48 Hours in the Cinque Terre
A visit to the brightly colored Cinque Terre with its buildings stacked one on top of another is a quintessential bucket list item for any trip to Italy. Outside of hiking and relaxing while you take in one astonishing view after another, there’s not much else to do, and that is exactly why you should visit!
With so much of Italy being filled to the brim with ancient sights and grand museums vying for your attention, visiting the Cinque Terre is a perfect opportunity to slow things down in the middle of a visit. We paid the Cinque Terre a visit after four busy days in Venice and Florence right when we were ready for a break. The timing couldn’t have been better.
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Orientation to the Cinque Terre
Located along Italy’s Ligurian Coast in the northwest of the country, the Cinque Terre is composed of five of the most visually stunning towns in the country. From south to north, there is Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza and Monterosso al Mare. The towns all share some characteristics, yet they are all distinct from one another in personality and appearance.
Looking for peace and relaxation without many crowds? Manarola and Corniglia have you covered. If you want a bigger tourist scene and beaches, check out Vernazza and Monterosso al Mare. Then there’s Riomaggiore which is a bit of a mix of all those qualities. Consider these traits when deciding which towns you want to stay the night in.
Despite those differences, you’d be doing yourself a major disservice to not visit each town for at least a couple hours. Fortunately, it’s incredibly easy to see each of the Cinque Terre’s towns, and this is where the region really shines.
Connecting each of the towns are various hiking trails offering dramatic views of the towns and surrounding coastlines. You could hike from one end to the other with enough time or pick a couple hikes to do while utilizing the convenient train to save time otherwise.
Here are more of my tips and thoughts to help with planning a trip to Italy!
The Cinque Terre Park Card
Purchasing the Cinque Terre Park Card is necessary if doing the hike from Vernazza to Monterosso al Mare (included in this itinerary), the hike from Vernazza to Corniglia, and Via dell’ Amore connecting Manarola and Riomaggiore (currently closed). These passes can be purchased from any local train station.
Another more valuable pass is the Cinque Terre Train Card. These passes give you access to the above trails and include your train fares for up to three days.
If you’re visiting the Cinque Terre between November 7 and the end of March, all trails are free, so you don’t need to purchase a Cinque Terre Park Card.
Cinque Terre Itinerary at a Glance
- Day One
- Stay in Riomaggiore
- Hike high trail to Manarola
- Lunch at Alla Marina Ristorante
- Wine tasting at Cantina Burasca
- Train back to Riomaggiore
- Explore Riomaggiore
- Watch the sunset near Castello di Riomaggiore
- Dinner at Old School Riomaggiore
- Day Two
- Train to Corniglia
- Quick tour of Corniglia
- Train to Vernazza
- Explore Vernazza
- Hike to Monterosso al Mare
- Relax at the beach
- Explore Monterosso al Mare
- Dinner at Da Eraldo
- Stay in Monterosso al Mare
Day One in the Cinque Terre
Our first day in the Cinque Terre started with catching a train from Florence to La Spezia and then from La Spezia to Riomaggiore. To maximize your time, plan to leave from Florence fairly early. The total time from Florence to Riomaggiore is about 2.5 hours.
Once we arrived in Riomaggiore, we dropped our bags off at the room in Alla Marine, took in the marvelous views of town from the harbor, and then made our way to our first of two hikes in the region.
Purchase whatever tickets you’ll need from the La Spezia train station. This station has more attendants and seems more reliable than anything we experienced in the Cinque Terre. At least as of the time of our visit, the automated machines do not sell Cinque Terre Train Cards, so you will need to buy these from a teller.
Arrival in Riomaggiore
After three hours on a train, we finally arrived in the Cinque Terre via Riomaggiore’s train station. My first impression was a bit underwhelming, but I reminded myself we were only at the train station. From the train station, a brief walk through a tunnel brought us to the main part of town. This first view is what we were waiting for.
Sometimes when you see a photo of something so much on social media, actually arriving at that location in real life can be a little underwhelming. The view of Riomaggiore’s harborside was not one of those moments.
The pastel-colored buildings stacked on top of each other as the townsfolk built up the cliffside away from the water is perfection. It’s hard to imagine this town wasn’t designed by some faceless tourism board and that people actually live here!
Via Beccara Hike
After dropping off our bags and getting a quick bite at Da Paolino, we embarked on our first in the Cinque Terre: Via Beccara connecting Riogmaggiore and Manarola. The trailhead is a bit difficult to find since we didn’t know what we were looking for. Watch out for red and white symbols along the walls in town!
