Are you heading to Italy wondering if you can fit all five towns of the Cinque Terre into your limited-time itinerary? This area of the Italian Riviera is one of the most mesmerizing places on the map. Some travelers to the region debate whether to soak up the beauty in one or two Cinque Terre villages or try to visit all five. You may question whether it’s even possible to fully explore all five towns in just a 2 or 3-day itinerary.
The easy answer is yes—you can experience each town’s charm and uniqueness even with a short itinerary. But you need a plan.
Our 2.5-day Cinque Terre itinerary (shown below) includes:
- visiting each town
- swimming in the Mediterranean at a large, sandy beach
- rock jumping into the deep blue sea
- hiking world-famous trails between towns
- viewing each village by boat
- dining al fresco along cobblestone streets
- lodging overlooking the sea
- and drinking local vino
- Plus, I’m pretty sure we enjoyed generous scoops of gelato in each of the five Cinque Terre towns. (We’re all about gelato when we’re in Italy!)
We made so many memories during our stay in the enchanting towns of Cinque Terre that it easily ranks as one of our favorite places in the world. Read on to see our detailed itinerary plus important tips we learned along the way. (If you’re including a stop in Rome during your Italy travels, you’ll want to check out our Rome 2-day itinerary.)
First, some important background info on the Cinque Terre:
Where are the towns of the Cinque Terre located?
The five towns of the Cinque Terre—Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza, and Monterosso—are located in northwest Italy along the rugged cliffs of the Ligurian Sea, a branch of the Mediterranean. Less than a 4-hour train ride from Rome, and only 2.5 hours from Florence, the towns of the Cinque Terre drape the edges of the coast in pastel-colored houses and steep vineyard ledges. These spectacular panoramas are what make the Cinque Terre so popular.
How many days should you spend in the Cinque Terre?
Definitely more than one! Do not attempt to capture the Cinque Terre magic in just a day trip. I can’t stress this enough. These are five unbelievably beautiful towns. Even if you don’t see all of them, overnighting in the Cinque Terre is a must. That way you get to wake up to the early morning calm as well as experience the evening charm with picture-perfect sunsets. Our 3-night, 2.5-day itinerary worked great for us.
When is the best time of year to visit the Cinque Terre towns?
Summer in Italy gets extremely hot and humid and is overrun with tourists. It’s not an ideal time to travel to the Cinque Terre, but if it’s the only time that works for you, then definitely go—but first read our 10 tips to survive the Cinque Terre heat and crowds!
Winter sees cold temperatures, rain, and many businesses close for the season. The spring and fall are better times to visit when the weather is moderate, and crowds are fewer than in the summer.
Cinque Terre Cards
You may already know that trains easily connect Cinque Terre towns and you can get from one to another in a matter of minutes. However, hiking between the towns affords jaw-dropping views that are worth fitting into even a short Cinque Terre itinerary.
The Blue (Azure) Trail connects all five Cinque Terre towns taking you high above villages, along vineyards, and serving up breathtaking cliffside views.
To hike the two most popular sections of the trail—Monterosso to Vernazza, and Vernazza to Corniglia—you’ll need to purchase one of two Cinque Terre cards. You can buy one just for the hikes, or you can purchase one that also includes unlimited train travel on the regional trains running between the towns of the Cinque Terre. The latter is the better option if you plan to hike and use the train for more than one round trip. You can buy the Cinque Terre cards as you enter any of the trails or at one of the Cinque Terre train stations.
Note: During the months of November through March, all Cinque Terre trails are free.
How to explore all five towns of the Cinque Terre – even with a short itinerary!
Our first time visiting the Cinque Terre was many years ago and we only explored Monterosso and Vernazza. This time we knew we wanted to discover the unique beauty in each of the five towns, despite our short itinerary.
Our ideal Cinque Terre itinerary would have included hiking to each of the five towns, but two sections of the Blue Trail were closed (the trail connecting Corniglia to Manarola, and Manarola to Riomaggiore.) So, we planned our itinerary accordingly.
