The Cinque Terre Villages

5 little points on the map, a unique area, that has been featured on the covers of travel magazines around the world, thanks to the simpleness of its fishing villages and its true colours.

A common mistake is to consider the Cinque Terre as a single place, rather than an area. There is no such thing as a train ticket to the “Cinque Terre”, as the name actually means “Five territories”, namely the five hamlets of Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza and Monterosso, which look almost suspended along the rocky coast between La Spezia and Framura.

The fascinating surrounding nature of the Cinque Terre Villages is a seamless dialogue between sea and land, along the coast enclosed by the two promontories of Punta Mesco and Muzzerone.

Spurs of stone, coves and bays, ravines and the five colorful villages counterpoint the view of the Cinque Terre coastline from the sea.

Explore Cinque Terre Villages

Monterosso

Monterosso al Mare overlooks a large bay with reefs and beaches, very appreciated by those who prefer comfortable swimming facilities rather than the rough coast of the Cinque Terre.

Vernazza

Vernazza is possibly the most ancient village in the area of the Cinque Terre, with houses and churches dating back to the year 1000, when powerful Genoese families used to have properties in the area, important sea trading center at the time.

Corniglia

Vernazza is possibly the most ancient village in the area of the Cinque Terre, with houses and churches dating back to the year 1000, when powerful Genoese families used to have properties in the area, important sea trading center at the time.

Manarola

Manarola was founded in the thirteenth century probably by the people who lived in the town of Volastra, the hamlet you can still visit on the back hills.

Riomaggiore

The town of Riomaggiore is the first one of the Cinque Terre you reach from La Spezia, at about ten miles north-west from the city. It can be easily reached by boat, train or car, with a boat or the ferry leaving from La Spezia sea harbor.

- Where are you?

Cinque Terre

Monterosso

Monterosso al Mare overlooks a large bay with reefs and beaches, very appreciated by those who prefer comfortable swimming facilities rather than the rough coast of the Cinque Terre.

Vernazza

Vernazza is possibly the most ancient village in the area of the Cinque Terre, with houses and churches dating back to the year 1000, when powerful Genoese families used to have properties in the area, important sea trading center at the time.

Corniglia

Vernazza is possibly the most ancient village in the area of the Cinque Terre, with houses and churches dating back to the year 1000, when powerful Genoese families used to have properties in the area, important sea trading center at the time.

Manarola

Manarola was founded in the thirteenth century probably by the people who lived in the town of Volastra, the hamlet you can still visit on the back hills.

Riomaggiore

The town of Riomaggiore is the first one of the Cinque Terre you reach from La Spezia, at about ten miles north-west from the city. It can be easily reached by boat, train or car, with a boat or the ferry leaving from La Spezia sea harbor.

RIOMAGGIORE

Riomaggiore, the "first" village, surrounded by Sciacchetra wineyards.

MANAROLA

Where locals build for the community and you smile even at the cemetery.

CORNIGLIA

High on the hills, a stairway to heaven.

VERNAZZA

The perfect postcard, one of the most beautiful squares in Italy.

MONTEROSSO

The biggest of the Cinque Terre villages, a welcoming beach.

Scarica

Download Cinque Terre Area Map

- Cinque Terre Stories

Is the Via dell’Amore Open? Well, “it’s Complicated”

Cinque Terre, Gulf of Poets, Highlights, Plan your visit Leave a Comment

The state to date “is complicated”, as with so many paths of love. However, the light at the end of the tunnel seems to be visible.

The sad story of Bianca Maria Malaspina at the Fosdinovo Castle

Highlights, History and culture, Lunigiana, Magra Valley, Plan your visit Leave a Comment

The walls of the ancient castle of di Fosdinovo, among the most beautiful Malaspina fortresses of Lunigiana, tell the story of the unfortunate Marquis Bianca Maria Aloisa, killed for her impossible love.

Not to miss in the Cinque Villages

The Cinque Terre villages in six points:

1 Via dell'Amore

The Via dell’Amore, connecting Riomaggiore to Manarola, is closed but there are many alternative romantic routes.

