The Cinque Terre are a truly unique and stunning destination, and one of Italy’s most popular locations. The charming villages, the spectacular rugged coastline and the crystal clear waters attract visitors from all over the globe. The setting of the Disney movie Luca was also inspired by this stunning area. However, it’s vital to be prepared, and this article will list all you need to know before visiting the Cinque Terre.
If you’re planning a trip to Italy, check out my article on the best tips for visiting the country!
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Where are the Cinque Terre?
The name ‘Cinque Terre’ translates as ‘Five Lands’ and refers to five seaside villages in the Liguria region of Italy. The five villages are, from west to east, Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore.
To the east of the Cinque Terre is the large town of La Spezia, with plenty of road and rail connections to the rest of Italy. There are also other tourist destinations in the area surrounding the Cinque Terre, such as Levanto to the west and Porto Venere to the east.
The Cinque Terre are in one of Italy’s most rugged coastline, with spectacular sheer cliffs that go straight down to the sea. This harsh environment has shaped the way humans have built on and farmed this land. The villages are built on top of the cliffs, with colourful houses and narrow streets, and the coast is dotted with terraces for farming.
How to get to the Cinque Terre
The area of the Cinque Terre is relatively remote, and its ruggedness has made it difficult to build transport links. Nevertheless, there are still good connections by road and rail.
However, the area is not near any major airport, and it takes a relatively long time to get there from airports and other areas of Italy. Therefore, I would recommend taking your time for visiting the Cinque Terre, staying for a few days or a week.
Flying in
The nearest large international airports are in Florence, Milan (Linate, Malpensa and Bergamo) and Turin. There are also smaller airports in Pisa and Genoa. However, all are a few hours away from the Cinque Terre. If you’re taking the train, you will also need to change trains a few times.
Therefore, you should allow plenty of time to get to the Cinque Terre from an airport, or to get to the airport from the Cinque Terre. If you are looking for flights to Italy for your trip, start your search here!
By car
You can travel by car to the Cinque Terre, although it has some important caveats. The roads are generally spacious and in good condition around the Cinque Terre, but they are windy and occasionally steep and next to sheer drops. Therefore, you should drive very carefully.
However, parking in the villages is extremely limited and expensive. If you also consider that this is one of Italy’s most popular locations, and that it definitely suffers from overtourism, you could be stuck in long queues of traffic and unable to find parking.
Therefore, if you’re staying in the area for a few days and travelling there by car, you should stay in a neighbouring larger town. La Spezia is the obvious option for this, but Levanto is also a good place to stay. These towns have more parking and hotels that can offer parking options, so you can leave your car there and get to the Cinque Terre daily with other means.
If you decide to travel there by car, be sure to compare the best offers here and find the cheapest prices!
By train
There is a convenient railway line that straddles the coastline along the Cinque Terre. While all the villages have a train station, some of them have better connections. The larger town with the best connections to the Cinque Terre is definitely La Spezia, but there are some links to Genoa and even Milan. Monterosso, the largest of the villages, also has international rail links to cities like Vienna and Munich.
Generally you can get to the Cinque Terre by train from anywhere in Italy and even from some cities abroad. However, the journey can be long and involve many changes. To find train times and purchase tickets, visit the Trenitalia website.
As a reminder, make sure to validate your paper train tickets at the machines before travelling. And if you purchase them online, double check whether your e-tickets need validation. Generally, time-specific e-tickets will not need validation, but flexible e-tickets usually do.
With organised tours
Many tours operate in the Cinque Terre with transfers from other cities. Organised tours may be a great option if you’re short on time, or if you’d simply prefer the convenience of having a driver and guide.
This well-rated tour will take you on a day trip to the Cinque Terre from Florence. Weather permitting, it also includes a stunning boat ride along the coast!
And this tour offers a local guide and starts from La Spezia. This tour also includes a boat ride, if the weather agrees.
How to get around the Cinque Terre
By train
You can also use trains to conveniently travel between the villages. The trains are fairly frequent and the journeys are quick. You can purchase tickets on the Trenitalia website or at the train stations.
