If there is one Italian region that had been making us dream for years, it is the Cinque Terre. With their colourful houses clinging to the cliffs, their small fishing ports, their terraced vineyards and their trails offering exceptional panoramas over the Mediterranean, these five villages are among the most beautiful in Italy.

During our motorhome trip in Italy, we spent several days exploring the region. Between strolls through the alleyways, spectacular hikes, train rides facing the sea and unforgettable sunsets, we quickly understood why the Cinque Terre attract millions of visitors every year.

In this article, we share everything you need to know to prepare your visit: transport, train, the Cinque Terre Card, villages to discover, hikes and practical tips.
And don’t forget that all our travel vlogs, especially those dedicated to the Cinque Terre, are available on our YouTube channel.

The Cinque Terre are located in Liguria, on the north-west coast of Italy, between Genoa and La Spezia.

If you are extending your trip through northern Italy, also discover our stop at Lake Garda by motorhome.

The Cinque Terre National Park has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1997.

The five villages are:

• Monterosso al Mare
• Vernazza
• Corniglia
• Manarola
• Riomaggiore

They are all connected by a railway line that runs along the coast.

How to get around the Cinque Terre?

The train: the ideal solution

The train is clearly the easiest means of transport.

The five villages each have their own station and the journeys last only a few minutes.

For example:

• Monterosso → Vernazza: about 4 minutes
• Vernazza → Corniglia: about 4 minutes
• Corniglia → Manarola: about 5 minutes
• Manarola → Riomaggiore: about 2 minutes

The trains are frequent and let you move around quickly throughout the day.
They are clean, renovated and the scenery is magnificent! We were very surprised to find trains in such good condition. Everything is very well organised and, honestly, it is extremely simple to use!

The Cinque Terre Card: should you buy it?

Yes! And yes again!

To visit several villages in the same day, the Cinque Terre Card is generally the most economical solution.

This card includes:

• unlimited train journeys between the villages
• access to the paid hiking trails
• access to the station toilets
• certain national park services

The price varies depending on the season; you will find the rates directly on the national park website here.

If you plan several train journeys in the day as well as a hike, it quickly becomes worthwhile.

If you work out the cost of individual journeys, you will quickly see that it will end up more expensive. So yes, the card represents a certain budget, let’s be honest, especially for four people like us. To give you an idea, we paid around €90 for two days in mid-season.
But no regrets, because we took the train about ten times during our stay. In the end, the card more than paid for itself.

In any case, the Cinque Terre region is one of the most expensive destinations in Italy. Restaurants, transport, souvenirs and accommodation often have higher prices than elsewhere in the country. So plan your budget accordingly in order to make the most of your stay without any nasty surprises.

The most beautiful hikes in the Cinque Terre

Vernazza → Monterosso

This is probably the most famous hike in the Cinque Terre.

• Length: about 3.5 km
• Duration: 1h30 to 2h

The trail climbs quickly before offering exceptional views over the coast.
All along the way, the panoramas over Vernazza and then Monterosso are simply magnificent.
It is our favourite hike in the region.

But it is also the hardest! It climbs a lot for about half the hike and the sun can beat down very hard, especially in peak season. So bring a hat, suitable shoes as the trail is sometimes steep, and above all enough water!

With the children, it took us about 3 hours to complete this hike, taking the time to enjoy the scenery and make plenty of stops.

Our tip: start the hike from Vernazza rather than the other way round. The climb seemed a little less steep to us and the effort is therefore more gradual. You will also finish with a pleasant descent towards Monterosso, which is always welcome after several kilometres of walking!

Via dell’Amore

This legendary walk links Riomaggiore to Manarola.
After several years of closure following landslides, it is now accessible again.
The path runs along the sea and offers magnificent views over the cliffs.

It is not really a hike, but rather a walk accessible to everyone. Clearly, in about twenty minutes, even taking your time to admire the scenery and take a few photos, the route is over.

Be careful though: this walk must be booked compulsorily in advance online, with a specific time slot to respect, which we found not very practical…

Both of these hikes are paid. However, if you have opted for the Cinque Terre Card, access is included in the price of your card!

Monterosso al Mare: the largest village in the Cinque Terre

Monterosso is the largest of the five villages.

It is also the only one with a real sandy beach, well, pebble beach! Which really hurt your feet!

