The amazing Cinque Terre Villages – Liguria Coast
The amazing Cinque Terre Village are five towns on the Italian Riviera coastline (Monterroso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, Riomaggiore). The colorful houses and terraces with sea views, amazing food, and fishing boats, are one of the best ways to see the real Italy.
How to get to the towns
You have to get to ‘La Spezia’ area and take trains, Ferris or walk to each town (You cannot access it by car). The nearest Airports are Milán, Florencia and Pisa.
We went from Genova by car to Levanto town which is a big train station to Cinque Terre. If you go from Milan or Pisa, you can go to La Spezia town and take the trains to La Spezia Centrale station.
Train tickets
The tickets for each trip costs around 5 euros. You can buy them online Here or you can also buy them at the station. It’s very important to validate the tickets in the machines before boarding the train (they can charge you fines of €50 for not validating them). You can also purchase the Cinque Terre Card which has a value of 18.20 euros, which gives you unlimited access to the park’s trains and trails for 24 hours.
Each town in the Cinque Terre has a Sanctuary on top of the mountain. If you want to visit them, you’ll have to buy the Cinque Terre Card.
The towns:
1. Riomaggiore:
This was our favorite of them all. It’s the most rustic of all the Cinque Terre towns, and the best time to visit it is at sunset. The port is the best place for photos, with its small boats and its spectacular colorful houses that overlook the sea.
You can also visit the Riomaggiore castle, San Giovanni Battista Church, and the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Montenero.
2.Manarola:
The famous one with the bridge in front of the beautiful colored houses. In this town, If you follow the path leading up to the small square with a bar, you’ll have an amazing view of the port with the houses up the mountain.
Don’t miss Via Renato Birolli. It’s Main Street (A succession of restaurants, bars, gelaterias, and craft shops lead you directly to the port of Manarola).
3.Vernazza:
An amazing and very photogenic town (one of the most photographed on Instagram). It is very small. All its activities are centered on Via Roma and Via Visconti, which takes you from the sea to the mountains.
You can also visit the Santa Margherita d ‘Antiochia Church, Doria Castle, and the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Reggio.
4.Monterroso al Mare
The town is divided into two parts by a hundred-meter tunnel. On one side the Fegina area, and on the other, the old port. It is the only one on the Cinque Terre that has a sandy beach, a promenade, and services.
You can visit the Aurora tower, the Sanctuary of Our Signora di Soviore, the Monterosso al Mare weekly market (which takes place every Thursday morning from 8am to 1pm), and the church of San Giovanni Battista.
5.Corniglia
It is the only one that is not in contact with the sea and rises upon a high hill intensively cultivated with vineyards. To get to the town, you have two options from the train station. You can walk 377 steps or the track from the station, or you can take the bus from the station to avoid the stairs.
The historic center is beautiful. You can walk Via Fieschi (the main street) which connects the church of San Pietro with the terrace of Santa Maria. This town is not so crowded, so you can enjoy the peaceful environment.
Where to eat?
Liguria coast is well known for its famous pesto sauce. The restaurants are amazing and you’ll eat very well in most of the places. Here is our top of each town:
– Vernaza: Ristorante Belforte
– Monterroso al Mare: Ristorante Ciak
– Manarola: Ristorante Marina Piccola
– Riomaggiore: Antica Osteria del Carugio
– Corniglia: Trattoria Il Buongustaio (Via Veschi) or Bar Terza Terra di Cadario Alison
Where to stay?
We recommend you stay in La Spezia town and move by train to the five towns.
La Spezia by The First – Luxury Rooms & Suites, has perfect accommodations if you want to stay at La Spezia or if you want to stay at Manarola or Riomagiore, you can book luxury rooms in this amazing town
If you are going to Cinque Terre by camper van, you can park at Levanto town or La Spezia town and move by train. It’s very comfortable and easy to park.
How many days?
We recommend you at least three days. You can visit two towns per day and if you want to enjoy the beach at Monterroso al Mare, you can visit the town in one complete day.
This coast is one of our favorite places in Italy. You’ll find the towns are very picturesque with an amazing ambiance. If you go in summer, remember to go early because it’s very touristic place. If you go in winter, the good thing is not so cold and is not that crowded.
