The Best Way to Explore Cinque Terre
- Jul 1, 2023
- 12 min read
Updated: Mar 15, 2024
Traveling to Cinque Terre can seem overwhelming. At least, I felt that way. There was so much information available and I did not know what was useful and what wasn't. Being it is an extremely popular National Park, of course there is a ton to read. I want to give you all of the information that I found useful and what I wish I knew.
One of the top priorities on my blog is to always be transparent with my opinions. Therefore, to start, I must give you my opinion on visiting Cinque Terre so that you know whether to keep reading or not.
Cinque Terre was only a two-day stop on our trip through Italy and that was enough days for me. While I loved the surrounding blue water and colorful buildings, it was a bit crowded for my liking. Just as you are considering visiting, so are a ton of other people. My recommendations are how to get the absolute best of Cinque Terre in a shorter time frame. If you are taking a longer trip here or spending time hiking through the towns, I'd suggest a different blog for more information.
Transportation
Exploring with a car
If you are coming to Cinque Terre in a rental car like we did, there are some things to know.
The roads are windy and narrow. Driving in this area is not for the weak. You need to be on alert while driving here and be prepared to reverse up and down hills if a bus is trying to fit through.
You can not park in the villages. Every village is a ZTL Zone, therefore you are not permitted to enter. Each town has a paid parking lot right outside of that ZTL gate and most offer a shuttle to bring you down as part of your payment.
Get gas in La Spezia. Once you are past La Spezia, gas stations are not as common. Don't get caught on E on the edge of the coast.
Exploring without a car
The bus is your best friend. Learn the bus schedule before you go. Each village has a bus station right at the entrance and there are bus stops in all of the surrounding areas to get you home. You buy a bus ticket at the train station in town. Download the app, Moovit, to have a convenient way to view the schedule.
Taxis are seldomly reliable. We were never able to successfully get a taxi and we heard that from several other people. I would not rely on being able to haul a taxi if you miss the bus.
Cinque Terre Train Card
You may want to purchase a train card if you are utilizing the railway and shuttle bus. Buying the daily pass for 18.50 Euros may work best for you if: you are stopping through multiple villages, using the bus to get to car or lodging, or hiking the Azure trail.
This can be purchased ahead of time. If you want to go ahead and buy your card, you can do so online.
Helpful Links:
What's Most Important to You?
Every town has something unique about it that may draw visitors in. Depending on what you want out of your trip will depend on how to spend your days. We wanted a beautiful beach and the iconic view of the colorful houses. Here are my opinions on the main draw for each town.
Monterosso. As the largest of the villages, this is the absolute best beach town separated by "new" and "old". There are several lidos offering chair and umbrella rentals where you can sit seaside while drinking a Limonatta from the nearby restaurants. This is also where you will find the iconic fried seafood cones.
Vernazza. Commonly referred to as the most "picturesque" town, but not in the same way as those Instagrammable houses in Manarola. You will find beautiful alley ways here and I found it to be less crowded than the other towns
Corniglia. Sitting higher than the other villages, Corniglia is actually 100m above the Sea. Because it is not as easily accessible, you will find this city is also less crowded. If you're up for an adventure, I recommend taking a kayak or boat to the nearby & nudist, Guvano Beach.
Manarola. This town is home to the picture you will see most "Instagrammed". This is where you will get your best view of the colorful houses stacked along the coast and if you're feeling adventurous, jump from the rocks into the surrounding Sea. Here, you will find a well-known restaurant, Nessun Dorma, who offers a phenomenal pesto class with the best view you can get of Manarola.
Riomaggiore. The most southern village, this gets my vote for the second best pictures of Cinque Terre. Next to the bar, La Conchiglia, you will find stairs that lead you to large seaside rocks which allow for the best picture of this colorful town. Here you will find the beginning of what is considered the most romantic path in the world, Via dell'Amore. It is said that whoever kisses on this path (at the end of Manarola) will love each other forever.
Let's Talk Expectations
I am a firm believer in the power of reviews, but I also know to take them with a grain of salt. I believe some places don't deserve a bad review given sometimes if the reviewer went in with unrealistic expectations. I like to set those straight.
When you visit Cinque Terre, you are visiting villages on the coast, with limited accessibility. The majority of people who spend time here are also tourists from all over the world, and the locals know that. While this is still an amazing place to visit, don't have unrealistic expectations.
This isn't Italy's best food. Your expectations should be high when it comes to food in Italy. But, Cinque Terre is not where you are going to find those mind-blowing dishes like in other cities. Don't get me wrong, there are some delicious things to eat and drink here, which I will discuss. However, understand that in a tourist central location, you may be paying a little more for food and other things that aren't the best you've ever had.
