Things to do · Cinque Terre · Italy
16 best things to do in Cinque Terre
16 sights and experiences ranked for a first visit, with honest notes on time, cost and crowds.
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
The essential sights in Cinque Terre are Vernazza harbour, Manarola and Punta Bonfiglio and Sentiero Azzurro (Blue Path). Of the 16 picks below, 9 are free, 2 work on a rainy day and 5 suit children. Allow about 3 days to see the highlights without rushing.
Key facts
- Top sight
- Vernazza harbour
- Free sights
- 9
- Good on a rainy day
- Museo Amedeo Lia
- Time to see the highlights
- 3 days
At a glance
| Sight | Area | Time needed | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vernazza harbour | Vernazza | 1–2 hours | Free |
| Manarola and Punta Bonfiglio | Manarola | 1–2 hours | Free |
| Sentiero Azzurro (Blue Path) | Monterosso al Mare | 1.5–2 hours per stretch | Low cost |
| Via dell'Amore | Riomaggiore | 30 minutes | Low cost |
| Ferry along the Cinque Terre coast | Levanto to Porto Venere | 2–5 hours | Mid-priced |
| Riomaggiore | Riomaggiore | 1–2 hours | Free |
| Monterosso old town and Fegina | Monterosso al Mare | Half a day | Free |
| Corniglia and the Lardarina | Corniglia | 1–2 hours | Free |
| Castello Doria, Vernazza | Vernazza | 30 minutes | Low cost |
| Vineyard trail via Volastra | Manarola | 2.5–3 hours | Free |
| Madonna di Montenero sanctuary | Riomaggiore | 2–3 hours round trip | Free |
| Madonna di Soviore sanctuary | Monterosso al Mare | 3 hours round trip | Free |
| Levanto–Bonassola–Framura cycle path | Levanto | 2–3 hours | Free |
| Museo Amedeo Lia | La Spezia | 1.5 hours | Low cost |
| Naval Technical Museum | La Spezia | 1–1.5 hours | Low cost |
| Wine tasting in the vineyards | Manarola | 1.5–2 hours | Mid-priced |
The 16 best things to do
Waterfront · Vernazza
1.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. Piazza Marconi, the harbour square, fills with café tables, and a tiny beach and the rocks are used for swimming.
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
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. People swim off the rocks below the harbour on calm summer days.
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
Nature · Monterosso al Mare
3.Sentiero Azzurro (Blue Path)
The classic coastal path links the villages through cliffs, olive groves and vineyards. The stretch from Monterosso to Vernazza, about two hours with many steep steps, has the most dramatic views; Vernazza to Corniglia is a little easier at about 1.5 hours. These paid sections require a Cinque Terre Card, and the park closes paths after heavy rain or when fire risk is high.
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
- Book ahead
- Buy a Cinque Terre Card (Trekking or Treno) online or at park offices before walking; staff check cards at the trailheads.
- Active
- Views
- Outdoors
- Nature
- Iconic
Landmark · Riomaggiore
4.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. It reopened in 2024 after more than a decade of landslide repairs, and access is managed by the national park.
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
Experience · Levanto to Porto Venere
5.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. Seeing the villages rise from the water is the best way to understand their setting, and a day ticket lets you hop on and off.
Heading north, sit on the right-hand side for the best views, and expect cancellations when the sea is rough.
- Time needed
- 2–5 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Views
- Couples
- Outdoors
- Iconic
Neighbourhood · Riomaggiore
6.Riomaggiore
The easternmost village rises up a steep valley from a slipway where fishing boats are hauled ashore. Climb the lanes to the church of San Giovanni Battista and the small castle for views over the rooftops, then walk down to the rocky marina for the classic view of tower houses stacked above the boats.
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
7.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. At its western end stands Il Gigante, a huge early 20th-century statue of Neptune damaged by war and storms but still gripping its rock.