OUR CINQUE TERRE ITINERARY
DAY 1:
| · Arrive in Monterosso at 4 p.m. · Swim at Fegina Beach · Dinner in Monterosso’s Old Town · Leisurely explore charming Old Town |
Important Takeaways from Day One
Convenient home base
We purposely chose to stay in Monterosso by the beach because we were traveling to Italy with our three teenagers and swimming and beach time were important to us. Monterosso’s Fegina Beach is the clear winner for best sandy beach in Cinque Terre. Staying here allowed our family to swim several times throughout our stay, including a very early morning dip and a late-night swim in the dark. The beach gets very crowded during the day in the summer, so it’s nice to have convenient access to it at other less crowded times, too.
Plan ahead
Before arriving, we had made reservations to eat at L’Osteria in old town Monterosso. Making a reservation in advance meant we didn’t have to hurry to find a place to eat just after arrival in order to beat the crowds. We leisurely enjoyed our meal at L’Osteria—especially the pesto bruchetta. (This region is the birthplace of pesto, and we recommend eating it as often as possible during your stay!)
Relaxing evening #1
Monterosso’s old town is full of charm and character with small cafes, restaurants, bars and gelaterias lining the narrow cobblestone streets. We spent a relaxing evening strolling through old town and had fun posing for pictures under old stone arches and down pastel-colored corridors.
DAY 2:
| · Early morning swim · Morning hike from Monterosso to Vernazza, explore · Ride train back to Monterosso for swimming and lunch · Train to Riomaggiore, wander the town · Take train back to Monterosso in late afternoon · Relaxing evening in Monterosso, including late night swim |
Important Takeaways from Day Two
Make use of the mornings and evenings
The temperature was close to 90 degrees Fahrenheit during our stay at the end of July, so we took advantage of the water whenever possible, including a morning dip at 6:45 a.m. and a late-night swim after dark. So refreshing and calm with no crowds!
Beat the crowds to the trails
We began our hike on the Blue Trail from Monterosso to Vernazza at 9 a.m. This is a strenuous trek especially at the start. As you approach Vernazza the dramatic views overlooking the town make up for your sweat and fatigue. Stand in awe of the surrounding colorful cliffside buildings and vineyards towering over the deep blue sea. This Cinque Terre hike took us 1.5 hours to complete and is one of the most popular, so it’s best to get an early start.
It doesn’t take long to see the towns
We only spent about an hour each in Vernazza and Riomaggiore. That doesn’t sound like much time, but the towns are small. We walked along the main pathways to the water and explored along some quieter side streets. After grabbing a treat and leisurely strolling through town, we felt an hour was enough time to experience the town’s charm.
The Cinque Terre card comes in handy
We couldn’t hike to Riomaggiore because the trail was closed, so we hopped on a train instead. We ended up taking three different trains on Day 2 (ranging from 3 minutes to 14 minutes), plus we hiked from Monterosso to Vernazza—and it was all covered by the Cinque Terre card. The combination trekking and train Cinque Terre card provides the most flexibility with the least hassle, so you don’t have to buy individual train tickets each time you ride.
Relaxing evening #2
We saw a gorgeous outdoor restaurant (Lapo’s) the previous evening and made reservations there for the next night.
Again, planning ahead allowed us to enjoy a relaxing meal without a long wait, this time at a charming, terraced eatery. We then strolled down a path toward Old Town soaking in the golden-hour views overlooking the water.
DAY 3:
| · Early morning train to Vernazza · Hike from Vernazza to Corniglia, explore and eat breakfast · Then hike from Corniglia to Volastra, catch the bus to Manarola · Lunch and rock jumping/swimming off Manarola’s coast · Ferry back to Monterosso passing all the beautiful towns on the way · Swim, dinner, and drinks in Monterosso |
Important Takeaways from Day Three
Another early start
We boarded a 6:40 a.m. train to Vernazza to begin our morning of hiking. This time we trekked from Vernazza to Corniglia (1 hour and 15 minutes) and from Corniglia to Volastra (1 hour and 20 minutes). We then took a bus to Manarola since the main hiking trail was closed. The early start allowed us to enjoy the breathtaking scenery in solitude. Highly recommended!
Stunning hikes are worth the struggle
Virtually all the Cinque Terre trails we hiked had parts that were incredibly steep with rocky steps and narrow walkways. Don’t let the tough uphill climbs discourage you. The higher elevation affords you even more expansive views of the Mediterranean and the Cinque Terre towns below.
