Did you know that the “Cinque Terre” in the Liguria region is the part of Italy that attracts the most visitors each year? There must be a reason for that…
Of course, if you want to enjoy and fall in love with these 5 pearls, I recommend you to visit them in low season, when the crowds thin out, the sky becomes capricious and the sea is wild against the feet of each village.
The villages after which the 5 Terre are named
Monterosso al Mare
Monterosso al Mare is the first land, or perhaps the last.
It depends on whether you are coming from the north or from the south of Italy.
Living for 5 years in Genoa (to the north) for me Monterosso was always the first 😉.
This town stands out from the rest because:
- Trains stop more at your station than at others.
- It is the largest and most densely populated.
- It has the largest beach in the area.
Therefore, it is the ideal place if you feel like sunbathing, swimming in the sea or strolling the streets of its historic center in search of a delicious plate of freshly made pasta.
It is also the perfect starting point to hike the first section of the Blue Trail #2 from Monterosso to Vernaza.
Vernazza
If you believe in love at first sight, watch out when you get to Vernazza.
Especially if you do it on foot, either entering it from Monterosso or moving away towards Corniglia.
It has a beautiful harbor, protected by steep rock strata like a knife around it.
You can climb the tower, rest on a terrace, approach its small beach or get lost among its streets to find impossible viewpoints.
Corniglia
Why did Corniglia become my favorite?
- Maybe it was the view of its colorful buildings, crammed next to each other, resting on a cliff by the sea, as you approach on foot from Vernazza.
- Maybe the first day I visited its streets marked me by the hustle and bustle of life and party that there was thanks to a homemade pesto contest.
- Perhaps the views of Manarola from its belvedere, and even from the train station (a walk and a zig-zag staircase away), added to that sense of beauty.
It is difficult to compare them.
It's hard to decide why you like one more than the other.
Sometimes it's love at first sight, and the reasons are plentiful.
Manarola
From the Manarola train station you access the village through a tunnel that connects the main street with the other side of the mountain.
And once you get there, you just have to drop down to the small harbor to get one of the most beautiful views of the place.
Do you dare to take a dip from the rocks?
Riomaggiore
The southernmost land of all takes its name from the river that flows through this valley.
It is especially famous because it is the starting point of the Via dell'Amore, the last (or first) section of the Blue Trail #2, and the best known.
This road connects Riomaggiore with Manarola along the coast, with perfect views to become the backdrop of any love scene.
However, from 2013 to early 2018, I did not get to tour it, as I always found it closed to the public due to landslides.
It is true that I did not consult its status every day and that I avoided visiting the 5 terre in summer to avoid the crowds, so it is likely that one August it was opened and I did not notice it.
Since everything has a positive side, that will be my excuse to come back 🙂 .
How to get to and around Cinque Terre
Train
The best way to visit the 5 Terre?
Undoubtedly, the train: fast and economical.
There are several regional routes that stop in some of the towns that make up the Cinque Terre, along with other lines that connect them with each other.
Their frequency (and price, if we are talking about those stopping at Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore) varies according to the season.
I recommend you check the official Trenitalia website (link at the end of this post) to find your ideal schedule and route 😉.
Boat
Another way to visit the 5 Terre is to take a boat excursion.
The shipping company Golfo dei Poeti offers routes from La Spezia and Levanto, more frequently in summer.
This option costs more and conditions the time spent in the villages, but it undoubtedly offers views of the coast that would be impossible to obtain in any other way.
Car
Don't even think about it.
On foot
This doesn't mean you're going to walk to the 5 Terre (although you can, you can) 😉.
But, once you are there, you have the option to go from one village to another walking through the mountains.
The most famous (and most traveled) trails are the ones that make up the Blue Trail #2, as they are the most accessible, shortest and closest to the sea.
Here are the two routes we were able to complete during our stay in Genoa (some of them even several times):
- Route along the Blue Trail #2 from Monterosso to Vernazza.
- Route along the Blue Trail #2 from Vernazza to Corniglia.
Only 2 in 5 years?
Yes, depending on the time of year, you may find some sections closed for maintenance due to damage that occurred during the autumn-winter storms.
Do you want to know the current state of the roads? In this map you have information (almost) in real time.
Due to the need for near-constant jobs, access to the Blue Trail #2 requires pre-payment of an entrance fee that also gives you access to buses, public restrooms at train stations and even some museums.
The price of this ticket varies according to the state of the roads and can be purchased in simple mode (from 5 to 8€) or also including unlimited train rides in the area (16€ for one day).
Where to get this ticket?
- Online.
- At the entrance gates to the trail.
- At the train stations in the area.
Recommendation: if you are going to buy it with train service included, do it before arriving at the 5 Terre to make the most of it 😉.
When to go to Cinque Terre
It depends on how you want to live it.
You can visit the villages of the Cinque Terre at any time of the year, but...
- If you want to enjoy the sea: you will have to go in summer (June, July, August and September). Be careful, you may have an unforgettable swim, but the streets, trains and paths will be full of boats. In other words, this season is not suitable for people allergic to crowds.
- If you want to hike: the best time is in late September or early October, before the autumn storms begin, or in May, when the trails that were damaged during the previous winter have been rehabilitated.
- If you want to have the villages all to yourself: during the winter months (January, February, March) you can enjoy the 5 Terre without crowds. However, if you can, avoid weekends or holidays.
Where to stay
Since I lived in Genoa for 5 years, the excursions to the 5 Terre for me were 1-day excursions by train.
Although I must admit that, with the charm of the villages, I always felt like spending the night in one of their rural lodgings.
The bad thing is that I can't recommend you any specific one, sorry! 🙂 🙂
Useful Links
- Official map of the park with updated trail status.
- Online tickets to visit the Cinque Terre park.
- Trenitalia website.
- Boats from La Spezia and Levanto Golfo dei Poeti.
- Hotel offers in the area.
- Flights to Italy: Trabber, eDreams,Momondo, andVueling.
- Get 5% off when you purchase travel insurance with IATI.
On route in the 5 Terre?
Then these entries are also of interest to you:
- Route along the Blue Trail #2 from Monterosso to Vernazza.
- Route along the Blue Trail #2 from Vernazza to Corniglia.