The Cinque Terre is the highlight of the Italian Riviera. A beautiful stretch of coastal towns and cities that inspired the production of the animated movie “Luca” by Pixar. The name literally means “five lands” or “five towns” and comprises the towns of Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore.
The Italian Riviera has much more to offer than the Cinque Terre alone, but it would be a shame to be in the area without visiting the renowned UNESCO World Heritage Site. They are unique and breathtaking, especially if it is your first time in Liguria!
The Cinque Terre is a national park and a national treasure. You will experience the seaside life and food, taste the wine made from vineyards grown in the rocky vertical slopes on hand dug terraces and get reconnected with nature. It is a truly fascinating experience.
There is no particular order to visit the towns and you have many options to move around. You can go from one town to the other by train, boat or by walking through the ancient footpaths. The train is the fastest option while the other two are the most spectacular. Keep in mind that car access in the area is restricted.
The Five Towns of Cinque Terre
Monterosso al Mare
Monterosso al Mare is the first town you’ll encounter if travelling from Genova. It is the typical Ligurian coastal town, with colorful buildings and a wide pebbled beach. Probably less scenic than the other four, you’ll find in Monterosso more shops, wineries, hotels and beach restaurants than elsewhere. If you want to enjoy the beach and seaside, this is the town for you.
There are beautiful footpaths that take you from Monterosso al Mare to Vernazza. Unfortunately, the coastal path just above the sea is not always open to the public, since it often undergoes repair works as it’s fully exposed to the seaside.
We would recommend taking the footpath that goes up into the hill before descending to Vernazza. The view is unmatched even though the path is quite demanding with a high slope requiring good physical condition and footwear.
Vernazza
You’ll fall in love with this gem built around a natural harbour. It probably is one of the last true fishing villages left in the Italian Riviera. There are many trails around the town that bring visitors to breathtaking observatory spots on the hill. Make sure you don’t miss them if you want to take that memorable instagram photo.
You can easily spend all afternoon in Vernazza, chilling by the rocky beach, drinking some local wine in one of the many bars in town or wandering around the tiny streets. There are some cliff diving spots as well if you are looking for some adrenaline rush.
Manarola
Like Vernazza, Manarola is nestled around the natural harbour that protected the villagers for centuries from the sea and invaders. The train station is connected to the town through a tunnel, hence don’t be surprised if the station looks like it’s in the middle of nowhere.
Wandering around the narrow streets of the town is quite unique. Fishing boats are “parked” everywhere, ready for the night fishing sessions. However, you will have to walk to the panoramic point just outside the town to get a breathtaking view of this jewel of Cinque Terre. Little colorful houses clustered above a rock, protecting the harbor for the ultimate postcard photo!
Corniglia
Unlike the other towns, Corniglia is on top of a hill overlooking the sea and does not have any beach access. A shuttle bus connects the town to the train station, the only fast way to reach the town centre.
While it is still charming, Corniglia doesn’t offer the magic the other towns have. It is a great location for a sunset drink at one of the many bars with terraces overlooking the sea. Try one of the many local aperitivo with focaccia, local wine and olives!
Riomaggiore
Riomaggiore is perhaps the biggest town in Cinque Terre. Here you can walk around the streets and get some street food. We particularly liked the ‘frittura’, a paper cone loaded with fried fish that is usually freshly caught by local fishermen.
There are many restaurants in Riomaggiore you can choose from, to explore the local cuisine. From Riomaggiore you can travel back to Monterosso by boat. The ferry is not that expensive and it allows you to admire all 5 towns on the coastline from the sea.
How to get to Cinque Terre
The easiest way to reach any of Cinque Terre’s towns is by train, with the local Genova – La Spezia line well served by frequent trains. All towns have a train station, even though sometimes they are located far from the centre, like those in Manarola and Corniglia.
If you fly in from abroad, the closest airport is Genova’s Cristoforo Colombo (GOA) and alternatively Milano Malpensa (MXP), both well connected to the railway.
There are also water buses available, used by the locals to commute from/to the Cinque Terre and nearby bigger cities. You should give the ferry boat a try because of the spectacular views of the towns along the coastline.
Moving around with a car may prove to be difficult. Indeed, the Cinque Terre is a national park and access by car is limited to residents only. If you wish to book a hotel in Cinque Terre and travel by car, we recommend asking for relevant information about parking options in advance.
Moving around Cinque Terre – Tips & Ideas
Staying in one of the towns is a great idea to enjoy their unique beauty. However, it is not a must, since there are many other cities around that deserve being visited.
An alternative idea is to stay outside the Cinque Terre, in towns such as Lerici, Sestri Levante or other coastal cities with better hotel availability, and explore the Cinque Terre on day-trips.
We stayed in Zoagli and did several trips to the Cinque Terre from there. We bought a two days Cinque Terre Treno Card on our first visit to Monterosso al Mare. The card includes unlimited train rides on the Levanto – Cinque Terre – La Spezia line, access to the most famous park trails and unlimited rides on local transportation for 48 hours from validation. There are also 24 and 72 hours options, depending on your needs.
There is also a cheaper Cinque Terre Trekking Card, that does not include the train rides.
We found the card useful, since it allows you to use public transportation with peace of mind. No queues to buy tickets, no hassle in finding a ticket booth, just hop-on the bus or train and go to your next destination.
