Exploring the Five Villages of Cinque Terre

If you’re heading to Italy, make sure you add this charming region to your itinerary. Cinque Terre, Italy, is a coastal region made up of five small fishing villages - Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza, and Monterosso al Mare.

Cinque Terre is not a place to be missed. These seaside villages offer beautiful ocean views, remarkable seafood, and friendly citizens. And while they are quite small, they are all worth spending time in and exploring their own bustling streets.

Stay a few nights and see Cinque Terre at its finest, or stop in Cinque Terre for a fun day trip from a nearby city. Each of the towns of Cinque Terre is unique and special in its own way, you simply have to explore all of them. From the picturesque views of Manarola to the fishing harbor of Vernazza, you won’t want to miss out on any of them.

You can hop on the train and walk through each town all in one day, or take your time, and leisurely enjoy what each one has to offer. Now for the good stuff. Add these activities to your list and enjoy all the five villages of Cinque Terre have to offer!

Here are the five towns of Cinque Terre in order if you're arriving from the south. If you're getting to Cinque Terre from the north, the order would be reversed. Check out how to get to Cinque Terre before you go.

Riomaggiore

The southernmost village of Cinque Terre is Riomaggiore. This is one of the quieter villages, but it offers the most underrated views.

I recommend you start from the train station in Riomaggiore and make your way in a clockwise circle up around the town and back down to the coast. Don't miss the views from the harbor! Walk out to the big rocks where many people take photos, and keep going to your left for beautiful ocean views.

Manarola

The most iconic village is Manarola. It's just north of Riomaggiore and a quick ride on the train. You'll find the famous view of Cinque Terre in Manarola; the harbor here is beloved and often photographed for its colorful houses and view of the town (pictured at the top of this article).

Corniglia

The most underrated town of Cinque Terre is Corniglia. Many people skip it because it requires a long stair climb to get to. But if you're up for the trek, Corniglia is worth it. This town is quiet and charming; it has the most local feel to it with much fewer tourists than the other villages.

Vernazza

Right after Corniglia is the town of Vernazza. This Cinque Terre village is very picturesque; it's the only town with a natural port. You can walk along it and venture all the way to the point of the port for the best photos. If you've seen the movie Luca, you'll feel like you're transported into the film when you visit Vernazza.

Monterosso al Mare

The final town when you're heading north through Cinque Terre is Monterosso al Mare. This town is split into two parts, Old Town and New Town, both of which offer a slightly different feel and many great restaurants and shops.

If you want to enjoy a beach day while in Cinque Terre, Monterosso is the place to do so. You'll find the biggest beaches here along with umbrellas for rent in the summer.

Let's dive into the best things to do in Cinque Terre, Italy. Below you'll find my top recommendations for things to do in each of the five towns of Cinque Terre. Before you visit...

RIOMAGGIORE

What to Do in Riomaggiore

When in Riomaggiore, you’ll see many colorful fishing boats lining the coast. You’ll definitely want to try some seafood here; it’s absolutely delicious. And keep an eye out for intricately painted tiles in Riomaggiore.

We found that they often lined the walls and buildings and added another layer of beautiful hand-crafted art in Cinque Terre.

Eat, Eat, Eat

If you’re a seafood lover, you’ll be in heaven in Riomaggiore. This town is known for its numerous, colorful fishing boats floating around the harbor and out to sea. We recommend trying a seafood pasta dish such as squid ink pasta.

If you’re not the biggest fan of seafood, you’re still in luck. There is plenty of pesto pasta, pizza, and more to go around.

Hike

If you’re outdoorsy and adventurous, you should definitely go for a hike while you’re in Cinque Terre. There are many trails worth checking out as Cinque Terre is a national park; some hikes do require a pass, but you can purchase these at every train station.

The views higher up the mountain are definitely worth the hike! Head to Trail 6p in Manarola for gorgeous, and free, views.

Catch a Sunset

If you have the time, make sure you catch a sunset in Riomaggiore. If the skies are clear, sunsets in Cinque Terre are unbeatable.

They're so vibrantly red and orange and pink and purple, it almost doesn't seem real. And Riomaggiore is the best of the five towns to catch one! It has the clearest view of the horizon.

MANAROLA

What to Do in Manarola

Known for the most picturesque views, sweet dessert wine, and all things pesto, Manarola is the most iconic of the Cinque Terre villages. While you’re exploring Manarola, Italy, make sure you check these off your list!

Swimming

There are multiple access points to swim in the Ligurian Sea here in Manarola. There is a ladder at one point, and the others are “beach” entrances that slowly get deeper. If you’re wanting to swim, make sure you visit in the summer.