Via Beccara is a moderately challenging 1-mile hike up and over the mountain separating the two towns. Regardless of which way you go, it’s a steep climb with an equally steep descent. The Manarola side has some uneven terrain making it a bit more difficult, but the Riomaggiore side is more exposed to the sun. In short, it probably won’t make much of a difference which direction you do the hike.
The trail itself is somewhat nondescript. You go along some private vineyards on the Riomaggiore side which is about as interesting as the trail gets. However, the views more than make up for the trail.
Almost no matter where you are on the trail there’s something to look at either behind or in front of you. If you’re going from Riomaggiore into Manarola like we did, the highlight is at the summit looking north towards Corniglia on the cliffside. As you descend into Manarola, there are also great views looking down into a small town whose name I don’t know and then the first looks into Manarola itself.
There’s an easy, more popular trail connecting Riomaggiore and Manarola called the Via dell’ Amore. This trail wraps around the coast affording visitors views of the sea and two towns. Unfortunately, this trail has been closed since 2012 due to a rockslide and is not set to reopen until July 2024.
A Short Stay in Manarola
Manarola packs a lot of riviera beauty in its small confines. I’m of the opinion that it’s the prettiest town in the whole Cinque Terre. It’s also one of the quietest towns besides Corniglia, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing if that’s what you want.
We ambled along the lane leading from the hiking trail a little ways before making our way to the main drag through town. This area had a few pretty sights including gardens, lemon trees and, eventually, a nice view of the sea. The highlight was an old archway with ivy and flowers growing on it we happened to stumble upon. Besides being an attractive piece of architecture, this is a great spot for photos of the sea.
I’m not sure how we found the archway. We were walking aimlessly when we found it. It wasn’t too far from one of the main roads. If you walk around a bit, you should find it.
Eventually, we did get to the main street through town and then the harbor where we had a spectacular seafood lunch at Alla Marina Ristorante (for more on the restaurants we ate at in the Cinque Terre, scroll further down). From here, we walked a little farther up the path along the cliff for another viewpoint looking back at Manarola from a little garden. This view was the best of town we saw.
We also walked down to a small swimming hole that can be accessed near the restaurant. There are some rocks to climb on and a waterfall tumbling into the water from underneath town.
Once we were done in the harbor, we made our way back up through town, this time taking the main road the whole way to the train station. We passed one must-do activity and a small church that is worth a quick visit if you have a few minutes.
The first is Cantina Burasca, a small winery with tasty wines and an excellent aperitivo with some amazing focaccia. Cantina Burasca has a lovely setting with friendly service making this a fun stop before you leave Manarola.
Just past Cantina Burasca is the Church of San Lorenzo. It’s a tiny church without much to see, but its small size is a welcome sight if you’ve been visiting some of Italy’s grander cathedrals before coming to the Cinque Terre.
If you’re into wine tastings at fabulous wineries, read my post on our Tuscany wine tour!
Back into Riogmaggiore
After taking the train back to Riomaggiore, we had most of the afternoon to relax and casually stroll around town.
With one exception, there’s nothing in particular to do insofar as big tourist sights are concerned. Yet, the best part of Riomaggiore is how many delightful side streets and alleys there are to explore in between drinks at various cafes. Don’t hesitate to walk up whatever road you come across to see what you can find. Odds are you’ll find many intimate sights that make your wanderings worth it.
So, what about the exception? You simply cannot miss out on the sunset by the castle and the tiny church of San Rocco. The sun sets from behind the coastal cliffs to the right of this small area. The sky as the sun drops behind the mountains had the most amazing colors!
Once nature’s show was over, we had dinner at Old School Riomaggiore. This restaurant is just a short walk from San Rocco. It’s not only convenient if you watched the sunset, but it’s also a delicious meal.
See if you can find the Paul Passing Through sticker in the bathroom of one of the cafes on the main drag of Riomaggiore!
Day Two in the Cinque Terre
Early Train to Corniglia
In order to make sure we saw each of the Cinque Terre’s towns, we woke early to visit Corniglia. Fortunately, Corniglia is a tiny town making it easy to visit with just an hour or so.
Upon arrival in Corniglia, we boarded the convenient shuttle that goes back and forth from the train station to the entrance of town throughout the day. There is a small fare of €1.50, but it’s worth it to avoid the many steep stairs you’d have to climb otherwise.
