Gracie’s Guide: The Best Visit to Cinque Terre, Italy
How to spend your time in Cinque Terre, Italy! In this article I will be sharing all of the insights I have on Cinque Terre so you can have the best possible visit to these beautiful towns in Italy.
If you are anything like me, Cinque Terre has probably been at the top of your list of places to see in Italy. It was at the top of mine for the longest time, and when I finally got the chance to visit two years ago I just fell head over heels for this place. It may have been the refreshing blue waters of Manarola, or the quaint harbor of Vernazza. Or maybe if was the beautiful architecture of Riomaggiore, or the old town Italian feel of Monterosso, or even the quiet and secluded spots in Corniglia. Regardless of what it may have been that infatuated me with this place, there is something about it that always calls me back.
I have visited Cinque Terre a total of three times and I already have plans to go again in the upcoming months. Every one of my trips to Cinque Terre have been unique and different to one another, and hopefully my experiences and recommendations can help you decide how to spend your time at one of the most beautiful places in Italy.
Before I dive in, I should mention that it is completely possible to see all of the Cinque Terre in one day. Of course, this would come at the cost of not being able to spend a night here, but if it is a place you are dying to see and don’t have much time, it will still 100% be worth the visit. If you’re asking me, however, I would recommend staying at least three days total to really give yourself the opportunity to take in all its beauty and make the most of your time in Italy.
When To Go
Tourism in Italy is no joke especially during the summertime, so planning your trip for the right time is crucial.
At first everyone is quick to want to visit Cinque Terre in the summer months because of the swimming, but I would recommend pushing it later into fall at the end of September nearing October.
This is the perfect time to visit because tourism is beginning to slow down from the busy summer months, but the heat still lingers so you can enjoy the refreshing waters in a less hectic environment. Of course, since this time is the transitional period from summmer to fall, the evenings start to cool down which makes the hiking and traveling much less oppressive and stressful because you’re not as exhausted and overwhelmed by all the hustle and bustle.
Where to Stay
As I mentioned before, every part of Cinque Terre is beautiful, so it is hard to go wrong with where you decide to stay. I have stayed in Monterosso, Vernazza, Riomaggiore, and La Spezia right outside Cinque Terre. Of all these, my favorite place to stay is Vernazza.
Vernazza is a great place to stay because it is the perfect satellite point to the rest of the villages. It is smaller than Monterosso, flatter than Riomaggiore, more convenient than Corniglia, and not as busy as Manarola. It also has the most adorable harbor full of people swimming and colorful boats bringing in the fish of the day that is surrounded by restaurants and overlooked by a beautiful cathedral sitting on the edge of the bay.
Although I would recommend staying at any of the five villages over anywhere else, you may be looking to stay somewhere that has a bit more variety of food, shopping, nightlife, and accommodation options.
La Spezia would be a perfect stay for someone looking for those things since Cinque Terre is so small there is only so much to see. La Spezia is a larger town about a ten-fifteen minute train ride to each of the villages. It is a great place to stay if you want more variety during your trip. Here you can find Italian, American, Asian and so many more kinds of food that they don’t have in Cinque Terre. However, the only downside to staying in La Spezia is the price of the train ticket to get to Cinque Terre. It costs €10 for a one-way ticket to any of the villages from La Spezia, so it isn’t the most cost-effective or efficient place to satellite from.
Anywhere you stay will be gorgeous, your decision just depends on what kind of trip you are wanting to have!
What To Do
If I had to pick one thing I loved most about Cinque Terre, it would be the simplicity of it all. There is not a crazy amount of things to do at Cinque Terre which is what makes in so relaxing. The main thing I would recommend doing, is simply walking, hiking, traveling to all the villages and just take in the feeling each one of them gives you.
Although there might not be too much to do, each of the villages seem to have their one unique attribute about it that somehow manages to separate all of them from one another. So when you visit each of these villages be sure not to miss these things in each of them.
Monterosso- The Old Town District of Monterosso al Mare is a must-see during your visit. After walking though an underpass connecting the new and old town you are are immidiately sent into a side of Italy that I can only describe as the classic small town in Italy. There is often music playing right at the entrance of the Old Town and beautiful alleyways filled with amazing restaurants whose lights illuminate the nighttime streets.
