Italy’s Fantastic 5 – The Seaside Towns of Cinque Terre in 48 Hours

| |
Riomaggiore Cinque Terre Italy

The gravity-defying towns of Cinque Terre are one of Italy’s most spectacular destinations. Here’s everything you need to know to plan your trip.

This morning, my new husband Dave and I said goodbye to our friends and family and struck out on our own.

Newlywed Adventures: Day One.

Don’t worry, we left them in good hands. And by that, I mean, comfortably enjoying one last day in the Tuscan villa where the world’s most amazing wedding took place yesterday. (OK, OK. I’m sure everyone thinks their wedding was the world’s most amazing!).

Read More: A Dream Wedding in Tuscany

Note: This post may contain affiliate links. If you choose to book through these links, I receive a small commission, which I will undoubtedly blow on more flights (it’s a vicious cycle).  All of this internet voodoo takes place at no additional cost to you. 

And now, the honeymoon adventure begins! We’re catching the train to a place I’ve always dreamed of visiting – Cinque Terre.

It’s the first stop on what will be a 3-month Round-the-World Honeymoon and I am positively bursting with love-drunk excitement.

And what better place to kick off this honeymoon extravaganza than Italy’s “fantastic five” seaside towns of Cinque Terre?

Ultimate Guide to Italy

Planning a trip to Italy in 2024?

From jaw-dropping destinations to how to find the best gelato, here’s everything you need to know to plan your trip to Italy.

Where is Cinque Terre?

Located along the Italian Riviera in the Liguria region, the five vibrant villages that hug the rugged coastline are collectively known as “Cinque Terre” or five lands.

From the nearby town of La Spezia (considered the gateway to the villages) they are, in order – Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza, and Monterosso.

Why is Cinque Terre so famous?

Dating back to the later Middle Ages, the establishment of the towns of Cinque Terre represents an astounding example of man successfully cultivating a challenging natural environment.

Cinque Terre Towns Italy
The seaside towns of Cinque Terre, Italy

Early settlers converted the steep, rugged terrain into an elaborately terraced landscape that allowed for the growing of vines and olive trees.

Today, these unique five villages make up the Cinque Terre National Park. They were inscribed to the UNESCO World Heritage list in 1997.

How to get to Cinque Terre

It’s not especially easy to reach Cinque Terre.

Road access in the towns is limited to residents only. If you do arrive by car, parking is only available outside the villages.

If you’re coming from the south (Florence or Rome), park in La Spezia and take the train from there. From the north (Milan or Genoa), park in the seaside town of Levanto and take the train.

Local trains cut through a series of tunnels along the coast and are definitely the best way to arrive and depart.

How many days do you need in Cinque Terre?

When you get your first view of Cinque Terre, you’ll likely want to stay for weeks.

But, it’s actually possible to visit at least four of the five towns in a single day. They are close together and well-connected by both ferry and train. (Note: Corniglia is the lone exception, more on that below.)

But it’s much more fun to spend at least 2-3 nights to explore these scenic villages at a more leisurely pace.

However, if time is short on your Italian itinerary, one day is always better than no day at all. There are plenty of day trips available from Florence or La Spezia to help you make the most of your limited time.

Here are the two top-rated day trips to Cinque Terre:

The perfect home base in Cinque Terre – Riomaggiore

For our stay in Cinque Terre, we chose the village of Riomaggiore as our home base.

Of the five towns, Riomaggiore is the largest and the closest to the gateway city of La Spezia. This makes it the easiest to access from the southern part of Italy (where we came from).

The main National Park office is based in Riomaggiore and the town’s pastel-colored harbor is likely the one you’ve seen in all those drool-worthy images of Cinque Terre.

Riomaggiore Cinque Terre Italy
Riomaggiore – Cinque Terre, Italy

A room with a view in Riomaggiore

I only have 3 essential requirements for a hotel in Cinque Terre: a terrific view, a private bath, and a reasonable rate (the last one is negotiable).

After extensive research, I find it all at the Hotel Villa Argentina.

Situated at the top of the hill in Riomaggiore, our room has sweeping views of both the village and the sea from our own private terrace. It is exactly what I had in mind.

Riomaggiore hotel with view cinque terre italy
The view over Riomaggiore from our terrace at Hotel Villa Argentina

The room itself turns out to be pretty basic. But it’s clean, has good A/C, strong wifi, and everything else we need. And did I mention the view?

