🌊 Dintorni

Cinque Terre

Five villages on the cliffs

The Cinque Terre are five villages clinging to the cliffs, north to south: Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore. A UNESCO World Heritage site and a national park, this is the one day trip no guest should miss.

Getting there from home: take a train from Genova (Piazza Principe or Brignole) toward La Spezia — about 1h–1h30 depending on the train. From there the “Cinque Terre Express” links all five villages, a few minutes apart, every 15–30 minutes in high season. All told, it’s about an hour and a half from Genova.

The Cinque Terre Card is worth it: there are two kinds — the Trekking Card (trails + park services) and the Treno MS Card (trails + unlimited regional trains between Levanto and La Spezia), in 1, 2 or 3-day versions. Buy it at the station or online, and check the current price for your date on the official park site, as it changes day to day.

Photo gallery

An important note on the trails: the famous Sentiero Azzurro is only partly open. The Via dell’Amore (Riomaggiore–Manarola) has reopened, with timed-entry booking; the Monterosso–Vernazza and Vernazza–Corniglia sections are real hikes with steep steps; the Corniglia–Manarola stretch is still closed for repairs. Check the current trail status the day before, and bring proper shoes, water and sunscreen.

One tip: go on a weekday, outside the peak months. On a May or October morning you’ll have the villages almost to yourself; on an August weekend they’re overwhelming.

If you can only stop in one village, pick Vernazza for its little harbour or Monterosso for the beach. But the train ride along the coast, with the sea flashing between one tunnel and the next, is already half the beauty.

— Margherita's mom