Cinque Terre in 3 Days - Itinerary & Things to Do

🤩 My reflection

We went to Cinque Terre with our friends and it was one of the best holidays I’ve had in the past years! I had good food, good weather, and great company. Two months before this trip, my husband broke his kneecap and we were at home all the time, which was very unusual for us, and honestly, that period was quite overwhelming. We weren’t even sure if we would be able to make it - but we did. My husband, still on crutches, powered through all the hills and steps and I carried all the bags; so I guess I really meant “in sickness and in health” 🥲 It was an amazing trip. I haven’t seen any terrain or structure quite like Cinque Terre, with the cliffside houses blending into such incredible nature. I truly had an amazing time.

✍🏻 Itinerary

Cinque Terre means “Five Lands” and it's basically a region that consists of 5 different villages. It's famous for its colorful cliffside houses, dramatic coastal views, and hiking trails. Each of the villages is quite small and connected to each other with a train line, so it's possible to even visit all of them in 1 day if you rush (we were able to visit 4 in 1 day). Here are all villages from north to south:

1. Monterosso al Mare

   It's the only village with a sandy, proper beach with sunbeds and umbrellas, and it's quite big. I really enjoyed the sea and swimming itself, and as a Turkish person my standards are quite high. Other than the beach, it felt more like a cute little summer town and didn’t have the Cinque Terre vibe the other towns had.

2. Vernazza

   It's also an amazingly nice Cinque Terre town and quite lively in the center. People were swimming here too and the vibe was quite chill. You can also walk to Monterosso al Mare from here and the views are really nice (we only walked about 1/3 of the way to see Vernazza from the top, and given the heat, I think it was a smart move).

3. Corniglia

   It's really up high and the only village without direct sea access. You have to climb quite a lot of stairs and if you're there in summer like we were, it's not the easiest thing under the burning sun. And yeah, it's a cute town, but honestly not cuter than the others, and I’m still not sure if it was really worth the effort.

4. Manarola

   My second favorite (although it competes with Vernazza). It also has that classic Cinque Terre charm and it's rather calmer than Vernazza. It has many beautiful restaurants, and the views are as amazing as anywhere.

5. Riomaggiore

   One of my favorites and the village we stayed in. It has the full charm of Cinque Terre. You can swim, enjoy restaurants, walk the Lovers’ Lane (Via dell’Amore), and the best part is enjoying the sunset from the rocks near the beach.

Day 1

• Have a morning dip in the village you stay in (we stayed in Riomaggiore)

• Visit 3–4 of the 5 villages (we visited: Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Manarola, Riomaggiore).

• Afternoon: Nessun Dorma Pesto experience Manarola (reservation required) - One of the most famous experiences in Cinque Terre and we honestly had a great time. Basically, you make pesto from fresh ingredients while looking at beautiful views, have a lot of fun, and eat a pretty nice charcuterie board at the end.

• Dinner: Trattoria dal Billy Manarola (reservation required)

Day 2

• Boat tour to chill and swim

• Visit the 1–2 villages left (we visited: Corniglia, since it takes some time and a bit of a walk to reach the village).

• Dinner: Pizzeria Kepris Riomaggiore (no reservation needed) – We actually ate the pizzas on our terrace, because our flat had amazing views of the village.

Day 3

• Swim at Monterosso al Mare beaches

• Dinner: Ristorante La Torre Vernazza (reservation required)

• Dessert: Il Pirata delle 5 Terre Vernazza (no reservation needed) - Cannoli is the famous dessert here, but we got a pistachio croissant and literally fought over it with my husband. It was one of the most delicious things I’ve ever eaten.

📢 Essential tips

Here’s everything you need to plan your 3 days in Cinque Terre, including where to stay and how to get around:

Where to stay in Cinque Terre

It’s a bit up to personal taste and budget, because all of the villages are super nice. Where not to stay is definitely Corniglia, because it’s up on a hill and you have to climb a lot of stairs every time you want to go to your hotel. Other than that, Monterosso al Mare has a bit of a different vibe compared to the other villages, because it’s more like a summer town with proper beaches. Manarola, Vernazza, and Riomaggiore are all very nice. We stayed in Riomaggiore and were extremely happy with our choice. A more budget-friendly alternative is to stay in the nearby city La Spezia, from which the commute is super easy since it’s the main train hub before the villages.

How to get around in Cinque Terre

Contrary to what you might initially think, there are no cars or taxis going between the villages. You either need to walk, take the train, or use water taxis/ferries.

The most popular way of transport is the train, as it’s the most frequent and organized option, but you still need to check the timetables because it’s not that frequent. You get used to waiting, and it can get really crowded during peak hours. Also, it’s not 24/7 - so if you have dinner in a different village, after a certain time there may be no way back to your own village.

Alternatively, you can walk between villages, which is a really nice experience during the daytime (especially early morning before the heat hits), because the views are amazing. But distances vary, some take around 30 minutes, others up to 1.5 hours, so check beforehand.

Walking in the city:

All of the villages are somewhat hilly, and some restaurants are way up at the top. I saw a lot of people struggling with kids, luggage, etc., so just be aware before planning this holiday that it’s a very up-and-down destination.

What to wear:

We visited in summer and it was super, super hot. I tend to get cold quite easily, so it was still good to have a cardigan with me for the evenings. And definitely bring a swimsuit - there are multiple opportunities to swim.

The closest airport:

The closest airport is Pisa Airport, from which you can go to La Spezia and then take the train to Cinque Terre.

Where to go next:

Both Pisa and Portofino are great next stops that you can easily reach from Cinque Terre, usually with just one train transfer.

🔗 All travel links

Accommodation:

Pepita di Rio - You can book here

Tours:

Boat tour with swimming stop - You can book here

📲 Find it on social media!

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