🏘️ Liguria, Italy
Things to do in Cinque Terre
Five pastel fishing villages strung along the cliffs
A favourite for honeymoons
Cinque Terre is five centuries-old villages — Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore — clinging to the Ligurian cliffs and linked by hiking trails, a little train and boats. There are no cars; you walk, ride the train or take the ferry between them. A day or two covers all five, with many basing nearby or visiting from Florence.
Pastel villages, cliffside trails and sunset over Manarola — quietly romantic, without the resort crowds.
Time needed
1–2 days
Best time
May–June and September
Region
Liguria, Italy
Don’t miss
The clifftop coastal trail between the villages
The Sentiero Azzurro footpath links the villages along the cliffs — the Vernazza and Manarola stretches are the most beautiful. Check which sections are open (landslides close parts) and buy a Cinque Terre Card for the trails and train.
Check availability on GetYourGuideTop things to do in Cinque Terre
- Manarola at sunset — the most photographed of the five villages.Find tours
- A boat trip along the coast to see the villages from the water.Find tours
- Vernazza’s little harbour and the trail on the cliffs above it.Find tours
- Ligurian food — pesto, focaccia and fresh seafood are a highlight in themselves.Find tours
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Skip-the-line tickets, guided tours and the big-ticket experiences — compare and book ahead so they don’t sell out.
See all Cinque Terre experiences on GetYourGuideWhere to stay near Cinque Terre
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How to get to Cinque Terre
From Florence it’s about 2.5 hours by train (change at Pisa or La Spezia). The local Cinque Terre Express then hops between all five villages in minutes — buy the Cinque Terre Card for unlimited rides plus trail access.
Best time to visit
May–June and September: good hiking weather, sea warm enough to swim and fewer crowds than mid-summer. Some trails close over winter.
Cinque Terre tips
- Take the train or ferry between villages — driving in is banned and car parks sit high above the towns.
- Check trail closures before you go; landslides regularly shut sections of the coastal path.
- Start early or stay overnight: day-trippers flood in from late morning.
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