3-Day Cinque Terre Itinerary

Colorful villages perch on the edge of rocky cliffs in the heart of Cinque Terre National Park. It is easy to understand why hundreds of thousands of tourists flock here every year to admire the beauty of the Ligurian Coast. If you, too, are planning to visit soon, I have put together this complete 3-day Cinque Terre Itinerary that will help you organize your time.

From choosing the best way to get there to finding the best accommodation and planning your days one by one, here is where you will find it all.

Panoramic views, rocky beaches, wine tasting, beautiful villages, and much more.

Because I loved every moment spent in Cinque Terre, I also want you to have a great experience.

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How to Get to Cinque Terre – the nearest airport to Cinque Terre

Since the villages are remote, flying to Cinque Terre won’t be possible, but you can fly to a city nearby (such as Milan, Pisa, Florence, or Genoa) and take the train.

The best way to travel to Cinque Terre is by train because there are easy connections no matter where you are coming from, and Pisa is the closest airport.

Another option would be renting a car and heading towards the National Park.

PISA TO CINQUE TERRE BY TRAIN

It’s the fastest option, so if you can land in Pisa, go for it! The train ride will take between 1 and 2 hours (depending on the train), with only one change requested.

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FLORENCE TO CINQUE TERRE BY TRAIN

Depending on the connections,, this ride could take 2h15 to 4h, and you could change the train once or even three times.

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MILAN TO CINQUE TERRE BY TRAIN

That’s a roughly 3h30-4h train ride from Milan Central Station to one of the 5 Ligurian cities. You will probably need to change the train at least once (Genoa or Levanto), but the train usually comes in the same line, so there won’t be any trouble.

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GENOA TO CINQUE TERRE BY TRAIN

If you spend a day in Genoa like us, you will have plenty of options to get to Cinque Terre by train, having to pay only around 1h30 on the road.

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Driving to Cinque Terre

Get ready to drive on winding roads along the coastline and search for a parking space. While you might have often heard that the Cinque Terre cannot be reached by car, that is not entirely true.

That being said, you must know that you won’t be able to reach the center of town in most cases, so you would have to leave the car slightly outside of town.

Where possible, parking fees are quite high, ranging between 12 and 25 EUR for a day, with Riomaggiore and Monterosso being the most expensive places to park your car.

If, however, you come here by car and choose to stay overnight, ask your accommodation provider if they also offer free parking, which is included in the price. But that doesn’t mean you won’t have to walk or at least climb some stairs to get to your hotel since the best ones are located in the city center.

Getting to Cinque Terre by Train

As mentioned above, the easiest and fastest way to get to the Cinque Terre is by train.

The Cinque Terre Express connects Livorno to La Spezia and passes through all five famous villages. Don’t expect to see much from the train; when traveling during the peak season, expect crowds.

The villages are only a few minutes apart by train, and most train stations are minutes away from the city center—Corniglia is the exception.

You can buy a daily ticket that allows unlimited train travel until midnight on the same day or even two—or three-day passes. Children and families have special fees, and you can save on the ticket, so ask at the train station.

When to visit Cinque Terre – The Best Time to Visit Cinque Terre

I would avoid visiting the Cinque Terre during summer because that’s when most people go, crowding the streets and when temperatures are at their highest.

Opt instead for the shoulder season and visit during April-May or September-October. We stayed in April, and it was perfect, yet some villages were still too crowded for my taste.

Where to stay in Cinque Terre

While we chose to stay in Riomaggiore and chose an apartment with a view of the sea and the colorful buildings below us, all villages have advantages and stunning accommodation options.

Check out our post about where to stay in Riomaggiore.

Booking.com

Day 1 of your 3-day Cinque Terre Itinerary

Explore Vernazza

When we first took the train from Levanto, everyone asked about Vernazza, so we figured this was one of the most popular towns for travelers to stay in.

Later, when we got here, we discovered a beautiful town indeed with lots of pretty buildings, stranded on the cliffs in the most iconic manner possible, and amazing views that would take your breath away.

All that, with the hectic buzz, owed to the hundreds of people running around the streets.

Admire the Doria Castle Tower, which once protected the village from pirates. Pay a visit to the Church of Santa Margherita d’Antiochia with its tiled dome. Spend some time at the beach or go hiking.

Hike from Vernazza to Corniglia

We chose this hike because it was one of the easiest, more like a walk along the coast, heading to Corniglia – the highest village of the Cinque Terre and the most underrated town. It offers panoramic views in the middle of the National Park that you won’t forget.

The hike was easy. It was on a walking path with some stairs, offering sweeping views. It took us through the clouds all the way to Prevo, the highest and most impressive spot on the Blue Path.

Maybe the less touristic town of the 5, Corniglia, has a unique vibe mainly because of the hundreds of stairs you need to climb from the train station and the fact that the city is inaccessible by sea. However, since Corniglia is placed at the beginning (or end) of the Blue Trail, one of the most popular coastal trails, there are times when the narrow streets might get a bit more crowded than usual.

I felt that this was the most authentic Italian village of the five. Locals sat around in the small Piazzetta, where we stopped for a glass of white wine and delicious focaccia, talking in the local dialect and just making the best of a beautiful April afternoon.

