Cinque Terre in 3 Days: a guidebook for getting the most out of your visit

Cinque Terre is a National Park that is home to five of Italy's most beautiful villages: Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza and Monterosso al Mare. These jewels are located in the province of Liguria and are known for their picturesque and colorful little houses suspended on steep cliffs by the sea, their magnificent landscapes and their trails that connect the various localities. If you are considering how long to go, three days is the ideal time.

The most common, and also the most comfortable, way to visit the five towns that make up Cinque Terre is by train, since all the towns, with the exception of Corniglia, have a station near the historic center and the travel time between them is minimal. If you choose this means of transport, it is best to take the Trenitalia Cinque Terre Express, as you can take as many trains as you need during the day.

Due to the high prices of accommodation in Cinque Terre, many tourists choose to stay in La Spezia, although you can also find a wide range of hotels in Monterosso. However, trains leave quite frequently so you will have no problem getting around the Ligurian coast.

Now, for your first day, I have prepared an itinerary that starts in Monterosso al Mare, the largest town in Cinque Terre and ends in Vernazza, considered by many the most beautiful town of the five.

Visit Monterosso al Mare, the largest town in Cinque Terre

In addition to being the most populated town of the five, Monterosso is home to the largest beach in Cinque Terre. Divided into a public and a private area, this beach with crystal clear waters is perfect for swimming and cooling off if you travel to Cinque Terre during the summer.

Monterosso al Mare is made up of two areas separated by a hill under which there is a tunnel that keeps them connected. In one of these areas you will find the charming historic center and the port, which are worth a stroll, and in the other, you can find both the train station and its most famous beach, the beach of Fegina.

Despite being the largest town, it is possible to travel around Monterosso in just over an hour, so if the weather is nice you will have time to relax on the beach or even do some water activities. Of course, don't forget to visit its main monuments such as the Church of San Francesco, the Church of San Giovanni Battista or the Villa Montale.

Head to your next destination, Vernazza

Once you have finished your visit to Monterosso, your next stop will be the charming town of Vernazza. To get there there are several options, including following the footpath that connects the two towns. However, this section of the route can be a bit hard, so if you are not used to this type of activity, I recommend taking another means of transport.

A fun option to move around would be to do it by boat, as the views of the villages from the sea are spectacular. However, it is a less economical alternative to the train, and may not be particularly pleasant if you travel to Cinque Terre during the winter.

If you make the journey by train, you will see that a few meters from the station is the main street of Vernazza, where there is a wide range of stores and restaurants, and the central square, where the famous Church of Santa Margherita is located. Vernazza stands out especially for its seaside town atmosphere, its picturesque colorful houses and narrow, sloping streets. Once there, I recommend a pleasant stroll through the historic center on foot.

Take a break to taste the local gastronomy

After a long morning of walking, what better plan than to take a break to enjoy the exquisite dishes of this Italian region? For this reason, I recommend that you choose among some of the magnificent restaurants that you can find in the central square and take the opportunity to try some local cuisine.

One of the most typical dishes of Liguria are the delicious trofie, a type of pasta with an elongated and intertwined shape that is usually served with Genovese pesto. It is also common in this area to find different pasta dishes accompanied by seafood or fish, such as the famous spaghetti ai frutti di mari.

But if you are interested in learning more about the cuisine of the area, do not hesitate to book a gastronomic tour of Cinque Terre, where an expert will accompany you during the tour and tell you the secrets of this spectacular corner of Italy.

Continue your walk and climb up to a very special viewpoint.

Once you have finished your lunch, you can walk to the port of Vernazza, one of the most prominent of all Cinque Terre, and take a walk along the seashore or take some pictures of the most striking. Next to the port is a small pebble beach where you can swim or sunbathe.

Next, I recommend that you make a small effort and go up to what is considered one of the best viewpoints of Vernazza. To get there, you will have to start from the central square and go up some stairs in front of the church, at the base of which you will find a sign indicating the beginning of the path to Monterosso.

You will have to follow the signage of this path and continue along it for a small stretch of the road, you will be up in less than 15 minutes and I assure you that the views make the effort worthwhile. Please note that in order to access many of the trails you will need to show your Cinque Terre Card.

End the day watching the sunset from Doria Castle

A visit to the Doria Castle is a must if you decide to visit Vernazza. This imposing fortress was once guarding the town on a small rock, unfortunately, today only a tower remains standing and can be visited for about 2 € approximately.

From this point the views of the town are spectacular and if time permits, I strongly advise you to wait to see the sunset, as I assure you it will be an experience you will not forget.

As you can see Cinque Terre has a lot to offer. For your second day in Cinque Terre I have prepared an itinerary that passes through the three towns that you still have to visit: Riomaggiore, Manarola and Corniglia.

Start the day in the highest village of Cinque Terre, Corniglia

Although the town of Corniglia sometimes goes somewhat unnoticed compared to the other villages that make up Cinque Terre, the magnificent views that you can find from the top of the hill that hosts this small town will make it worth investing a little of your time in a visit.