Quiet Corniglia
Corniglia is always the quietest of the five Cinque Terre towns due to its more remote location off the water but experiencing the town before 8 a.m. as it’s just waking up is magical. With bright flowerpots and greenery lining cute cobblestone walkways we agreed this might be the most charming of all five Cinque Terre towns! Take a look…
Add in adventure
Arriving in Manarola, we knew we wanted to check out the rocky waterfront famous for rock jumping and swimming. This area has big boulders jutting out from the sea and invites people to sit, climb, and jump into the cool deep water. However, if you’re like me and wish to enter the water slowly instead of daringly splash from high on a rocky ledge, there’s a ladder leading from one of the rocks into the water. This water adventure is a thrilling way to experience the Mediterranean.
Take a different way home
The 40-minute ferry ride is a nice way to get different views of the cliffside towns. It helps if you have a nice camera that can capture the faraway views.
Relaxing evening #3
Instead of jetting off to another Cinque Terre town, we dined under yellow umbrellas overlooking the Mediterranean at Ristorante Il Gabbiano in Monterosso, just steps outside our rental place.
It was another delicious authentic Italian meal with gelato for dessert. We topped off the night with a drink in old town. In fact, we managed to find the same bar we had spent two fun nights in 21 years earlier. It was a great way to round out our time in the Cinque Terre.
We left bright and early the next morning for Venice. All in all, experiencing each of the five towns of Cinque Terre even with a short itinerary was well worth it. Relishing in the unique charm of each village at a relaxing—not rushed—pace created the quintessential Cinque Terre holiday. One we won’t soon forget. Arrivederci, Cinque Terre!
We are a couple about 70 years old.
My husband cannot climb hills and many steps.
Can you recommend a hotel or two – 4 stars
in Monterasso? We prefer hotels more the bed and breakfast, but
all suggestions are appreciated.
thanks – Elaine
Hi Elaine, There are a few hotels just a short walk from the Monterosso train station. I haven’t stayed in them (we rented an Airbnb) but I LOVE the area – it’s nice and flat and convenient to restaurants and the water. Hotel Palme is 4-star, but the rest are 3-star: La Villa degli Argentieri, Hotel Cinque Terre, and Locanda A Ca Du Gigante (this one is actually a bed and breakfast.) Hope that helps!
Hello again, do you think a 7 year old could do these hikes between the towns? Again, thank you for your post!
Hi Eileen, Yes as long as your 7 year-old likes to hike, these trails should be fine. They are steep, but not technically challenging. For example, the hike from Monterosso to Vernazza – the first 2o minutes or so is uphill with some stairs, so be ready for that. But after that there are some ups and downs. You can always stop and take breaks along the way, too. The scenery is unbelievable and definitely worth the effort! Have fun!
Thanks so much for taking the time to share your family adventure.
Have never been out of the United States & Headed to this area in June. It will only be my wife and I traveling. We want to hike during the day and eat & drink in the evening close to our hotel. We will only be in the area 2.5 days. Thanks to your suggestion, we definitely want to swim and watch others jump off rocks into the water. Do you have any suggestions for us as to which town would be best for us? Any help is appreciated- I’m struggling 😂
Hi Lance, I highly recommend staying in Monterosso. It’s beautiful, has the nicest beach, and the largest variety of restaurants and bars. It also has a quaint part of town called “Old Town”. There are scenic hiking trails between all of the villages, while the rock jumping is in the village of Manarola (easily accessible to Monterosso by train.)
For a simple overview of each of the 5 towns, check out #4 in this article: https://www.scenicandsavvy.com/cinque-terre-italy-in-summer-survive-heat-crowds/ Hope that helps! And hope you have a great trip!
Three days in Cinque Terra with very minimal liking. Restaurants and hotels
Hi Marlene, Fortunately there is an efficient and easy train system connecting all five Cinque Terre towns, so you don’t have to do a lot of hiking if you don’t want to. But strolling through the towns and down to each town’s harbor is highly encouraged. As for restaurants and hotels, you’ll have the most options in Monterosso. We really liked dining at Lapo’s and L’Osteria. We rented an airbnb overlooking the beach in Monterosso which we really enjoyed, but there are also hotels in the area including: Hotel Palme, La Villa degli Argentieri, Hotel Cinque Terre, and Locanda A Ca Du Gigante (a bed and breakfast).