What to see in Monterosso

• The old town and its colourful alleyways
• The San Giovanni Battista church
• The harbour
• The seaside promenade
• The Giant statue (Il Gigante)

Monterosso offers a more seaside atmosphere than the other villages. But it was not our favourite village. We found it too big and that there were far too many tourists. Mind you, it is still very pretty, but unlike the other villages, it maybe lacks a little charm.

Vernazza: the most photogenic of the Cinque Terre

For many travellers, Vernazza is the most beautiful village in the Cinque Terre.

As soon as you arrive, you discover a small lively square, a natural harbour and the famous colourful houses surrounding the bay.

What to see in Vernazza

• The harbour
• Piazza Marconi
• The Santa Margherita d’Antiochia church
• The Doria castle
• The viewpoints on the heights of the village

We particularly liked the atmosphere at the end of the day when the visitors gradually leave and the locals reclaim their village.
One of our favourites! How beautiful it is! That little cove, those colourful houses… you really feel like you are standing in front of an open-air painting.

We also particularly loved the lively, very “village” atmosphere that reigns in Vernazza. Despite the number of visitors, the village has managed to preserve its authenticity and charm. It is a place where you take pleasure in wandering through the alleyways, settling on a terrace or simply admiring the comings and goings of the boats in the small harbour.

Corniglia: the perched village

Corniglia is the only village that does not have direct access to the sea.
Set atop a cliff, it overlooks the whole coast.
To reach it from the station, you have to take the famous Lardarina and its hundreds of steps or use the shuttle.

What to see in Corniglia

• The peaceful alleyways
• The typical little squares
• The panoramas over the coast
• The surrounding vineyards

Less crowded than its neighbours, Corniglia lets you discover a more authentic side of the Cinque Terre. It is also the smallest! A good hour is enough to visit it, without rushing!

Manarola: the postcard village

Manarola is probably the most photographed village in the whole region.
The colourful houses seem to literally tumble into the sea.

What to see in Manarola

• The natural harbour
• The marina
• The alleyways of the historic centre
• The most famous panoramic viewpoint in the Cinque Terre

It is also here that the famous Via dell’Amore begins or ends.
What an incredible village! It is a feast for the eyes! We loved all those colours, the washing hanging from the windows, the locals having their coffee on the terraces and all those little shops that add to the unique charm of the place. At every street corner, there is a detail to observe or a new photo to take.

Riomaggiore: the gateway to the Cinque Terre

Riomaggiore is often the first village discovered by visitors arriving from La Spezia.
Its harbour, hemmed in between the cliffs, is particularly spectacular.

What to see in Riomaggiore

• The small harbour
• The colourful houses
• The San Giovanni Battista church
• The Riomaggiore castle
• The many viewpoints over the coast

We recommend strolling around until sunset, when the facades take on a magnificent golden hue.
The harbour is incredible and sublime, but the inside of the village won us over a little less. Mind you, this is only our personal opinion.

Our tip: grab a few slices of pizza to take away and come and enjoy them on the rocks facing the harbour. The view is magnificent, the atmosphere is very pleasant and it is probably one of the best spots to make the most of Riomaggiore’s exceptional setting.

How much time should you plan to visit the Cinque Terre?

We recommend:

• 1 day: a quick discovery of the main villages
• 2 days: a comfortable pace with one hike
• 3 days: ideal to fully enjoy the atmosphere and explore the trails

During our stay, two full days allowed us to discover all the villages without rushing and to do both hikes! It was perfect!

And if you have an extra day in northern Italy, consider spending a day in Verona.

Our verdict on the Cinque Terre by motorhome

The Cinque Terre were among our greatest expectations on this trip to Italy and we were not disappointed.

Even though the region is very touristy, the landscapes are truly exceptional. The villages each have their own personality and the hikes offer some of the most beautiful panoramas we have seen in Italy.

Our favourite remains Vernazza for its authentic charm and the hike linking Vernazza to Monterosso, which offers spectacular views over the Ligurian coast.

And if you continue your trip southwards, do not miss our top villages in Tuscany to visit, the other must-see of an Italian road trip. Further west, Lake Maggiore and the Borromean Islands: another gem to include in a northern Italy itinerary.

We had booked a campsite about a month in advance, outside the Cinque Terre but close to the station. This allowed us to enjoy a preferential rate and, above all, it was extremely practical for then reaching the villages by train.

What is more, leaving your motorhome outside the Cinque Terre lets you avoid certain narrow roads that are not always suited to our large vehicles. It is a solution we recommend without hesitation.

Feel free to watch our videos on our YouTube channel to discover our campsite, its surroundings and the rates we paid during our stay.