2 Avoid the Crowd

Manarola, Vernazza and Riomaggiore can be crowded from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Visit at other times or at night to escape the crowds.

3 Trek from one village to the other

Trekking the paths connecting the villages with each other is the best way to enjoy the breathtaking views and understand the area.

4 A National Natural Park

The five villages are part of a National Park, with rules to respect on land and in the sea.

5 The Sea Trail

You can swim from Vernazza to Monterosso on the Sea Trail, a stretch protected from the boats to swim carefree in the open sea.

6 More to see

The Cinque Terre Villages are not the only ones worth a visit in the Cinque Terre Park: explore beyond the kingdom’s borders.

Useful Advice to explore the Cinque Terre villages

How to travel from one village to the other

By car, the roads to reach Cinque Terre are mostly narrow. There aren’t many places to park and it can be a good idea to reach the villages by other means.
By train, every village in the Cinque Terre has a train station. Check the Cinque Terre Card, with benefits also for those who love trekking.
By ferry, you can reach Cinque Terre during the summer. To get to Cinque Terre, please visit our ferry schedule. There are numerous marinas for private pleasure boating.
We recommend e-assisted bikes to ride the CInque Terre routes: view our bike guided tours.

A bike on the Cinque Terre train

Manarola

Best advice to visit the Cinque Terre

The best advice to visit the Cinque Terre area is to pick one of the five villages to get off the train or boat and travel to one or more others, according to the time that you have available.
In high season, the visit can be spoiled by the presence of too many visitors, while the most important thing in the Cinque Terre is in fact to get the opportunity to enjoy the relaxed atmosphere, hike the nice paths in the silence of nature, discover the enchanting sea view, rather than run from one village to the other.

At La Spezia railway station and in all villages you can pick one or two of the stations and buy a single ticket to get there (about 7,50€ return ticket to reach the furthest village). If you prefer to visit the whole area you can get a Cinque Terre Park ticket. Make sure to buy the “Cinque terre Train Card” and not just the basic Cinque Terre Card, which only allows you to walk on the paths of the Cinque Terre Park and not to hop on and off the train.

The Cinque Terre Beaches: just like heaven

THE BEACHES OF LA SPEZIA: A Do In Italy guide for you!

The beaches of the Cinque Terre area offer a lot more than just views of the villages and their marinas: hidden coves, crystal blue, semi-submerged grottoes, natural gems to be discovered with respect and patience.

One hundred pages of guide about the Cinque Terre’s beaches and about the Gulf of the Poets, nearby La Spezia, with descriptions, instructions on how reaching the shores, and GPS coordinates for those who travel by boat!

Click here and get the preview

Map and Guide

with information, activities, experiences and a complete guide to the beaches of the entire Cinque Terre area

For only 3€ Buy e-book

✔ Map, information, experiences and activities to do in the Cinque Terre area
✔ E-book guide of the Cinque Terre, La Spezia and upper Tuscan beaches: how to reach them, information, GPS coordinates and much more.

Buy Now

Top Experiences in the Cinque Terre Villages

Book One of these Unique Ideas
to enjoy the Cinque Terre Area

Art & Culture

Photoshooting in the Cinque Terre

You will meet: Letizia

Price: 65

Sea

Kayak around Island of Palmaria

You will meet: Davide 5.0 - ★★★★★

Price: 80

Sea

Sailing weekend in the Cinque Terre

You will meet: Marco

Price: 200

Sea

Sailing Excursion in the Gulf of the Poets

You will meet: Marco

Price: 80

Sea

Stand Up Paddle Excursion in Cinque Terre

You will meet: Martina

Price: 30

Sea

Surfing Class in the Cinque Terre

You will meet: Paolo

Price: 38

- Where are you?

Cinque Terre Area

The Cinque Terre Villages

The Gulf of the Poets: Portovenere, Lerici and La Spezia

The Vara Valley and the Bio District

Lunigiana, ancient castles and abbeys

Scarica

Download Cinque Terre Area Map

- Cinque Terre Stories

Is the Via dell’Amore Open? Well, “it’s Complicated”

October 25, 2019October 25, 2019 Teresa Turano Cinque Terre, Gulf of Poets, Highlights, Plan your visit Leave a Comment

The state to date “is complicated”, as with so many paths of love. However, the light at the end of the tunnel seems to be visible.