There isn't that much "to do" for free. Besides homes, the surrounding buildings of the villages are restaurants, bars, and shops. The real power of these villages are their history and appreciating the ability to explore them. There are plenty of experiences offered here, for a cost. If you are anything like us, and don't spend a ton on those, you'll really be enjoying the experience of being there.
My Recommended Itinerary
As I said above, this is going to be my opinion on a shorter visit through Cinque Terre. I am going to give an example itinerary for a 2-3 day trip which will give you amazing pictures, experiences, and be easy to organize. For this itinerary, you will skip seeing Corniglia, as it is a steep climb and I don't find it offers anything exceptionally different than the other villages.
Day 1 | Riomaggiore & Manarola
This day is dedicated to getting your iconic Cinque Terre pictures.
Manarola
I would recommend to spend the first half of the day here.
Best spots for a late breakfast/early lunch:
Bar Enrica. Great coffee and fresh pastries.
Da Aristide. Serving staple Italian dishes with fresh, local ingredients.
Cappun Magru. Delicious food with a great wine tasting.
For the best lunch experience, I recommend booking The Pesto Experience at Nessun Dorma. Nessun Dorma is the only restaurant near the Manarola Overlook Viewpoint (the best place to get a picture of the village). Eating on the terrace of this restaurant is going to provide you with the best backdrop and a delicious, fresh meal. However, without booking the pesto class, you can not book a reservation here and instead would have to wait in a digital que via their app to wait to eat. Being this spot is so popular, that wait can be hours. The Pesto Experience guarantees you a secured time with no wait, an amazing lesson on making authentic pesto the old fashioned way, a delicious lunch, wine, and a complimentary apron. Class times are either 10:30 or 1:30 and you'll spend 2-3 hours enjoying your time there.
What else to do:
Swim in Manarola's harbour. It is a great spot to jump in for those wanting more adventure.
Take a wine tasting experience. Like this one.
Booking a tour by sail boat. Like this one.
Following lunch, you'll head south to Riomaggiore.
Getting There
If you are willing to walk, this is the shortest and most popular trail in Cinque Terre. You'll use the Path of Love, Via dell'Amore, and it will only take you 20 minutes to go from one village to the next.
This is one of four paths between Cinque Terre that is a paid trail, because it is such a short distance, so you will need the Cinque Terre card which you can buy at the entrance (at the railway station) and it costs 7.50 Euros. This is a lit path, so if you are also taking this path back at the end of your evening, it can be a great way to enjoy the view during or after sunset.
You can also take a very quick train ride to Riomaggiore, but with trains rotating every 20 minutes on average, you may be waiting for one as long as it would take you to walk the path. If you plan to use the train for multiple stops, you will want to purchase the full Cinque Terre card. This is a different card than the trails and will cost you 18.50 Euros. One-stop tickets are cheaper and cost 5 Euros. Buying the train card has other advantages - it includes trail entrance, bus rides, free toilet use, and some other discounts. You can buy this ticket ahead of time since it isn't time restrictive.
Riomaggiore
I recommend being here for the later part of the day, to watch sunset.
Best spots for a late lunch/dinner:
La Cantina del Macellaio. Need a reservation, but high quality menu and wines.
Il Pescato Cucinato (takeaway). Enjoy the infamous fried seafood cone.
BRITTA (takeaway). Great vegan/vegetarian options.
Pizzeria Kepris. Recommended as the best pizza in Cinque Terre.
What else to do:
Enjoy a drink on the seaview terrace at Bar e Vini a Pie de Ma. Recommend making a reservation to ensure a great table.
Take in the views from the Castle. You'll find it here.
Take a boat or kayak rental. You'll pay a bit more to rent your own, but for a shared tour that will last a couple of hours, you will spend on average 45 Euros. This typically includes snorkeling/refreshments.
Lay on the wave breaker rocks. Take your fried seafood cone, snacks, and drinks to enjoy food with the best view. This will be the most iconic spot for pictures of this village and the perfect place to view the sunset.
Day 2 | Monterosso & Vernazza
This day is dedicated to relaxing your feet and enjoying the best beach of Cinque Terre.
Monterosso
I recommend to start here, early, to get the most out of your beach day with the best view possible.
Understanding Monterosso
Without telling you more than you may care to know, Monterosso is "split" into two an 'old' and 'new' section. Start to end, the walk through the tunnel separating the two will take you around 15 minutes, so you may want to explore both areas.
'New' Monterosso
Here is where you will arrive via the railway station and also where you will find the best beach of Cinque Terre, Spiaggia Fegina.
If you don't want to pay the on average 35 Euro to rent two beach chairs and an umbrella for the day, you will find a section of free beach here. Make sure you have a towel with you, as Italy's beaches are filled with more rocks than sand. As this gets more crowded the later the day gets, I recommend getting there early for a good spot.
