Best Places To Visit in Cinque Terre, Italy’s Colorful Towns

Cinque Terre is one of the most picturesque destinations in Italy, attracting visitors in search of a coastal getaway with scenic views and rustic charm, and this guide to the best places to visit in Cinque Terre shows you around these charming towns in Italy’s north.

Cinque Terre means Five Lands in Italian. The best places to visit in Cinque Terre comprise a cluster of five colorful fishing villages perched along the Ligurian Sea that were added to the UNESCO World Heritage Site list in 1997.

Each town has its own unique personality. Unlike the glitzy resort towns of the Amalfi Coast, where luxury hotels, high-end designer boutiques, and fine-dining restaurants abound, things are simpler in Cinque Terre. You’re more likely to find simple guesthouses, local shops, and family-run trattorias in this part of Italy.

Aside from the five villages, other seaside towns along the Italian Riviera are also worth a visit, easily reachable from Cinque Terre. These include Levanto, Portovenere, and Portofino.

In this guide, you’ll find out the best places to visit in Cinque Terre and around. We’re sure that, by the end of this article, you’ll want to add them to your Italy itinerary.

Why Visit Cinque Terre

Cinque Terre is the perfect destination for every type of traveler. If you’re interested in active adventures, you can hike between the five villages on scenic hiking trails or go swimming in the clear blue waters of the Ligurian Sea.

For foodies, you can learn how to make the local specialty, pesto, in a cooking class, dig into fresh seafood at a trattoria, or go wine tasting at the vineyards in the steep hills above the Cinque Terre villages.

For photographers, Cinque Terre is a visual dream, with its rainbow-hued houses and seaside views. 

Best Time To Visit Cinque Terre

Summer is the most popular time to visit Cinque Terre, but it can get crowded. Late spring (especially May) and fall (September and October) are perfect times of year to visit Cinque Terre for nice weather and lower crowds. Winter is the chilly off-season in Cinque Terre, and tends to be very quiet.

How To Get Around Cinque Terre

It’s easy to travel in the Cinque Terre region, with a train running between all five towns. Each town is just a few minutes from the last, making it a quick journey by train.

Driving, on the other hand, isn’t recommended because it’s all done on narrow, winding roads. There’s limited car access in the Cinque Terre towns, and it’s even more difficult to find a place to park, so traveling by train is definitely the best option here.

Best Places To Visit in Cinque Terre: The Five Villages

The five villages that make up Cinque Terre are all worth a visit. Although some ambitious travelers attempt to visit all five villages on a day trip, that’s a recipe for feeling rushed. The best way to experience Cinque Terre is to spend at least two full days there.

Staying overnight will give you more time to explore the villages and to immerse yourselves in activities like hiking, taking a boat tour, or wine tasting. You can enjoy each of the five villages in the quiet mornings, and in the evening after the day trippers have departed.

Here’s a look at the best things to do in each of the five villages.

Monterosso al Mare

Monterosso al Mare is the largest of the five villages in Cinque Terre. It feels a little different from the other four villages, with flatter terrain and a wide, sandy beach.

Since none of the other towns of Cinque Terre have proper sandy beaches, Monterosso al Mare is the best place to use as a base if you’re looking for a beach getaway.

Aside from hitting the beach, it’s also a great location for water activities, including boat trips, kayaking, or paddle-boarding. If you want to get out on the water, this is the place to do it.

Being larger than the other villages, Monterosso al Mare is a great place to stay in Cinque Terre for a wider variety of hotels, restaurants, and other services.

Highlights of Monterosso al Mare

The highlight of Monterosso al Mare is definitely its beach. The main beach in town has sandy shores where you can wade into the clear blue waters of the Ligurian Sea.

There’s a free and paid section of the beach. The paid area has iconic orange-and-green beach umbrellas and lounge chairs for rent. There’s also a beachfront promenade lined with lively cafés.

Monterosso al Mare is also where you can begin the Blue Path (Sentiero Azzurro), the hiking trail that connects all five villages. Spanning about 7.5 miles, this path winds along the coastal hills and cliffs between each Cinque Terre village, finishing in Riomaggore. 

If you’re up for a challenging day hike, you can do the entire Blue Path. If you’re looking for something easier, though, the first segment from Monterosso al Mare to Vernazza is a popular route. This hike is 2.2 miles and offers breathtaking views of the surrounding scenery.