And to be fair, fancy was not one of my requirements for this stop. I’m saving that for our last stop.

Read More: Honeymoon Paradise in Tahiti

Other Terrific Hotel Options in Riomaggiore

If you’re looking for something a little more luxurious, here are three great options that all feature amazing views but won’t break the bank:

  1. Alla Marina Affittacamere – Super friendly and helpful hosts will meet you at the train station to help you find the property. Another plus, this one is closer to sea level and will save you the steep walk up the hill.
  2. Ai Pesci Room Rental – All rooms at this charming guest house have beautiful sea views. But it’s worth the modest splurge for a room with a terrace to enjoy a truly amazing view.
  3. Good Vibes Penthouse – For a little extra space and a fully-equipped kitchen, book this gem of an apartment. It also boasts a spacious terrace with a killer view.

Exploring Riomaggiore

It’s mid-afternoon by the time we get to the hotel so we devote our first afternoon to exploring Riomaggiore.

And it turns out to be quite a workout!

The first thing you learn about Cinque Terre hotels with a good view is that they are typically HIGH up in the village.

Which means stairs. And hills. And eventually recovery gelato. Because Italy.

It’s a vicious cycle.

Riomaggiore Cinque Terre Streets
The streets of Riomaggiore

We stroll the beautiful streets of Riomaggiore exploring the shops and working up an appetite for dinner.

Eventually, we settle into a seaside trattoria for dinner before heading back to enjoy the sunset from our terrace with a million-dollar view.

Getting Around the Towns of Cinque Terre

The next morning, it’s time to get out and explore. With just one full day on our 48-hour stay in Cinque Terre, we want to see as much as possible.

There are three main options for getting between the five towns of Cinque Terre.

1. Take the Train

This is the easiest option. The train runs between most of the villages every 20-30 minutes or so. Stops in Corniglia are more infrequent.

2. Take a Hike

You can also hike between villages. In fact, Cinque Terre has some of the best hiking trails in all of Italy.

Covering the distance from Riomaggiore to the next village of Manarola takes a mere 20 minutes. However, the distance between some of the other Cinque Terre towns is as long as 2-3 hours.

To hike the entire Sentiero Azzurro trail connecting all 5 towns, it’s 11 kilometers and takes about 5 hours.

Cinque Terre Italy Travel Tips

3. Take to the Water

Regular ferry boat service connects the towns of Cinque Terre seasonally from March 23 – November 3, 2024. This is certainly the most scenic way to travel between towns but keep in mind that ferries can be canceled for high seas.

You can also rent a kayak or powerboat to explore the coastline yourself.

The ferry schedule and prices for 2024 can be found here.

Note: The ferries do not stop in Corniglia because the town has no water access.

The one-day plan for Cinque Terre

Our plan for today is to hike one-way from Riomaggiore to Monterosso (the 5-hour trail). Then, we’ll take the train or ferry back.

Unfortunately, that plan is quickly foiled when we learn that the entire trail, except for the portion between Vernazza and Monterosso, is closed due to recent landslide damage.

It seems I will have to come up with another excuse for the extra servings of gelato today.

Landslide Cinque Terre Hiking Trail Italy
One of several landslides we saw from the water – no hiking for us!

We are especially disappointed that the portion of the trail between Riomaggiore and Manarola, known as the “Via dell’ Amore” is closed. This part of the trail is home to the love lock bridge where we hoped to secure the lock Dave made us before the wedding.

Update: We later found the perfect home for that lock in Santorini.

Read More: How to Plan the Perfect Santorini Honeymoon (on a budget!)

With our hiking plan scrapped, we decide to take to the water for the best view of all five Cinque Terre towns.

2024 Update: Most of the hiking trails are currently open. However, the Via dell’ Amore remains closed until at least July 2024. The latest updates on hiking trails can be found here.

Cinque Terre Towns Ferry Italy
Ferry views along the coast of Cinque Terre

The ferry turns out to be a terrific way to explore the coastline. The views from the sea are reminiscent of those along the Amalfi Coast or the towns of the Italian Riviera. It’s truly spectacular.

Read More: The Best of the Amalfi Coast Italy in 4 Amazingly Affordable Days

Read More: The Best of the Italian Riviera in 3 Perfect Days

We start our day by taking the ferry all the way to Monterosso. From there, we’ll work our way back to Riomaggiore, one village at a time.

Cinque Terre’s Best Beaches – Monterosso

We arrive in the town of Monterosso al Mare after a scenic 30-minute ride along the coast.