Corniglia is the only town in Cinque Terre that has no access to the sea, besides being the smallest of all. However, one advantage that some travelers choose to skip this point of the tour is that the town is much quieter than the others, making it an ideal place to enjoy the calm and stroll without a crowd of tourists.

If you decide to arrive by train you should be prepared for the Scalinata Lardarina, a staircase that has almost 400 steps and that takes you from the station to the historic center. This picturesque village is located on top of a mountain, about 90 meters above sea level. Of course, the views from the top are unbeatable. Another option if you are not convinced by the idea of climbing the endless stairs would be to take a minibus that is included in the Cinque Terre Card. Some of the monuments you can visit in Corniglia are the Church of San Pietro or the Church of Santa Caterina.

Visit Manarola, the next stop on your itinerary

Once you have explored the town of Corniglia, which will take you no more than an hour, you can return to the train station and head to your next destination, Manarola. Manarola is one of the most beautiful and well-known villages in Cinque Terre and is particularly striking for its fantastic architecture, with its colorful houses perched among the rocks, its magnificent views and its stone beaches and cliffs.

Once there, I recommend that you walk around Manarola and get lost in the explosion of colors of its narrow streets. Going down to the port, you can also find a natural balcony from where the views of the town are spectacular and perfect to take some pictures.

If it is open during the season of your trip, I recommend you to go to the restaurant with the best views of Manarola, the Nessun Dorma, where you can enjoy a good wine and a typical Italian appetizer, such as bruschettas. Although if you are really passionate about wine, do not hesitate to book a wine tasting in Manarola. Finally, don't forget to walk along Via di Mezzo, the main street. There, you will find many local craft stores and restaurants where you can buy a delicious focaccia for lunch.

Stroll along the famous Via dell'Amore

The next and last stop of the day is the charming village of Riomaggiore. However, to get there I recommend that you take a very special road. As mentioned above, one of the attractions of Cinque Terre is its famous trails. And in particular, the best known of all, the Sentiero Azzurro, or "blue trail", which is a path along the sea that connects all the villages.

If you are a lover of hiking, you have the option to consult the official website of Cinque Terre trails and make the itinerary changing the trains for this route on foot. However, I am going to make special emphasis on you not to miss one of its sections, known as the Path of Love.

The Path of Love, or Via dell'Amore is the section that connects Manarola with Riomaggiore and is one of the most traveled routes both for its beauty and for being the easiest to walk.

Discover Riomaggiore, the last of the Cinque Terre villages

After less than half an hour's drive, you will reach Riomaggiore. This town in Cinque Terre has a charming historic center and, like some of the other neighboring villages, is made up of colorful little houses perched on a rock formation.

One of the highlights of Riomaggiore is its picturesque pier, from where you can have a fantastic panoramic view of both the harbor and the crystal clear waters of the sea. Other main attractions are the Church of St. John the Baptist and Riomaggiore Castle, which is located in the highest part of the village.

If you are spending the night in Cinque Terre or its surroundings, I recommend that you take the opportunity to see the magnificent sunset from its small cove, or choose a more original option and book a boat tour at sunset.

If you are traveling to Cinque Terre for two days or touring Cinque Terre in one day, it will be best to focus on touring the five locations so as not to miss anything, however, since your stay is somewhat longer, you have the opportunity to take the opportunity to take an excursion and get to know a little more of the beautiful Liguria region.

Enjoy your visit to Portovenere

To get to Portovenere you have several different options depending on where you start from. The first would be by public transport. If you are staying in La Spezia, you can take a bus directly to Portovenere. If on the other hand you are staying in one of the towns that make up Cinque Terre, you can take a direct ferry or transfer in La Spezia.

However, if you are up for a good hike, a fun way to get to Portovenere would be to book an excursion with a local guide through the trails of the area starting from Riomaggiore.

Once there, you can enjoy walking the streets of this small fishing village that is located in the Gulf of Poets. Like the previous towns, Portovenere lies parallel to the sea and is populated by the characteristic colorful houses of this area of Italy. Some of its main attractions are the port, Byron's Cave and the Church of St. Peter. I also recommend you to walk along Via Capellini, which is the heart of the town and, in and around it, you will find a wide variety of restaurants.

Finish the trip with a last walk and a nice dinner

If after your trip to Portovenere you are still not too tired, an option for your last night is to take a walk in La Spezia, which is only half an hour away by bus.

Some of the activities to do in La Spezia are a stroll along the harbor, walk the Thaon di Revel Bridge, visit its most emblematic squares, Piazza Garibaldi and Piazza Europa, visit its Cathedral or, if you have time, the imposing Medieval Castle of San Giorgio. In addition, in its historic center you can find a wide range of bars and restaurants to enjoy a fantastic last dinner in Liguria.

If, on the other hand, you are staying in one of the towns of Cinque Terre, you can take advantage of the remaining afternoon strolling, watching the sunset over the sea and saying goodbye to the gastronomic delights of the area.