Cinque Terre: Five Towns, One Seamless Visit

When dreaming of a visit to Cinque Terre, the breathtaking cliffside towns and sparkling water of the Ligurian Sea are easy enough to picture, especially with a little help from travel magazines and Instagram jetsetters. So what do you need to know to end up at the top of a vineyard-filled cliff or basking on the beach on the Italian Riviera?

Turns out, it’s easier than you’d think. Here’s a look at what makes each town unique and how to seamlessly enjoy them all.

Le Città

From north to south, the five towns are Monterosso al Mare (note that there is another Monterosso, not al Mare, in Italy when checking weather and buying train tickets), Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, and Riomaggiore. Bookending these towns are Levanto to the north, and La Spezia to the south.

Monterosso al Mare

Monterosso is the flattest town, and the only one with beaches. Instead of being built straight up a cliff, the town sprawls across two bays, one housing the new town and tourist beaches and the other the old town and a beach primarily filled with small boats. Connecting these two coves are your choice of a direct tunnel or a cliffside stroll along the sea. If your group includes varied levels of mobility, the trip is a babymoon, or something along those lines, stay here. Do note- as of this post, Monterosso was noticeably but not dramatically more expensive than Manarola or Riomaggiore.

Monterosso is also a perfect place for a day of relaxation after hiking, etc. If you’re interested in a private boat tour with all the fixings (wine, watersports, etc.), most of them leave from Monterosso. Two loungers on the private beach without an umbrella costs €8, and is priceless for the space, comfort, and luxurious feeling when mere peasants get redirected from your stretch of beach…

Vernazza

Vernazza stands out for its large square, towers, and quick access to the hiking trail. The trail passes directly above the town and, as you’d expect, has incredible views. If you’re not interested in the full hike, but don’t mind a 15-20 minute uphill walk, you can head up from the harbor and do a piece of the trail to get to exactly those views through the grapevines.

Corniglia

Corniglia looks like a fairytale from its perch on top of a cliff, and it also feels just as out of reach as a fairytale. The ferry does not stop at Corniglia, and there’s a serious hike from the train station. Notably, since Corniglia does not really have a port, its more of a farming town than a fishing town.

Manarola

I stayed in Manarola, and I loved it. It also had the best overall price points and selection for accommodations. But, if you stay in Manarola, know what you’re getting into- especially if your accommodations are at the top of the hill (which many of them are). I was ready after some pre-trip squats and luggage planning (a big backpack and a small roller for the heavier items in my packing). I’d grade Manarola as the #2 steepest town of Cinque Terre.

Manarola’s dramatic half-moon harbor of cliffs means that you have an amazing views of the town, the sea, and the neighboring cliff (with the trendy Nessun Dorma ristorante – reservations in advance are a must) at every angle. It offers gorgeous sunset views out to sea and in toward the town (see the feature photo for this post).

Riomaggiore

Riomaggiore is a bustling town with a narrow main area as you arrive from the water that broadens as you get higher into the cliff. There’s a lot of great little shops, a Mamma Mia-themed snack spot (they had me and they knew it), and charming homes complete with the region’s signature lemon trees and mini vineyards that make you want to move immediately.

Il Trasporto

The Cinque Terre Express train that runs between La Spezia and Levanto is a joy. It is clean, efficient, usually on time, spacious, and has newer trains than other regional lines. Do make sure to check the time table thoroughly – some trains skip stations at certain times when on an efficiency route. The train stations, as you may be familiar from other parts of Italy, require that you use stairs to access the platforms. 

The ferry is €25 for a full day and it runs between the four towns (skipping Corniglia) with a possibility to purchase the extended route that continues south to another stop and some islands.

The third transport option is… your own two feet! The famed Cinque Terre hiking trails are a great way to earn your fill of the excellent regional vino bianco, calamari, and pesto pasta. For details on the paths, visit Walks of Italy’s page on Cinque Terre.

There you have it! For many more photos and a featured Story on Cinque Terre visit @anchoredadrift on Instagram.

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