Cinque Terre Highlights: Tips for an Unforgettable Visit

This post contains affiliate links, meaning I may receive a commission if you make a purchase through my links, at no extra cost to you.

How to go to Cinque-Terre:

Train: You can easily come by train. It’s around only 2h30 from Florence, 4h from Rome and 5h from Venice. From Rome, you’ll need to take a highspeed train to Florence, either the Frecciarossa from Trenatalia or the one operated by Italo. Same from Venice. Then, from Florence, you’ll need a regional train to La Spezia Centrale.
Car: You can come by car if you stay in La Spezia or an other cities around Cinque-Terre. I don’t recommend visiting Cinque-Terre by car because the train between the cities is very practical, there’s not a lot of parking and the villages are along the coast on a cliff.

How to travel between the villages:

Take the train from La Spezia Centrale; it’s easy and fast, just 8 minutes to Riomaggiore and 23 minutes to Monterosso al Mare. Once you arrive in La Spezia or one of the villages, go to the tourism office at the train station and buy the Cinque Terre Train Card for the number of days that you’re going to take the train between the villages. The trains pass around 2 to 3 times per hour.
You can also take a ferry. It’s a bit longer, but you’ll have nice views of the coast. I took it from Monterosso to La Spezia to admire the coast. You can buy a ticket at the boat office on the same day. You’ll find the timetables here.

Where to stay:

If you want the more practical option, I recommand you stay in La Spezia, which is not one of the five villages. It’s near Cinque-Terre, easily accessible by train and full of good restaurants.
The villages are smaller so they have less options but you still can find beautiful appartments and some hotels principally in Monterosso. The prices are generally higher in the villages. Just don’t stay in Corniglia because there’s a lot of steps between the station and the village which is higher on the cliff then the others.
If you want to have a complete beach day, I would recommend you stay in Monterosso for the easy access.

How long to stay:

Personally, I recommend staying in the Cinque Terre for at least two full days (3 nights). If you want to do a day trip while you’re there, it’s better to stay for three full days.

What to do:

Sentiero Azzurro

There are hiking trails connecting the villages. Some parts of the trails are harder or longer than others; sometimes, some parts can be closed and some cost money, so I recommend you check in advance the different trails so you don’t have a bad surprise.
I did the trail from Vernazza to Monterosso; it was relatively easy and absolutely beautiful.
Be sure to choose your shoes carefully, as the paths can be steep and uneven.

You’ll find all the details on the different trails, inlcuding where to find the beginning of the trail in this site:
https://www.cinqueterre.eu.com/fr/situation-sentiers-cinque-terre

Via dell’amore trail

This is an easy, well-secured cliffside path where you can admire breathtaking views. Its entrance is located in Riomaggiore and leads to Manarola in 30 minutes. Please note that it is a one-way path and entry must be booked in advance at a cost of 10 euros. It just recently reopened, so don’t miss it!

Visit all the villages:

While there are some historic elements, visiting the villages is more about the landscapes; the sea, the vineyards along the cliffs, the colors, and the villages themselves. Don’t visit with a big checklist; come to appreciate the calm and charming vibe, to enjoy the incredible views. This is a perfect destination for outdoor lovers.

They all have their own uniqueness and deserve to be explored.

Riomaggiore: It’s the southernmost village. It is built in a very vertical fashion, with the colorful houses very close together. Don’t miss the beautiful viewpoints at Castello di Riomaggiore and Santuario della Madonna di Montenero, the end of the Cinque Terre. Walk the Via dell’Amore trail connecting Riomaggiore to Manarola, which opened back in 2024. It’s one km long and a popular trail for the beautiful views.

Manarola: It’s often considered the prettiest village, with all the colorful houses surrounded by grapevines and the blue water. While there’s not a true beach, you can find some places to go take a swim. You’ll find a great viewpoint at Manarola Punto panoramico.

Corniglia: It’s the only village not directly at the water’s edge. You have to climb 365 stairs, which makes it less touristy, more sereine. Once you arrive, take a delicious gelato at Alberto Gelateria to treat yourself and admire the views.

Vernazza: It’s absolutely beautiful. It’s a small village with only one large street and other narrow streets. Take some time for a delicious cappuccino and breathe the fresh air from the breathtaking piazza facing the water. You can visit the ruins of Castello di Vernazza for a nice viewpoint, but my favorite view is at the beggining of the trail between Vernazza and Monterosso. There’s also a very small beach so it can get pretty crowded.

Monterosso al Mare: It’s the biggest village and the least steep. It’s also the village with the most beautiful beaches, the ones in the other villages being more rocky. If you want a beach day, go here. You can also do a kayak and snorkeling tour around Monterosso. Check this tour for a unique experience :

Monterosso Kayak and Snorkeling Tour

Visit La Spezia

Take a walk near Centro Storico at the edge of the port including these points:
– Ponte Thaon di Revel 
– Parco Giardini Publici 
– Passeggiata Costantino Morin
Visit Castello San Giorgio : You can get a nice viewpoint from the castle. If you want history there’s also a museum that you can visit.

Eat: You absolutely HAVE to taste their pesto, focaccia and seafood. We ate a pesto and salmon focaccia in La Spezia and it was memorable. Also, take advantage of the more relaxed days here to enjoy the aperitivo.

Relax at the beach: There’s some beautiful beaches all along the Cinque Terre, but the best one are at Monterosso.

Boat tour: There’s nothing better for admiring the vastness of the villages than a boat tour along the coast. You can, of course, take the ferry, but if you want to treat yourself, there are sunset tours where you can relax and admire the beauty of nature while sipping a glass of prosecco.

Cinque Terre Sunset Boat Tour From Riomaggiore

Day trip to Portofino or Genova: If you want to stay a third day, you can take a day trip to one of the beautiful towns around, Portofino and Genova being some other popular ones. You can take the train from La Spezia Centrale or can chose a tour.

I hope you now have more inspiration for your next Italy trip!

If you have some time, help me improve my articles with comments! Thank you in advance!