The water is very, very cold here, but it’s super refreshing on a hot summer’s day! And remember to pack a towel, sunscreen, and an Italian picnic lunch!

Drink Sciacchetrà

Manarola is famous for this sweet, dessert wine. Sciacchetra is served in a little glass and has a pretty strong, but very sweet flavor. We recommend enjoying this Cinque Terre specialty wine with a pastry-like dessert.

When we ordered Sciacchetrà, it came with biscotti, the famous Italian almond biscuits, and we also ordered a lemon shortbread-type dessert. The three of these all went very well together, and we highly recommend adding them to your order!

Boat Tour

If you want to admire all five towns of Cinque Terre but don’t have a lot of time, then check out a boat tour. These are also available at the beach access point of Manarola (and in each town); however, they may sell out quickly, so we recommend booking in advance. This is a nice option if you don’t have time to explore all five towns on foot.

CORNIGLIA

What to Do in Corniglia

The quietest town of all Cinque Terre, Corniglia, is located further up the mountain rather than right on the coast like the other towns. However, this means beautiful ocean views, less crowded streets, and more lush greenery.

Relaxing Meal

This is a great place to grab lunch or dinner if you’re looking to have a quieter meal. Because Corniglia is higher up the mountain, it is overlooked by quite a few tourists. We found it equally as charming as the other four towns though.

We loved that the streets weren’t crowded and the whole town gave off a more local feel which is a really nice way to enjoy a meal in Italy. Just a warning, there are a whole lot of stairs up to Corniglia from the train station, which means you'll be extra ready for some pasta when you get to the top.

Taste Limoncello

Corniglia, being situated higher up the mountain than its neighbors, is surrounded by farmland and lush greenery. This is the perfect town to grab a glass of limoncello or delicious Italian wine and soak in the views of the countryside right along the coast.

VERNAZZA

What to Do in Vernazza

The most colorful of the five towns in our opinion, Vernazza, is home to the only natural harbor in Cinque Terre. You can walk out to the end of the harbor and see all the beauty of Vernazza from afar.

Shop

There are little shops in every town of Cinque Terre, but Vernazza has quite a variety. You can shop for sundresses, handmade kitchenware, wine, and more! There is a lot to see at the stores in Vernazza, but even stopping at a few is fun.

Grab a Gelato

You have to get some gelato when you’re walking around the coast of Italy, it’s an unwritten rule. We recommend you grab a gelato here in Vernazza and walk through the main street until you reach the harbor.

You should walk to the end of the harbor and appreciate the town of Vernazza all in one frame. By the way, you really can’t go wrong with any flavor of gelato, but some of our favorites here in Vernazza were passion fruit, coconut, and mint chocolate.

MONTEROSSO AL MARE

What to Do in Monterosso

The largest of all five Cinque Terre Villages, Monterosso is the place to find luxury resort hotels, high-end restaurants, and bustling streets. However, you can still enjoy exploring Monterosso without spending a fortune.

Lounge at the Beach

Along with having the most hotels and restaurants, Monterosso also has the most beach umbrellas. Pack up your beach bag and head to one of Monterosso’s beaches, swim, sunbathe, and relax under a beach umbrella.

There are also quite a few restaurants located right on the beaches here in Monterosso making it very easy to grab lunch and then spend more time on the beach if you please.

Old Town & New Town

There are two different parts of Monterosso, Old Town, and New Town, and they are just as they sound. Old Town is the original Monterosso where you will find beautiful churches, amazing architecture, and long-run family businesses.

In New Town, you will find more resort-type hotels, newer shops and restaurants, and slightly busier streets because of the resorts here. However, both sides of Monterosso are worth seeing and exploring.

How to Get to Cinque Terre

The best way to get around Italy is by train. Learn how to get to Cinque Terre from Italian cities like Rome, Milan, La Spezia, and Venice.

Check out my full guide to getting to Cinque Terre.

Exploring the Villages of Cinque Terre

While you’re booking your trip to Italy, make sure you add Cinque Terre to your list. It is such a charming location on the Italian coast, with a laid-back, relaxing feel. The views are breathtaking from all five towns of Cinque Terre, the restaurants are all unique, and the streets all have their own personalities.

From the delicious wines to the inviting beaches to the unmissable views, Cinque Terre, Italy is not a place to be overlooked. Take the train that goes from Monterosso to Riomaggiore, and explore the villages of Cinque Terre, including, Vernazza, Manarola, and Corniglia.

I hope I've convinced you to visit Cinque Terre and fall in love with it. This charming Italian coastal region is unlike any other and offers the perfect place to slow down and soak in La Dolce Vita found in no other than Italy.

Ciao! Buon viaggio!

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