We walked through town on the impossible-to-miss main road, stopping briefly for a small breakfast at Bar Pan e Vin. There are some small shops to peruse, but the main highlight is the Santa Maria Belvedere at the very end of the road. From this belvedere, there are more great views along the Cinque Terre coast.
After the belvedere, we came back up to the large plaza in town. Behind the oratory, local kids created a small concrete soccer pitch that gives a bit of a slice-of-life exposure to Corniglia.
Another interesting thing in Corniglia is found across from the plaza down some nondescript stairs. Following this road eventually took us to some steep, uneven stairs people take for some sunning rocks and a precarious entry into the water. I only walked about halfway down these stairs, yet the views back up at town and farther down to the swimming hole are worth this short side trip.
You can wait for a shuttle to take you back to the train station, or you can walk down the stairs you skipped earlier. We took the stairs rather than wait and were very grateful we did the shuttle on the way into town!
Related: A Walk to Discover Romantic Venice
Explore Vernazza
We took the train again from Corniglia to Vernazza. Vernazza reminded me of Riomaggiore except busier with many more tourists and shops. Fortunately, there are a number of random alleyways and stairways worth exploring to quickly get away from the crowds.
Vernazza also seems to have the most things to do and see compared to the rest of the Cinque Terre (which still isn’t very many). Nevertheless, the best thing to do, like everywhere else in the region, is just to walk around aimlessly to see what you can find.
Before going too far into Vernazza, find the posters showing images from flooding in 2011. It’s impressive how the town bounced back from this catastrophic flooding.
My highlight was simply walking around the harbor and the breakwater taking in the view back into town. It speaks to the beauty of the Cinque Terre that this is only my third favorite view from the five towns.
Another thing I enjoyed visiting along the harbor was the Church of St Margaret. This old church from the 14th century is fun to explore due to its medieval atmosphere. The architecture is Romanesque, and the inside is dark due to the absence of large windows. Of note, if you pay close attention to the interior’s columns, you can see where newer materials were used to enlarge the church three centuries after its founding.
Around now, we were both getting a little hungry. It was time to finally try a basket of fried seafood we kept seeing in each town we had been in so far. Fortunately, we didn’t have to look far. La Bottega del Fritto is right on the main street and has several options for whatever you’re looking for.
With our belly’s full, Michelle and I decided to go our separate ways. She wanted to maximize her time at Monterosso al Mare’s beach while I wanted to do some more hiking. So, with our bags in tow, she headed towards the train station, and I climbed up out of Vernazza along the Azure Trail.
If you need to store your bags while visiting Vernazza, take them to cinqueterreriviera.com where they’ll hold them for a small fee. This tiny shop can be found about a quarter mile into town from the train station next to a small chapel dedicated to St Marta. The tourist office is another option, but for whatever reason, they weren’t accepting bags at the time of our visit.
The Azure Trail from Vernazza to Monterosso al Mare
This 2-mile hike between the northernmost towns was my favorite part of our time in the Cinque Terre. I consider this trail in three parts: the ascent from Vernazza, a flatter section that weaves around the cliffside, and the descent into Monterosso al Mare.
In all, the hike is relatively easy. It’s a little steep at the beginning but not especially difficult. It does get pretty steep when going into Monterosso al Mare. Those with difficulty going down steps may want to consider hiking poles. Expect the hike to take 2-2.5 hours, mostly because of how often you’ll be stopping to take in the scenery.
Climbing Out of Vernazza
The climb up out of Vernazza has the best views of the hike. There are plenty of sections to stop and look back at town, and you should definitely make sure to stop at every opportunity you get. From various points, you’re able to see all of Vernazza including its castle, the breakwater and the adorable buildings extending away from the water’s edge.
I’d be remiss as a cat lover if I didn’t mention the cat colony! Towards the top of the climb is a small, fenced area to the right with several small cat houses for local strays. I walked by as a caretaker was feeding them, so I got to see a couple of the local residents. This was a unique and unexpected part of the hike.
Walking Along the Cliff
Don’t worry about the best views being at the beginning. There are still plenty of great sights to come.
Once you reach the top and start going along the mountainside, the hike takes you through a fairy tale-like forest. The trail goes by brightly colored flowers, masonry bridges and small waterfalls tumbling down to the sea. It’s difficult not to smile as you wind your way towards Monterosso al Mare. And, oh yeah, there are still many great vistas of the Ligurian Sea to your left.
