How many days · Cinque Terre · Italy
How many days do you need in Cinque Terre?
A straight answer, then what each trip length really gets you.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Davide Papalini, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
3 days is the sweet spot for Cinque Terre, and 2 days is the minimum to see the main sights. 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.
Key facts
- Ideal
- 3 days
- Minimum
- 2 days
- Day trips available
- 7
- Daylight
- 8.9 h (Dec) to 15.5 h (Jun)
What each trip length gets you
| Trip | Pace | What you can see |
|---|---|---|
| 1 day | Rushed | Vernazza harbour, Manarola and Punta Bonfiglio, Sentiero Azzurro (Blue Path) and Via dell'Amore |
| 2 days | Good | Via dell'Amore, Ferry along the Cinque Terre coast and Riomaggiore |
| 3 days | Ideal | Monterosso old town and Fegina, Corniglia and the Lardarina and Castello Doria, Vernazza |
| 5 days | Relaxed | The highlights plus a day trip to Porto Venere and Palmaria |
| 7 days | Plenty | A slow trip with day trips such as Porto Venere and Palmaria and Portofino |
How long the top sights take
The 12 best-known sights in Cinque Terre add up to roughly 19–29 hours of visiting time — about 3–4 days at seven sightseeing hours a day, before travel between them and meals. The biggest time commitments are Ferry along the Cinque Terre coast (2–5 hours), Monterosso old town and Fegina (Half a day) and Vineyard trail via Volastra (2.5–3 hours).
| Sight | Time needed | Area |
|---|---|---|
| Vernazza harbour | 1–2 hours | Vernazza |
| Manarola and Punta Bonfiglio | 1–2 hours | Manarola |
| Sentiero Azzurro (Blue Path) | 1.5–2 hours per stretch | Monterosso al Mare |
| Via dell'Amore | 30 minutes | Riomaggiore |
| Ferry along the Cinque Terre coast | 2–5 hours | Levanto to Porto Venere |
| Riomaggiore | 1–2 hours | Riomaggiore |
| Monterosso old town and Fegina | Half a day | Monterosso al Mare |
| Corniglia and the Lardarina | 1–2 hours | Corniglia |
| Castello Doria, Vernazza | 30 minutes | Vernazza |
| Vineyard trail via Volastra | 2.5–3 hours | Manarola |
| Madonna di Montenero sanctuary | 2–3 hours round trip | Riomaggiore |
| Madonna di Soviore sanctuary | 3 hours round trip | Monterosso al Mare |
By type of trip
| Trip | Days | Why |
|---|---|---|
| First visit | 3 days | The main sights at a comfortable pace |
| Short break / repeat visit | 2 days | Focus on Vernazza harbour and Manarola and Punta Bonfiglio |
| With children | 4 days | Slower days and time for Monterosso old town and Fegina |
| With day trips | 5 days | Add Porto Venere and Palmaria and Portofino |
Daylight changes the maths
Sightseeing days are much shorter in December (about 8.9 hours of daylight) than in June (about 15.5 hours). In winter, allow an extra day or plan museum-heavy afternoons.
Ready-made itineraries
Combining Cinque Terre with other destinations
Questions travellers ask
+Is 2 days enough in Cinque Terre?
It covers the main sights at a brisk pace; 3 days is more comfortable. 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.
+Is a week too long in Cinque Terre?
No — a week leaves time for day trips such as Porto Venere and Palmaria and Portofino.