The Cinque Terre, on Italy’s north coast, is a beautiful area to explore. Five villages sit on the top of the cliffs, connected by some stunning hiking paths and coastal views. Here’s the best way to explore Italy’s Cinque Terre in one day.
Where is the Cinque Terre in Italy and how do I get there
The Cinque Terre is on Italy’s North West coast, not too far from the border with Monaco and the South of France, If you’re looking to fly to Italy to enjoy the best way to explore Italy’s Cinque Terre in one day, the closest airport is Genoa. From Genoa, you can take a train directly to the Cinque Terre villages – or sometimes just with one change of trains. Pisa airport is also close to the Cinque Terre so that could be another option.
The five Cinque Terre villages are well connected to each other by train, and also well connected by train to other towns and cities in the region. You can hop on the train between the villages – it takes about 3 minutes to get to the next village.
Why should I visit the Cinque Terre? And When?
The Cinque Terre is a really beautiful part of Italy. While there’s not as much to do here as some of the bigger tourist-y cities such as Rome, Florence and Venice, it’s still a beautiful area that’s worth exploring. The villages are really pretty, and it’s lovely to wander through the narrow, steep streets. The sea views are amazing as well, and if you enjoy hiking there are some stunning coastal hiking routes.
Another reason to visit the Cinque Terre is to enjoy the food. This region of Italy is called Liguria. And the food specialities in this region are pesto and focaccia (an olive-oil based bread). In all of the Cinque Terre villages, you’ll be able to eat amazing local Italian food. The pesto is so creamy and goes perfectly with the pasta, and the focaccia is a perfect lunch while you’re on the go. Seafood is popular here as well, and anchovies. This part of Italy also produces its own local wines. So the food and wine is another excellent reason to visit the Cinque Terre.
The Cinque Terre villages are very small, so they can get quite crowded in the peak summer season. I’d recommend avoiding visiting in June-September. Although this gives you the highest chance of good weather, this peak season means the villages and restaurants will all be very busy. You can end up shuffling along the streets in a large crowd of people, which isn’t enjoyable for anyone. If you can, visit just outside of the peak season. I visited in late October, and it was still busy but manageable, and the weather was still pleasant.
The best place to stay for the best way to explore Italy’s Cinque Terre in one day
When you’re visiting the Cinque Terre, there’s a choice of places to stay. If possible, the best place to stay is in one of the five villages. This means you’re only a short train ride away from all of the other Cinque Terre villages. If you’re trying to visit multiple villages in one day, this would be your best option. All five villages have various accommodation options. My favourite of the Cinque Terre villages was Vernazza, as that’s the only one with a proper harbour where you can spend time down by the sea. Manarola and Riomaggiore were also very lovely. I’d recommend avoiding Corniglia though as a place to stay – there’s about 300 steps up from the train station to the village. So if you’re travelling with luggage, it would be very hard to get your luggage up the steps – and the bus isn’t very regular. So Corniglia is best as a day trip, but any of the other four villages would be a good base to stay in.
However, accommodation in the Cinque Terre villages can be very expensive and limited in the peak summer season. If you’re looking for a more budget-friendly option, you could stay in the nearby town of La Spezia. Although this town doesn’t have a huge amount of charm, it can be a good base for exploring the Cinque Terre. You could also stay in Genoa, which is a much bigger city with some good things to do. However, the train ride from Genoa to the Cinque Terre takes a bit longer, about 1.5 hours, so make sure you factor this into your plans.
Keep reading for more details about the best way to explore Italy’s Cinque Terre in one day – including the top things to do in your day trip!
How to enjoy the best way to explore Italy’s Cinque Terre in one day
While trying to visit all five Cinque Terre villages in a day is probably a bit too much, I think you can easily explore four of them in a day. My suggested itinerary below visits Corniglia, Manarola, Riomaggiore and Vernazza. These are the most picturesque and impressive of the villages, and give you a good flavour of the Cinque Terre region. If you visit four villages, you’ll have time to stop for a drink or a meal in each one – and one of the best things to do in Italy is to eat and drink! Here’s my guide to visiting these four villages in one day.