Descending into Monterosso al Mare
The trail loses some of its shine a bit here. Monterosso al Mare starts to appear, but, while pretty, it’s not quite as magical as some of the other views of the Cinque Terre’s towns throughout this itinerary.
It’s far from terrible, but after everything else, it just seemed a bit lackluster. The trail does go by and through vineyards right off the trail for some interesting photos.
Further, at this point, fatigue was starting to catch to up to me a bit. The absence of jaw-dropping views coupled with my exhaustion had me ready to be relaxing in a chair on the beach with a beer.
The trail also gets quite steep as you make your way towards town. My knees and thighs were feeling it by the time I reached the bottom. I took a look back and was thankful I was coming down rather than going up!
The End of the Line in Monterosso al Mare
Finally, I arrived at my last stop in the Cinque Terre, tired and dusty after the hike from Vernazza. My first thing to do here was to find Michelle, a task that proved to be more difficult than it ought to have been. So, while she continued to sunbathe, I searched in vain from one end of the old town’s beach to the other end of the newer part of Monterosso al Mare.
One benefit of my wandering around while she napped through my phone calls was finding the macabre Oratory of the Dead. This small place of worship belonged to the Black Fraternity of Monterosso whose mission it was to arrange for funerals and care for widows, orphans and shipwrecked people. It’s free to enter but donations are encouraged. The small interior gives off serious haunted house vibes with death motifs everywhere symbolizing our inevitable destiny. My favorite thing in the oratory is the wooden pew with goofy skeletons carved into it.
Eventually, I found Michelle lying on the beach and, more importantly, a couple beers to have while I napped to the sound of the ocean.
After a couple hours oceanside and then getting cleaned up back at our hotel, we explored Monterosso a bit. There’s not much to Monterosso al Mare besides the beach. It even lacks a lot of the interesting side roads and stairways that highlight the rest of the Cinque Terre.
We did climb up the small hill to the old castle and Church of St Francis which I thoroughly enjoyed. On the way up the path, we stopped at a statue of St Francis to take in a spectacular view of the coast stretching all the way to Riomaggiore.
After a few minutes at the viewpoint, we made the rest of the way up to the castle and church. Within the castle walls is a cemetery where some of Monterosso’s past residents are laid to the rest. Many of the burial sites and crypts are lovingly decorated with photos of the deceased, creating a more intimate connection to the town’s past.
The Church of St Francis is worth a quick peek after the cemetery. It’s a peaceful setting atop the hill in a small greenspace. Inside are a few nice paintings, including one particularly good one of St Francis behind the altar.
Monterosso al Mare wasn’t my favorite. It was easily the most touristy, and the town isn’t nearly as pretty as the rest of the Cinque Terre. What it does have that the other towns lack is a great beachfront. If you just want to relax on the beach, Monterosso al Mare is the Cinque Terre town for you!
More Italy Content: The Sights and Sounds of Florence’s Piazza del Duomo
Where to Eat in the Cinque Terre
Da Paolino (Riomaggiore)
Da Paolino was our first meal in the Cinque Terre. It’s a tiny hole-in-the-wall towards the top of Riomaggiore’s main street. We were only looking for something small which Da Paolino was perfect for.
The shop is a bit on the rustic side and smells like cigarettes, but don’t let those two things deter you. I had a focaccia with anchovies which was more than satisfactory for a quick snack.
Alla Marina Ristorante (Manarola)
Alla Marina Ristorante is located right on the harbor giving it the perfect location to take in the beauty of Manarola while having a meal. You really can’t ask for a much better view.
Because of its excellent location, we expected a bit of a wait. Nevertheless, we lucked out and were seated within ten minutes. More importantly, I had a hike-recovery beer in my hand shortly after being seated.
The views of the coast and Manarola are the highlights of Alla Marina Ristorante, but the food was a very close second. I had a seafood antipasto with several different small portions of various seafoods on it. This plate was a bit on the smaller side while also being expensive, yet I still would recommend it because of how good everything was.
Old School Riomaggiore (Riomaggiore)
Our meal at Old School Ristorante was one of the more fun dinners we had in Italy. The staff all seemed generally happy to be doing their job. They were friendly, helpful and conversational. Between this and the location, Old School Riomaggiore had a great vibe.
The food itself was pretty good, too. We had pizza and ravioli, both of which were more than satisfactory. To top things off, after our meal we were both given complimentary limoncellos to send us on our way. They seemed to be giving everyone limoncello that night. I can’t say whether they always do this or they were just feeling especially jovial that night.