Vernazza- I will immediately recommend spending time at Vernazza’s harbor. Grab a gelato and and your travel companion and sit on one of the bench’s right at the harbor near the base of a cathedral. I love the slow life of Vernazza, it feels so simple and doing the simplest of things here feel so extraordinary just because of where you are.
Corniglia- Corniglia is the black sheep of the five villages because it is the only one that is not directly on the coast, but in the same breath, it’s location makes for great viewpoints. Corniglia is perfect to take a moment to breathe and go to the outlooks around the village that you can see the other surrounding villages from because you are so high up.
Manarola- You can’t say you’ve visited Manarola if you haven’t swam off its coast. Manarola is hands down my favorite place in all of Italy to go swimming. It is so breathtaking to see such clear waters and so beautiful to see everyone else scattered on the rocks throughout the water enjoying their time. If you are someone who enjoys a quick adrenaline rush like I do, there are also fantastic rocks to cliff jump off of that is just as enjoyable to watch from the harbor!
Riomaggiore- If there’s one thing I can say for certain, it is that Riomaggiore is the most picture-esque village, especially at night, so be sure you don’t miss a sunset here at least one. I have always found Riomaggiore to be my last stop of the day because the way the sun hits the sides of the colorful buildings creates the most beautiful natural image I have ever seen. Riomaggiore is full of cathedrals, balconies, restaurants with views, and so many more stunning places that are perfect for photoshoots.
How to Travel
Traveling among the five villages is very simple once you get the hang of it. There are trains constantly going from one village to the next all day and even late into the night that are quick and affordable.
“Trainline” is an app that makes navigation the trains in Italy, and all of Europe an absolutely breeze. You simply put in the city you’re in and your desired destination city, and trainline will produce a list of train and coach bus options that you can filter and organize by price and travel time.
In Cinque Terre, you can get from one town to the next for €1… yes that’s right… only €1. The trains are super easy, cheap, and quick, but if you are more of the adventurous/ outdoorsy kind of traveler then you may want to consider hiking the trails that connect all five villages to one another that you can read about below!
Hiking Guide
I have hiked all four of the Cinque Terre trails twice, and I already planning on doing it again, and probably even another time after that. What I love is how different the hikes are, so you can decide which one’s you are most interested in doing if my attempts to convince you to hike all of them fail.
Monterosso to Vernazza Trail- This trail, from my experience, is the most moderate of all the hikes. There is not a very intense incline, and when there is, it oscillates between going up and down, so it feels as thought there are some built in breaks.
Length: 2.4 miles
Time: 1h 25m
My 3rd favorite trail.
Vernazza to Corniglia Trail- This trail is a paid trail of €7.50 that actually does have legitimate built in breaks. Half way through this trail you will find a small hut that makes a wide array of refreshing beverages for the hikers passing by. It was a great stop to catch our breath and enjoy a tasty drink during the hike.
Length: 2 miles
Time: 1h 10m
My 4th favorite trail.
Corniglia to Manarola Trail- Just from the length of this trail you may be able to guess that it is in fact the most difficult one. Right at the start you are challenged with a steep, uphill battle for about 20 straight minutes. After you make it past, however, it becomes the most beautiful trail that puts oyu walking on the side of the mountain above the sea along wine vineyards. At the peak of this trail you can find a small town that almost feels like a haven to refill our water or stop for a quick snack at the local mini market.
Length: 3.3 miles
Time: 1h 50m
My 2nd favorite trail.
Manarola to Riomaggiore Trail- Handsdown the most beautiful trial, especially if you go at sunset. I’m not sure if I think this hike is difficult because I always save it for last so I’m a always exhausted by the time I start it, or if it is actually that difficult. This is definitely the steepest of the trails although the shortest. There are moments where it feels like you are basically rock climbing up the trail on the boulders scattered about. However difficult this trail may be, it has the absolute best viewpoint of every other trail from every angle. Then on your descent, it is the perfect view of Riomaggiore from above which is absolutely gorgeous.
Length: .8 miles
Time: 50m
My 1st favorite trail.
How to Plan My Trip
Now the ball is your court! It’s up to you to make the final decisions for your trip to Cinque Terre to make it a perfect fit for you. I’m not sure if it’s possible for a place such as this one to not be perfect for someone, so I hope I was able to provide some guidance and insight to help you decide how to spend your time at one of the most amazing places in Italy, Cinque Terre!
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