we drove thru to La Spezia to return the car to Hertz office and continue by train to Manarola. Hertz office was already closed when we reached La Spezia, so we parked in front of their office and drop the car key in the box. I made a mistake when looking at Google map. I thought train station was within walking distance from Hertz office but apparently it was a bus station which I mistakenly thought as the train station. Taxi was nowhere to be seen and my Taxi apps didn’t work in La Spezia. We found a bus stop nearby which go to the train station. So I strolled the street to find a Tobbaco store which sells bus ticket and luckily found them.
There are trains running frequently from La Spezia all year round to the Cinque Terre villages. Train from La Spezia to Manarola was only 11 minutes away with 1 stop in Riomaggiore and left every 15-30 minutes until 8 pm. We couldn’t find a monitor to see our train’s platform and the tourist information office had a long queue. I have installed Trenitalia apps in my mobile phone and it came in handy as I could see from the apps which platform would our train be coming.
Manarola
Manarola is what I think the most charming village out of the five villages. When you browse for Manarola pictures you can see its colorful houses perched on a hill overlooking the sea, its narrow alleys and stairways, and its beautiful harbor The village is also known for its famous Via dell’Amore (Lover’s Lane), a romantic cliffside walkway that connects Manarola to the neighboring village of Riomaggiore.
Manarola’s vibrant colors are said to date back to the 16th century when fishermen used them to distinguish their houses from the sea. Today, the village’s vibrant colors make it a popular destination for tourists who come to enjoy its beautiful scenery, delicious seafood, and wine.
We reached Manarola late afternoon and we we planned to stay for 2 nights. One of the best thing about summer trip was the long daylight. So after resting and freshen up we can still explore the Village before the sun went down.
Here’s what you can do in Manarola:
Visit the Church of San Lorenzo:
This church, built in the 14th century, is located in the center of town. It features a beautiful rose window and some impressive artwork.
Explore the town:
Manarola is a picturesque town with colorful buildings and narrow streets. Take a walk around the town and explore the shops, restaurants, and cafes.
Hike the Cinque Terre:
Manarola is a great starting point for hiking the Cinque Terre. The trails are well-marked and offer stunning views of the coastline. Sadly, the hiking track which connected the 5 villages were still closed to the landslides when we were there.
Swim in the sea:
Manarola has a swimming hole in between the rocks, perfect for swimming and sunbathing. The water is crystal clear and the views are stunning. I took a dip in the morning and the water felt refreshing and surprisingly not too cold in end of June. There was a stair installed in the swimming area to make it easier for people to swim. Hubby and kids did not want to join me because the water was deep and they were not comfortable floating. In the afternoon you could see people jumping from the rock for adrenaline and pictures.
Visit Nessun Dorma:
Nessun Dorma is a wine bar located on a terrace overlooking the town. It offers spectacular views and a great selection of local wines.
Take a boat tour:
Take a boat tour from Manarola to explore the coastline and the other towns in the Cinque Terre.
Try the local cuisine:
Manarola is known for its delicious seafood and pesto. Try some of the local dishes in one of the many restaurants in town.
We dined in Marina Piccola near the port after it got dark and had a really nice seafood dinner to fill up the calories lost from walking up and down the stairs. Everybody were happy ❤️
When the sun down, Manarola turned quiet as all the day trippers left and we retreat back to our apartment with happy tummy.
Riomaggiore
Riomaggiore is the second Village we visited and is the biggest of the five and offer more accommodation. Airbnbs are only available in this village. It even had a luggage service (there was a car which go back and forth transporting people suitcases) and I saw a shuttle which carries people to the top of the villages and see the church.
What to do in Riomaggiore
Visit the Castle:
The castle, built in the 13th century, is perched on a hill overlooking the sea. Climb up to the top of the castle for panoramic views of the town and the surrounding coastline.
Walk along the Marina:
The Marina is a charming harbor in Riomaggiore. Take a stroll along the harbor and admire the colorful boats and the beautiful views.
Explore the town:
Riomaggiore is a picturesque town with colorful buildings and narrow streets. Take a walk around the town and explore the shops, restaurants, and cafes.
Swim in the sea:
Riomaggiore has a small beach, perfect for swimming and sunbathing. The water is crystal clear and the views are stunning.
Hike the Cinque Terre:
Riomaggiore is a great starting point for hiking the Cinque Terre. The trails are well-marked and offer stunning views of the coastline. Sadly, the hiking track which connected the 5 villages were still closed to the landslides when we were there.
