Cinque Terre

In this article you will find all the tips on what to do in Cinque Terre. A cinematic destination with the most Mediterranean flavor of Italy and overlooking the Ligurian Sea.

  Are you planning a trip to Italy, join me to discover all the secrets of Cinque Terre, a paradise with beautiful and colorful villages hanging in the Liguria region.

 Discover with BITBOOK how to get to Cinque Terre, where to stay, how to get around during your trip and much more.

Cinque Terre is an Italian national park on the Ligurian Coast, which was made a UNESCO heritage site in 1997, with Portovenere and the islands Palmaria, Tino and Tinetto.

The five villages that form the Parco Nazionale delle Cinque Terre (Cinque Terre National Park) are: Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza and Monterosso al Mare.

The picturesque villages attract crowds of tourists every year, with beaches of all types. Bathed by a blue sea, which helps to calm the summer heat.

The Terres were built on the hills of the Ligurian Coast, amidst olive plantations and vineyards overlooking the sea. And they are connected by a series of trails, such as Sentiero Azzurro, the most famous of them.

Take the opportunity to get to know them from several different points. And keep an eye out for the beautiful magical hours of the day. Seeing the sunrise or sunset from these hills on the Italian coast is magical!

Also make sure to go to Portovenere, a city south of Cinque Terre, built in the 12th century.

You can get there in just a 30-minute ferry ride from Riomaggiore. And even though it is not officially part of Cinque Terre, it is considered 

Getting to Portovenere from La Spezia by car is super easy. You also have the option of traveling by boat or bus (line P, towards Portovenere). The drive is beautiful, and bordered by the Ligurian Sea.

Riomaggiore

The journey to Cinque Terre by train starts in Riomaggiore, the first terre from La Spezia.

The highlights here are the Church of San Giovanni Battista, the Castello di Riomaggiore and Via Colombo, the main street of the small village, where there are many bars and restaurants, with emphasis on Il Pescato Cucinato and the practical Mama Mia, which sells a delicious pizza.

Manarola

The next stop is Terre Manarola, an ancient village in the Cinque Terre, built during the Roman period on a rocky outcrop in the Rio di Groppo valley. This is where Cinque Terre wines, such as Sciacchetrà, are produced.

Here it is possible to have a wine tasting including a walk through the vineyards. Have you ever thought about your dream of traveling there?

Other highlights of Manarola are the Church of San Lorenzo and the marina, which during the summer turns into a beach and attracts a crowd.

Corniglia

Corniglia is the land at the top and was my favorite village on this trip. It is the only land that is not ‘on the sea’, but even so, it is very charming.

The village is quite small, but you can visit the Church of São Pedro, built in 1334 and the Oratory of the Flagellants of Santa Catarina.

To get to the center of the village you can use the bus that leaves from the train station – free with the Cinque Terre Card -, or climb Lardarina, a long staircase with more than 360 steps.

Vernazza

Vernazza is charming. The charming village has its origins in the Roman era and its heart during the summer is the marina, where the beach is located. You will also find here – and around the square – many bars and restaurants, such as Il Gambero Rosso, known for its delicious seafood dishes.

To complete the visit, go to the top of Castello Doria and visit the beautiful Church of Santa Margherita, an important representative of the Ligurian Gothic style, built in 1318

Monterosso al Mare

Finally, we arrived at Monterosso al Mare, which is the village known for its two beaches that are bustling during the summer. And here, the idea is this: rent an umbrella at Praia da Vila Antiga or Praia Fegina and enjoy swimming in the calm sea.

Other highlights in the upper part of Monterosso are: the Capuchin Monastery, the Church of San Francisco and the Church of San Giovanni Battista, built in 1244.

How to get to Cinque Terre

The closest airports to Cinque Terre are in the cities of Pisa (85km), Genova (112km) and Florence (150km), which is just two and a half hours by train from La Spezia station, one of the main bases for exploring this region. .

Taking the train in Italy is super practical and cheap. A ticket from Florence to La Spezia can cost less than 15 euros if you buy it in advance. I recommend using the Omio website to do an online search and find the best option for your trip.

You can also choose other Italian cities that have airports with direct links to Brazil to get there, such as Milan (220km) and Rome (427km), which are further away. Even so, it is possible to include the destination and a beautiful car trip through Italy.

The train is the easiest way to reach the Italian Riviera of Cinque Terre. And all 5 cities have train stations connected by the Genoa – La Spezia railway.

To get to know the cities by train, you can buy a separate Cinque Terre Express ticket or the Cinque Terre Tourist Card, which was created to make life easier for travelers and offers a series of benefits for exploring this region.

Below you will find a list of what is included in the Cinque Terre Treno MS Card (Multiservizi), which has versions for 1 day (€16), 2 days (€29) and 3 days (€41):

Unlimited use of regional trains on the Levanto to La Spezia section (in both directions) and the ATC bus (which transports between cities and from parking lots to city centers);

Access to the Cinque Terre National Park area and its trails;

Free use of public toilets at stations (costs 1 euro without card);

WI-FI navigation in the Park's hot spots.

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