11 Exciting Things To Do In Cinque Terre, Italy

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Cinque Terre is a Northwestern Italian region that offers crystal clear waters, laid-back coastal towns with picturesque, colorful homes, amazing hikes, and great food.

It’s famous for its centuries-old villages that are surrounded by rugged cliffs and sit on steep terraces. The Italian Riviera hugs the coastline, offering tranquil beaches and a historic harbor full of sleepy fishing boats sleep and lively trattorias.

The area is surrounded by vineyards and olive groves and hiking trails with incredible ocean views.

Needless to say, there are many things to do in Cinque Terre that offer a welcome break from the sometimes rushed sightseeing in Rome and other cities in Italy.

Its laid back atmosphere and quaint Cinque Terre village charms offer a romantic setting to those planning an Italy honeymoon.

But what are the best attractions in Cinque Terre and what are the top things to do? This guide will tell you what to add to your itinerary.

Where to Stay in Cinque Terre, Italy

Cinque Terre is a term for a group of 5 coastal towns in northern Italy that are now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. They include (from north to south) Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, and Riomaggiore.

Each town is unique, but when deciding on where to stay it’s hard to go wrong. We stayed in Riomaggiore in an apartment located in the marina, just steps away from the water!

We were booking last minute and reached out to Martha to rent her apartment. It was already booked, but she arranged for us to stay at another Cinque Terre apartment nearby.

Rio, as the locals call it, has everything you need including several restaurants, cafes, shops, a post office, and a laundromat.

Since it is further south, it tends to be less crowded than the more popular towns. Watch out for the B&Bs and hotels saying they are in Cinque Terre but are not actually in the 5 coastal towns.

Getting Around Cinque Terre

It is very easy to get from village to village in Cinque Terre. There is a train that is simple to use and comes regularly, and the fare is usually quite cheap. There are also ferries that go from village to village.

Hiking from town to town is also possible (more on that later), but to do so you need the Cinque Terre card, which is essentially a hiking permit.

This area is not car friendly, but if you do hire a car in Cinque Terre, plan to leave it parked wherever you are staying.

The closest airport is Pisa, which is about 84km from Cinque Terre.

Things to do in Cinque Terre, Italy

Now you know a little bit more about where to stay and how to get around, it’s time to introduce you to the top attractions in Cinque Terre and things to do. Let’s take a look…

1. Go on a boat tour of Cinque Terre

One of the highlights of our 3 week Europe trip was our boat tour of Cinque Terre.

We scheduled a 2.5-hour tour with Daniele, the owner and tour guide at Enjoy Cinque Terre for 60 euros including drinks. We departed on a small boat with three other couples in a small, but sufficient boat from the Manarola marina.

We lay on the bow of the ship as Daniele showed us all five towns and shared the town’s history and customs while keeping us laughing with one-liners and funny stories.

Along the way back, we stopped at two places to swim. This is a perfect time to ask for recommendations or information about the areas since Daniele has lived there all his life.

2. Go to the Beach

I think I was a fish in my last life, so the first thing we had to do after checking in was to head to the beach.

While we were there, we went to four different Cinque Terre beaches that were all very clean with amazingly clear water.

The beach in Riomaggiore is just south of the marina. It is very rocky, but we really enjoyed it.

Monterossa has two different beaches. They are both public beaches where anyone can lay down a towel and enjoy the water.

Private beaches are also present, where for a cost of 20 euros a day or 15 for a half day you can take advantage of a beach umbrella, two beach chairs, and access to showers, changing rooms, and bathrooms.

Vernazza has a sandy beach on the opposite coast of the marina that was created after a catastrophic flood in 2011.

3. Eat gelato

If you have not tried Italian gelato yet, it is denser and sweeter than ice cream, creating a more concentrated flavor that’s hard not to love.

We enjoyed gelato both in Riomaggiore at a small Gelato place in the marina at sunset and in Monterosa at a place right outside the train station on a hot day.

Honestly, I don’t think you can go wrong wherever you choose to get Gelato.

4. Enjoy the food

One of the best things to do in Cinque Terre is to eat. Cinque Terre is full of great seafood and traditional Italian food.

Just walking down the street you will find large cones of fried seafood that make a great snack or small meal. Not only is the seafood fresh, but also pretty cheap.

Our favorite meal was at Il Pirata delle Cinque Terre located in Vernazza.

But Cinque Terre doesn’t just have fresh food, but its own regional cuisine – Ligurian Cuisine. It’s most famous for its pesto, made from locally grown basil, parmesan cheese, olive oil and garlic.

Another regional favourite is fried anchovies. Of course, you can find great pasta dishes and pizza in Cinque Terre too.

5. Do some shopping

Sprinkled throughout all of the towns in Cinque Terre are local shops with all sorts of things to buy.

