You’ve seen the photos. Rows of colorful houses stacked up around a tiny harbor, green hills and terraces rising up in the background. The Cinque Terre are a group of picturesque towns along Italy’s northern coast perfect for exploring on foot. In this post, I’ll explain how to visit Cinque Terre and plan your hiking adventure!
Overall Plan for Cinque Terre
The Cinque Terre (“Five Lands’) are a group of five towns along the coast of Italy’s northern region of Liguria. Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, and Riomaggiore are all linked by a series of hiking trails that have made the area famous.
The Cinque Terre is a place where you want to slow down and soak in the beauty of your surroundings. Plan to spend 2-3 nights in the area at a minimum. While it’s possible to day-trip in, hordes of people rushing into the towns can make them quite crowded during the daytime. You want to make the most of early and late hours by staying in one of the five towns.
The main activities to enjoy in Cinque Terre are hiking the stunning coastal hiking trails and exploring the characteristic towns. When you’re not hiking, you can use convenient trains and ferry boats to hop from place to place. Cinque Terre is also famous for its white wines and seafood, so plan on enjoying these Ligurian specialties when you visit!
Best Time to Visit Cinque Terre
Cinque Terre is a seasonal and weather-dependent destination. Make sure you choose the right time to visit.
Fall and Spring – Best Weather for Hiking
Cinque Terre is a hiker’s paradise, and the best time to enjoy the trails is in spring (late April to early June) or fall (September and October). I visited in late September, and it was great despite having a bit of rain. You may notice that most of my photos are cloudy.
In spring and fall, you’ll enjoy moderate weather with high temperatures typically in the 70s Fahrenheit. The crowds are somewhat less than summer, although the area still sees surges of crowds from cruise ships and weekend visitors. Rain is also a concern in spring and fall, so make sure to consider that when planning.
Summer – Best Weather for the Beach
Summer brings sunshine and high temperatures in the 80s Fahrenheit to Cinque Terre. If you are counting on a swim at the picturesque beaches of Monterosso, summer is your best bet. For hikers, you may need to plan on avoiding the scorching heat of the afternoons. The months of June, July, and August are also the most crowded, though only slightly more so than spring and fall.
Winter – Not the Best Weather
In the winter months of November through March, Cinque Terre basically closes up for the season. The weather becomes cold and rainy, with high temperatures in the 50s Fahrenheit. Some shops and restaurants shut their doors as the crowds die down. However, the flip side is that winter hikers can bundle up and have the trails almost to themselves.
Where to Stay in Cinque Terre
If you’re visiting the Cinque Terre, undoubtedly the best place to stay is in one of the five towns. It’s possible to base yourself in other cities nearby, but you’ll miss out on the magic of enjoying Cinque Terre in the early and late hours.
Choose Between the Five “Terre”
The towns of the Cinque Terre are more alike than they are different, so any of them make a fine choice as a home base. Which one is best depends heavily on your individual preferences. That said and at the risk of oversimplifying, here are a few pros and cons of each of the terre.
Monterosso (the one with the beach)
The biggest town of the Cinque Terre, Monterosso al Mare is also the most developed and resort-y of them all. It’s the only town with real beaches, so keep that in mind if you’re planning on a swim. Monterosso feels ready made for tourism, with lots of restaurants and bars. The town itself is also a bit flatter and comparatively less photogenic than neighboring towns. However, the hiking trail south from Monterosso to Vernazza is one of the most scenic sections.
Vernazza (the charming one)
With a postcard-perfect harbor and a main street lined with little restaurants, Vernazza is maybe the most charming town of the Cinque Terre. I’m biased because I stayed there, of course. Vernazza is situated between two amazing sections of the Blue Trail, making it a good home base for hiking. It’s easy to access Vernazza from a train station just uphill from the main square. The only downside is that crowds tend to roll in from the station and fill up the town during the middle of the day.
Corniglia (the laid-back one)
Corniglia is situated on high cliff above the sea, unlike its low-lying neighbors. It’s slightly less crowded and more laid back than other towns, with almost a “hidden gem” vibe. If you’re worried about the Cinque Terre crowds, the comparative quiet of Corniglia may be right for you. Corniglia is also high above its train station, but you can avoid the long trek uphill by taking a shuttle bus.
Manarola (the photogenic one)
With a rocky harbor below and terraced vineyards above, Manarola might be the most picturesque town of the Cinque Terre. There are numerous viewpoints to explore for avid selfie-takers and photographers. Manarola’s main street feels like a scaled up version of Vernazza’s, with tons of charm but similar issues of overcrowding. The town sits at the northern end of the newly opened Via dell’Amore, and overnight guests can gain two-way access to this beautiful trail.