The train is overall the best way to get around the Cinque Terre. Just bear in mind that the stations can get very crowded on weekends and in the peak season (July to August). In these situations, you may need to wait for the next train to get on.
By boat
If you’d rather take a truly scenic ride, you can travel between the villages by boat. This operator runs ferry services that stop at most of the villages in the Cinque Terre (line 02). They run services every day in the summer and spring, although they are not as frequent as trains.
Corniglia, the smallest of the five villages, has very limited ferry connections.
On foot
The more adventurous or active travellers will fall in love with the numerous trails along the Cinque Terre. The most famous one is the ‘Sentiero Azzurro’, or ‘Blue Path’ (SVA), which runs along the coast across all five villages. I would definitely recommend hiking at least a portion of the trail, to enjoy the stunning views and experience the beauty of the area at a slower pace.
Bear in mind though that the trails, or portions of the trails, might be closed. This is generally due to landslides damaging the trails, making them inaccessible. This website has information on the area’s trails, as well as updated details on which ones are open and closed.
If you are hiking in the Cinque Terre, remember to bring plenty of water, some snacks, sunscreen and a sunhat with you. In the summer the temperatures can get very hot and the sun will be very strong. Therefore, be sure to stay hydrated and protect yourself from the heat and sunburns.
With organised tours
Many operators run tours around the Cinque Terre. They offer boat tours around the coastline, often involving visits to the villages and even snorkelling. Some offer boat tours at sunset, which are amazing to admire the beauty of the area with stunning sunset colours.
I would recommend doing at least one boat tour during your stay at the Cinque Terre. The rugged coastline and spectacular villages have a unique charm when admired from the sea. Make sure you have your camera handy, as you’ll be taking so many photographs!
Find your best boat tours here, or see a great selection below!
Where to stay in and around the Cinque Terre
You can stay in any of the villages of the Cinque Terre. However, some of them will have better amenities and transport links than others. The sections below outline all you need to know about staying in the villages.
You could also stay in the area surrounding the Cinque Terre, and travel to the villages from there. Below are also the best places to stay around the villages and what to consider before you book.
To find your perfect place to stay on your trip and even more information, click here!
Monterosso
If you’re thinking of staying in the Cinque Terre and enjoy having great amenities and transport links, Monterosso is the best place to stay.
It’s the largest of all the villages, has the best rail links and has two beautiful beaches with amazing facilities. Many organised tours also start from Monterosso. Moreover, shops and restaurants are aplenty in Monterosso. Be sure to try some delicious local food and buy some local products!
Riomaggiore
Riomaggiore is another great place to stay for amenities and transport links. It’s the closest of the Cinque Terre villages to La Spezia, and the rail connections are great.
There is also plenty to explore in the village, and a beautiful beach.
Vernazza, Corniglia or Manarola
They are the smallest villages in the Cinque Terre. While they are picturesque and charming, they don’t enjoy the same links and amenities as Monterosso and Riomaggiore.
However, if you’re looking to stay in a smaller, less touristy area, then Corniglia or Manarola may be what you’re looking for. Vernazza can get very crowded at peak times, so it’s not a great option if you want a quiet place.
La Spezia
Thanks to the rail connections with the Cinque Terre, you can stay in La Spezia and travel to the villages daily. This is a great option if you’re travelling there by car, due to the better parking offer, or if you simply enjoy the amenities of a larger town.
The downside is that you’ll be using more of your time there travelling to the villages. Therefore, if you’re short on time it may be better to stay in one of the villages.
Levanto
Levanto is a larger seaside town located just to the west of Monterosso. You can conveniently take the train to the Cinque Terre from Levanto daily and be back in the evening.
Levanto is itself a beautiful town, with amenities and a beautiful beach with plenty of services. If you’d like to stay in a less touristy town with all the services that you need, Levanto may be your place. Also, Levanto has good parking options, so you could stay there if travelling by car.
However, the downside is that you’d be spending more time on trains. So, you may wish to stay in one of the villages if you’re short of time.
Fun activities in the Cinque Terre
While you’re here, why not check out some interesting activities that you could do in the Cinque Terre. These include kayaking, wine tasting or even food making classes.