Last updated on June 27th, 2023 at 03:38 pm
Cinque Terre, pronounced ‘Chink-weh Teh-ray,’ is a cluster of five coastal fishing villages in Northwest Italy (Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza, and Manarola). These villages are made up of colorful houses and some of Italy’s best vineyards nestled on top of steep hills overlooking the Mediterranean sea. Cinque Terre villages are recognized as a National Park by the Italian government.
We visited in the off-peak season end of January, and the weather wasn’t terribly cold. The good about that was we didn’t have to fight those summer tourists in popular spots or restaurants. We had the entire place to ourselves. How often does that happen?! However, being winter, most of the local businesses (restaurants & shops) which thrive on tourists were closed for the season. And so were some of the hiking trails. Perhaps Spring and Autumn would be the best time to visit.
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About the five villages of Cinque Terre (and where to find the postcard views)
Going from South to North, here’s all you need to know about the villages –
Riomaggiore
This is the first village if you are coming from the South. As we mentioned above, these villages belong to a hilltop setting, which also means the houses are on top of hills as well. Unless your hotel or BnB is down by the marina. We had to climb fleets of steep stairs to get to our guesthouse, which I personally loved as it reminded me of my ancestral house in a Himalayan town. It really added a unique flavor to our Cinque Terre experience. It is one of the most photogenic villages of the five.
To get that Postcard view: Most people who get the postcard photo of Riomaggiore do it from a boat. But in the winter, when all the boats are docked, you take the stairs to get the same shot! 🙂 Read our captions in the photos below to get there.
Manarola
Our favorite village of the five, partly because of its setting. Clustered pastel houses seem to be playfully teasing the Mediterranean sea from up above. This view is meant to inspire painters and poets alike let alone photographers like us. We will let the pictures do most of the talking. The hiking trail from Manarola to Corniglia provides a higher a vantage point. Manarola is also home to Cinque Terres famous white wine which comes from the local vineyard behind these houses. Do taste some while you are there.
To get that Postcard view: The hiking trail that starts from the marina is where this perfect postcard shot can be seen. The entire path to Corniglia might be closed in winter so don’t attempt to complete the hike without asking the visitor center. Read our captions in photos below to get to this spot.
Corniglia
Three hundred and eighty-two stairs above the train station will get you to the main town. The view from up here is phenomenal and the vineyards have a history to tell. But then I remember seeing a couple dragging their luggage up those strenuous stairs to get to their accommodation. Attempt only if you are traveling light and are looking for a secluded heaven for real.
To get that Postcard view: Sorry to say this but the most photogenic part of Corniglia was the view of the bay from the top and not the village itself like others. Definitely one of the best aerial views of Manarola from a distance. Talking about putting things in perspective! Read our captions in photos below to get to this spot.
Vernazza
Vernazza seemed to be bustling with energy and tourists than the previous two villages even in winter. Located perfectly in between the five villages, this is the one offering opportunities to get lost in the maze of intriguing alleys. It also had the biggest marina square compared to the other villages. The street coming down to the marina from train station had a good selection of restaurants and shops. We will certainly consider Vernazza as our base next time we visit Cinque Terre. And may I add, the best Gelato I had in Italy was right here.
To get that Postcard view: To get the aerial postcard shot you will have to get on the hiking trail up the hill. If you are taking trains between the villages or if the hiking trail is closed then just walk by the marina for the view above. Read our captions in photos below to get to this spot.
Monterosso
Finally northernmost and biggest of the five villages – Monterroso has a beautiful beach, which will get a ton of crowd in the summer. It is also the biggest of five villages with a lot more options for accommodation, dining, and shopping. I had the best seafood pasta in Monterosso during my Italy trip. If my talks about food are any indication, it’s how flavorful and homely the food and hospitality of Cinque Terre was!
To get that Postcard view: Monterosso is the only one with a beach and with a view of all the five villages from there. Can’t get prettier than that! The beach is right around the corner from the train station.
If this wasn’t enough convincing then here are 37 incredible photos to inspire you to visit Cinque Terre. On the other hand, if you are looking for another off the beaten path spectacular destination then consider going to Bellagio in Lake Como in Italy.
Where to stay in Cinque Terre?
This is a very important question and you must know a little bit about all the villages (read above) before making your choice. We narrowed down our selection from five to two i.e. between Manarola and Riomaggiore. Why?