Old School Riomaggiore also serves drinks to go if you want to have a beer or wine while you watch the sunset from the castle
Bar Pan e Vin (Corniglia)
We didn’t waste any time leaving Riomaggiore for Corniglia, so by the time we arrived here, we were both getting hungry (and Michelle needed her caffeine).
Corniglia is so small we were starting to think we wouldn’t be able to find a cafe for a quick bite to eat when we finally stumbled upon Bar Pan e Vin. There’s not much to it, but they had coffee, tea and pastries which is basically what we were looking for. They also have a cute little outdoor seating area right on the road across from a small garden.
The chocolate croissants we had were good and Michelle enjoyed her coffee. There is a bigger cafe farther up the road if you want a more extensive breakfast, but Bar Pan e Vin is good for something small and fast.
La Bottega del Fritto (Vernazza)
Unless you’re walking around with your eyes closed, you will have seen people walking around the Cinque Terre with to-go baskets of fried seafood. It took us till Vernazza to have one of these baskets, but it was worth the wait.
This small spot served up some tasty fried seafood. This is the only one of these shops we stopped at, so I can’t say if it’s better or worse than any of the others. However, it’s hard to mess up fried seafood as far as I’m concerned!
One negative about La Bottega del Fritto, though, is the lack of any seating in the immediate vicinity. We had to walk for a few minutes before we found a place to sit while we enjoyed our meal.
Da Eraldo (Monterosso al Mare)
Our final meal in the Cinque Terre was more seafood at Da Eraldo. I wanted one last sampling of miscellaneous seafood, and Da Eraldo did the trick and more.
We shared a platter of various seafood options. The meal came out in a little wooden boat which added a nice touch to the seafood we were about to ravage.
I would have liked to have seen a bit more food on this platter. Still, what was there was exquisite. They have a full menu with different seafood dishes, but I couldn’t not get a platter that came out on a boat for my last day on the coast.
Gelateria Yogurteria Slurp 2 (Monterosso al Mare)
One of the best gelatos I had in Italy was at Gelateria Yogurteria Slurp 2. Despite the silly name, the gelato was great.
It’s a small shop with most of the basic gelato flavors. I had a cup with pistachio and dark chocolate. Their pistachio was just average, but the dark chocolate was life altering! I could have gone back for more if I weren’t so tired by this point in the night.
Our stop at this gelateria also provided us with one of our more amusing tourist anecdotes from our trip. When we walked in, we were greeted by an American or Canadian woman arguing with the server over 18 cents. I forget the details, but the woman didn’t understand how both the menu and euros worked. Despite it being explained to her repeatedly by her husband and the server, she was adamant that she had been short changed by a whopping 18 cents. It went on and on for at least 10 minutes while her husband slinked away looking embarrassed. Eventually the server gave up, slammed the 18 cents on the countertop and told her to leave. The whole thing was absurd!
Don’t be the type of person that argues over 18 cents in another country when you’re in the wrong lest you end up being immortalized by a blogger.
Where to Stay in the Cinque Terre
Where you stay depends on what you want to do during your time in the Cinque Terre. If you’re looking for a slow, relaxing stay, Corniglia or possibly Manarola are for you. The other three towns are livelier with a little more to do.
In order to maximize our time in each town, we thought it would be best for our interests to stay in Riomaggiore and Monterosso al Mare. We essentially went from south to north through the Cinque Terre with just a little backtracking on the first day.
Riomaggiore
For our first night, we stayed in Riomaggiore at Alla Marina. Our room was big enough to feel like a small one-room apartment. It had a bedroom, living area and a decently sized bathroom. Having all that space is nice but not particularly necessary unless you plan on being in your room a lot.
The selling point for Alla Marina is its location. It is on the marina side of town with the quintessential view of Riomaggiore right outside your window. If you want some privacy, you can take advantage of the living area to have a cup of tea or glass of wine while still getting to experience the beauty of Riomaggiore.
As with most of our stays in Italy, there are many steep stairs to climb to get your room. The stairway is somewhat tight, too, making carrying large luggage difficult if you have any.
Monterosso al Mare
Our second night was spent in Monterosso al Mare. We stayed in l’Antica Terrazza. l’Antica Terrazza is located in the older part of Monterosso al Mare right on one of the main drags. It’s this location that earns my recommendation for this hotel.