Riomaggiore (the practical one)
Riomaggiore is the second largest town of Cinque Terre, with a solid amount of restaurants and bars. To be honest, I spent the least amount of time there, but that doesn’t mean you should! It’s the main entry point to the Via dell’Amore trail, which makes Riomaggiore arguably the best position for starting a hike. As with Manarola, overnight guests in Riomaggiore have special access. The town itself is also quite scenic with an Instagram-famous harbor. Plus it’s the closest town to La Spezia, the city where most train transfers stop.
Other Nearby Cities
If you can’t find accommodations in the Cinque Terre, it’s possible to stay in the nearby cities of La Spezia to the south or Levanto to the north. Either way, you’ll need to commute for about 20 min to get to the Cinque Terre by train. (More on that below.)
I do not recommend day tripping to Cinque Terre from cities like Florence or Rome that are far away. It’s not worth the hassle of several hours on a train, especially if you plan on joining one of the large tour groups that squeeze themselves into the little towns during the day. And from a sustainability perspective, it’s much better to visit other small towns closer to these incredibly popular cities.
Hiking in Cinque Terre
The best thing to do in Cinque Terre is to hike the coastal trails with their unbelievable views. The entire area of Cinque Terre is a national park (Parco Nazionale delle Cinque Terre) and has also been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site to protect this truly unique place.
Personally, I struggled with planning hikes in Cinque Terre because the trails are short and well maintained but quite challenging in terms of elevation change. So many stairs! Ah!
In all, the trail from Riomaggiore to Monterosso is about 7.5 mi (12 km) with at least 1600 ft (500 m) of elevation gain. This is possible to tackle in one day, however I wouldn’t recommend it. Instead, split your hike across 2 or more days to give yourself time to explore the towns along the way. Traversing the famous Blue Trail (Sentiero Azzurro) is an epic experience worth savoring.
Here’s a breakdown of each of the 4 sections of the Blue Trail with a few highlights.
Cinque Terre Trail Sections
Riomaggiore to Manarola (0.6 mi)
The seaside trail that connects Riomaggiore to Manarola is known as the Via dell’Amore, the Cinque Terre’s “Path of Love” that recently reopened! Stories tell of lovers coming from the two towns to meet in the middle where they watched the sunset and listened to waves crashing against the sea cliffs. The trail was closed after major landslides back in 2012 and finally reopened in 2024 after a massive renovation. The new Via dell’Amore is a fairly level, paved path built along the cliffs. You’ll need to buy a timed entry ticket to access this gorgeous trail (see below).
It’s also possible to hike the upper trail between Riomaggiore and Manarola via Beccara, about 1.5 km uphill and back down.
Manarola to Corniglia via Volastra (4 mi)
The lower trail between Manarola and Corniglia remains closed due to landslides. Hikers on the Blue Trail must detour along the high route through the hilltop village of Volastra, which adds a challenging ascent from Manarola (read: lots of stairs). The route is roughly 4 miles, depending on exactly which sections of trails you take. Don’t worry–signs will point you in the direction of Corniglia or Manarola regardless!
Though challenging, the trail eventually leads you to a lovely section of vineyards and a couple places to stop for a glass of wine with a view. I highly recommend doing so. There’s also a convenient mini-market right along the trail in Volastra.
Corniglia to Vernazza (2.5 mi)
The trail from Corniglia to Vernazza is absolutely gorgeous. You’ll stroll by vineyards, pass through groves of olive trees, and climb over old stone bridges. There are many postcard-perfect viewpoints where you see the towns Corniglia and Vernazza from afar. In other places, you feel totally surrounded by nature. It’s a hilly trek but completely worth the effort.
Vernazza to Monterosso (2.3 mi)
To be honest, I ran out of time and did not hike the section from Vernazza to Monterosso. Remember what I said about needing two days? Anyway, many hikers list this stretch of the trail as the most scenic, so you can bet the views are among the best. You’ll get views of Monterosso, which is unique among the Cinque Terre towns because it has a beach. As with previous sections, be prepared for steep ascents and descents.
Cinque Terre Hiking Passes
You’ll need to buy a pass to hike the Cinque Terre’s amazing Blue Trail during the tourist season (March 15th to November 3rd). The Cinque Terre Trekking Card costs €7,50 per day and can be purchased online via the national park website. You’ll get access to the trails, plus several extra benefits including free use of the park shuttle buses. Discounts are available for families and seniors–check out the official website for details.
