Best Things To Do In Cinque Terre In 3 Days

Cinque Terre is a National Park in the province of Liguria and is home to five of Italy's most beautiful villages: Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza and Monterosso al Mare. They are known for their picturesque and colourful little houses perched on steep cliffs overlooking the sea, their magnificent scenery and the footpaths that connect the various towns. If you're thinking about how long to go, three days is the ideal time. The most common way to get there is to book an excursion to Cinque Terre from Florence or Milan.

The most common, and also the most comfortable, way to travel around the five towns that make up Cinque Terre is by train, as all the towns, with the exception of Corniglia, have a station close to the historic centre and the journey time between them is minimal. If you choose this mode of transport, it is best to take the Trenitalia Cinque Terre Express, which allows you to take as many trains as you need in a day.

Due to the high prices of accommodation in Cinque Terre, many tourists choose to stay in La Spezia and book an excursion to Cinque Terre from La Spezia, although you can also find a wide range of hotels in Monterosso. However, trains run quite frequently, so you won't have any problems getting around the Ligurian coast.

Now, for your first day, I've prepared an itinerary that starts in Monterosso al Mare, the largest town in Cinque Terre and ends in Vernazza, considered by many to be the most beautiful of the five.

Discover Monterosso al Mare, the largest town in Cinque Terre

As well as being the most populated of the five, Monterosso is home to the largest beach in Cinque Terre. Divided into a public and a private area, this beach with crystal clear waters is perfect for swimming and cooling off if you travel to Cinque Terre during the summer.

Monterosso al Mare is made up of two areas separated by a hill under which there is a tunnel that keeps them connected. In one area you will find the charming historic centre and the harbour, which are worth a stroll, and in the other area you will find the train station and the most famous beach, Fegina beach.

Despite being the largest town, it's possible to get around Monterosso in just over an hour, so if the weather is nice you'll have time to relax on the beach or even do some water activities, for example you can book a kayak tour in Monterosso al Mare or book a sunset boat trip around the Cinque Terre from Monterosso. Don't forget to visit the main monuments such as the Church of San Francesco, the Church of San Giovanni Battista or the Villa Montale.

Take a horseback ride in Monterosso

Another popular option is to book a horseback riding tour in Monterosso, an ideal way to get to know this Cinque Terre town in depth with a professional guide. You will enjoy the incredible panoramic views of the coast while riding and connecting with nature. A unique and exciting experience. You will also be able to stop for pictures.

Make your way to your next destination, Vernazza

Once you have finished your visit to Monterosso, your next stop is the charming village of Vernazza. There are several options for getting there, including following the footpath that links the two towns. However, this part of the route can be a bit tough, so if you are not used to this kind of activities, I recommend you to take another means of transport.

A fun way to get around is by boat, as the views of the villages from the sea are spectacular. However, it is less economical than the train and may not be particularly pleasant if you are travelling to Cinque Terre in winter.

If you travel by train, you will find that just a few metres from the station is the main street of Vernazza, where there is a wide range of shops and restaurants, and the central square, where you will find the famous Church of Santa Margherita. Vernazza is particularly noted for its seaside atmosphere, quaint colourful houses and narrow, sloping streets. Once there, I recommend a pleasant stroll through the historic centre on foot.

Take a break to taste the local gastronomy

After a long morning of hiking, what better plan than to take a break to enjoy the exquisite dishes of this Italian region? So I recommend that you choose one of the magnificent restaurants in the central square and take the opportunity to try some of the local cuisine.

One of the most typical dishes in Liguria is the delicious trofie, a type of elongated, intertwined pasta usually served with Genovese pesto. It is also common in this area to find different pasta dishes accompanied by seafood or fish, such as the famous spaghetti ai frutti di mari.

But if you are interested in learning more about the cuisine of the area, don't hesitate to book a gastronomic tour of Cinque Terre, where an expert will accompany you on the tour and tell you the secrets of this spectacular corner of Italy. An even more original option is to book a gnocchi and pesto cooking class in Riomaggiore.

Continue your walk and climb up to a very special viewpoint.

Once you've finished your lunch, you can walk to the port of Vernazza, one of the most prominent in the Cinque Terre, and take a stroll along the seashore or take some eye-catching photos. Next to the harbour is a small pebble beach where you can swim or sunbathe.

Next, I recommend that you make a small effort and climb up to what is considered to be one of the best viewpoints in Vernazza. To get there, start from the central square and go up the stairs in front of the church, at the base of which you will find a sign indicating the beginning of the path to Monterosso.

You will have to follow the signs for this path and continue along it for a short stretch. You will be at the top in less than 15 minutes and I assure you that the views are well worth the effort. Please note that you will need to show your Cinque Terre Card to access many of the trails.

End the day watching the sunset from Doria Castle

A visit to the Doria Castle is a must if you decide to visit Vernazza. This imposing fortress once stood guarding the town on a small crag, but sadly, today only a tower remains standing and can be visited for around €2.

From this point the views of the town are spectacular and if time permits, I strongly advise you to wait to watch the sunset, as I assure you it will be an experience you will not forget.

As you can see Cinque Terre has a lot to offer. For your second day in Cinque Terre I have prepared an itinerary that passes through the three towns that you still have to visit: Riomaggiore, Manarola and Corniglia.

