Five fishing villages are linked by trails, trains and boats, with vineyards on terraced slopes and swimming spots in tiny coves. Spring and early fall are best; summer is crowded.
Good to know
- Buy a Cinque Terre Card for trails and trains; check which paths are open.
- Stay in a village to experience quiet evenings after the day-trippers leave.
- Wear grippy shoes; trails are steep and rocky.
Eat this
Places the planner can use
Mark places as a must or something to skip. The itinerary is built only from this list; ★ marks the destination’s highlights.
Scenic coastal trail through vineyards and olive groves; confirm the path is open.
Ferry between the villages for views of the cliffs from the sea, a break for tired legs.
The most photogenic village, with a tiny harbor and a castle tower.
Fresh anchovies, mussels and fritto misto on a terrace above the harbor as the sun goes down.
Famous vantage point for photographing the colorful houses at dusk.
Sample local white wines and Sciacchetra dessert wine on a terrace with a sea view.
The only proper sandy beach in the Cinque Terre, with umbrellas and loungers to rent on the Fegina shore.
Learn to grind basil, pine nuts and Parmesan with a mortar and pestle, then eat it with trofie pasta.
The southernmost village, with steep lanes and a lovers' path.
Hilltop village reached by 382 steps, quieter and wine-focused.
UNESCO harbor town with a black-and-white church on the rocks.