Planning a Trip to the Cinque Terre
On that first Trip to the Cinque Terre, we flew from the U.S. to Florence, picked up a rental car, drove to Vernazza, parked the car outside of town, and walked to our hotel where we stayed for only 2 nights. I remember enjoying a glass of wine at the end of the harbor while waiting to check into our room. We enjoyed a fresh seafood dinner on the piazza with a cool sea breeze in the air. It was awesome.
We used jet lag to our benefit and got up early the next day to start hiking. We ended up going all the way to Riomaggiore (taking our time to explore each little village a bit on the way), taking a ferry back up the coast to Monterosso and then hiking back to Vernazza. We were exhausted, but extremely happy when we sat down to our second dinner of fresh fish in the piazza by the sea.
We have since returned several times, as 2 days was definitely not enough! I mean – if you only have 2 days, you can still see a lot…but if you can stay longer, you’ll be able to take your time and really soak it all in. We love hiking the trails, dining by the Mediterranean, eating gelato, enjoying fried seafood in a cone, swimming in the sea, getting to know the people, and taking more breaks along the way. We can’t get enough of this part of Italy!
Whether you have a day, or a week, or longer, spending time here will bring joy to your life. You will make wonderful memories, and if you’re like me, you’ll want to return again and again. Planning your time well is the key to getting the most out of your visit.
5 Towns of Cinque Terre
There are 5 stunning hillside villages in the Cinque Terre. Monterosso al Mare is the most northern town. Moving north to south you will come to Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and then Riomaggiore. Each one is similar, yet unique. There are both train and boat connections between most of the towns, making it very easy to visit them all.
They are also linked by footpaths which connect all 5 villages. The Sentiero Azzurro is closest to the water, easiest, and most famous. It is about 7.5 miles long if you hike from Monterosso to Riomaggiore. A devastating flood in October 2011 caused the southernmost sections to close for many years, but these are expected to open up soon. Checking with the local Tourist Information Offices (TI) in any of the towns will give you the most up to date information.
The trail between Vernazza and Corniglia is open. You can also hike the trail between Monterosso and Vernazza, although some signs say it is closed. There are also upper trails between villages that are open, and command spectacular views for those who are ready for some steep climbs. There’s also fewer crowds on the upper trails, which is an added reward for going up and down these amazing hills!
The trails lie within a national park, so you will need to pay to enter. It’s easy – there is someone in the booth at the entrance of the open trails who will sell you a ticket for about €7.50 for one day (€15 during the high season).
Monterosso is the largest of the 5 villages, and has the only long and sandy beach in the area. You can rent chairs and umbrellas and enjoy the sun and the waves crashing against the rocky coastline. Or you can sit and enjoy a spritz while people watching. That’s always a great option.
