The Italian Riviera is not short of rugged coastline or romantic towns and villages, but the five fishing communities of the Cinque Terre are its most iconic highlight. The five villages are no longer the isolated hamlets they once were, but there’s still a feeling of remote authenticity, with few roads, perfectly preserved architecture and a network of stunning coastal and mountain trails.
Located amid the most pictorial coastal view on the planet, Cinque Terre has been declared as the National Park of Italy, and a UNESCO Protected site since 1997.

Sparkling transparent waters, gorgeous beaches, old churches and sanctuaries, this place is replete with breathtaking views, you have the impression that a painting came to life in the background.

Cinque Terre ( means five lands in Italian),  is a destination with timeless appeal, and it’s impossible to see all the beauty in just one day. It really is the kind of place that rewards taking it slow. We spent 3 days enjoying every second, and for sure it is a place we’ll go back.

Cinque Terre is a beautiful countryside, or sea-countryside, to be accurate. Each of its five villages have a unique identity and flavor. Monterosso, the biggest one, can be described as a beach-resort town, with a historical town in the backdrop.

Vernazza is the old port, with bars and buildings lining near the highly mechanized vineyards. Corniglia, the cliff-town is all about narrow streets and churches. Manarola, the smallest of all, is the picture-perfect town of Cinque Terre. And Riomaggiore, the final one, has medieval tower blocks lining its periphery.

Where is the best place to stay in Cinque Terre?

Any of the 5 towns would be a great place to stay. Getting between each town is easy, so no matter where you choose, you won’t be that far. There is a train that goes through all the towns and you can use that. Or you can hike to the next town of course.

Accommodation in Cinque Terre is expensive, so you need to book well in advance, if you want something nice and not too expensive.

We went in August and it was overcrowded ( there are over 2 million visitors / year) and very hot, so I will recommend May / June or September to avoid the heat.

We stayed in Levanto, Camping San Michele was our choice and it was great. You can find more details about the place here: https://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g580223-d2275849-Reviews-Camping_San_Michele-Levanto_Italian_Riviera_Liguria.html

What To Do In Cinque Terre?

There are many many things to do, but well the obvious choice of course is to EAT :))) You are in the land of gelato and pizza, so don’t waste any time.

The number 1 thing to do in Cinque Terre is HIKE. The longest and most popular stretch is right along the cliffs. There are basically three trails- the BLUE trail, that is the most common trail connecting all 5 towns; the Cinque Terre High Trail, which has a much higher level of difficulty; and the Sanctuary Trail, which, as the name suggests, connects all the Sanctuaries of the five towns.

You can hike all 5 towns,or hike a few of them and use the train when you’re tired. The Cinque Terre Pass  covers all train travel between Levanto and La Spezia, as well as hiking fees, so it’s up to you to decide.

We choose the The Blue Trail so #1 trail is Riomaggiore to Manarola. Also known as the Italian Lovers’ Trail or Via dell’Amore, it is the easiest trail of all. In fact a professional hiker won’t really consider it anything more than a walking path.

The #2 Cinque Terre hike is between Manarola and Corniglia. This one’s pretty similar to Via dell’Amore, although not paved. Initially is it flat, and gets steeper as Corniglia comes to sight.

The next one, Cinque Terre hike #3, runs from Corniglia to Vernazza. Since Corniglia is hill-top, to get anywhere else, you need to go down. Many people think it’s easier to walk down the slope. Well, it’s a myth. It is actually tougher to hold your grip while going down. Make sure you have the right hike gear with you, flip flops won’t be of much help.

The final Trail, Cinque Terre hike #4, runs from Vernazza to Monterosso Al Mare. This is undoubtedly the most difficult one, with a lost of ups and downs (ironically). There are countless cliff-side drop-offs. And some sections are so soul-terrifyingly narrow that you would actually stand there numb, wondering how can one possibly cross it!

You will find some truly amazing landscapes of olive orchards and vineyards as you hike.

 

Favorite Things To Do In Cinque Terre:

• spending a few hours lounging by one of the gorgeous beaches in either Monterosso, Manarola or Riomaggiore;
• watch the sunset with a bottle of wine and a fresh pizza;
• taking photos in Cinque Terre is a must, so have your camera and smile ready;
• drink lots of wine, order the Cinque Terre DOC wine; it’s a dry, aromatic delight and you’ll also be supporting local producers;
• hiking any of the Cinque Terre trails, I think is the best way to understand the beauty of the place.Cinque Terre is amazing. So is Rome, Verona and Florence, but Cinque Terre is a    different type of amazing and you need to experience it!!!

Good luck planning your trip!!! 😉

We want to send lots of hugs and kisses for all the support and positive feedback we have received so far and hope to see pictures from all of you having fun in Cinque Terre.

Until next time don’t forget to follow us on Instagram & Facebook, and share this post to spread some joy and happiness.