You can have lunch here and taste some authentic dishes with some delicious wine just before you take the stairs to the railway station and make your way to the next stop on your itinerary.

See the sunset and have dinner in Riomaggiore

The Southernmost Village was one of my favorite places to see the sunset. Walk by the small rocky beach and climb on the rocks in the water because you will get the best views. As the sun sets, the colorful buildings become even prettier if possible.

On top of that, in my opinion, Riomaggiore was one of the less crowded villages on the Cinque Terre.

Don’t leave without seeing the Church of San Giovanni Battista or the castle of Riomaggiore or having dinner at one of the 2 restaurants by the sea. One of them has Michelin stars and is almost always crowded.

Day 2 of your 3-day Cinque Terre Itinerary

Start your day in Monterosso al Mare

Unlike the other villages in the Cinque Terre, Monterosso a Mare is not on a hill. It has the largest beach in the Cinque Terre, but don’t expect a sandy beach.

This town is somehow atypical for the Cinque Terre, and you won’t get the iconic views you might in one of the other four, but it is still a beautiful village. Strolling the streets of the old town, within the walls of the ancient fortress, and admiring the colorful buildings can be a perfect way to spend your time in Monterosso.

Shop for souvenirs, stop for lunch, and enjoy a fresh “fritto misto” (deep-fried fish and seafood), or spend a few hours on a kayak tour around the coastline.

Allegedly, the best view of the city is from the beginning of the hiking trail to Vernazza, which starts from the old town of Monterosso.

Evening Aperitivo At Nessun Dorma in Manarola

After relaxing at the beach or exploring Monterosso, hop on the train and travel to Manarola.

Hike the hill through the vineyards and stop for aperitivo at the famous Nessun Dorma. Don’t forget to book a table in advance, since this might be one of the most famous places in Cinque Terre.

Don’t leave Manarola behind without going on a wine-tasting tour. A local sommelier will take you along the vineyards and introduce you to the flavors of the different local wines.

As evening approaches, consider a sunset boat trip from Manarola. You will be joined by a small group, and you will have the chance to admire the stunning landscapes from the boat—my favorite way of touring coastal destinations. See more here!

Day 3 or your 3-day Cinque Terre itinerary

Visit La Spezia

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Skipped by many tourists visiting the Cinque Terre, La Spezia was a pleasant surprise for us. We went there because we had to see the central train station in town and exchange some tickets, but we decided to explore a little since we were there.

The old town city center is typical for a medium-sized Italian town, with a pedestrian area packed with terraces, cafes, gelaterias, and restaurants. Buildings have impressive arcades, and you shouldn’t skip the San Giorgio Castle or the Basilica of Santa Maria Assunta.

Our favorite area was the waterfront, which included the Naval Technical Museum, the Parco Giardini Pubblici, and a port packed with luxury boats.

From there, you can take boats to different parts of the Cinque Terre.

Take the boat to Porto Venere

It’s my all-time favorite destination in the area, although it is not one of the famous five. Porto Vener is a town set in the Cinque Terre National Park.

As colorful as all the others, set on the waterfront, with a small rocky beach and some of the best hotels in the region, Porto Venere deserves a few hours of your time.

We climbed the slopes behind the main buildings to the Doria Castle, snooped around the small souvenir shops, and tasted one of the best ice creams I’ve ever had!

You can also visit Palmaria Island or the islands of Tino and Tinetto from Porto Venere.

That should be enough to fill half of the day after spending the morning exploring La Spezia. Optionally, before coming to Porto Venere, you can also visit the small town of Lerici – see the castle of Lerici and discover a less explored small Ligurian village.

Other activities worth having in Cinque Terre

When in Italy, you cannot miss any activities linked to food. Food is generally delicious, especially in Liguria – with pesto Genovese at its core and focaccia on a second place.

Try a cooking class, learn to make fresh pasta, and impress your friends and family once you return home. See more here!

Go to a local’s home and learn how to make a traditional local dish, including tiramisu, from scratch. See more here!

If you are visiting the Cinque Terre for a special occasion, don’t leave without taking unforgettable pictures that will last a lifetime. Book a professional local photographer who knows all the best photo spots in the Cinque Terre and has the proper technique to immortalize the moment. The photo session is perfectly designed for honeymoons, family trips, engagements, anniversaries, and anything. See more here!

The Best Views in Cinque Terre

If you’ve traveled so far, you shouldn’t leave without taking a few pictures of some of the best views of Cinque Terre.

Whether you are looking for the Instagrammable spots of Cinque Terre or simply passionate about photography, here are the places you shouldn’t miss.

The small harbor in Riomaggiore offers many stunning photography spots. Whether you sit on the stones below the colorful buildings or make your way to the rocks in the water, at sunset, you will be rewarded with one of the best views.

The paved road heading up the hill from the harbor in Manarola will reward you with one of the best views in town. In the same village, as you reach the top of the hill, head towards Nessum Norma – order some of their delicious food with a glass of Aperol Spritz and have your camera ready!

No matter your hike, nature will reward you with breathtaking views. Hike from Vernazza to Corniglia or Manarola to Corniglia, and let yourself be seduced by the beauty of the Cinque Terre National Park.

The beginning of the trail that leads from Vernazza to Corniglia offers the best view of Vernazza.

The Complete 3-Day Cinque Terre Itinerary

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