3 days in Cinque Terre

Day by day

1. Day 1: Vernazza harbour and Castello Doria, Vernazza

   Vernazza harbour, Castello Doria, Vernazza and Manarola and Punta Bonfiglio, then Sunset at Punta Bonfiglio in the evening.

   1. Morning

      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.

   2. Late morning

      Castello Doria, Vernazza

      Go up late in the afternoon, when the harbour is in shadow and the coast towards Monterosso is lit.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Trofie al pesto

      Every trattoria in the villages; look for pesto made 'al mortaio' (in a mortar).

   4. Afternoon

      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.

   5. Evening

      Sunset at Punta Bonfiglio

      Watch the light fade over Manarola's tower houses from the headland path north of the harbour.

2. Day 2: Sentiero Azzurro (Blue Path) and Monterosso old town and Fegina

   Sentiero Azzurro (Blue Path), Monterosso old town and Fegina and Madonna di Soviore sanctuary, then Via dell'Amore in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Sentiero Azzurro (Blue Path)

      Walk Monterosso to Vernazza early in the morning in that direction, so you finish with the view down onto Vernazza's harbour.

   2. Late morning

      Monterosso old town and Fegina

      Monterosso's old town has the black-and-white striped Church of San Giovanni Battista, an oratory of a medieval confraternity and a hill crowned by a Capuchin convent, while the Fegina seafront has the longest beach in the Cinque Terre.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Focaccia

      Bakeries and focaccerie in every village and in La Spezia; buy it by the slice.

   4. Afternoon

      Madonna di Soviore sanctuary

      Allow about 1.5 hours to walk up; you can return the same way or by the local bus.

   5. Evening

      Via dell'Amore

      Walk the cliff-cut 'lovers' lane' between Riomaggiore and Manarola with the sea below.

3. Day 3: Via dell'Amore and Riomaggiore

   Via dell'Amore, Riomaggiore and Madonna di Montenero sanctuary, then Harbour dinner in Vernazza in the evening.

   1. Morning

      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.

   2. Late morning

      Riomaggiore

      Take the path along the rocks just south of the harbour for the best view back at the village, especially in evening light.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Monterosso anchovies

      Restaurants in Monterosso and Vernazza, especially in spring and early summer.

   4. Afternoon

      Madonna di Montenero sanctuary

      High on the ridge above Riomaggiore, at about 340 metres, this hilltop sanctuary has a terrace with one of the widest views in the area, from the Punta Mesco headland beyond Monterosso to the islands off Porto Venere.

   5. Evening

      Harbour dinner in Vernazza

      Book a table on Piazza Marconi and eat anchovies and pesto as the harbour lights come on.

Before you go

• Sentiero Azzurro (Blue Path): Buy a Cinque Terre Card (Trekking or Treno) online or at park offices before walking; staff check cards at the trailheads.

If it rains

• Swap in Museo Amedeo Lia (La Spezia): A good rainy-day alternative to the villages, a short walk from La Spezia Centrale station.
• Swap in Naval Technical Museum (La Spezia): Combine it with a walk along the seafront gardens and the Passeggiata Morin promenade nearby.

Where to stay for this itinerary

With 3 nights, Monterosso al Mare keeps most of this route within easy reach. For a calmer or cheaper base, Vernazza ($$$$) suits couples, first-timers and luxury. Compare every area.

Pace and daylight

The sights in this plan add up to roughly 14–19 hours of visiting over 3 days, before meals and getting between them. Daylight runs from about 8.9 hours in December to 15.5 hours in June, so in winter start early and keep museums for the afternoon.

More or fewer days

• One day in Cinque Terre
• 2 days in Cinque Terre

Questions travellers ask