CINQUE TERRE, ITALY
Translated directly to “Five Lands”, this coastal region is made up of five small towns along the Ligurian Sea. Cinque Terre’s calming beaches, colorful houses, winding paths, and jaw-dropping views draw millions of tourists every year. Believe me when I say there is good reason for its characterization both as a national park and UNESCO World Heritage site! If there was ever an award for the most beautiful place in the world, Cinque Terre would need to at least be in the running!
The five towns of Cinque Terre from south to north are: Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza, and Monterosso. As you will read below, all five towns are connected to each other both by train and walking path. While a day-trip will certainly give you a small taste of the area’s scenery, I can promise you will want to spend multiple days here. There is far too much beauty to experience in just a single day! Below is a brief description of each town:
Riomaggiore: Peaceful, quiet, and picturesque are all words I would use to describe Riomaggiore. Do not expect to see many large groups here, as it is often referred to as Cinque Terre’s most romantic town!
Manarola: Sitting 70m above sea level, this serene town’s pier is surrounded by beautiful, multicolored houses. Be sure to snap a picture or catch a sunset at Punta Bonfiglio! Although there is no beach, Manarola is a popular spot for deep-water swimming.
Corniglia: Relaxing, quiet, and low-key. Slightly more elevated than its neighbor Manarola, this cliff-side town is 100m above sea level. Of the five, it is the smallest as well as the only one without a proper access point to the sea (though a rocky “beach” is just a short 15-minute walk away).
Vernazza: The most photographed town in Cinque Terre is known for its overheard view of the town’s famous port, which is lined with houses of the brightest colors. The picture of my family at the bottom of this page is overlooking Vernazza!
Monterosso: The biggest of the five towns is home to a long, sandy beach, making it easily the most popular. You will find plenty of hotels and restaurants lining the shore here. Tourists flock to Monterosso from all over the world to experience its splendor!
Cinque Terre’s five towns, in addition to being connected by train, are linked by a 7.5-mile (12km) walking path known as the Blue Trail, or Sentiero Azzurro. This old mule track comprises four separate segments and can be picked up in any town; if you only have time for one segment, make it the hike from Vernazza to Monterosso! The entire trek from Riomaggiore to Monterosso (or vice versa) can be completed in 5-7 hours. Entrance onto the trail costs €7.50. Below is a description of each segment (as well as a map):
Riomaggiore to Manarola (“Lover’s Lane”):
Length: .6 miles (1km)
Time: 15-30 minutes
Difficulty: Easy
Manarola to Corniglia:
Length: 1.7 miles (2.8km)
Time: 45-60 minutes
Difficulty: Easy
Corniglia to Vernazza:
Length: 2.2 miles (3.5km)
Time: 1.5-2 hours
Difficulty: Moderate
Vernazza to Monterosso:
Length: 2.4 miles (3.8km)
Time: 2-2.5 hours
Difficulty: Moderate
Accommodation:
Hotel - Marina Piccola: Marina Piccola is the perfect home base for your romantic getaway to Cinque Terre! This cute, 12-room hotel is perched on Manarola’s rocky coast overlooking the Ligurian Sea. It is located right next door to the best restaurant in town and just five minutes on foot from the Manarola Train Station. Buon viaggio!
Hostel - Ostello di Corniglia: Situated in Corniglia, smack dab in the middle of Cinque Terre, this hostel is just a few steps off the Blue Trail and fifteen minutes on foot from the Corniglia Train Station. It is simple, cozy, and quiet - perfect for the backpacker in search of serenity and relaxation!
Hostel - 5 Terre Backpackers Corvara: Disclaimer - This hostel is located in the small town of Corvara, which is not technically in Cinque Terre. They do, however, offer a daily shuttle service. Every morning at 8:30am, a shuttle departs from the hostel to La Spezia Centrale Train Station; the ride is twenty minutes. Shuttles return every night at 6:00pm from Monterosso and 7:30pm from La Spezia. This hostel’s pool and nightly family dinners make for a relaxing and homey stay!
Transportation:
Getting to Cinque Terre looks complicated on paper, but is actually quite simple! There are two main travel hubs used to access the region - La Spezia Centrale Train Station and Levanto Train Station. Both connect to each of the five towns via the Cinque Terre Express rail line. One-way tickets cost €4 and unlimited ride passes cost €16. From south to north, the stops are: La Spezia-Riomaggiore-Manarola-Corniglia-Vernazza-Monterosso-Levanto. Of the two train stations, La Spezia is more popular, but the choice comes down to personal preference. For those with a vehicle, there are parking lots at both La Spezia and Levanto. I do not recommend driving to any of the five towns themselves though; the roads leading to Cinque Terre are narrow and difficult to navigate for drivers not used to the conditions. See the below descriptions and map to get your bearings!
La Spezia Centrale Train Station: Due east of Southern Cinque Terre, the train ride between La Spezia and Riomaggiore is 9 minutes. The ride from La Spezia to Monterosso is 28 minutes. The parking lot near La Spezia costs €1.50/hour or €25/day.
Levanto Train Station: Northwest of Northern Cinque Terre, the train ride between Levanto and Monterosso is 5 minutes. The ride from Levanto to Riomaggiore is 24 minutes. The parking lot near Levanto costs €2/hour or €24/day.
The photos on this page were taken by my sisters, Antoinette and Jackie. Thanks, sistaz!