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
8.Corniglia and the Lardarina
Corniglia perches on a headland high above the sea, reached from the station by the Lardarina, a brick staircase of 33 flights and almost 400 steps, or by a park shuttle bus. At the top, a small square, the Gothic church of San Pietro and the Belvedere di Santa Maria terrace look along the coast in both directions.
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
Castle · Vernazza
1.Castello Doria, Vernazza
The round medieval watchtower and ruined walls on the rock above Vernazza's harbour were built to watch for pirate raids and are among the oldest fortifications in the Cinque Terre. The climb is short but steep, and the top looks straight down onto the harbour and along the coast towards Monterosso.
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
Nature · Manarola
2.Vineyard trail via Volastra
A higher alternative to the coastal path climbs steeply from Manarola to the hamlet of Volastra, then runs almost level along the vineyard terraces, past dry-stone walls and the small monorail carts used at harvest time, before dropping into Corniglia. It takes about two and a half to three hours.
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
3.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. A steep path climbs from the village in about an hour, and a park shuttle bus goes part of the way.
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
4.Madonna di Soviore sanctuary
Regarded as the oldest Marian sanctuary in Liguria, Soviore is reached by an old cobbled mule track that climbs about 460 metres through woods from Monterosso. It has a plain stone church, a shady terrace with a simple restaurant and a view down over the whole coast.
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
5.Levanto–Bonassola–Framura cycle path
A former coastal railway line between Levanto, Bonassola and Framura has been converted into a flat path for walkers and cyclists, running mostly through old tunnels with openings onto coves and beaches. Bikes can be hired in Levanto, and the full route is about 5–6 km each way.
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
Gallery · La Spezia
6.Museo Amedeo Lia
In a former convent in central La Spezia, this museum displays a private collection donated to the city: Italian paintings from the 13th to the 18th centuries, illuminated manuscript pages, medieval ivories and enamels, bronzes and Venetian glass.
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
7.Naval Technical Museum
Beside La Spezia's naval base, the Museo Tecnico Navale, one of Italy's oldest maritime museums, displays ship models, carved figureheads, anchors, early diving equipment and weapons, telling the story of the Italian navy and the port city that grew around it.
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
Experience · Manarola
8.Wine tasting in the vineyards
The steep vineyards produce crisp Cinque Terre DOC whites from Bosco, Albarola and Vermentino grapes, and Sciacchetrà, a rare sweet wine from grapes dried after the harvest. Small producers and the cooperative winery at Groppo above Manarola offer tastings, often on terraces overlooking the sea.
Book tastings ahead in high season, and try Sciacchetrà with a sharp aged cheese.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Food
- Couples
- Views
Pick by interest
| Interest | Best picks |
|---|---|
| Art and museums | Museo Amedeo Lia and Naval Technical Museum |
| History | Riomaggiore, Monterosso old town and Fegina, Castello Doria, Vernazza and Madonna di Soviore sanctuary |
| Views | Vernazza harbour, Manarola and Punta Bonfiglio, Riomaggiore and Corniglia and the Lardarina |
| Outdoors and nature | Sentiero Azzurro (Blue Path), Ferry along the Cinque Terre coast, Monterosso old town and Fegina and Vineyard trail via Volastra |
| Food and markets | Wine tasting in the vineyards |
| With children | Monterosso old town and Fegina, Castello Doria, Vernazza, Ferry along the Cinque Terre coast and Levanto–Bonassola–Framura cycle path |
| On a rainy day | Museo Amedeo Lia and Naval Technical Museum |
What to book ahead
- 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.
Plan the rest of your trip
Questions travellers ask
+What is the number one thing to do in Cinque Terre?
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.
+What can you do for free in Cinque Terre?
Vernazza harbour, Manarola and Punta Bonfiglio, Riomaggiore, Monterosso old town and Fegina and Corniglia and the Lardarina. More free things to do.
+What is there to do in Cinque Terre when it rains?
Head indoors to Museo Amedeo Lia and Naval Technical Museum.