Because after our research we came to the conclusion that those were two of the most picturesque villages. And you know it we will dig for photography! In the end, the most important thing that helped us decide was the fact that Riomaggiore was the first stop while traveling from the South. Logistics do matter and we didn’t want to haul our luggage around multiple villages.
TIP: Unless you have a way to get here by bus or taxi we would not recommend staying at Corniglia and arriving there by train. It was a painful sight to watch a couple drag their heavy suitcases up 300+ stairs to get to the village. Monteroso would be a good choice if you want to stay in a bigger town with multiple choices of food, beach, and shopping. Whereas we might opt for Vernazza next time we visit since it was picturesque and in the center of all 5 villages.
How to Get Here?
In Cinque Terre, we strongly recommend NOT to rent a car. There tiny hilly roads are not broad enough to accommodate car traffic besides there aren’t many parking spots either. TIP: Do not drive in Cinque Terre, trust us you will be better off taking the trains here.
From South: If you are coming from a Southern city like Florence or Pisa by train then Riomaggiore will be your first village. The regional train will take you up to La Spezia (there are very rare direct trains to Riomaggiore). From La Spezia, you will have to change to Cinque Terre Express (which is also Trenitalia) in order to get to the villages. Watch out for train schedules from La Spezia to Cinque Terre. We reached La Spezia pretty late in the evening and decided not wait an hour for the next train. Instead, we opted for a taxi right outside La Spezia train station. The taxi took us to Riomaggiore in about 15-20 mins.
Related: Read about the top things to see and do in our Florence City guide
From North: If you are coming from a Northern city like Milan by train then Monterroso will be the first of Cinque Terre villages you will hit. However, you most likely will have to transfer to Cinque Terre Express at Levanto station. On that note, Milan was one of the cities we couldn’t visit on our Italy trip. But after reading these seven reasons to love Milan we definitely need to head out there soon.
Related: Read about visiting Pisa as a half day trip from Florence
Traveling Between Cinque Terre Villages
There are many different ways you can travel between these beautiful villages. TIP: In summer, mix and match all these different modes of transport to get a variety of views in these five villages.
Trains
Cinque Terre Express which is Trenitalia’s local route runs between these five villages hourly. Cinque Terre Express also connects to Levanto in the North and La Spezia in the South. Make sure to have the latest train schedule when you visit. You can find it at the visitor center or ask your guesthouse reception. TIP: Don’t forget to validate your ticket before boarding the train (this is true in most stations in Italy).
Duration of Train Journey
- La Spezia to Riomaggiore: 9 mins
- Riomaggiore to Manarola: 2 mins
- Manarola to Corniglia: 4 mins
- Corniglia to Vernazza: 5 mins
- Vernazza to Monterosso: 5 mins
- Monterosso to Levanto: 5 mins
Hiking
All of these five villages are connected by beautiful hiking trails which is a big attraction in this region. TIP: Being a National Park, you will need to purchase the Cinque Terre Card in order to hike on these trails. You can find more information about purchasing Cinque Terre card here. Keep in mind that not all the trails are open at all times of the year, do a little research before you visit. We will certainly have to come back to do this hike!.
By Boat
Boats are locked, docked and left at the shore during the winter season. For you all traveling in summer you can hop on and off these ferries between villages.
By Bus
This is something new we learned recently, Cinque Terre has started a bus service, sort of hop on hop off kind of a tourist bus. You can find out more information about buses between Cinque Terre villages here.
Hope this post was helpful and you all enjoyed walking through these colorful Cinque Terre villages in photos with us. If you have any questions about visiting Cinque Terre, leave us a comment and we will do our best to answer.
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Happy Traveling!
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Awesome tips! It’s my dream to go there 🙂 Will keep this guide in mind.
Thanks Chloe! <3
I am in love with this place! I knew about Cinque Terre before I went to Italy last summer, but, unfortunately, because of time restrictions, I didn’t manage to go. However, your article has made me regret it deeply. Hopefully next time! Thanks for all the tips!
I didn’t have time to visit some other places in Italy that I regretted.. we all pick and choose our poison. Best thing is that there will ALWAYS be a next time 🙂 I am so glad we could help with our tip!
I love how you included ways to get that “postcard view.” Nowadays, a lot of people travel for those lust-worthy Instagrams, so creative marketing on your part! I love all these villages but haven’t visited them in winter. Will definitely have to check them out!
