Free things to do · Cinque Terre · Italy
9 free things to do in Cinque Terre
Cinque Terre without the ticket prices: sights, walks and views that cost nothing.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: This Photo was taken by Timothy A. Gonsalves . Feel free to use my photos, but please ment, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
You can fill at least 3 days in Cinque Terre without paying an entry fee: Vernazza harbour, Manarola and Punta Bonfiglio, Riomaggiore and Monterosso old town and Fegina are all free. Stay in La Spezia or Levanto, where hotels cost much less than in the villages and trains take only a few minutes.
Key facts
- Free sights in this guide
- 9
- Low-cost extras
- 5
- Cost level
- Expensive
- Lowest hotel prices
- January–February
Free sights and experiences
Waterfront · Vernazza
1.Vernazza harbour
For the postcard shot, walk a few minutes up the Sentiero Azzurro towards Corniglia and look back down on the harbour.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Photo spot
- Free
- Couples
- Views
Viewpoint · Manarola
2.Manarola and Punta Bonfiglio
Arrive an hour before sunset to find a spot on the path, and stay for dinner once the day-trippers have caught their trains.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Views
- Photo spot
- Couples
- Free
Neighbourhood · Riomaggiore
3.Riomaggiore
Take the path along the rocks just south of the harbour for the best view back at the village, especially in evening light.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Photo spot
- Free
- Views
- History
Neighbourhood · Monterosso al Mare
4.Monterosso old town and Fegina
The tunnel and seafront path between the old town and Fegina take five minutes; base yourself here if you want proper beach time.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- Kids
- Free
- Outdoors
- History
Neighbourhood · Corniglia
5.Corniglia and the Lardarina
Take the shuttle bus up and walk down the steps, which face the sea for the whole descent.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Views
- Free
- Active
- Photo spot
Nature · Manarola
6.Vineyard trail via Volastra
Do the steep climb in the morning shade, and pause in Volastra's tiny square before the level stretch.
- Time needed
- 2.5–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Active
- Nature
- Views
- Outdoors
- Off the beaten path
- Free
Religious site · Riomaggiore
7.Madonna di Montenero sanctuary
Walk up in the cool of the morning and come back down to Riomaggiore for lunch.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours round trip
- Cost
- Free
- Views
- Active
- Off the beaten path
- Free
- Nature
Religious site · Monterosso al Mare
8.Madonna di Soviore sanctuary
Allow about 1.5 hours to walk up; you can return the same way or by the local bus.
- Time needed
- 3 hours round trip
- Cost
- Free
- Active
- Views
- Off the beaten path
- Free
- History
Experience · Levanto
9.Levanto–Bonassola–Framura cycle path
Pack swimwear: side paths lead down to small beaches between the tunnels.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Kids
- Active
- Outdoors
- Free
- Off the beaten path
Free sights by area
| Area | Free sights | Time needed |
|---|---|---|
| Vernazza | Vernazza harbour | 1–2 hours |
| Manarola | Manarola and Punta Bonfiglio and Vineyard trail via Volastra | 1–2 hours + 2.5–3 hours |
| Riomaggiore | Riomaggiore and Madonna di Montenero sanctuary | 1–2 hours + 2–3 hours round trip |
| Monterosso al Mare | Monterosso old town and Fegina and Madonna di Soviore sanctuary | Half a day + 3 hours round trip |
| Corniglia | Corniglia and the Lardarina | 1–2 hours |
| Levanto | Levanto–Bonassola–Framura cycle path | 2–3 hours |
Worth a small ticket
Nature · Monterosso al Mare
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.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours per stretch
- Cost
- Low cost
- Active
- Views
- Outdoors
- Nature
- Iconic
Landmark · Riomaggiore
Via dell'Amore
Check the national park's website for the current access arrangements before you plan your day around it.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- Couples
- Views
- Iconic
- Photo spot
Castle · Vernazza
Castello Doria, Vernazza
Go up late in the afternoon, when the harbour is in shadow and the coast towards Monterosso is lit.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- Views
- History
- Kids
- Photo spot
Gallery · La Spezia
Museo Amedeo Lia
A good rainy-day alternative to the villages, a short walk from La Spezia Centrale station.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Art
- Rainy day
- Off the beaten path
Museum · La Spezia
Naval Technical Museum
Combine it with a walk along the seafront gardens and the Passeggiata Morin promenade nearby.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Kids
- Rainy day
- History
More ways to save
- Stay in La Spezia or Levanto, where hotels cost much less than in the villages and trains take only a few minutes.
- Buy the Cinque Terre card only for days when you hike or make several train hops; on other days use single tickets.
- Higher vineyard and sanctuary trails are free and often quieter than the paid coastal path.
- Lunch on focaccia, farinata and fruit from village shops, and save restaurants for dinner.
- Visit in May or late September for lower prices and smaller crowds than in July and August.
- Carry a refillable bottle; tap water is safe and accommodation will usually refill it.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Cinque Terre expensive to visit?
Cinque Terre is expensive for most visitors, but 9 of its best-known sights are free, which makes a tight budget workable.
+What is the best free thing to do in Cinque Terre?
Vernazza harbour: For the postcard shot, walk a few minutes up the Sentiero Azzurro towards Corniglia and look back down on the harbour.