SherryStay Destination Guide
Cinque Terre
Five colorful villages clinging to cliffs above the Ligurian Sea — and one train that links it all.
About Cinque Terre
Cinque Terre — "the Five Lands" — is an Italian gem on the Ligurian Riviera, south of the port city of Genoa: five ancient villages clinging to cliffs above the Ligurian Sea — Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore. The magic here is in the colourful houses stacked up the hillsides, the steep lanes, the footpaths that link one village to the next high above the water, and a rhythm with no cars in it. And that's exactly the secret: forget the car. The five villages are joined by a wonderfully convenient, precise train line that stops in the heart of each one, with La Spezia serving as the region's official gateway and frequent departures. An even lovelier way to discover them is from the sea — ferries connect most of the villages and reveal the cascade of colour from the water, especially arriving from Portovenere or La Spezia. And if you plan to hop around a lot by train and trail, the Cinque Terre Card gives you free travel between the villages and access to the famous walking paths — saving time and plenty of queueing. This is a place you come to not to "do" but to drift between five little worlds, a glass of local white wine in hand, while the Ligurian Sea shifts through its colours at the foot of the cliffs.
Pick one village as your base and travel to the rest by train and the trails. Monterosso if a real beach and hotels matter to you; Vernazza if you came for pure beauty.
Best For
Where to Stay
Monterosso
The only one with a real beach and a choice of hotels; the most "convenient"
Vernazza
The prettiest of them all; small guesthouses, book early
Riomaggiore
Colorful and southernmost; the famous boat harbour
La Spezia
Outside the park: cheaper, trains to every village every 15 minutes
Money-Saving Tips
- 1Staying in La Spezia saves 40%+ — and the train drops you into every village in 10–20 minutes.
- 2The Cinque Terre Card only pays off if you also walk the paid trails — do the math first.
- 3Ligurian focaccia and pesto from the bakery — a perfect lunch for €5.
Getting Around
- 1The Cinque Terre Express train between all the villages — ~€5 per ride in season.
- 2The coastal trail between the villages — the open stretches are among Italy's most beautiful (check what's open).
- 3Ferries between the villages — a view from the sea, nice one way.
Most Common Mistake
Arriving by car. There's almost no parking, the roads wind and the villages are closed to cars — Cinque Terre was built for the train.
2–3 nights
- • Portofino
- • Pisa
- • Florence
Useful Local Hotel Phrases
Italian- HelloCiaoCHOW
- Good dayBuongiornobwon-JOR-noh
- Thank youGrazieGRAH-tsee-eh
- PleasePer favoreper fah-VOH-reh
- Yes / NoSì / NoSEE / NOH
- HotelAlbergoal-BER-goh
- BreakfastColazionekoh-lah-tsee-OH-neh
- How much?Quanto costa?KWAN-toh KOS-tah
- Where is...?Dov'è...?doh-VEH
- The bill, pleaseIl conto, per favoreeel KON-toh per fah-VOH-reh
Cinque Terre at a glance
- Cinque Terre is in Italy.
- The nearest airport to Cinque Terre is Pisa (PSA) and Genoa (GOA).
- Getting in from the airport takes ~1.5 hours by train from Pisa or Genoa (via La Spezia).
- The best way in is Train to La Spezia Centrale, then the Cinque Terre local line to the villages.
- A day in Cinque Terre costs roughly $70–110 per person on a budget, $150–280 mid-range and $450+ at the luxury end.
- Sherry suggests 2–3 nights in Cinque Terre.
- November is usually the cheapest month to visit Cinque Terre, August is the busiest, and May offers the best value.
Common questions
- Do I need a car in Cinque Terre?
- No — cars are restricted in the villages. The local train links all five in minutes; walking and boats fill the gaps.
- Which village should I stay in?
- Monterosso has the only real beach and most hotels; Vernazza is the prettiest harbour; Riomaggiore and Manarola are dramatic and central.
- When is the best time to visit?
- May–June and September are ideal — warm, with open trails and fewer crowds than the packed July–August peak.
- How many days do I need?
- 2–3 nights lets you walk between villages, take a boat trip and swim without rushing the train hops.
- Are the hiking trails always open?
- Not always — sections of the Sentiero Azzurro close for maintenance or weather. Check current status and buy the Cinque Terre Card for the open trails and trains.
Where to stay in Cinque Terre
Looking for hotels in Cinque Terre? It helps to decide on an area first — our guide to where to stay in Cinque Terre sets out which neighbourhoods suit which kind of trip.
Around Affittacamere the options include Affittacamere Irene, Affittacamere Monica, Affittacamere Da Flo and Affittacamere SullArco.
Around with the options include Dume Cosy Apt - Central - Near the Beach with A.C. and Villa Tanca with AC, Terrace and Views.
Around Monterosso the options include Monterosso Mare 2 and Monterosso Nido 3.
Elsewhere in the city you will also find Marymar, Albergo Stella della Marina, La Colonnina, Villa Servano 13, Hotel Souvenir, LAntica Terrazza, San Martino Comfy Flat, Charming Flat, A Ca Da Vaniglia, Da Vice Rooms, La Poesia, Casa Del Carugio, Pietre di Mare, La Casa di Zuecca, Cinque terre Riviera Levre dei Cuppi and Zia Letizia Bed and Wine.