Having only one day in the Cinque Terre means you’ll only scratch the surface of this stunning region in Italy. The Italian Riviera as the locals call it is one of the most unique parts of the country. It’s here you’ll find the Insta-famous pastel-colored villages, which are built upon steep cliffs!
And it’s one of our favorite places in the world – in fact, we got married in the Cinque Terre in 2019!
And I bet you’re questioning what you can fit into one day in the Cinque Terre. But you’d be surprised at what you can accomplish in a day here! Now, I’m always up for a challenge but I must admit it wasn’t easy squeezing the best attractions in the Cinque Terre into a one-day itinerary. This is why I recommend allowing a minimum of 3 days in the Cinque Terre if possible!
I’ve done the research so you don’t need to! And below you’ll find the best tours and restaurants in the area so that your one day in Cinque Terre will be one that you’ll remember forever!
Is One Day Enough for Cinque Terre?
Surprisingly, you’ll be able to see a lot of Cinque Terre in one day. But you’ll need to be efficient with your time. What’s on your side is that the train connects all 5 villages of the Cinque Terre. So, you’ll be able to see all the villages easily in one day if that’s what you want to do.
In one day in the Cinque Terre, you’ll get to see all the villages and hike some of the Cinque Terre trail. And if you manage your time right, you’ll also be able to squeeze in a sunset boat cruise, too.
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 (called the Via dell’Amore) This is the section we recommend hiking this morning. It actually only re-opened in July 2024 after being closed for updates for several years.
The other sections of the trail are quite hilly especially the section between Monterosso and Corniglia.
There are stunning coastal views everywhere you look, and the whole trail is 11 km long and will take 6 hours to complete. However, as I said, we recommend just doing a section of the trail this morning.
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.
Because you’re going to start the trail in Riomaggiore (the southernmost village in the Cinque Terre) we recommend grabbing breakfast here before you set off on your hike. There are two parts to Riomaggiore – the ‘Pier’ area, which is dotted with a few restaurants and cafes and some great photo opportunities. The main street (Via Colombo) is quite small and cobbled and is lined with Cafes, bars and restaurants. We love Bakery Rosi Roberta Di Baudinelli here and that’s our recommendation for breakfast this morning!
You must buy a Cinque Terre Card before hiking the trail
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.
Related Read: Check out the experiences that are not on most Cinque Terre itineraries here!
Lunch – Nessun Dorma in Manarola
If you walked the section of the Cinque Terre trail from Riomaggiore to Manarola, then you’ll make it to Manarola in time for lunch at the famed Nessun Dorma. FYI, this was one of our favorite lunch spots during our 10 days in Italy itinerary!
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. So, we recommend getting here as soon as it opens.
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.
After lunch, take an hour or so to wander the winding cobbled streets of 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. Some of the best things to do in Manarola include taking in the view from Manarola Cemetery and swimming off the pier into the clear blue ocean!
Afternoon – Explore Vernazza and Corniglia
This afternoon we recommend hopping on the train to Corniglia and Vernazza. It’s super-easy to get between each Cinque Terre village because the train connects all 5 villages. You can buy a train day pass, which you can use as many times as you want in 24 hours, from €19.50.
Vernazza
This is perhaps the busiest of all five villages. Vernazza 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 this village 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
After an hour or more in Vernazza, hop on the train once again to Corniglia. This 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.
Dinner – Monterosso
Head to Monterosso al Mare (or just Monterosso for short) this evening for dinner. It’s 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.
Because this evening’s activity is a sunset cruise with snacks included, we recommend having an early dinner at Pastarita in Monterosso’s 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.
Evening – Sunset Cruise
Seeing as it’s your only evening in the Cinque Terre we’re recommending something super-special for you. Yep, a sunset cruise which includes snacks, aperitifs, and prosecco on board a private boat will be the perfect way to end your day in Cinque Terre. The boat passes all 5 of the villages so that you can snap some unique photos.
The tour is 3-hours long and departs from Monterosso and what we really loved about it is that capacity is capped at just 10 guests – so you’re guaranteed a personalized experience. You can also try snorkeling from the boat and all equipment is provided free of charge.
The tour costs $160 USD per person and you can BOOK IT HERE. It leaves Monterosso pier at 6 pm.
Where to Stay in the Cinque Terre
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.
Manarola –
La Torretta has stylish rooms all with sea views and a hot tub. Acla Apartments are a fantastic self-catering option.
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.
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!
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!
I really hope you approve of my one day in Cinque Terre itinerary, I’ve visited this region heaps and only included my absolute favorite things to do here in the above guide!
Last Updated on August 14, 2024 by snaphappytravel