Visiting Cinque Terre

While planning the trip, visiting Cinque Terre was a must. I had seen many pictures of its colorful towns and knew I couldn’t be in Italy and not see it for myself. So, on day 8 of our two week Italian vacation we hopped on a train to Monterosso al Mare for a two night stay.

Cinque Terre,  a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a collection of five villages, each with its own style. Monterosso al Mare is the biggest and has sandy beaches. Vernazza has an old tower and a busy harbor. Corniglia sits high on a cliff and offers great views. Manarola is known for its colorful houses, and Riomaggiore has narrow streets and hidden spots. We arrived in Monterosso with a plan to hike to Vernazza and visit the other villages by train.

Where we stayed

We opted to stay in Monterosso, but there aren’t a lot of hotels in the villages so we got an Airbnb for the two nights. The one we selected was very charming and quite comfortable and allowed us to get a few loads of laundry done. Having the ability to do laundry during the trip greatly reduces the amount of clothing we need to pack.

Another option for travelers, is to stay in a city near by and take the train to Cinque Terre for the day. La Spezia which is approximately 15 minutes by train to Monterosso is a great option with many more options for accommodations and amenities.

Nestled along the pretty coastline of the Italian Riviera are five charming villages called Cinque Terre. They’re famous for their colorful houses, steep cliffs, and beautiful sea views. Let’s take a closer look at these special places where nature and history come together in a unique way.

Hiking Trails

If you like hiking, Cinque Terre has some amazing trails called the Blue Trail. These paths go along the coastline, connecting the villages. Walking here, you’ll see stunning views of the sea and vineyards. These trails are in pretty good condition, but definitely not flat. Be prepared for some inclines! It’s also pretty exposed, so sunglasses, sunscreen and a hat are a must. And, don’t forget to bring water.

If you are planning to hike the Blue Trail, here are the distance and difficulty levels to expect:

• Riomaggiore to Manarola:  1.5 km, easy,  30 minutes, also called “Lover’s Lane” or Via dell’Amore
• Manarola to Corniglia:  3 km, easy, 1 hour
• Corniglia to Vernazza:  4 km, moderate, 1.5 hours
• Vernazza to Monterosso:  3.5 km, moderate, 1.5 hours

Latest info on Cinque Terre trail closures:  The trail between Riomaggiore and Manarola (Via dell’Amore) and Manarola to Corniglia are closed due to a landslide and are planned to reopen in July 2024. Click here for more information.

Fees to visit Cinque Terre?

There is no entrance fee to the Cinque Terre National Park but there is a fee to hike the two most famous trails: Monterosso to Vernazza and Vernazza to Corniglia. During the off-season, from early November to mid-March, there is no fee.

The Cinque Terre Cards can be purchased at every train station in Cinque Terre, Levanto and La Spezia. To avoid lines you can buy the Cinque Terre Cards online on the Cinque Terre National Park website or on the Trenitalia website or app. There are 2 card options:

• The Cinque Terre Trekking Card – access to the two tails with fees
• The Cinque Terre Train Card – access to the two tails with fees with unlimited train travel 

For more details, including the latest prices, click here.

Plan B

Most of the trip went as plan, but this is where our plans didn’t quite pan out. Our plan was to spend two nights in Cinque Terre. The first day we would spend exploring Monterosso and the next would be exploring the other four villages. The one day that we had to visit all the the other villages of Cinque Terre, there was a one day train strike. So, we made the best of it and hiked to the next town, Vernazza. There we toured around, had lunch, bought a few souvenirs before heading back. We did miss out on the other 3 towns, it’s unfortunate but that just gives us a reason to go back.

Tasting Local Food

The food in Cinque Terre is delicious. You can try fresh seafood caught in the sea, tasty pesto made from local basil, and special wine called Sciacchetrà, made from grapes grown on the hills. It’s also where we our very first lemon spritz.

Some of our favorite restaurants in Monterosso:

• Torre Aurora – Great views, food was pretty good but on the more expensive side. A great place to go for a cocktail and enjoy the sunset. Reservation in advance required.
• San Martino Gastronomia – Delicious food specifically their pasta, seafood and wine. Both indoor and outdoor seating.
• Enoteca Da Eliseo – This wine bar and market was one of our favorites. We did enjoy a few cocktails and nibbles there both days. Before heading home we did purchase a bottle of their house made Limoncello – absolutely delicious. Definitely stop by if you are in the area.

During our visit, because of the train strike, it wasn’t overly busy. We were lucky to be able to have our pic of places to eat. In normal times, dinner reservations are highly recommended as it does get quite busy.

Cinque Terre is a magical place full of colorful houses, stunning views, and tasty food. Whether you’re hiking, relaxing, or exploring, you’ll find something special in these beautiful villages by the sea. Visiting Cinque Terre should definitely be on the itinerary of anyone traveling to Italy.

Lastly, if you are planning a trip to Italy, here are more posts that might interest you:

• Three Days in Umbria
• Our Top Italy Travel Mistakes
• Two Days in Venice
• Three Days in Rome
• Visiting Lake Como
• Two Week Italy Itinerary

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