First Timer's Guide to Cinque Terre
Everything You Need to Know Before Going to Cinque Terre, Italy
As with most trips, Cinque Terre was completely spontaneous and last-minute, planned during a serious tooth-brushing session just an hour before our Airbnb checkout.
From Florence, Google Maps told us La Spezia (a gorgeous little Italian town located just outside Cinque Terre), was a 2-hour train ride away. I’ve seen and heard so many good things that discovering it was so close was just destiny.
Let me just start off by publicly stating that I have been completely seduced by the slow-paced Italian way of life. Everything about it is something to aspire to be. Except for the lack of sunscreen use…that one is no bueno.
Anyway, we had the most magical 3 days exploring this postcard of a place. If you’re planning a trip to Cinque Terre and don’t know where to start, welcome :)
This guide will cover:
Background and location of Cinque Terre
How to get to Cinque Terre
Differences between each village
Where to stay
How to get around each village
Hiking through the villages
Best restaurants, cafes & bars with views
What is Cinque Terre and Where is it Exactly?
A National Park and UNESCO World Heritage site located in the north Tuscan border of Italy. A zone of 5 different villages scattered across the Italian Riviera, you’re instantly stepping back into time and amongst a simpler, more idealistic version of Italy. You’re not going to find museums or cars in sight, just sun, sea, food, and wine. Lots and lots of wine. So be prepared for seaside food, drinks, and gelato daily. You deserve it.
Train:
You have to take the train from wherever you are in Italy to La Spezia Central Station. From there, you have to transfer to a regional train, accessed from the same station. Follow signs in the train station for Cinque Terre Express.
Plane:
If you wanted to fly, the two closest cities are Genoa and Pisa. From there, you would have to take the bus, train, or rent a car to La Spezia. Keep in mind that none of these two cities are close (50-70 miles away from La Spezia). People who take a plane typically stop for Pisa or Genoa for the day - which are worth visiting if you have the time!
Bus:
Like taking the train, you will first have to take the bus to La Spezia and then transfer to the Cinque Terre by the regional rail line. You can either take the Flixbus, which offers fares for as low as $17. Or the Marino Bus, which takes about 8-9 hours and tends to be slightly more expensive.
The 5 villages (from north to south) are:
Riomaggiore
Manalora
Vernazza
Monterosso
Corniglia
Where to Stay in Cinque Terre?
Where to stay in Cinque Terre is probably going to be your hardest decision just because each town is equally as beautiful and each with its own charm. Where you choose to stay is up to you - you really can’t go wrong! A description of each town is mentioned below so you can find something that matches your vibe.
When you go, I recommend taking base in one town and spending your days wherever you’d like. Truthfully, you can check out all 5 towns in one day if you wanted to - be prepared to start your day early though and not have too much time exploring each place.
If you are traveling with A LOT of luggage, kids with strollers, etc… I wouldn’t recommend staying in the town of Corniglia, its endless steep cliffs and a tiny cobblestone walkway to get anywhere from the train station, aka the ultimate struggle.
We decided to base in La Spezia, right outside of the first town in Cinque Terre (Riomaggiore). If you have a car rental, this is where you’ll have to keep it. La Spezia is totally worth exploring if you have time. We spent our first day here just wandering around and it has so much charm. It’s also quiet, filled with more locals and fewer tourists, amazing food, and probably the cutest mini pups I’ve ever seen in my life (this town had a thing for small dogs and I was totally here for it).
However, if you want to stay in the most picturesque towns IN Cinque Terre, I recommend Riomaggiore and Manalora. Airbnb’s are the way to go here.
Airbnb pro tip: filter the results to “Airbnb Superhost” - I found that the apartments with the best views and host experiences come from this filter.
Marina in Riomaggiore, Cinque Terre, Italy
The Differences Between the 5 Villages
If you’re planning to stay inside Cinque Terre, here’s the tea on what you need to know for each village:
Riomaggiore: the first train stop in Cinque Terre with one main street, a harbor, a rocky beach (pictured above), tons of restaurants, and is the closest city to the main city of La Spezia. A super colorful town with restaurants and amazing views. Airbnbs are most common here and this is also known as the more popular and scenic town.