Vernazza

Next up, Vernazza is often considered one of the most beautiful villages. Just a short uphill walk from the waterfront, you can discover a stunning viewpoint that offers a sweeping panorama of the town’s candy-colored houses and boat-filled harbor, with a backdrop of the Ligurian Sea.

Aside from its gorgeous vistas, Vernazza also has plenty of restaurants, cafés, souvenir shops, boutiques, and art galleries that you can explore. There’s something new to discover around every corner on the hilly cobblestoned streets of this picturesque town.

Highlights of Vernazza

Although it’s a compact little town, you can easily spend hours in Vernazza without running out of things to do. One of the highlights here is Dorio Castle, a medieval fortress built on a rocky outcrop overlooking the sea. It’s worth a visit to take in great views and learn more about the area’s history.

Vernazza doesn’t have a real beach like Monterosso al Mare. Instead, there’s just a rocky harbor, which is usually occupied by a colorful array of local fishing boats. However, there’s a popular swimming spot with a small pebbled beach, just a short walk away.

Corniglia

As the only Cinque Terre village without direct access to the sea, Corniglia is often overlooked by travelers who skip it in favor of the other towns. However, if you make the effort to visit Corniglia, you’ll definitely be rewarded by this charming little village.

Each of the five villages in Cinque Terre is connected by train, but Corniglia is the only stop where the train doesn’t let you off near the center of town. Instead, you’ll have to climb 382 steep steps from the Corniglia train station up to the town, or take a shuttle bus.

Once you reach the top, though, you’ll receive a welcome respite in Corniglia. As the smallest village, it feels quieter than the rest, offering a more local, authentic atmosphere.

Highlights of Corniglia

There’s not much to do in Corniglia in terms of sightseeing, but it’s the perfect place to slow down and enjoy a meal in a terraced café with a beautiful view of the sea, or shop for local olive oil and handmade souvenirs in one of the small shops dotting the narrow streets.

You can also tour the terraced vineyards of Corniglia to learn more about the wine industry here, or enjoy sampling some local wine in one of the village’s cozy wine bars.

Manarola

Along with Vernazza, Manarola is one of the jewels of Cinque Terre. This colorful town offers postcard-perfect views of its pastel houses with a backdrop of the sea. The most famous viewpoint in Manarola is located just a few minutes from the center of town and the harbor, up on the coastal path that looks back towards the town.

Beyond its exceptional views, Manarola has plenty of cafés, restaurants, and shops to check out. It’s also a nice place to stay if you’re looking for a romantic atmosphere.

At the harbor, you’ll often find many people swimming. Manarola’s rocky harbor usually isn’t filled with boats like the harbors in Vernazza or Riomaggiore, making it popular with swimmers. There are also large rocks and cliffs that more adventurous visitors use to jump into the sea.

Highlights of Manarola

From Manarola, you can walk along the famous Path of Love, which is the easiest segment of the Blue Path connecting all five towns. This stretch, from Manarola to Riomaggiore, is just 0.6 miles long and fully paved. If you’re looking for an easy, scenic walk, this is the perfect option.

Manarola is another town that’s good for wine tasting. You can tour the vineyards located in the hills above the town and sample local wines. Cinque Terre is best known for its dry white wines, as well as Sciacchetra, a sweet dessert wine.

Riomaggiore

The southernmost of Cinque Terre’s villages is Riomaggiore. Much like the other towns, Riomaggiore was once a quiet fishing village that has been transformed into a popular tourist destination. The fishing heritage is especially evident here, with the town centered around the harbor.

Fishing boats still fill the small harbor, while colorful houses are stacked steeply all around it, connected by hilly, narrow alleys. This is another great town for photographers, with spectacular views around every corner.

Highlights of Riomaggiore

Riomaggiore is a good place for water activities like kayaking and paddle-boarding. It’s also the departure point for many boat tours in the area, including those that visit Portovenere, the lesser-known Sixth Village of Cinque Terre. 

Although Riomaggiore doesn’t have a proper beach, there’s a cove just off the harbor that’s a popular spot for swimming. You’ll also see people sunbathing on the rocks here on a warm summer’s day.

Best Places To Visit in Cinque Terre: Beyond The Five

Beyond the five villages of Cinque Terre, there are several other destinations that you can combine into a trip to the Italian Riviera. Levanto, Portovenere, and Portofino all fit well with a visit to Cinque Terre.