The amazing Cinque Terre Villages – Liguria Coast
The amazing Cinque Terre Village are five towns on the Italian Riviera coastline (Monterroso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, Riomaggiore). The colorful houses and terraces with sea views, amazing food, and fishing boats, are one of the best ways to see the real Italy.
How to get to the towns
You have to get to ‘La Spezia’ area and take trains, Ferris or walk to each town (You cannot access it by car). The nearest Airports are Milán, Florencia and Pisa.
We went from Genova by car to Levanto town which is a big train station to Cinque Terre. If you go from Milan or Pisa, you can go to La Spezia town and take the trains to La Spezia Centrale station.
Train tickets
The tickets for each trip costs around 5 euros. You can buy them online Here or you can also buy them at the station. It’s very important to validate the tickets in the machines before boarding the train (they can charge you fines of €50 for not validating them). You can also purchase the Cinque Terre Card which has a value of 18.20 euros, which gives you unlimited access to the park’s trains and trails for 24 hours.
Each town in the Cinque Terre has a Sanctuary on top of the mountain. If you want to visit them, you’ll have to buy the Cinque Terre Card.
The towns:
1. Riomaggiore:
This was our favorite of them all. It’s the most rustic of all the Cinque Terre towns, and the best time to visit it is at sunset. The port is the best place for photos, with its small boats and its spectacular colorful houses that overlook the sea.
You can also visit the Riomaggiore castle, San Giovanni Battista Church, and the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Montenero.
2.Manarola:
The famous one with the bridge in front of the beautiful colored houses. In this town, If you follow the path leading up to the small square with a bar, you’ll have an amazing view of the port with the houses up the mountain.
Don’t miss Via Renato Birolli. It’s Main Street (A succession of restaurants, bars, gelaterias, and craft shops lead you directly to the port of Manarola).
3.Vernazza:
An amazing and very photogenic town (one of the most photographed on Instagram). It is very small. All its activities are centered on Via Roma and Via Visconti, which takes you from the sea to the mountains.
You can also visit the Santa Margherita d ‘Antiochia Church, Doria Castle, and the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Reggio.
4.Monterroso al Mare
The town is divided into two parts by a hundred-meter tunnel. On one side the Fegina area, and on the other, the old port. It is the only one on the Cinque Terre that has a sandy beach, a promenade, and services.
You can visit the Aurora tower, the Sanctuary of Our Signora di Soviore, the Monterosso al Mare weekly market (which takes place every Thursday morning from 8am to 1pm), and the church of San Giovanni Battista.
5.Corniglia
It is the only one that is not in contact with the sea and rises upon a high hill intensively cultivated with vineyards. To get to the town, you have two options from the train station. You can walk 377 steps or the track from the station, or you can take the bus from the station to avoid the stairs.
The historic center is beautiful. You can walk Via Fieschi (the main street) which connects the church of San Pietro with the terrace of Santa Maria. This town is not so crowded, so you can enjoy the peaceful environment.
Where to eat?
Liguria coast is well known for its famous pesto sauce. The restaurants are amazing and you’ll eat very well in most of the places. Here is our top of each town:
– Vernaza: Ristorante Belforte
– Monterroso al Mare: Ristorante Ciak
– Manarola: Ristorante Marina Piccola
– Riomaggiore: Antica Osteria del Carugio
– Corniglia: Trattoria Il Buongustaio (Via Veschi) or Bar Terza Terra di Cadario Alison
Where to stay?
We recommend you stay in La Spezia town and move by train to the five towns.
La Spezia by The First – Luxury Rooms & Suites, has perfect accommodations if you want to stay at La Spezia or if you want to stay at Manarola or Riomagiore, you can book luxury rooms in this amazing town
If you are going to Cinque Terre by camper van, you can park at Levanto town or La Spezia town and move by train. It’s very comfortable and easy to park.
How many days?
We recommend you at least three days. You can visit two towns per day and if you want to enjoy the beach at Monterroso al Mare, you can visit the town in one complete day.
This coast is one of our favorite places in Italy. You’ll find the towns are very picturesque with an amazing ambiance. If you go in summer, remember to go early because it’s very touristic place. If you go in winter, the good thing is not so cold and is not that crowded.