Manalora: a romantic, colorful town with a small harbor for swims and cliff diving. Lots of locals prefer this town due to its darling pastel charm and laid-back vibes. When you’re there, check out Nessun Dorma for THE BEST food and views! I’m still drooling over it (more resturant recs below).
Corniglia: a town built high above the ocean on steep cliffs. If you have a lot of luggage and kids with you, don’t stay here unless you are looking for the worst workout of your life. The train arrives at the bottom of the town’s entrance, so you’ll be climbing lots of steep steps and cobblestones just to reach the town center. Nonetheless, if you’re just passing by…the views here are incredible. I recommend option #2 unless you legit only have a backpack!
Vernazza: A more quiet town. There’s one main street leading from the train station where you can explore amazing waterfront restaurants, enjoy some people watching or visit the cute church built on the water. It was the most chill out of all the towns with the least amount of people in my experience.
Montersso: the largest town made up of an old town, a new town, beaches, and a long seaside boardwalk. This place has the most resort-like vibe that visitors tend to stay at. There are loads of restaurants, cute cafés, and family-friendly places for kids to enjoy.
How Many Days to Spend in Cinque Terre?
To maximize your time, I recommend a minimum of 2 nights in Cinque Terre. I’ll be honest and say that I NEVER recommend 2 or fewer nights anywhere - it’s too stressful, too quick, you always forget that it takes time to travel to your destination so you lose half a day just in logistics….the list goes on.
However, 3 nights were perfect for us to feel like we really got to see it without being rushed and exploring everything it has to offer. It also gives you time to explore La Spezia. Families I’ve talked to traveling with a lot of luggage, strollers, etc find this to be the most stress-free route.
Best Restaurants, Cafes & Bars (with views)
Manalora:
Riomaggiore:
Corniglia:
Monterosso:
Vernazza:
Hiking Through Cinque Terre
There are plenty of day hikes to choose from between the different villages. With that said, you don’t have to lug around a massive amount of gear, just your necessities.
Most trails are free except the blue trail, also known as the Number 2 trail (around 8 euro/person). These trials are open year-round, including in the winter.
Manalora, Cinque Terre
Getting Around Cinque Terre
Each town is ridiculously close. Like 5-8 minute train ride close. Also, there is only one train that takes you through each town, s’cute!
I highly recommend getting the Cinque Terre Card. It bundles the price of the trains between the villages and a hiking day pass for 16 euros/per person a day. Or you can purchase a 2-day pass for 29 euro/per person. This card can be purchased at any train station in the 5 villages either in the outside kiosk or whoever is working the counter.
Train tickets between any of the towns in the Cinque Terre cost 4 euros per trip, so you can easily see how the Cinque Terre Card is worth it if you’re taking the train more than a few times a day.
You can also opt for taking ferries. These are definitely more scenic than the trains, but a bit slower. It’s also not possible to book ferry tickets in advance (unless you are a group of 20+ people), so you’ll have to queue up to buy your tickets. Heads up that it’s cash only and boats are dependent on sea and land weather conditions.
Note: there are no cars here, so train, foot, and sea are your only options. Isn’t that fab?! That’s the main reason why this area has stayed so well-preserved!
Wherever you end up staying, I can guarantee you will have nothing short of an amazing time. Take your time to enjoy the Italian slow life - don’t cram all your experiences into one. Dolce Far Niente - enjoy the sweetness of doing nothing!
Lastly, be careful on cliff rocks (we saw some bad wipeouts) and don’t forget your sunscreen folks. As always, travel mindfully and wherever you go, go with all your heart <3
Feel free to shoot me any messages if you need help. Share this with your friends and family if they’re planning a trip to Cinque Terre :)
Manalora, Cinque Terre, Italy
Vernazza, Cinque Terre, Italy
Monterss, Cinque Terre, Italy
Riomaggiore, Cinque Terre, Italy
View from Fuori Rotta, Riomaggiore, Cinque Terre
La Spezia Marina, Italy
La Spezia, Italy