Morning: Corniglia
Start your day in the Cinque Terre with a visit to Corniglia. This is the highest of the five Cinque Terre villages, perched high on the cliff. There’s around 300 steps from the train station up to the village, but it’s easily manageable if you have reasonable fitness.
Corniglia is a small village, but it’s very pretty. There’s one central street with all of the main shops and restaurants. And then there are a few side streets off the main street, which are also worth exploring.
One of the best things about Corniglia is the coastal views. Because this village is set high up on the cliffs, you get lovely coastal views. You can also see some of the other Cinque Terre villages from here.
Spend some time wandering around Corniglia and maybe stop for a mid-morning coffee here. Then, head back down to the train station to head onto your next destination.
Lunchtime: Manarola
Visit Manarola next on your trip exploring Italy’s Cinque Terre in one day. Manarola is one of the villages that’s often on the postcards of the Cinque Terre. It’s a really pretty village and definitely worth spending a few hours in.
There’s a main street in Manarola as well, which has lots of shops, cafes and restaurants.
Walk down this main street towards the sea. And then take the path to your right, along the coast. After only a couple of minutes’ walk along the path, you’ll be able to get to the viewpoint over the village. Here, you can see the classic Manarola view. I loved the view of the houses on the steep cliff, and the blue sea below.
After taking photos at the famous viewpoint, stop in Manarola for lunch. If you want something quick, then a focaccia sandwich can be a good option. My favourite was a focaccia sandwich with mozzarella, tomato and the famous Liguria pesto. It was amazing.
Afternoon: Riomaggiore
After lunch, head to Riomaggiore. Riomaggiore is the furthest West of the Cinque Terre villages. Like the others, there’s a main street with the main shops and restaurants.
You can also get close to the sea in Riomaggiore. Walk down to the sea, and then follow the path around to the right. As you walk, you’ll get lovely views out to sea. You’ll also be able to look back towards Riomaggiore village and see the colourful houses on the cliffs. Riomaggiore has an iconic red house near the harbour, so it’s easy to spot in the photos.
After exploring Riomaggiore, stop for a drink to soak up the atmosphere. A popular choice of afternoon drink is an Aperol Spritz, a refreshing and brightly coloured cocktail. Or if you’d rather have something non-alcoholic, try Cordino. This fizzy orange-coloured drink is packed with herbal flavours and it really refreshing on a warm day.
Evening: Vernazza
On your final stop of the best way to explore Italy’s Cinque Terre in one day, head to Vernazza. This is my favourite of the Cinque Terre villages. So make sure you leave yourself plenty of time to enjoy Vernazza.
The main street is pretty, just like the other villages. There are also some really cute, steep streets just off the main street. You’ll need decent walking shoes, as the steps can be steep. But you can easily lose the crowds if you venture into the steep backstreets, and you’ll see a different side to the village.
My favourite part of Vernazza is the view back over the village. Follow signs to the coast path towards Monterosso, which is signposted in the village. Follow the footpath for about 5 minutes, and then turn back to see the most amazing view of Vernazza. It’s best to do this walk in the early evening. The evening light is perfect as it makes the coloured houses of Vernazza even more colourful.
Vernazza is also a great place to watch the sunset. You can see the sunset from the coast path, or you can also watch the sunset from the castle that’s the highest point in the village. The views from here are just amazing.
Alternatively, head to a bar to watch the sunset while enjoying an Apperetif. The Gianni Franzi deck is one of the best sunset bars. Order a glass of local wine and some nibbles to enjoy as you watch the sunset, and also enjoy the views over the sea in the golden light.
Finish your day in the Cinque Terre with dinner in Vernazza. I’d recommend trying the local speciality Trofie al Pesto. This simple dish of pasta and pesto is so delicious. It’s perfect after a long day of exploring the beautiful Cinque Terre.
Hope you enjoy the best way to explore Italy’s Cinque Terre in one day! Make sure you also check out my blog about visiting Portofino, another beautiful town in this part of Italy. Or head over Sicily or to Nice and the French Riviera for more Mediterranean scenery, towns and food.