The first thing I notice about Monterosso is that it’s missing the steep terrain and cascading homes that define the other four villages.

Monterosso Cinque Terre Italy
The beaches of Monterosso

Luckily, the second thing I notice are the spectacular beaches. So while it may not be as quaint as the other towns, the incredible turquoise sea and multicolored beach umbrellas immediately draw my focus.

If your idea of a Cinque Terre holiday includes lounging on a beautiful beach, Monterosso is the village for you.

For beachfront views, the Affittacamere la Terrazza sul Mare hotel is the perfect hotel choice.

Cinque Terre Beaches Monterosso
Seaside in Monterosso

We explore the main square and stop for lunch at a beachside café. After that, we’re ready to move on to the next town.

But when we get to the dock, we discover that the boats are on an afternoon “siesta” for the next 3 hours.

So instead, we catch the next train to the village of Vernazza.

Vernazza’s Charm

Often considered the area’s most picturesque town, Vernazza is best known for its quaint harbor and Castello Doria – the oldest surviving fortification in Cinque Terre.

There is no car traffic in Vernazza. It’s also the only village with a proper harbor, so it remains one of the most authentic fishing villages in the region.

Vernazza’s main street, Via Roma, is lined with restaurants, shops, and cafes.

We spend a lazy hour or two just wandering the narrow lanes and visiting the inside of the waterfront church, Chiesa di Santa Margherita, built in 1318.

Vernazza Cinque Terre Italy
The charming harbor of Vernazza

Secluded Corniglia

We hoped to visit all five of Cinque Terre’s towns during our stay. But we quickly discover that the middle village of Corniglia will be a bit of a challenge.

Considered the “quiet village,” it’s the only Cinque Terre village with no direct sea access, so the ferries don’t stop there.

Corniglia Cinque Terre Italy
The view of Corniglia from the ferry

While there is train service to Corniglia, the trains are not nearly as frequent as those to the other four villages. Only a few trains per day make the stop in Corniglia.

So with the hiking trails closed, unfortunately, we have to settle for viewing Corniglia from the sea as our ferry boat passes by.

Tip: If you want to visit Cinque Terre in its most authentic state (i.e. without the bulk of tourists) make charming Corniglia the home base for your stay. The AMARE IL MARE Affittacamere is the perfect hotel choice with terrific hosts and sweeping views of the sea.

Manarola’s Cliff Jumpers

Our final stop of the day is the oldest town and the closest to home, the rambling village of Manarola.

Similar in design to Riomaggiore, Manarola has an exceptionally beautiful coastline with lots of rocky outcrops for sunbathing. It also has soaring cliffs favored by the local kids for plunging into the sea.

Manarola Cinque Terre Towns
Cliff jumping in Manarola Cinque Terre

We watch a few kids make the jump and then decide that grabbing a gelato is a much safer activity choice.

Riomaggiore – The Perfect Choice

It’s been a full and relaxing day of sightseeing. Finally, we catch one last ferry back home to Riomaggiore.

After seeing four of the five towns, we are more sure than ever that Riomaggiore is the ideal home base for exploring Cinque Terre. It turns out to be our favorite town so we definitely made the right choice for our brief 2-night stay.

Riomaggiore Cinque Terre Italy
Enjoying our view with wedding cake and Prosecco!

It’s our last night in Cinque Terre so we sit on our terrace, pop the cork on a chilled bottle of Prosecco, and enjoy a slice from the top of our delicious wedding cake (which traveled carefully with us on the train).

It has been a perfect 2-day visit to the fantastic five towns of Cinque Terre.

We’ve truly put the stress of wedding week behind us and are easing into our carefree globetrotting lifestyle for the next few months.

Next up, we’re excited to move on to our last stop in Italy…the floating city of Venice!

(Unfortunately, first, we’ll have to figure out how to get there during an Italian train strike! More on that tomorrow…)

Looking for more great destinations in Italy? Start here:

Pretty Procida is the Best Italian Island You’ve Never Heard Of

The Fairytale Republic of San Marino: Italy’s Mountaintop Microstate

3 Reasons to “Make Like Napoleon” and Escape to Italy’s Elba Island

Is the Volcanic Island of Ischia Italy’s Hottest Destination?

The Best of the Italian Riviera in 3 Days

Bucket List Italy: How to Visit the Iconic Leaning Tower of Pisa