Travel guide · Italy
Cinque Terre travel guide
Five cliff villages linked by trains, terraced vineyards and coastal paths
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Bruno Rijsman, CC BY-SA 2.0
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Quick answer
The Cinque Terre are five villages — Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore — strung along a short, steep stretch of the Ligurian coast between Levanto and La Spezia. Inscribed by UNESCO in 1997 together with Porto Venere and its islands, and protected as a national park since 1999, they are linked by a frequent local train and by footpaths through terraced vineyards built up over centuries. The villages are car-free for visitors, small and very popular in summer. Plan 3 days for a first visit; the best months are May–June and September–October.
Key facts
- Country
- Italy
- Best time to visit
- May–June and September–October
- Ideal stay
- 3 days
- Main airports
- PSA, GOA, FLR
- Mid-range daily budget
- $180–$320 per person (estimate)
- Known for
- Five cliff villages, Sentiero Azzurro, Pesto and Focaccia
Why visit Cinque Terre
- Five pastel villages, each with its own harbour or cliff-top setting, are linked by trains just a few minutes apart.
- Footpaths such as the Sentiero Azzurro and higher vineyard trails offer some of the most scenic coastal walking in Italy.
- Ligurian cooking — pesto, focaccia, Monterosso anchovies and local white wine — is at its freshest here.
- The terraced vineyards, held up by dry-stone walls built over centuries, form a UNESCO-listed cultural landscape.
- Porto Venere, Portofino, Pisa and Lucca are all within reach for day trips by train or boat.
Top things to do
The six sights most first-time visitors build a trip around. See all 16 things to do.
Waterfront · Vernazza
Vernazza harbour
Vernazza's harbour is the classic Cinque Terre view: a small cove of fishing boats ringed by pastel houses, with the church of Santa Margherita d'Antiochia at the water's edge and the round tower of the Doria castle above.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Photo spot
- Free
- Couples
- Views
Viewpoint · Manarola
Manarola and Punta Bonfiglio
Manarola's tower houses spill down to a harbour of rocks and boats, and the paved path north around the headland to Punta Bonfiglio, with a small park and the village cemetery above, gives the famous view back across the village.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Views
- Photo spot
- Couples
- Free
Nature · Monterosso al Mare
Sentiero Azzurro (Blue Path)
The classic coastal path links the villages through cliffs, olive groves and vineyards.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours per stretch
- Cost
- Low cost
- Active
- Views
- Outdoors
- Nature
- Iconic
Landmark · Riomaggiore
Via dell'Amore
The 'lovers' lane' between Riomaggiore and Manarola is a short, mostly level path cut into the cliffs during railway works in the early 20th century, with benches, padlocks and wide sea views.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- Couples
- Views
- Iconic
- Photo spot
Experience · Levanto to Porto Venere
Ferry along the Cinque Terre coast
From spring to autumn, ferries run along the coast between Levanto, Monterosso, Vernazza, Manarola, Riomaggiore, Porto Venere and La Spezia, stopping at every village except hilltop Corniglia.
- Time needed
- 2–5 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Views
- Couples
- Outdoors
- Iconic
Neighbourhood · Riomaggiore
Riomaggiore
The easternmost village rises up a steep valley from a slipway where fishing boats are hauled ashore.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Photo spot
- Free
- Views
- History
Where to stay
Monterosso al Mare is the easiest base for a first visit. Compare all 8 areas.
$$$ · Best for families, beach and first-timers
Monterosso al Mare
The largest village, with sandy beaches, the most hotels and the flattest streets
$$$$ · Best for couples, first-timers and luxury
Vernazza
Postcard harbour village with a castle tower and a tiny beach
$$ · Best for quiet stays, couples and budget
Corniglia
Hilltop village above the sea, the only one without a harbour
$$$$ · Best for couples and food lovers
Manarola
Vineyard-framed village tumbling down to a rocky harbour
What to eat
- Trofie al pesto — Short twisted pasta with pesto genovese: Ligurian basil pounded with garlic, pine nuts, olive oil, Parmigiano and pecorino, often with potatoes and green beans cooked with the pasta.