If you prefer to have the luxury of one of the many beach lidos (which I recommend), there are a few great options to the left and right. An Italian Lido is extremely common throughout Italy and has always been worth the expense with every one we have utilized.
Since you're here, you might as well get the best beach view. To do so, you'll head to the left (from the railway station) and walk to Nuovo Eden Bar & Gelateria. At the entrance to the restaurant, there is a walkway to the beach where you will see the employees of the lido. This is the most popular choice, for good reason, but they do not open until 9AM, so I recommend getting there as close to that time as possible.
Now that you're here, grab your seats and enjoy the bright blue water and walking along the colorful rocks that take up the beach. Walk inside the restaurant and order from their takeaway menu. Enjoy many of their fresh cocktails, choose from several bruschetta options, and grab a gelato to take right back to your chairs.
Beach Tips
Grab a beach game. Some local stores near the lido offer a variety of cheap beach games (you know, like those paddle ball games). If you aren't someone who likes to sit still, go grab one to play in the shallow water.
Go snag a fried seafood cone. If you haven't seen by now, this is a staple for their coast. Get one for takeaway and bring it back to eat in your lido.
Rent a kayak or paddleboard. This is the best beach to do it and the calm waters will make it a relaxing adventure.
'Old' Monterosso
If you want to take a break from the beach or even venture out after, you might end up walking the tunnel to the other section of Monterosso, Borgo Antico. Here's a few things you can do there:
Enjoy the older buildings, including: Chiesa di San Giovanni Battista, Oratorio dei Neri, and Torre Aurora. Go even higher to Chiesa di San Francesco and the Capuchin Monastery. These do not apply to the relaxing your feet theme.
Shop at Fabbrica d'Arte Monterosso. Family-owned and run, you'll find handmade ceramics and 100% hand-printed linens to choose from.
Food Recs (Lunch & Dinner)
Monterosso is famous for their pan-fried anchovies, so if there is anywhere to try them, it's here. They do offer more than that, so here are some of the top options.
Trattoria Da Oscar. To get those famous anchovies. Because these are the best, make sure you have a reservation.
Da Eraldo. Authentic Italian cuisine with great house wines. Reservation recommended.
Ristorante Via Venti. Slightly tucked away, come here for a unique take on Italian pasta.
Heading to Vernazza
Monterosso to Vernazza is a quick 3 minute train ride between the neighboring villages. If you have a Cinque Terre card, you're all set. If not, you'll buy a 5 Euro ticket at the station.
Vernazza
I recommend your later part of the day being spent here to enjoy the picturesque village at sunset.
What to do:
Wander around Vernazza harbor. The only natural harbor in Cinque Terre. While not ideal for relaxing, it's a great location to watch the passing boats.
Visit the Doria Castle. An 11th Century lookout tower to protect the village from pirates, this offers the best view from the top.
Grab a focaccia to-go. Some of the best focaccia we had was here and it's great to grab one and go while you explore the village.
What to eat:
Pippo a Vernazza. Fresh, homemade pasta in a box.
Il Gattaccio. Offering a ton of delicious, freshly made seafood dishes.
Batti Batti Focacceria. Warm, takeaway focaccia options.
Accomodations
There are an abundance of great options for places to stay while in Cinque Terre. Most likely, you won't be spending the majority of your time here since you'll be exploring the villages.
What we did: We stayed in an Airbnb right outside of Vernazza that allowed us to park our car and was conveniently located by a bus stop. Even if we did not have our own vehicle, we preferred staying outside of the village for privacy and quietness.
If you don't have a vehicle or a large group of people, I recommend finding places to stay within one of the villages. You will be conveniently located to the railway and bus station and have earlier and later access to food and shops. You will also find an abundance of options with a great window view or balcony option.
If you do have a vehicle or staying with many people, I recommend booking an Airbnb nearby one of the villages. Most nearby accommodations have a conveniently located bus stop. Just know, you will need to plan your day's start and end based on transportation schedules or you will need to walk. I also recommend to stop at a grocery store in La Spezia prior to driving to your stay. Grab some breakfast and after dinner snacks, drinks, and extra bottles of water so that you won't be limited in options from your nearby village.
Closing Tips
Don't get overwhelmed prior. In all honesty, I successfully traveled by bus and train here and I still hardly understand how to read an Italian schedule. When you go to purchase your first ticket or card, it will make a lot more sense.
Travel light. Even on the days planned for less walking, you'll still be walking a lot. Carry your essentials but leave all the extra at home.
Have your stops mapped out. If you want to stumble upon random food, shops, or places, it's a great place to do it. However, with so many people and buildings together in a small area, if you are looking for something specific you planned it might be hard. Download these to your gps app so you don't get lost.
Check out my Travel Essentials storefront on Amazon for the best way to be prepared for your trip.
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