The Cinque Terre is one of the most beautiful parts of Italy. Renowned for its pastel-colored villages, which are built upon steep cliffs. It’s certain to capture the imagination of everyone who visits. Yet, despite this area’s undeniable charm, many tourists tend to just allow one day in the Cinque Terre. Which is a real shame!
To us, 3 days is the perfect amount of time to spend in the Cinque Terre as it will allow you to fully explore this incredible place. We’ve spent a lot of time in the Cinque Terre over the years. We even got married here, and so we want to share with you all of our insider tips.
Of course, I’ve highlighted the not-to-be-missed Cinque Terre activities. Things like hiking the Cinque Terre trail and going on a boat trip. But I’ve also included some off-the-beaten-path gems on this three-day Cinque Terre itinerary, too. Think a local-favorite sunset spot, dinner at one of the best seafood restaurants in the world, and, of course, some beach time at one of my favorite beaches in Europe (hello, Monterosso Beach!)
In short, in this blog, we’ll introduce you to experiences that are not on most Cinque Terre itineraries. So let’s get started!
Is 3 Days in Cinque Terre Too Much?
No, 3 days in Cinque Terre is the perfect amount of time in my opinion. By spending 3 nights here you will have time to explore all 5 villages as well as do a couple of fun activities like a boat tour and hiking some of the Cinque Terre trail.
In fact, because I love this region so much, I’d recommend allowing even longer if possible. For example, 5 nights in the Cinque Terre is my preferred option. As you could split your nights between two villages, for example, 3 nights in Monterosso and 2 nights in Manarola, as we did.
Day 1 – Explore Each Village, Dinner in Manarola, Catch the Sunset
Morning & afternoon – Explore the villages of the Cinque Terre
This morning and afternoon are all about finding your bearings, exploring each Cinque Terre village, and determining your favorite.
There are five villages in the Cinque Terre region – Riomaggiore, Manarola, Vernazza, Corniglia, and finally, Monterosso al Mare. Each village has its pros and cons, and it’s super-easy to get between each village thanks to the train that connects all 5 villages. This is how most tourists travel between the 5 villages of the Cinque Terre. You can buy a train day pass, which you can use as many times as you want in 24 hours, from €19.50.
Below, I’ve given a summary of each Cinque Terre village so that you’ll know what to expect on your first day in the Cinque Terre:
Monterosso
Monterosso, or to use its full name, Monterosso al Mare, is the biggest village in the Cinque Terre and is the only village with a ‘proper’ beach.
There are two parts to Monterosso. The ‘new town,’ which is where the train station and the beach are. And a short walk away is the ‘old town,’ which has narrow cobbled streets and lots of cute restaurants and cafes.
One of the best things to do in Monterosso is to visit Buranco Vineyard, at the top of the old town. And it’s actually here that we got married! Here, you can sample their sweet wine (it’s a type of wine called sciachettrà) while you wander through the lemon and olive trees that look down upon the ocean!
Riomaggiore
Riomaggiore is the southernmost village. There are two parts to Riomaggiore – the ‘Pier’ area, which is dotted with a few restaurants and cafes and some great photo opportunities. In fact, the pier in Riomaggiore is one of the best sunset-watching spots in Cinque Terre. The main street in Riomaggiore is quite small and cobbled and is lined with bars and restaurants.
One of the best things to do in Cinque Terre is to hike the 3.5 km trail up to the Sanctuary of Montenero from Riomaggiore. The views from up here are spectacular – glistening blue ocean and vineyards. It’s quite an easy hike and will take most people around 1.5 hours.
Vernazza
Vernazza is perhaps the busiest of all five villages. It has a large port from which lots of boat trips leave, and you can sunbathe along the wall there. It has lots of restaurant options.
The quaint cobbled streets of this eye-catching village are lined with bustling restaurants, Cafes, and boutique stores. The enchanting Doria Castle overlooks the town, and one of the top attractions in Vernazza is the Church of Santa Margherita.
The port here is the only natural harbor in the Cinque Terre, and it’s a very popular spot to relax with a gelato or a pizza and admire the views. Many people swim from the harbor, too, but be warned that many boats come in and out of here every few minutes, so you will need to be careful!
Corniglia
Corniglia is for me, the most unique of all five villages. It is built on the very top of the hill and so doesn’t have direct water access. It is probably the most authentic town in the Cinque Terre as not so many tourists visit here compared with the other four villages.
As a result, it has more of an authentic vibe and is the place to visit if you want to see the ‘true’ Cinque Terre. Because of the village’s precariously steep position on a high cliff, there are several awesome viewpoints of the sea and the nearby villages dotted throughout the village.
