Things to do in Cinque Terre

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Cinque Terre

Cinque Terre is located on the Riviera Ligure and consists of five fishing villages built on cliffs: Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, and Riomaggiore. Travel between the villages is mainly by coastal railway, ferry, and hiking trails, which has helped preserve the old appearance of the fishing villages: red, yellow, orange, and pink houses are stacked layer by layer along the steep slopes, extending all the way to the rocks by the sea. Each of the five villages has its own highlights: Monterosso al Mare is nestled in a bay and features a rare, expansive sandy beach in this area, perfect for swimming; Vernazza embraces a natural small harbor, and looking down from the Ruins of Doria Tower on the heights behind the village, the entire bay is in full view; Corniglia is the only village of the five that is not directly on the sea, sitting alone on a cliff top about 100m high; the colorful houses of Manarola are embedded in dark rocks, and at dusk, the village and the sea in the same frame make for a classic photo opportunity; Riomaggiore is located at the southern end of the five villages, with its main street sloping down to a harbor filled with small boats. The hillsides also hide another aspect of this coastline: over hundreds of years, ancestors built extensive dry-stone walls on the steep slopes and created layers of terraces to grow grapes, turning the cliffs into arable land. The sweet wine Sciacchetrà, made from air-dried grapes, is produced in small quantities and is a representative local sweet wine; paired with Monterosso al Mare anchovies, Genoese-style pesto, and focaccia, it makes for an authentic Ligurian seafood meal. The classic coastal hiking route connecting the villages offers an overlook of the entire colorful coastline from above the cliffs.

Selected for Best Things to Do in Liguria

Riomaggiore

Riomaggiore is an iconic village at the southern end ofCinque Terre. The town is nestled between the mountains and the sea, with colorful, well-arranged houses cascading down the steep cliffs on both sides, complemented by the surging sea to create a distinctive Mediterranean fishing village character. The village has hilly terrain, with quaint streets winding along the hillside, connecting the castle on the slope to the small pier by the coast. Fishing boats come and go by the sea, and the cliffs embrace the blue water, showcasing a rich coastal atmosphere. Climb to the high points on the hillside for a panoramic view of the town's colorful rooftops and the sea meeting the sky. The Via dell' Amore connecting neighboring villages is built along the cliffs as a coastal trail. Strolling here, with cliffs and rocks on one side and the vast ocean on the other, the unique view of the mountains and sea offers a rich natural experience.

Monterosso al Mare

Monterosso al Mare is the northernmost and one of the oldest villages in Cinque Terre. It can be reached by train or self-drive from the direction of Genoa, and it is also a town with a beach. The town is divided into two parts, new and old: the new area of Fegina and the old town of Monterosso, which are connected by an underground tunnel. The new area of Monterosso features a beach in Cinque Terre—Fegina Beach. A long walking path leading to the tunnel has been built along the beach, and you can see the old fishing village here after passing through the tunnel.

Corniglia

One of the five towns of the Cinque Terre. Corniglia is built on a coastal rock, at a higher altitude in the Cinque Terre; the town's colourful four-storey buildings contrast with the grey and black of the rock, adding a lot of flair to the town's dramatic location. Fieski, the town's main street, is lined with charming homes and shops.

Church of St. Margaret of Antioch

Manarola

Manarola is located in the province of La Spezia in the Liguria region of Italy and is one of the most iconic coastal settlements in the "Cinque Terre." The town is built between the mountains and the sea, extending along steep cliffs toward the Mediterranean. Its buildings are densely stacked, with brightly colored houses creating a rich, layered view under the sunlight. The terrain is notably uneven, with narrow alleys and stepped pathways running through the entire settlement, integrating it seamlessly with the surrounding natural mountainside. The area surrounding Manarola is filled with terraced vineyards and olive groves. These man-made terraces spread out in layers along the hillsides, forming the foundation of local traditional agriculture and shaping a unique relationship between the people and the land. The town has a long history and has long relied on fishing and winemaking for its livelihood, with its traditional sweet wine being particularly well-known and distinctive.

Manarola viewpoint

Ruins of Doria Tower

Statua del Gigante

Castello di Riomaggiore