This is the perfect Cinque Terre itinerary if you’d like to see all 5 towns of Cinque Terre in one day. This itinerary is best followed by staying in one of the towns in or near Cinque Terre for two nights. However, I also discussed how a day trip is possible. Keep reading to learn all the details about Cinque Terre and make the most of your time!
Cinque Terre, meaning “Five Lands,” is a cluster of five picturesque fishing villages along the rugged Italian Riviera, namely, Riomaggiore, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, and Monterosso al Mare. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its delicious seafood, gorgeous coastline, colourful houses, scenic hiking trails, and terraced vineyards.
- When is the best time to visit?
- Is one day enough to see Cinque Terre?
- Is it possible to do a day trip to Cinque Terre from Florence or Milan?
- How to reach Cinque Terre?
- Where to stay in Cinque Terre?
- How to get around Cinque Terre?
- Passes to buy
- Itinerary: 5 towns of Cinque Terre in one day
- Tips and Must-Knows
When is the best time to visit?
Cinque Terre is best visited in late April, May, June, and September for good weather and fewer crowds.
In the peak summer months of July and August, it is too hot and humid to enjoy Cinque Terre. We were there in July and the heat and humidity were absolutely unbearable. In October, Cinque Terre gets a lot of rain, which will dampen your plans. Between November and March, a lot of hotels and restaurants close down and the trains run very infrequently.
Is one day enough to see Cinque Terre?
While it is best to see the towns slowly over the course of 2–4 days, not everyone has that much time. We very much appreciated seeing all the towns in one day rather than staying longer. We didn’t feel like we missed out on anything much. It was enough!
Is it possible to do a day trip to Cinque Terre from Florence or Milan?
Yes, it is possible to do a day trip to Cinque Terre by train from cities like Milan (3-hour train ride), Florence (3-hour train ride), Genoa (1.5-hour train ride), and Pisa (1.5-hour train ride). While I would recommend staying in a village closer to or in Cinque Terre so you can roam the villages at a leisurely pace, it is possible to do a day trip if you’re short on time.
If you want to do a day trip independently, then ensure that you take an early morning train to Cinque Terre and a late evening train back so that you can see as much as possible.
Check out train schedules and book them here.
If you’re keen on letting someone else handle all the logistics so you can sit back and relax, then the tour mentioned below, which starts in Florence, is an excellent option.
Florence: Cinque Terre Day Trip with Optional Hike: On this tour, take a 2-hour bus from Florence instead of a train, which saves you an hour each way. Then you travel within Cinque Terre by train (since road traffic is non-existent), do a boat ride, and have the option to hike between two villages. So, basically, you get to see all five villages from different viewpoints and experience all the major things that Cinque Terre has to offer, along with information from a guide. It makes for a fantastic, well-rounded, and fun experience!
How to reach Cinque Terre?
Cinque Terre is best visited on your journey between Milan or Genoa in the north and Pisa or Florence in the south, adding 2 nights to your Italy itinerary. Intercity trains run frequently from Milan, Genoa, Pisa, and Florence to the towns of Levanto, La Spezia, and even Monterosso ( the only one of the Cinque Terre villages that is served by long-distance trains)
The five towns of Cinque Terre are accessible by the local Cinque Terre Express.
If you’re coming from the north—Milan or Genoa: Take an intercity train directly to Monterosso or Levanto. From there, take the local Cinque Terre Express to any of the five towns.
If you’re coming from the south—Florence or Pisa: Take an Intercity train to La Spezia and change for a local Cinque Terre Express to any of the five towns
Check out the most convenient train routes here.
Tip: It is best not to drive to Cinque Terre. The villages are all small and built on cliff sides, so cars are not allowed inside them. Your hotel, in all probability, will not have parking space. You’ll have to find a parking lot to park at, which might be very far from your hotel.
Where to stay in Cinque Terre?
This is the most confusing part: deciding the village in which you’ll put up! Most people get hung up on choosing which of the 5 villages will suit them best because each has its own characteristics.
However, when you actually start looking for hotels in that village, you’ll realise that you can’t actually find a hotel there within your budget! Accommodation in Cinque Terre is extremely expensive and sells out fast.
I think that it is best to stay in one of the 5 towns of Cinque Terre if you can find a hotel/Airbnb of your choice and within your budget, because then you can experience the nightlife of Cinque Terre as well. The average price of a basic stay would be about 150 euros, and those with an excellent location and view would be more expensive. The towns I would recommend are Riomaggiore (picture-perfect) and Monterosso al Mare (for beach time). Vernazza has some great options too!
