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Cinque Terre
Cultural · Culture tour in Cinque Terre, organised by our local team. Dates and prices on request.
Destination
Cinque Terre: The Five Villages, Trails and How to Visit
Five villages on the Ligurian coast, connected by footpaths above the sea.
Why travel to Cinque Terre
Cinque Terre, in Italy's Liguria region, is five villages on one stretch of cliff: Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore, linked by trains, boats and footpaths that climb through vineyard terraces held up by dry stone walls.
The whole coast is a national park and a UNESCO site, and cars stay outside the villages. Moving between them by train takes minutes; Cinque Terre hiking on the same route takes hours and is the reason most travellers come, from the coastal path above Monterosso to the vineyard trails behind Manarola.
Our Cinque Terre tours run as complete packages, with a hotel base, train and ferry passes and guided walks, and combine the coast with Pisa, Lucca, Florence and Milan, or with Portovenere and the Gulf of Poets just to the south.
- Where
- Ligurian coast, north-western Italy
- Best for
- Coastal walking, seafood, village life, sea swimming
- When to go
- April to June and September to October
- Gateways
- Pisa, Genoa and Florence airports, La Spezia station
What to see in Cinque Terre
Vernazza
The most photographed of the five, with a natural harbour, a castle tower and a small church on the rocks. The path arriving from Monterosso gives the classic view over the village.
Manarola
Houses stacked on a spur of dark rock above a swimming cove, surrounded by the terraces that produce Sciacchetrà wine. The Nessun Dorma viewpoint is the place to be at sunset.
Riomaggiore
The first village coming from La Spezia, a single steep street running down to a slipway where boats are pulled onto the quay. A good base, with the widest choice of trains and ferries.
Monterosso al Mare
The largest village and the only one with a proper sandy beach, divided between the old town and the newer Fegina seafront, with lemon groves and anchovy traditions of its own.
Tours in Cinque Terre
Cinque Terre: frequently asked questions
How do you get between the Cinque Terre villages?
By local train, which links all five in a few minutes each, by boat in season, and on the coastal footpaths. Cars cannot reach the village centres.
How many days do I need for the Cinque Terre?
Two days is enough to see the five villages without rushing. Most travellers combine them with Pisa, Florence or Milan rather than staying a full week.
Do I need a pass to walk the coastal path?
Yes, the Cinque Terre Card is required on the main paths and also covers the local trains. Sections of the trail close after heavy rain, so the route is confirmed on the day.
When is the best time to visit?
May, June and September. The villages are small and get very crowded in midsummer, while early spring can bring trail closures.
Planning a trip to Cinque Terre?
Our team in Italy builds each itinerary from scratch, for private travellers and for travel agencies.