The train to Corniglia leaves you at the bottom of the hill, so you can either choose to walk up the hill (approximately 20 minutes walk uphill with lots of steps, around 370 to be precise) or get the mini-bus, which departs regularly.
Manarola
Manarola is, in my opinion, the prettiest of the villages in the Cinque Terre. It’s the one that is photographed the most and is essentially the ‘poster child’ for the Cinque Terre. It also has two of the best restaurants in the Cinque Terre – Trattoria dal Billy and Nessun Dorma (more on those below).
Some of the best things to do in Manarola include taking in the view from Manarola Cemetery, hiking the Cinque Terre trail from Manarola into Riomaggiore, and swimming off the pier into the clear blue ocean!
Related Read: Why Cinque Terre is my Favourite Travel Destination (& Why You Should Visit)
Dinner – Billy’s in Manarola
We suggest visiting Manarola village last today so that you can enjoy dinner at what I reckon is the best restaurant in the Cinque Terre. Billy’s in Manarola primarily serves seafood, which is the freshest seafood at that time. So if you’re a seafood fan, you’ll be in heaven! We’ve eaten here a total of five times across four trips. There are two seats a night, and we recommend asking for a table at the very front, which overlooks Manarola village.
If you don’t like seafood, you might struggle a bit at Billy’s. Although their pesto is yummy and actually originates from the region, their pasta is homemade, too. The fish is legit caught fresh that afternoon. And you can buy a massive fish and share them with your table, the waiters will de-bone the fish for you, or you can choose to do it yourself (no thanks). We got the 12-course seafood starter, which is pretty much every fish dish on their menu, and it was heaven.
Evening – Catch the sunset from a local-favorite spot
Manarola cemetery is located just above the famed Nessun Dorma restaurant. And it’s the perfect spot to admire the famous Cinque Terre scenery at sunset. However, because it is a graveyard and a very sacred place – you CANNOT take photos here.
Day 2 – Hike the Cinque Terre Trail, Lunch in Nessun Dorma, Dinner in Vernazza
Morning – Hike the Cinque Terre Trail
There really is no better way to see the Cinque Terre than to hike the beautiful trail connecting all 5 villages. Some parts of the trail are very easy to hike, especially the paved section connecting Riomaggiore to Manarola. It’s called the Via dell’Amore. While other sections of the trail are quite hilly. A moderate level of fitness is highly recommended.
Important Information – the Via dell’Amore that connects Riomaggiore and Manarola recently re-opened to the public in July 2024.
There are stunning coastal views everywhere you look, and the whole trail is 11 km long and will take 6 hours to complete. However, we recommend just doing a section of the trail this morning – our favorite section and the easiest is the section between Riomaggiore and Manarola called Via dell’Amore.
Do yourself a favor and wear good walking shoes, as the trail can be rocky in parts. If you try to walk the trail in flip-flops (which I saw people do in the past), you will likely be stopped by one of the men in the control booths along the way.
By starting the Cinque Terre trail early in the morning you’ll avoid the crowds and can enjoy a well-deserved lunch. Which, leads me onto my next suggested activity – lunch in Nessun Dorma.
Tour suggestion for the Cinque Terre Trail
If this hike sounds like your idea of heaven. But you’d prefer to do it with the assistance of a local guide, then why not consider booking a private Cinque Terre hiking tour? This one is 8 hours long and takes you to the top sights along the Cinque Terre trail network. Places like the Via dell’Amore and the church of Our Lady of Health in Volastra. It’s a family-friendly tour and promises insider tips about the region that you just wouldn’t get if you did it on your own!
Where to buy the Cinque Terre Card –
To do the Cinque Terre Trail, you will first need to purchase a Cinque Terre Card. You can buy it online, at all railway stations in the Cinque Terre’s villages, at the ticket booth at the beginning of every section of the trail or, at a tourist information center (these are typically located within the train stations)
For the hiking card alone, it costs €7.50 per adult. While, for the hiking and train card it costs €16 per adult. This is what we recommend buying as it means all your train travel for the day will be covered with this card. Which is very useful if you decide you’ve had enough of hiking halfway.
Lunch – With a view in Nessun Dorma, Manarola
If you walked the section of the Cinque Terre trail from Riomaggiore to Manarola. I recommend doing this if you’re not an avid hiker (like me) because this section of trail is paved, then you’ll make it to Manarola in time for lunch at the famed Nessun Dorma. But, even if you took on a more difficult section of the trail and finished in another Cinque Terre village, I still recommend hopping on the train to Manarola for a super-memorable lunch.