But as I said, do not get hung up on these towns. Instead, choose accommodation in any town, including La Spezia, because it has good connectivity to Cinque Terre via train, boat, and tours, and you’re most likely to find accommodation at cheaper prices, averaging 100 euros or more.
Here are some hotel and Airbnb options for you to consider and book!
La Spezia: Affordable room close to train station | Apartment with 2 bedrooms
Riomaggiore: Hotel with an amazing view | Affordable apartment| Apartment with the perfect view | Room with sea view
Monterosso al Mare: Hotel near the beach| Room near main beach | Apartment near Old Town Beach
Vernazza: Affordable room 1 | Affordable room 2 | Apartment with sea view
For more options, look at the listings on this map!
How to get around Cinque Terre?
There are three ways to get around Cinque Terre!
Hike: You can hike between all the Cinque Terre towns in one day. Start in Monterosso al Mare and end in Riomaggiore, crossing all the other towns. The views of the coast, vineyards, and villages are absolutely gorgeous on the hike. This hike, called the Blue Trail, is 11 kilometres long and is a solid option for major hikers.
However, note that the easiest part of the hike between Riomaggiore and Manarola, called Lover’s Lane or Via dell’Amore (1.5 km), is currently closed due to a landslide and is scheduled to open in the summer of 2024. So definitely consider hiking that section if it is open. Check updates here. Even if it is not open, there is still a hiking route between these villages but it is much tougher.
At present, I would recommend hiking the section between Monterosso and Manarola, as it is the easiest option available but is generally considered a moderate hike (and I absolutely agree).
Get one of the two Cinque Terre passes if you’re planning to hike. More details are below.
Train: This is a very popular and inexpensive way to get around. The Cinque Terre Express trains run every 20 minutes between the towns of Levanto and La Spezia from mid-March to early November. They run once to twice every hour during the winter months. The cost of a train ride between any of these towns is usually €5, but this is subject to change. Please check the latest prices on the Trenitalia website.
Ferry: The ferry runs between the villages from late March to early November. They take a bit longer than the train to go from one village to another but they give a different perspective. You can buy a one-day ticket and jump on and off the boats as often as you want. The ferry does not stop in Corniglia since this village is on top of a cliff and doesn’t have water access. For this itinerary, the ferry might not work due to the timing of the ferries. Please check them here.
Passes to buy
There are two passes available for seeing Cinque Terre in one day:
- The Cinque Terre Trekking Card: This is for the paid hiking paths between Monterosso to Vernazza and Vernaza to Corniglia, free use of toilets at the stations, and free use of buses. This card costs €7.5 for one day.
- The Cinque Terre Treno MS Card: This includes all of the above plus unlimited train travel on the La Spezia-Cinque Terre-Levanto railway line. It costs from 19.50 euros to 32.50 euros for a one-day card, depending on the season. Ferries are not included.
This pass is valid until midnight on the day of usage. According to this itinerary, you will need to take 4-6 train rides that amount to Euro 20-Euro 30 if you buy individual tickets of Euro 5 each and another Euro 7.5 for the hiking route.
Do the math yourself based on which season you’re travelling in, whether you’re hiking or not, and how many train rides you’ll be taking. In all probability, getting this pass will save you some money. We purchased the Treno MS Card for ourselves as we hiked, didn’t take any ferries and didn’t want to stand in line at the train station again and again.
On this website, you’ll find all the required information and purchase links for the passes.
Itinerary: 5 towns of Cinque Terre in one day
You can visit all five towns of Cinque Terre in one day through a combination of hiking and trains or only trains. They are the most time-efficient ways and that’s exactly what we’re going to discuss in this itinerary. However, if you’re staying in La Spezia, you have the option of doing a full-day tour by boat which looks like a ton of fun!
You can start the day in either Riomaggiore or Monterosso, both of which are on the opposite ends of Cinque Terre. We did the route from Monterosso to Riomaggiore because we wanted to conquer the hike first thing in the morning.
Besides that, this route is perfect for you if you want to hit the beach early in the morning when the crowds are less, do the easiest section of the hike that is currently open from Monterosso to Vernazza without the heat, do a wine tour in Manarola in the evening and finally reach Riomaggiore around sunset.
It is also possible to do the hike the other way, from Riomaggiore to Monterosso. You may prefer that route, in case you want to have a pesto-making experience and do a sunset boat tour. I will discuss this itinerary briefly towards the end of this post.