The room itself is adequate albeit not particularly memorable. It does have a large window overlooking the road below which is nice if you want to take in the scene during any downtime.
l’Antica Terrazza’s highlight is its public terrace. There are several seats and small tables where you can relax from the afternoon sun or have a nightcap of gelato while still being amid the action of Monterosso al Mare. I took advantage of this terrace as much as I could during our short stay here. It wasn’t only my favorite part of the hotel, but it was one of my favorite parts of the whole town.
Getting Around the Cinque Terre
There are three ways to get around the Cinque Terre, and none of them include a car (in fact, cars aren’t allowed directly in any of the towns), so don’t bother bringing one here. Besides, the other options are quicker and more scenic.
Hiking Through the Cinque Terre
Hiking is most people’s preferred way of getting from town to town, and it’s easy to see why once you get on the trails.
Many of the trails take you up over the mountains going through family-owned vineyards and pleasant wooded regions like something out of a fairy tale. What’s more, that’s not even the best part!
Your real reward for opting to hike is one breathtaking landscape of the Ligurian coast after another. It’s almost surreal seeing these colorful towns come into view as you make your way over and along the hills separating them.
Unfortunately, with all that said, the hikes aren’t particularly easy. They’re steep and often exposed to the sun. If you’re carrying backpacks, you may want to either consider the train or look into having your bags transported to your destination.
There are various options throughout the Cinque Terre for luggage services to take your bags to the next town for a fee if you are hiking. Ask your hotel for recommendations for this service.
By Train
The most convenient method of transport around the Cinque Terre is via train. There is an express train that only runs between Levanto north of Monterosso al Mara and La Spezia east of Riomaggiore.
Trains run about every 15 minutes and can get you from one town to the next in barely any time at all. You are sacrificing scenery for convenience here as the trains mostly run through tunnels in order to be as efficient as they are. Still, if you have bags or just need to be somewhere quick, the train is a great option.
Cinque Terre Train Cards can be purchased for €18.20 at any of the stations in the region. These tickets give you unlimited rides on the train and access to all the hiking trails in the region. You can also purchase individual tickets for €5 if you don’t expect to hike or use the train much.
By Ferry
The third option for getting around the Cinque Terre is by ferry. Ferries run hourly and are more expensive than train tickets. Prices vary depending on your destination. There are also one-day tickets for €30. It’s worth noting y can’t reach Corniglia via ferry since this is the only Cinque Terre town without access to the water.
The upside? Gorgeous views from the water of the pristine shorelines and towns of the Cinque Terre.
We did not do any ferries in the Cinque Terre, so I can’t recommend for or against them. We opted against a ferry because of the slower transit time involved. They simply aren’t convenient if you only have two days to see the Cinque Terre.
Cinque Terre FAQ
Is the Cinque Terre known for any types of food or drinks?
For food, it’s seafood, especially anchovies, and pesto. Being a coastal region, seafood is plentiful throughout the region, and you’ll be hard pressed to find a bad meal.
Pesto originates in this region due to the ideal climate for growing the necessary ingredients. As such, the people here have perfected the craft of making perfect pesto.
As far as drinks go, limoncino is the way to go. If that name sounds familiar, it’s because it’s what the locals here call limoncello. With its coastal climate, the lemons here make excellent examples of this tart liquer.
How do I get to the Cinque Terre?
Visiting the Cinque Terre is easiest by train. Driving is an option, but cars aren’t allowed in town and roads between the different towns are indirect adding needless time in a car to your visit.
Most trains connect to the Cinque Terre via Genoa to the north or La Spezia to the south. Trains from Genoa to Monterosso al Mare take about 90 minutes. It’s only about 10 minutes from La Spezia to Riomaggiore.
Can I do any water sports in the Cinque Terre?
There are several companies that rent out kayaks and boats to explore the coastline on your own or as part of a tour. There is also snorkeling and diving available. The nearby town of Levanto has surfing, as well.
What was that about castles in Riomaggiore and Vernazza?
You noticed I kind of glossed over those two things, then. These two castles can be visited for a small fee if you’re interested. Neither are particularly large, and from what I can gather, there is not much to see in either to make them worth the time or price.
Can the Cinque Terre be done as a day trip?
Sure, but I wouldn’t. The Cinque Terre is best enjoyed slowly where you can take your time and relax after a hike with an Aperol spritz. You’re missing the point if you visit as a day trip.
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Resources to Book Your Trip to the Cinque Terre
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