Possibly the best view from a restaurant you will find in the entire world. Nessun Dorma is perched high on a cliff overlooking the town of Manarola. Serving only antipasto platters and salads (no pizza or pasta here I’m afraid). Nessun Dorma is insanely popular, they don’t take bookings.
Advance bookings are only for large groups. You will have to queue for a table and its first come first served. We recommend getting here as soon as it opens. Or at ‘off-peak’ times like 3 or 4pm.
It’s very reasonably priced considering its view they could charge a lot more. But then again, they specialize in simple dishes like bruschetta and meat platters, so this keeps the menu cost down. Expect to pay €25 each for lunch for two, including a drink.
Evening – Dinner in Vernazza
For dinner this evening, we recommend making your way to Il Gambero Rosso in Vernazza. Grab a seat on their sea-facing terrace and enjoy one of their famous dishes – seafood pasta or grilled fish.
Afterward, be sure to take a walk down to the pier in Vernazza – just in time for sunset. A good shout is to get gelato from one of the many gelato shops in the village and enjoy it on the pier wall.
Day 3 – Boat Tour, Enjoy the Beach in Monterosso, Dinner in Monterosso
Morning – Boat Tour
If you want to see the gorgeous Cinque Terre from the water, then why not go on a boat tour? Taking a group boat tour on one of the ‘gozzo’ or small fishing boats of the Cinque Terre is an experience not to be missed. Catch some fish Cinque Terre style. Or just sip some beers or champagne on board while admiring the stunning scenery. Your tour will typically take you to secluded beaches and sea caves.
This is the tour we did – it takes place on board a traditional gozzo with a large sundeck. Perfect for sightseeing! The boat passes all 5 of the villages so that you can snap some unique photos. And you’ll even get the chance to go for a swim from the boat. Also included are some local snacks on board and beer and water! Because this is a private tour you can pick your departure time. The tour is two hours long and costs from $221 USD.
Alternatively, enjoy a sunset cruise which includes snacks, aperitivo, and prosecco on board a private boat. It’s the perfect way to end your 3 days in Cinque Terre. By enjoying the best of Cinque Terre by sea. It departs from Monterosso pier at 6 pm and is 3 hours long! And it costs only $160 USD per person!
Afternoon – Beach time in Monterosso
As I said earlier, Monterosso is the only village in the Cinque Terre with a proper beach. The other villages only have rocky outcrops or piers that you can swim off. So, this afternoon, we recommend taking it easy and renting a sunbed or umbrella on the long, pebbled beach here at Monterosso. Make sure to go for a refreshing swim in the clear waters. There is also a small selection of beach bars here.
Related Read: If you’re planning a visit to Lake Garda, you may want to check out my guide on what to do in Lake Garda with kids!
Dinner in Monterosso
For your final night, we recommend a casual (but incredible) dinner at Pastarita in Monterosso old town. The pasta and toppings are displayed buffet-style, and you pick what you want, and they will cook it for you on the spot. It’s so fresh and reasonably priced. You can choose to eat your food inside the small restaurant or get it to takeaway and head to the small beach in the old town and catch the sunset.
Where to Stay in the Cinque Terre
In Monterosso –
We highly recommend Hotel Villa Adriana (one of the largest hotels in the Cinque Terre, and it has an outdoor pool). It is located in the new town of Monterosso. Hotel Baia ia another awesome hotel and it’s on the seafront in the heart of Monterosso, only 100 m from the train station. It offers rooms with air conditioning and TV.
In Manarola –
La Torretta has stylish rooms all with sea views and a hot tub. Acla Apartments are a fantastic self-catering option.
In Vernazza –
Casetta de Vernazza is just 300 meters from Vernazza beach and has a terrace and garden. Lassu Apartment has excellent sea views and also comes with a terrace.
In Riomaggiore –
Allo Marina Affiticamere is in a historic building and was recently renovated, it is located right in the heart of Riomaggiore village. Hotel Due Gemelli is set on a hill overlooking Riomaggiore, it is 700 meters from the center of the village – the views are fantastic!
In Corniglia –
Affiticamere La Terraze has comfortable and homely rooms and is right in Corniglia village. Ostello Corniglia is an affordable hostel option that also has a bar, shared lounge and garden.
Thanks for Reading!
Tell me, what did you think of our 3 days in Cinque Terre itinerary? Is there anything we missed that you think should be included? We’d love to hear your recommendations in the comment section below!
I’ve also written lots more blog posts on Cinque Terre including how to get to the Cinque Terre and planning our wedding in Cinque Terre.
PIN IT for later!
Last Updated on August 11, 2024 by snaphappytravel