Monterosso to Riomaggiore Route
Itinerary at a glance:
- Train from your town of stay to Monterosso al Mare
- Hike/train from Monterosso al Mare to Vernazza
- Train from Vernazza to Corniglia
- Train from Corniglia to Manarola: Do a wine tour
- Train from Manarola to Riomaggiore
- Train from Riomaggiore to your town of stay
Note: The timings given below against the village names in the itinerary are purely for reference so that you can understand how long you can spend in each location. You can obviously start your day later as well, skip the hikes and tours, and spend your day according to the timing that are most comfortable for you.
7:30 AM: Monterosso al Mare
Take a train to Monterosso al Mare as early as possible in the morning and start your day. Monterosso al Mare is the largest town in Cinque Terre and the only one with sandy beaches.
As you exit the train station, head right towards Statua del Gigante – a 100 year old statue representing Neptune built into the cliffside.
If you’re looking to swim and spend time at the beach, you can do so near the statue, at the small free section of the main beach (Spiaggia di Fegina) keep walking towards the start of the hike. After you cross a tunnel, you’ll spot a small beach. It is absolutely free and not crowded at all. Spend some time here, after which you can start the hike.
I would highly recommend hiking any one section of the trail connecting the five villages. The most easy trail between Riomaggiore and Manarola is currently closed and set to open in July 2024. Check updates here. So instead, consider hiking from Monterosso al Mare to Vernazza. It was the easiest hike that was open when we went and we were glad to have experienced one section of the hike, which is why I recommended it.
However, if you don’t wish to hike, simply head back to the train station after you’ve had your fill of Monterosso and take the train to the next village, Vernazza.
9 AM: Hike from Monterosso al Mare to Vernazza
The hike from Monterosso al Mare to Vernazza is 3.5 kilometres long and considered to be of average difficulty. And we can attest to that. It might’ve been the easiest hike that was open but it was not easy. There are uphill sections, rough patches of ground, narrow trails, and all that. I would highly recommend wearing hiking shoes unless your balance is generally superb. We saw a man wearing sneakers trip and fall three times.
Don’t let that scare you. The views on the hike are spectacular and you’ll be grateful that you hiked here.
11 AM: Vernazza
As you start approaching Vernazza on your hike, you’ll be treated to the splendid view below.
For train travellers, I know you might be thinking. What if you take a train to Vernazza and simply hike up to this beautiful spot?
Yes, it is possible. The hike from Vernazza will only take about 15 minutes from the old town. However, note that the spot is actually not free to access. You have to buy any one of the Cinque Terre passes to go to this spot (Google Maps location).
You’ll finally arrive in Vernazza’s old town. Walk around and soak in the old-world charm of this stunning village.
Vernazza and the whole of Cinque Terre have only a few restaurants and some are really badly rated, so we had a tough time selecting where we wanted to eat and simply went to the restaurant closest to where we were at the time. We still enjoyed our food. I was so famished after the hike that I had not one but two plates of pasta!
However, having done some more research, here are a few options for eateries. I recommend marking them on your maps for easy reference.
Pippo a Vernazza: Super inexpensive
Ristorante La Torre: Has a stunning view
Il Pirata delle 5 Terre: Has delicious breakfast too if you reach early and are in a mood for a good breakfast!
2:00 PM Corniglia
Take a train to Corniglia. From the train station, you can choose to walk the 383 steps up to the village or, better yet, take the bus. A lot of people will be waiting for it, so don’t worry; just follow them or ask around. This bus is free to use if you have any one of the Cinque Terre passes, otherwise, it costs €1.5.
Corniglia is the only one of the 5 towns of Cinque Terre that does not have access to the beach or water at it is on top of a cliff (hence the steps to go up to the village)
It is a small village, but I found it to be quite different from the other villages, which is why I kind of liked it. It is quiet and there are quite a few quaint, picturesque spaces. There is a terrace from which you get spectacular views of the sea and you can even spot other villages along the coast.
While you’re here, savour a gelato, walk around the village for a bit, and then get going.
If you’re hard pressed for time for any reason, then skip visiting Corniglia.
4:00 PM Manarola
Take the train to the village of Manarola.
Manarola perhaps has the best view in all of Cinque Terre—a view that is the postcard image of Cinque Terre. You simply cannot miss it!
To get there, enter Manarola Overlook Viewpoint in Google Maps! Simply follow the narrow walkway from the harbour for a few minutes. You don’t need to walk all the way to the viewpoint—just enough to see this stunning view shown in the image below.
Manarola has a very famous restaurant where you can dine with this view: Nessun Dorma! They offer light eats like bruschetta, meat & cheese platters and wine. Because it is so popular, there is always a long queue outside, and you’ll have no option but to wait, which is exactly why we didn’t go.