- Focaccia — Ligurian focaccia is thin and oily, with a salty, dimpled crust, eaten at breakfast dunked in cappuccino or as a snack; versions come topped with onions, olives or potatoes.
- Monterosso anchovies — Monterosso's anchovies are eaten fresh — fried, marinated in lemon, stuffed, or baked with potatoes and tomatoes as tegame alla vernazzana — and salted in jars to last the year.
- Farinata — A thin, crisp pancake of chickpea flour, water, olive oil and salt baked in a wood oven in large copper pans and served in wedges with black pepper.
- Stuffed mussels — La Spezia's stuffed mussels (muscoli in local dialect), filled with breadcrumbs, mortadella, egg, cheese and herbs and cooked in tomato sauce.
- Mesciua — A peasant soup from La Spezia of chickpeas, cannellini beans and spelt or wheat, finished with plenty of olive oil and black pepper; its name means 'mixture' in dialect.
When to go
The best months for the Cinque Terre are May, June, September and early October, when it is warm enough to swim, the trails are green or golden and crowds are smaller than in July and August. Midsummer is hot and packed, and from November to March many hotels and restaurants close and paths may be shut after storms.
| Season | Months | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Spring | March–May | Wildflowers and fresh green terraces, good hiking temperatures and Easter crowds; the sea is still cool. |
| Summer | June–August | Hot and very crowded, with the warmest sea; trains and trails are packed around midday. |
| Autumn | September–November | Warm sea, grape harvest and fewer visitors in September and October, then heavy rain and closures in November. |
| Winter | December–February | Quiet, mild and partly closed, with the Manarola light nativity and clear days for walking when the paths are open. |
Getting there and around
Pisa Airport (PSA) is the most convenient: the PisaMover shuttle links it to Pisa Centrale, from where trains reach La Spezia in about 1–1.5 hours. Genoa Airport (GOA) has a similar overall journey time to Levanto and Monterosso by bus and train, and Florence (FLR) is about 2.5–3 hours away by rail.
The villages are linked by the regional railway between Levanto and La Spezia, with trains every 15–30 minutes in season and journeys of a few minutes between villages. Footpaths connect them along the coast and through the vineyards, and ferries run from spring to autumn. Inside the villages everything is on foot.
Plan your days
Two days lets you visit all five villages by train and hike one stretch of trail. Three days adds a boat trip, a vineyard walk and time to swim; with longer, add Porto Venere, Portofino or Lucca.
Practical information
- Currency
- EUR
- Language
- Italian
- Plugs
- Type C, F and L sockets, 230 V, 50 Hz
- Tap water
- Tap water is safe to drink; carry a refillable bottle on the trails, where there are few places to buy water.
- Emergency number
- 112 (European emergency number)
- Tipping
- Tipping is not expected and a coperto is often charged; rounding up or leaving a few euros for good service is appreciated.
Trails are steep, narrow and slippery after rain: wear proper shoes, carry water and check the national park's trail status, as paths close after storms. Pickpockets operate on crowded trains and platforms in summer.
Flights to Cinque Terre
Questions travellers ask
+How many days do you need in Cinque Terre?
Two days lets you visit all five villages by train and hike one stretch of trail. Three days adds a boat trip, a vineyard walk and time to swim; with longer, add Porto Venere, Portofino or Lucca. How to split your days.
+When is the best time to visit Cinque Terre?
The best months for the Cinque Terre are May, June, September and early October, when it is warm enough to swim, the trails are green or golden and crowds are smaller than in July and August. Midsummer is hot and packed, and from November to March many hotels and restaurants close and paths may be shut after storms.
+What is Cinque Terre known for?
Five cliff villages, Sentiero Azzurro, Pesto, Focaccia, Terraced vineyards, Sciacchetrà wine and Monterosso anchovies. Five pastel villages, each with its own harbour or cliff-top setting, are linked by trains just a few minutes apart.
+Is Cinque Terre expensive?
Cinque Terre is expensive for international visitors: a mid-range trip costs roughly $180–$320 per person per day before flights (AMZBooking estimate). Costs and money-saving tips.
+Do you need a car in Cinque Terre?
No. The villages are closed to visitors' cars, parking is limited and costly, and trains are quicker. If you arrive by car, leave it in La Spezia or Levanto and continue by train.