Visit the Church of San Giovanni Battista:
This church, built in the 14th century, is located in the center of town. It features beautiful stained-glass windows and impressive artwork.
Try the local cuisine:
Riomaggiore is known for its delicious seafood and pesto. Try some of the local dishes in one of the many restaurants in town.
Monterosso
Monterosso is probably the most touristy and the only village with a flat area. If you don’t want to deal with elevated road and stairs, stay here. It is also the most family friendly Village and has more accommodations and restaurants.
What you can do in Monterosso
Visit the beach:
Monterosso has a long, sandy beach which is perfect for sunbathing, swimming, and relaxing. The beach is split into two parts, the old town beach and the Fegina beach. Monterosso even has its own beach club. Stella Marina Beach Club was opened at the beginning of the 80s and was born out of a collaboration between two authentic sons of Monterosso, Bruno and Adriano, and their wives, Wilma and Catharina – both Dutch.
You have to pay to sit under the umbrella and sun loungers at the beach bar. They can get fully booked in summer so good idea to reserve first by calling them. There is also a changing room and cold shower for after swimming. And for a fee you can also have a hot shower. It turned out to be more convenient than I thought. Hubby and kids went swimming on Monterosso beach. I felt such an idiot for being too lazy to bring my wet swimming suit and thought I was content as I already had a morning swim.
Explore the Old Town:
The old town of Monterosso is a maze of narrow streets and colorful buildings. Take a stroll through the streets and explore the shops, restaurants, and cafes.
Hike the Cinque Terre:
Monterosso is the starting point for the famous Cinque Terre hike. You can hike the entire trail or just a portion of it. Sadly, the hiking track which connected the 5 villages were still closed to the landslides when we were there. However Monterosso – Vernazza track was open and took around 2 hours to complete.
Visit the Church of San Giovanni Battista:
This church is located in the old town and is known for its beautiful black and white stripes. The church also has some impressive artwork inside.
Taste local cuisine:
Ligurian cuisine is known for its fresh seafood, pesto, and focaccia. Try some of the local dishes in one of the many restaurants in Monterosso.
Visit the Capuchin Monastery:
The Capuchin Monastery is a peaceful retreat located on the hill above the old town. The monastery has a beautiful garden and offers stunning views of the town and the sea.
Enjoy the nightlife:
If you are staying in Monterosso, you can enjoy Monterosso lively nightlife scene, with many bars and clubs staying open late into the night.
Vernazza
I think Vernazza is the second most beautiful after Manarola. I was very subjective here because I found that staying in Vernazza would actually be more convenient for family because (1) they have left luggage service (2) baggage service aka porter and (3) they have elevator in their train station OMG.
Vernazza has more flat area Vs Manarola and is actually more family friendly and a better option to stay is you still want to have the vibe of the authentic Cinque Terre village but don’t want to deal with the handfull of stairs.
What to do in Vernazza
Visit the Doria Castle:
The castle, built in the 15th century, is perched on a cliff overlooking the sea. Climb up to the top of the castle for spectacular views of the town and the sea.
Stroll around the harbor:
Vernazza’s harbor is one of the most picturesque in the region. Take a walk around the harbor, take some photos and enjoy the views.
Swim in the sea:
Vernazza has a small beach, perfect for swimming and sunbathing. If you’re feeling adventurous, you can also jump off the rocks into the sea.
Hike the Cinque Terre:
Vernazza is a great starting point for hiking the Cinque Terre. The trails are well-marked and offer stunning views of the coastline. Sadly, the hiking track which connected the 5 villages were still closed to the landslides when we were there. However Monterosso – Vernazza track was open and took around 2 hours to complete.
Try the local cuisine:
Vernazza is known for its delicious seafood and pesto. Try some of the local dishes in one of the many restaurants in town.
Visit the Church of Santa Margherita di Antiochia:
This church, built in the 13th century, is located in the center of town. It features a beautiful rose window and some impressive artwork.
Watch the sunset:
Vernazza has some of the most beautiful sunsets in the region. Head to the harbor or the castle to watch the sun go down over the sea.
We only get to explore 3 Villages in one day and to be honest is a stretch. We had to skip Corniglia as we didn’t have enough time and I wished we had stay for a day longer. If you have time, rather than visiting Cinque Terre as a day trip stay for few nights at one one the Village and have at least 2 full days to really enjoy Cinque Terre.