They also offer two experiences: A 2-hour pesto-making experience at 10:30 a.m. or 1:30 p.m. If you’d like to do this, then visit the towns the other way around, from Riomaggiore to Monterosso. Details for this route are given towards the end of the post.
However, in this itinerary, you can definitely do a wine experience by Nesun Dorma or another cheaper but excellent one. These start at 4:30 PM and 5 PM, respectively. The wine tours work well with this itinerary and because Cinque Terre is known for its wines, it’s a fantastic way to spend your evening.
If you’re not interested in heading to Nessun Dorma or doing the experiences, I would still recommend using your time in Manarola to try some local wines Cinque Terre is famous for like Cinque Terre DOC (a dry white), Costa de Campu di Manarola, Costa de Sera of Riomaggiore, and the Sciacchetrà DOC ( a sweet dessert wine). If you do not like wine, get any drink of your choice at a bar and enjoy the view.
7:00 PM Riomaggiore
Riomaggiore is on the southernmost end of Cinque Terre, close to La Spezia. It is a really picturesque town and according to us, it is the most beautiful of the 5 towns of Cinque Terre, with solid competition from Manarola.
After reaching Riomaggiore, head towards the Vista Panoramica di Riomaggiore for astounding views of the village.
If you’re up for it, you can go cliff jumping. There are warning signs mentioning that you shouldn’t cliff jump but everyone was doing it anyway. If you don’t want to cliff jump, you can simply hang out over here and observe the cliff jumpers. Riomaggiore also has a beach, albeit a rocky one. You can also head here to Spiaggia di Riomaggiore for a nice walk and some time in the water.
At sunset, don’t miss the golden hue on the buildings of Riomaggiore. It looks absolutely gorgeous.
We ate very early meals during our time in Riomaggiore. Restaurants don’t open up so early, so we grabbed fish and chips, and onion rings from Tutti Fritti and ate them while sitting on a bench by the street. Another evening, we got a takeaway poke bowl. Nothing Fancy. However, if you’re eating dinner late, have a higher budget, or are looking for other options, I’d recommend the following places:
Pizzeria Kepris: Cheap Pizza near the train station
Osteria La Torpedine: Local fare! Great for seafood and pesto pasta.
Rio Bistrot: If you’d like to try a tasting menu! This place is on the Michelin Guide.
Il Giardino da Nico: For great food with an even better view.
Riomaggiore to Monterosso Route
Go for this route if you want to take the famous pesto class by Nessun Dorma in Manarola or another excellent pesto class like this one. And also a sunset boat tour in Monterosso that has drinks and snacks onboard and takes you along the coastline so you get views of all 5 towns of Cinque Terre from a different, super stunning perspective.
- Train from your town of stay to Riomaggiore: Head to the Vista Panoramica di Riomaggiore and the rocks below for a fabulous view of the village.
- Hike from Riomaggiore to Manarola (if the route is open); otherwise, take the train. In Manarola, do a pesto experience. Choose between the famous one at Nesun Dorma or this one. If you’re still hungry, you can also grab lunch here.
- Train from Manarola to Cornigli: Have some gelato, walk the picturesque lanes and see the stunning view from the clifftop terrace.
- Train from Corniglia to Vernazza: Try the local wine and head to the harbour for amazing views of Vernazza.
- Train or hike from Vernazza to Monterosso: chill at the beach and take a sunset boat tour.
- Train from Riomaggiore to your town of stay
Tips and Must-Knows
- Dinner timings: If you’re someone who eats dinner early, then know that you might not find the better dining spots open until after 7 or 8 PM. You will have to make do with street food!
- Food and drinks to try: Monterosso anchovies (marinated, fried, stuffed, achovy sauce, bangun), pesto pasta, sea food, Cinque Terre wines.
- Flying a drone in Cinque Terre is prohibited: Cinque Terre is a no-fly zone. While we are usually very careful about such things, we did not know this and flew our drone from Riomaggiore. Thankfully, we were not caught!
- The Cinque Terre Express trains are usually late: There are a tonne of strikes happening all the time. If you have to take a pre-booked long-distance train out of La Spezia or Levanto and need to take the Cinque Terre express to get there, then arrive extra early to account for any delays. We were about to miss our train to Milan because of this.
- Travel Light: Pack only as much as you can carry on a staircase. Nearly all the accommodations, in Cinque Terre will require climbing a narrow flight of stairs. Additionally, your hotel might be high up in the town, away from the train station. You will also have to climb uphill or take stairs to your hotel. Some Airbnb owners might help you with luggage if you ask for it, but its better not to rely on that.
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