Here are the best things to do in each of these additional destinations.

Levanto

Located directly to the north of Cinque Terre, Levanto is a laid-back coastal town with all of the charm of Cinque Terre, but a fraction of the crowds. It’s also much less expensive. If you want to get more of a local experience, Levanto should definitely be on your itinerary.

If you’re visiting Cinque Terre during the summer high season, staying in Levanto can even be an excellent way to save money and avoid the crowds. It’s just a five-minute train ride from Monterosso al Mare, giving you easy access to the villages of Cinque Terre.

Highlights of Levanto

The biggest highlight of Levanto is its beach. The main beach in town is very large; much larger than the beach in Monterosso al Mare, the only town in Cinque Terre with a real beach. Much of the beach here is public, but there are also private areas with umbrellas and lounge chairs available to rent.

For hikers, there’s also a great trail from Levanto to Monterosso al Mare. It’s about five miles long and fairly challenging, but it offers rewarding views. Unlike the paths of the Blue Trail, which require you to purchase the Cinque Terre Card to access them, this trail is free.  

Portovenere

Portovenere is sometimes referred to as the Sixth Village of Cinque Terre. Situated to the south of the five villages, it is a little trickier to get to, which means it doesn’t receive as many tourists. If you’re visiting during the busy summer months, Portovenere can be a respite from the crowds.

From Cinque Terre, you can take the train to the larger town of La Spezia. Then from La Spezia, it’s a 30-minute bus ride to Portovenere. Another option is taking the ferry. The ferry runs most frequently during the peak season of summer, with reduced service at other times of the year.

Highlights of Portovenere

Portovenere is an especially beautiful destination, with colorful houses lining the waterfront and imposing medieval fortifications dating back to the early years of the Republic of Genoa. Given its position on the tip of a peninsula, Portovenere was a strategic stronghold for centuries.

There are several beaches in Portovenere, as well as Lord Byron’s Grotto, a picturesque swimming spot that allegedly inspired the English Romantic poet when he visited in the early 19th century.

You can also walk out to the San Pietro Church, situated on a rocky outcrop, which was constructed over the ruins of an ancient pagan temple. From here, you can take in the best views of the sea and three small, nearby islands: Palmaria, Tino, and Tinetto.

Portofino

One more Italian Riviera destination that you can visit in combination with Cinque Terre is Portofino. If you’re looking for a more upscale seaside enclave, Portofino is the place to go.

Although there are visual similarities with Cinque Terre, such as the rainbow-colored buildings and coastal vistas, Portofino has a distinctly different atmosphere that leans more high-end.

Once a sleepy fishing village, Portofino transformed into a desirable destination as early as the late 19th century. It rose to fame in the 1950s and 1960s as a playground for the rich and famous. These days, it’s more common to see luxury yachts in the Portofino harbor than fishing boats.

Portofino is further from Cinque Terre, but still easy to get to. There’s no direct train to Portofino, so the fastest option is to jump on a train to Santa Margherita Ligure, then take a 15-minute bus ride to Portofino.

Depending on where you’re coming from in Cinque Terre, the total journey can take between one and one and a half hours. Taking the ferry boat from Levanto or La Spezia is also a possibility.

Highlights of Portofino

On a visit to Portofino, you should spend some time strolling the scenic waterfront promenade, which is lined with designer boutiques, art galleries, and cafés. It’s the perfect place to window-shop and soak up the Italian Riviera glamour.

If you’re looking to splurge, lunch or dinner at one of Portofino’s chic restaurants is a good option. Alternatively, you can just sit at an outdoor café with a cappuccino and people-watch.

You can also walk ten minutes from the center of town to Castello Brown, a historic fortress that offers an iconic view of Portofino’s colorful town and harbor.

Discover The Charms of Cinque Terre With JayWay

Italy’s Cinque Terre is a delightful destination that combines stunning scenery, cosmopolitan towns, the most picturesque villages, and amazing views of the sea. This part of Italy is worth exploring on your next European adventure, and we’d love to make your trip truly unique.

Here at JayWay, we know Italy quite well, and we’ll make sure your trip to Cinque Terre is one to remember. Leave it in our expert hands to show you around the best places to visit in Cinque Terre in the most hassle-free and exciting way. Get in touch soon because your Cinque Terre itinerary awaits!