The Cinque Terre isn’t exactly a secret corner of Italy any more, and that’s because it’s such a charming place to visit.
There are five villages in the Cinque Terra: Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza and Monterossa.
It DOES take a little more effort to get there than to some other areas of Italy, but you can choose to take the train to the middle of each village – or you can drive to the area. Of course, if you drive, you must leave your car at a parking area high above each village and then hike down into it.
The main attraction of the Cinque Terre is the pretty villages themselves. Pastel colored houses jostle each other for space on the steep slopes and spill down to the sea. Narrow streets and alleys twist and turn at unexpected angles. Small fishing boats sit on the streets where you would expect cars to be.
What’s the best place to stay in the Cinque Terre? Any one of the towns is a great place to stay. They are all traditional fishing villages, but there are terraces above and around each village filled with vineyards as well as olive and lemon groves.
Accommodations in the Cinque Terre
Each village features some hotels as well as a number of rooms for rent in houses. You can arrange for accommodations once you are there, but it could involve hiking into more than one village. Better to arrange your accommodations ahead.
Here’s a luxurious choice, from Vacation Home Rentals.
6br – Exclusive Villa on a Hill Near To The Cinque Terre
Price: $1144.0
IL CASTELLETTO An elegant and luxurious private villa for 12 people, with pool and jacuzzi and near to the fashionable Italian beach resorts of Forte dei Marmi, Versilia and the Cinque Terre. 6 bedrooms, 7 bathrooms.
Check VacationHomeRentals and HomeAway.com regularly for a home that suits your needs. Vacation Home Rentals features Vacation Rentals By Owner (including vacation homes, villas, and condos.) Booking this way can save you a lot of money. (We feature Vacation Home Rentals promotions and special offers, when available, here and HomeAway.com coupons here.)
Food & Drink
Enjoy some local food and wine. There is a white wine grown in the terraced vineyards called Cinque Terre. Pair it with anchovies which are a local specialty (and will be better than you expect because they are fresh) or with a pasta dish topped with pesto.
This area is the birthplace of pesto, and it doesn’t get any better. Then top your meal off with another local specialty — a dessert wine called Sciacchetra.
Hiking the Cinque Terre
There is a popular hike that links the five villages called the Sentiero Azzurro (the Blue Path). It is a shore-hugging path that runs for 7 miles (11.3 km) from the southern most village of Riomaggiore to the northern most, Monterossa. You can do this in a day if you are in good shape. The best time to go is in the spring when it isn’t too hot.
If you don’t want to hike between all of them, you can do shorter hikes. Consider the Via dell’ Amore (Lovers’ Way) between Romaggiore and Manorola. It is the easiest stretch of the trail. You can easily make it both ways in an easy morning of hiking. (There is a nominal fee charged to walk this part of the trail. This section is paved, and the the fee helps with maintenance).
You can hike between just two or three of the towns and take the train back to your starting point or catch one of the ferries that run from village to village in the spring and summer. If you don’t want to hike at all, take the ferry from one end to the other to enjoy the view. (The ferries stop at all but Corniglia since Corniglia sits high above the sea.)
Whether you drive to one, hike to all five or view them from the sea, you’ll come away from the lively villages of the Cinque Terre with a smile on your face.
Here are some lovely Cinque Terre tours, from Viator.com:
Cinque Terre Day Trip from Milan
Price: $169.49
Discover the beautiful Cinque Terre, one of Italy’s most scenic secrets, on a day trip from Milan. Meaning ‘five lands’, the five lovely fishing villages of this UNESCO World Heritage-listed site are strung along the cliffs bordering the Ligurian Sea, linked by numerous walking paths and a train line.
Cinque Terre Hiking Day Trip from Florence
Price: $114.4
Join the only tour that takes you to each of the five fishing villages of the Cinque Terre on a one-day hiking trip from Florence. Hiking is the only way to truly experience the magic of the Cinque Terre. Take a break from the bustle of the city and hike this UNESCO World Heritage-listed site. It’s a unique and memorable experience, exploring the only unspoilt survivor of the genuine Italian Riviera.
Cinque Terre Small Group Day Trip from Florence
Price: $211.86
You’ll fall in love with Italy’s prettiest coastal villages on a small group visit to the Cinque Terre from Florence. You’ve probably heard of the five famous fishing ports of the Cinque Terre. Now’s your chance to visit these picture-postcard villages on a personalized small group day trip you’ll treasure.
And here are a couple of Cinque Terre guidebooks to help you plan your trip
Italy’s Cinque Terre
Price: $8.95
You can count on Rick Steves to tell you what youreallyneed to know when traveling in Italy’s Cinque Terre. In this 102-page compact guide, Rick Steves covers the essentials of the Cinque Terre, including Corniglia, Vernazza, and the nearby towns of Santa Margherita Ligure and Portofino. Marvel at colorful murals in Riomaggiore, rent a boat in Sestri Levante, or explore the Church of the Cappuccin Monks in Monterosso al Mare.
Portofino, Rapallo, the Cinque Terre & Beyond
Price: $6.39
A detailed guide to every aspect of the destination: history, culture, foods, restaurants, hotels, sightseeing, things to do – written by an author who knows the place intimately. Extracted from our much larger Adventure Guide to the Italian Riviera, this book zeroes in on the Cinqueterre and the Riviera di Levante, including Portofino, Rappalo and dozens of other coastal towns.
Journeys of Cinque Terre
Price: $32.31
Patrice Lepaulmier, Paperback, English-language edition, Pub by Authorhouse
Cinque Terre
Price: $37.96
Jerold Angelus (Editor),Paperback, English-language edition, Pub by International Book Marketing Service Ltd