A guide to visiting Cinque Terre

Located in the region of Liguria you will find Cinque Terre which translates to Five Lands and is a string of beautiful seaside villages on the rugged Italian Riviera. Each of the five villages has breathtaking views and is a hiker’s paradise. For the best views, spend an afternoon hiking the trails which link the villages together.

During my time in Liguria, I based myself out of Chiavari which is centrally located making it perfect for day trips to Cinque Terre and the surrounding areas. Depending on where you stay, I suggest starting from the village farthest from your accommodations and working your way back which for me meant starting at Riomaggiore and ending in Monterosso.

HOW TO GET AROUND CINQUE TERRE

Whether you decide to hike or take the train, I recommend purchasing the Cinque Terre Card which allows you access to the hiking trails, or the Cinque Terre Card Treno which gives you the same benefits but with the added bonus of unlimited train travel on the Levanto – Cinque Terre – La Spezia line.

Since I traveled to Cinque Terre from Chiavari the Treno card ended up being the best value for the price as it included round-trip travel to and from Cinque Terre as well as in between each village.

Regardless if you purchase the Cinque Terre card or a single ticket from village to village, make sure you validate your ticket. With this area being popular among tourists, it’s even more popular among metro enforcement.

WHAT THE CINQUE TERRE CARD INCLUDES

2nd class access to regional and fast regional trains
Access to the Park area
Use of the bus service managed by ATC within the park
Free use of pay toilets
Participation in C.E.A workshops
Internet access through the Park’s Wi-Fi Hot Spots (there is a username and password located on the back of your ticket)
Entrance, at a reduced price to select museums in the area

RIOMAGGIORE

The smallest of the villages, it requires the least amount of time but is the definition of picturesque

MANAROLA

Breathtaking and certainly photogenic

CORNIGLIA

The only village with no direct access from the sea so be prepared to climb 382 steps

Since my day was spent visiting each village, I didn’t have the time to trek uphill but here is a photo of the beautiful view you’ll see once you exit the train to make your way up to Corniglia.

VERNAZZA

A good mix of small sandy beach, restaurants, and boutiques

Shortly before my first trip to Italy many years ago, Cinque Terre experienced devastating flooding with mudslides destroying Vernazza. I was unable to visit the beautiful villages but prayed they would get back on their feet, and they certainly have; Vernazza is thriving with restaurants and boutiques.

Be sure to stop by Gelateria Vernazza where the gelato is delicious and adorned with a waffle cookie. I also suggest popping into the church of Santa Margherita di Antiochia which was constructed in 1318 and is located just off of the sea. You can spot it by its dome and the clock face beneath it. Entrance is free.

MONTEROSSO

The biggest village of them all and perhaps my favorite.

Although you won’t get those iconic Cinque Terre views from this Village, it’s easy to spend most of your day here. It offers the biggest sandy beach with blue water and restaurants along the coast.

While exploring Cinque Terre you must try the popular seafood cone which you can customize by choosing from a variety of seafood like shrimp and fried calamari. Although you’ll find various restaurants selling cones, not all cones are created equal.

On my first day in Cinque Terre, I purchased a seafood cone in Riomaggiore which was overcooked and resembled the texture of doggy chew toys. A few days later I returned to Monterosso and ordered a cone from Il Bocconcino which was delicious. It’s located right off the beach, so I recommend grabbing a cone and heading straight to the sand for a beach day. Once you’re done laying out, take a short walk to the main downtown area of Monterosso which is quaint and offers endless restaurants and boutiques for shopping.