Cinque Terre is becoming one of the hottest Italian destinations and it’s easy to see why. With its colorful and charming buildings, delicious wines, hiking trails, and quaint laid back atmosphere it stole my heart immediately. Cinque Terre is locates in the Italian Riviera and consists of 5 seaside villages: Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza, and Monterosso. The villages and surrounding hillsides are part of the Cinque Terre National Park and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

How to get there?

Cinque Terre is located just east of La Spezia. Easiest way to get there is by train, which stops at each of the five villages. You can book your tickets online or at the La Spezia (or any Italian city origin) train station.

If this is your first stop in Italy, then the closest airport is is in Pisa. However, you are likely going to find better deals into Rome. Skyscanner and Kayak are my favorite search engines to find the best flight deals.

What to Do in Cinque Terre:

1. Eat Pesto & Drink wine on the cliffside at Nessun Dorma

Nessun Dorma is the perfect place to relax with a bottle of wine and look over the town of Manarola. The sunsets are incredible, too! It does get busy and reservations are not required, so do go early if you want to snag a spot along the fence!

2. Hike Between the Five Terres

Hike between all 5 towns on 12km path ranging from easy to moderate. It takes about 5-6 hours to complete without stops, but I recommend taking your time in each village. We stopped for lunch in Corniglia and went for a swim in Vernazza & Monterosso. You will need the Cinque Terre Trekking Card to access all the hiking trails and can get it along with maps at the visitor center in any of the villages. You can also upgrade to the Treno card to also get unlimited train travel between the towns.

The hiking path will take up up the hillside, across, and then back down into the next village. We went in June, so it was VERY hot. Make sure you take plenty of water. The views are worth every ounce of sweat and hard work. You get stunning and dramatic views of the coastline as you walk through olive trees and vineyards.

3. Go Swimming

Whether is lounging on the shelled beach in Monterosso, jumping off the rocks in Manarola, or relaxing in the harbor in Vernazza, Cinque Terre has all your swimming needs! My recommendation: Try them all!

4. Eat Like a Local

Cinque Terre has some of the freshest seafood and an amazing variety of dishes to try it in! There is a take-away pizza eatery in Manarola by the water that you must try. It’s on your left if your facing the water. The name has left me, so if you find it, let me know!

Kalamata olives are another Cinque Terre favorite. With olive trees found on every hillside vineyard, fresh olives and olive oil can be found at any restaurant.

5. Rent a Boat for the Day

There’s no better way to see the colorful villages of Cinque Terre than from the Ligurian Sea. We rented ours from 5 Terre Boat Rentals in Riomaggiore. A small 5 person, un-captained, dingy was 90 euro for a half day (4 hours) and 150 euro for a full day (8-9 hours). Unfortunately, I’ve been unable to access their site from the US, but you may have better luck (www.cinqueterreboatrentals.it). You can also find other boat rentals & tours here.

There you have my top 5 favorite things to do in Cinque Terre! There are an abundance of other activities and places to see in this beautiful National Park. Feel free to comment and share your favorite things to do or see in Cinque Terre!

Five Things You Must Do In Cinque Terre

How to get there?