Thanks Martha!! lol yeah, we visited Cinque Terre before we even signed up on Instagram and from our own struggles to find these spots this idea to help others find em came about 🙂
Italy is just full of these little postcard villages! I once stayed in Camogli, which is up North and it looked so amazing on my pictures! What makes stay in these villages even better is that you have easy access to Italian food 😀
Ah, I will have to check Camogli out next time 🙂 Indeed the hospitality of small villages felt so homely compared to bigger Italian cities.
It must have felt so amazing to walk along the those streets… So beautiful and peaceful. And the streets look so clean. I would love to spend weeks travelling in these lovely villages. Loved your detailed post.
Ha yes, it was very clean compared to other Italian cities. And ideally spending a week would be the perfect retreat, I wish we had a week there! 🙂
Every time I read anything about Cinque Terre I am sooooo envious. I am dying to visit. There is such great information in this post. I have made a note of your tips and bookmarked the page for when I finally do make it! It’s also such good advice to not rent a car. We rented one for the Amalfi Coast and as you have said, space was at a premium!
Thanks a lot Janine! Exactly what I did, rented a car at Amalfi and realized I am in for a treat. Parking on the hilly slopes with barely any space was the toughest thing I did on my Italy trip. Lol. But I have to admit driving in Amalfi was a little bit of an adrenaline rush I kindda loved at that time. Anyhoo, Cinque Terre is even more remote and space restraint than Amalfi so cars should be a big no no.
Oh, Cinque Terre, one of the most special places I’ve ever been! Riomaggiore was my favorite but also loved the charming elegance of Vernazza and all the little cute souvenir shops! I love that you included guidance for how to get those classic postcard views! Lovely post of a wonderful location.
Thanks Christina! 🙂 I need to spend more time in Vernazza next time.. which I must go since I am dying to hike between the villages.
The name was familiar, but honestly, before your post, I didn’t know alot about these villages. They look so beautiful though! I love all the colors! It is definitely somewhere I would love to visit now that I know more.
Thanks a lot! So glad we could bring a dash of color and inspiration for your next travel idea 😀
I was on a road trip from Rome through Tuscany in November last year. It was amazing and so many places to see it was virtually impossible to reach Cinque Terre. It is for sure probably my next destination in Italy! I was also thinking off season, but I honestly was a bit scared of the weather. But seeing that your trip in January didn’t look that bad, I think a spring or a late autumn should be just right!
I think you are bang on! Late spring or Autumn should be just perfect to avoid a large number of tourists and yet enjoy the trails and weather in Cinque Terre. There really is so much to see in Italy isn’t it? We missed Tuscan countryside on our visit so we have to go back.. lol never enough reasons to go back 😉
Really nice photos and tips!
It’s one of the parts of Italy that, as Italian, I haven’t visited yet. But I will! 😉
Ahhh, Well well you have to make your way here soon! But on the bright side, you get to see so much more of the beautiful country of Italy living there, I am jealous 🙂
I loved Cinque Terre! I went there a few years ago late summer and so it was absolutely crowded. Your photos do not look like there were a lot of people, which is great! I do like Vernazza and Riomaggiore. Your photos are stunning too.
ha! Yes, the perks of traveling in winter (a total off-peak season). On the cons, there weren’t many restaurants open or shopping to do but I didn’t miss it that much. We had the entire place to ourselves 😀
This is definitely a place I want to go – I’ve only done the northern part of Italy. If one is thinking of hiking in between all the towns, how long do you think one should plan to spend doing that?
You could easily hike between all these villages in a day if you start early. The easiest hike is between Riomaggiore and Manarola and Corniglia. It starts getting tough and harder from there to Monterosso. I would say give yourself 2-3 days here for recovery or to break the hike in 2 days. That would be my plan when I go back to hike all the villages 🙂
I am dying to visit CT! Stunning photos and great guide!
Thanks!! 🙂
Cinque Terre is my dream destination! This post really turned my wanderlust on fire. Thank you for sharing all these useful tips and postcard views.
I hope you get to go soon girl! 😀 So happy to hear this post was of help.
Ah Cinque Terre looks lovely! The hikes to the photo spots would be so rewarding at the end. Thanks for sharing your guide!
Most welcome 🙂 Yes these photo spots are not even that much of a hike away honestly but I am sure from the hiking trails the view would be even better!