Another option is the Cinque Terre Treno Card, which adds the benefit unlimited use of the regional trains in Cinque Terre. The train card has three price tiers depending on the demand level starting at €19,50. You can buy it online via the same official website. It may sound pricey, but the convenience of being able to hop on any of the trains is huge. Considering the train tickets are €5,00 each, you’ll end up saving money if you take more than two train rides in one day.
Via dell’Amore Tickets
To access the new Via dell’Amore trail, you’ll need to purchase an additional timed entry ticket. This “supplement” ticket is available through a separate website and costs €10,00. Yes, that’s a lot of money for a 1 km trail, but consider that the restoration of this trail took 12 years and 23 million euros to complete. Tickets are currently limited to 200 per time slot, so check out your preferred time in advance or plan to be flexible.
If you’re staying in Manarola or Riomaggiore, you can get preferred access to the Via dell’Amore! Book your tickets through the Via dell’Amore website to save a few euros and get two-way access to the path. (Note that Manarola is part of the municipality of Riomaggiore, so guests staying in either town are included.)
Cinque Terre Trail Safety
For trail information, you can stop at one of the national park welcome centers located at each of the towns’ train stations. The welcome centers are a perfect place to grab a trail map, ask for route advice, and make any last-minute purchases. They’re open 8 am to 8 pm.
On the website, you may notice many trail sections are labeled as “skilled.” It’s a good reminder that these steep, rocky trails require a certain level of respect. Only hike during daylight hours, wear appropriate shoes and clothing, and be sure to bring at least a water bottle. Check out my tips for visiting below for more specifics!
Getting Around Cinque Terre
Nearby Airports
If Cinque Terre is part of your longer Italy itinerary, two of the most logical cities to fly into are Milan or Florence. Both these cities have major international airports (MXP and FLR), and both involve a reasonable 2.5- to 3-hour train journey to Cinque Terre.
If you’re planning to go directly to Cinque Terre, there are closer airports in Pisa (1.5 hours by train) or Genoa (2 hours by train).
Trains
As you may have figured out by now, trains are the most efficient way to reach Cinque Terre and link between the five towns. If you’re coming from Florence or points south, most long distance trains stop in La Spezia. There, you’ll hop on the “milk run” regional train that stops at all the Cinque Terre towns. From Milan or points north, the route varies. There are some direct trains to Monterosso, some trains that change in Levanto, and some trains that change in Genova.
Once you’re in Cinque Terre, the regional train is pretty simple to use. It’s €5,00 per ride and trains come about every 15 minutes during the day/evening. You can buy a single fare at the ticket machines or via the user-friendly Trenitalia app. If you’re planning to use the trains a lot, consider the Cinque Terre Treno Card explained above.
A word of caution: mass tourism has put a huge strain on the Cinque Terre train system. Be careful on the train platforms and stay aware of the crowds. I once found myself squeezed in a huge crowd trying to push its way on to a train, which was a distressing experience!
Boats
The most scenic way to link Cinque Terre towns (besides walking) is by boat. Ferry boats regularly make the trip between each of the towns except Corniglia. If you’d like to take in the views without the hiking, these are your best bet.
It’s €42.50 for a day pass or around €10-15 for each one-way ticket, depending on the route. The ferry boats run seasonally from late March until early November. You can buy tickets online or by the docks.
There are also several companies that offer private boat cruises in the area.
Tips for Visiting Cinque Terre
- Crowd beating strategies – The Cinque Terre is really popular, and the little towns can feel absolutely packed with tourists. Consider planning your visit for a less busy time (early spring or late fall) and avoiding weekends. When you’re there, get up early and start your hikes before the crowds arrive! The towns are really enjoyable in the evening, when crowds die down and you get the amazing sunset light.
- Shoes for your hike – You need good shoes to hike in Cinque Terre. I managed okay wearing normal sneakers, but sandals will not work. In fact, open toed shoes are not allowed on the trails. Probably the best option would be trail running shoes, if you have them.
- Free hydration – Bring your water bottle! Each of the towns has free water fountains near the trail. These are fed by spring water and seriously refreshing.
- Cinque Terre wines – Cinque Terre is known for producing great wines, especially white wines. The most popular is Cinque Terre DOC, a dry white wine made from a blend of local grape varietals. You’ll also see some sweeter wines, such as a dessert wine called Sciacchetrà. Drink local!
- Eating in Cinque Terre – Restaurants in touristy Cinque Terre are a mixed bag. Many of the restaurants are overpriced or serving mediocre food, so check out Google reviews before you pick one. Seafood is a traditional favorite and usually a good bet, especially anchovies. For lunch, try some focaccia–it’s another staple of Ligurian cuisine.