Start the day in the highest village of Cinque Terre, Corniglia

Although the town of Corniglia sometimes goes unnoticed compared to the rest of the villages that make up Cinque Terre, the magnificent views from the top of the hill that hosts this small town will make it worth your time to visit it.

Corniglia is the only town in Cinque Terre that does not have access to the sea and it is the smallest of them all. However, one advantage of some travellers choosing to skip this point is that the town is much quieter than the others, making it an ideal place to enjoy the calm and stroll around without the crowds of tourists.

If you decide to arrive by train you should be prepared for the Scalinata Lardarina, a staircase of almost 400 steps that takes you from the station to the historic centre. This picturesque village is located at the top of a mountain, some 90 metres above sea level. The views from the top are unbeatable. Another option would be to take a minibus which is included in the Cinque Terre Card. Some of the monuments you can visit are the Church of San Pietro or the Church of Santa Caterina.

Visit Manarola, the next stop on your tour

Once you have explored Corniglia, which should take you no more than an hour, you can return to the train station and head towards your next destination, Manarola, one of the most beautiful and well-known villages in Cinque Terre. It is particularly striking for its fantastic architecture, with its colourful houses set among the rocks, its magnificent views and its stone beaches and cliffs.

Once there, I recommend that you walk around Manarola and lose yourself in the explosion of colours of its narrow streets. Going down to the port, you will also find a natural balcony where the views of the town are spectacular and perfect to take some pictures.

If it is open during the season of your trip, I recommend you to go to the restaurant with the best views in Manarola, the Nessun Dorma, where you can enjoy a good wine and a typical Italian aperitif, such as bruschettas. But if you are really passionate about wine, don't hesitate to book a wine tasting in Manarola. Finally, don't forget to walk along Via di Mezzo, the main street. There, you will find many local craft shops and restaurants where you can buy a delicious focaccia for lunch.

Walk along the famous Via dell'Amore

The next and last stop of the day is the charming village of Riomaggiore. However, to get there I recommend you take a very special road. As mentioned above, one of the attractions of Cinque Terre is its famous trails. In particular, the most famous of all, the Sentiero Azzurro, or "blue trail", which is a path along the sea that links all the villages.

If you are a hiking lover, you have the option of consulting the official website of Cinque Terre trails and follow the itinerary by changing trains for this route on foot. However, I am going to make special emphasis on one of its sections, known as the Path of Love.

The Path of Love, or Via dell'Amore, is the section that connects Manarola with Riomaggiore and is one of the most popular routes both for its beauty and for being the easiest to walk.

Discover Riomaggiore, the last of the villages that make up the Cinque Terre

After less than half an hour's drive, you will reach Riomaggiore. This Cinque Terre town has a charming historic centre and, like some of the other neighbouring villages, is made up of colourful little houses perched on a rock formation.

One of the highlights of Riomaggiore is its picturesque quay, from where you can enjoy a fantastic panoramic view of both the harbour and the crystal clear waters of the sea. Other main attractions are the Church of San Giovanni Battista and the Riomaggiore Castle, which is located in the highest part of the village.

If you are spending the night in or around Cinque Terre, I recommend that you take the opportunity to watch the magnificent sunset from the small cove, or go for a more original option and book a sunset boat trip or even a cooking class in Riomaggiore.

If you are travelling to Cinque Terre for two days or touring Cinque Terre in one day, it is best to focus on visiting the five towns so that you don't miss anything, however, since your stay is slightly longer, you have the opportunity to take a day trip and get to know the beautiful region of Liguria a little better.

Enjoy your visit to Portovenere

To get to Portovenere you have several different options depending on where you start from. The first is by public transport. If you are staying in La Spezia, you can go directly by bus or you can also book a boat trip around the Cinque Terre from La Spezia If on the other hand you are staying in one of the towns that make up Cinque Terre, you can either take a direct ferry or change at La Spezia.

However, if you are up for a good hike, a fun way to get to Portovenere is to book a guided hike along the local trails starting from Riomaggiore.

Once there, you can enjoy wandering the streets of this fishing village on the Gulf of Poets. Portovenere also lies parallel to the sea and is populated by the characteristic coloured houses of this part of Italy. Some of its main attractions are the harbour, Byron's Cave and the Church of San Pietro. I also recommend a stroll along Via Capellini, which is the heart of the town and has a wide variety of restaurants in and around the town.

Finish your trip with a last stroll and a nice dinner

If you're not too tired after your trip to Portovenere, one option for your last night is to take a stroll in La Spezia, which is only half an hour away by bus.

Some of the activities to do in La Spezia include a stroll along the harbour, a walk across the Thaon di Revel Bridge, a visit to its most emblematic squares, Piazza Garibaldi and Piazza Europa, a visit to its Cathedral or, if you have time, the imposing Medieval Castle of San Giorgio. In addition, in its historic centre you will find a wide range of bars and restaurants to enjoy a fantastic last dinner in Liguria.

If, on the other hand, you are staying in one of the towns in Cinque Terre, you can take advantage of the rest of the afternoon by taking a stroll, watching the sunset over the sea and saying goodbye to the gastronomic delights of the area.