The sad story of Bianca Maria Malaspina at the Fosdinovo Castle

October 22, 2019November 5, 2019 Teresa Turano Highlights, History and culture, Lunigiana, Magra Valley, Plan your visit Leave a Comment

The walls of the ancient castle of di Fosdinovo, among the most beautiful Malaspina fortresses of Lunigiana, tell the story of the unfortunate Marquis Bianca Maria Aloisa, killed for her impossible love.

Treasure Hunt in the most beautiful hamlets of Italy

September 26, 2019September 26, 2019 Teresa Turano Highlights, History and culture, Lunigiana, Val di Vara, What's Up & Exhibitions Leave a Comment

The Orange Flags: signs of great little Italian extraordinary. Since 1998 the Touring chooses among the many municipalities of the Italian hinterland (maximum population of 15,000 inhabitants) that make choices for a quality tourist accommodation and offer excellent local products. To date, there are over 220 Orange Flags waving in those places that bear witness […]

Venerio, the welcoming hermit on the Island of Tino

September 9, 2019September 9, 2019 Teresa Turano Gulf of Poets, Highlights, History and culture, Portovenere Leave a Comment

The city, or perhaps it is better to say its sea, is preparing to celebrate San Venerio, the saint protector of the Gulf On the 13th and 14th and 15th September, is celebrated on the sea of the Gulf the feast of St. Venerio, an ancient worship that is the patron saint of sailors in […]

Madonna Bianca: a miracle in Portovenere

August 14, 2019September 5, 2019 Spezzino Vero Gulf of Poets, Highlights, History and culture, La Spezia local insider, Portovenere madonna bianca di portovenereLeave a Comment

The feast of the Madonna Bianca that every year on August 17 animates the village of Portovenere, has ancient origins. The birth of the Marian devotion in Portovenere dates back to a summer night in 1399 when the house of one Luciardo occurred a miracle “August 16, 1399, the voice goes around from street to street:” […]

The sea Trail, to swim carefree between Vernazza and Monterosso

July 5, 2019July 6, 2019 Teresa Turano Cinque Terre, Highlights, Trekking featured, snorkelling in the cinque terre, swimmng in the cinque terre, the sea trailLeave a Comment

The coast of the Cinque Terre by the sea: a joy for the eyes not only for those who own a boat. The success of the Cinque Terre makes them very attractive for those who like to sail and motorboats, yachts, sailboats flock more and more in the coves and beaches of this stretch of coast, sometimes in […]

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The Cinque Terre Villages

5 little points on the map, a unique area, that has been featured on the covers of travel magazines around the world, thanks to the simpleness of its fishing villages and its true colours.

Explore Cinque Terre Villages

Monterosso

Vernazza

Corniglia

Manarola

Riomaggiore

- Where are you?

Cinque Terre

Monterosso

Vernazza

Corniglia

Manarola

Riomaggiore

RIOMAGGIORE

MANAROLA

CORNIGLIA

VERNAZZA

MONTEROSSO

Not to miss in the Cinque Villages

The Cinque Terre villages in six points:

1

Via dell'Amore

2

Avoid the Crowd

3

Trek from one village to the other

4

A National Natural Park

5

The Sea Trail

6

More to see

Useful Advice to explore the Cinque Terre villages

How to travel from one village to the other

Best advice to visit the Cinque Terre

The Cinque Terre Beaches: just like heaven

THE BEACHES OF LA SPEZIA: A Do In Italy guide for you!

Map and Guide

with information, activities, experiences and a complete guide to the beaches of the entire Cinque Terre area

Top Experiences in the Cinque Terre Villages

Book One of these Unique Ideas to enjoy the Cinque Terre Area

- Where are you?

Cinque Terre Area

The Cinque Terre Villages

The Gulf of the Poets: Portovenere, Lerici and La Spezia

The Vara Valley and the Bio District

Lunigiana, ancient castles and abbeys

Book One of these Unique Ideas
to enjoy the Cinque Terre Area