If you are a fan of truffles, balsamic vinegar, olive oil, wine, or other typical Italian products this is a perfect place to pick a few things up.

I was surprised at the reasonable prices that were half or a quarter of the price I was used to paying in the US. I left with balsamic glaze, truffle salt, and a refillable oil and balsamic vinegar pourer.

Monterossa has the most shops, but Riomaggiore has several as well.

6. Go for a hike

One morning we hiked from Riomaggiore to Manarola, the next town over. The hike took about an hour and it was not easy.

There was a very steep hike up and a very fast descent, but the views made it worth it. Not only do you have a great view of Riomaggiore as you leave the town but also take you past some stunning viewpoints of the Ligurian Sea the entire hike and terraced vineyards along the way.

This is just one of the many hikes available to you in Cinque Terre.

Collectively, the paths that link the five Cinque Terre towns are known as the Sentiero Azzurro or in English, simply the Blue Trail (or Trail 2).

You can hike them all in one day (if you’ve got the stamina for it) but if you only have time for one, I recommend the top-rated hike in Cinque Terre from Monterossa to Vernazza, which will take you around two hours or more.

Regardless of the trail, make sure you take water, a snack, and wear walking shoes.

I also recommend contacting where you are staying to ask them for recommended hikes based on the town you are staying in.

Several outdated websites recommend hiking from Riomaggiore to Manarola saying it is an easy 10-minute hike. The trail they are talking about is actually closed and the hike we took is not for the faint of heart.

If you are going on one of the trails considered part of the Cinque Terre National Park you will need to buy a pass at the entrance or train station.

7. Taste the local White Dessert Wine

No trip to Cinque Terre would be complete without trying the local wines. One of the rarest wines in the region is Sciacchetrà, which is in limited production.

Sciacchetrà is a white dessert wine that has been produced in Cinque Terre since the Middle Ages.

It’s a sweet wine made from Bosco, Vermentino, and Albarola grapes and is very expensive…that’s because it’s expensive to make. It can only be made using manual labour – from the picking and selection of the grapes to the production.

One bottle takes 18 months to make, but it will last 20 years in the bottle.

If you’d like to try this wine but don’t know if you want to fork out for the whole bottle, you can taste it on a wine tour with the local winery, Nessun Dorma!

8. Head over to Levanto

Levanto is a comune in the nearby province of La Spezia. It’s located about 11km north of Cinque Terre and 90 km southeast of Genoa.

The town is nestled on the coast and is the perfect place to visit if you enjoy sitting on the beach and relaxing. The waves are strong enough to do a spot of surfing if that’s your jam!

It also sits at the mouth of a river valley, nestled amongst hills covered with olive groves and pine trees.

Many people come here to hit the hiking trails, which connect to Cinque Terre National Park.

9. Take a Boat tour to Porto Venere Regional Natural Park

Porto Venere Regional Nature Park is just outside Cinque Terre but carries on the stunning natural beauty this region is famous for.

It’s located just 30 minutes away from Riomaggiore by boat, or 70 minutes from Monterosso.

The park is famous for its well-preserved, 19th-century fort which stands proudly on the edge of a rocky peninsula. It is also home to several Portovenere Islands, which have several hidden coves and sea caves waiting to be explored.

Aside from the fort, the area is made up of rugged outcrop and wild terrain, offering a truly natural escape from the liveliness of the villages.

10. Take a day trip to Florence

If the slow-paced, relaxed lifestyle of Cinque Terre is leaving you restless, it wouldn’t be difficult to take a day trip to Florence.

Florence is the Renaissance capital of Italy, well that’s the name we give to it, and is one of the best places to visit in Tuscany because of its beauty.

It’s known for its incredible works of Renaissance and Baroque architecture, basilicas filled with fresco paintings, and some world-class art museums.

It is here that you will find the original Michaelangelo masterpiece, the Statue of David, as well as original works by Leonardo da Vinci and Raphael to name a few.

Be sure to check out the iconic Duomo cathedral and the Ponte Vecchio, shop for leather products in the markets and enjoy the hustle and bustle of the lively piazzas.

11. Embark on a kayak tour from Monterosso

If you’re looking for more active things to do in Cinque Terre that aren’t hiking, then perhaps you’d like to rent a kayak and explore the coastline, or if you’d like a guide to take you around, enjoy a kayak tour.

The kayak tours take you to the charming villages of Cinque Terre by kayaking along the Italian Riviera coastline. You go from Monterosso to Vernazza, whilst passing hidden coves, the beach of Guvano, and the beach of Corniglia. 

If you love staying active but want to give your legs a break, this is the best exercise and experience you can do in Cinque Terre!

Best Time to Visit Cinque Terre

The best time to visit Cinque Terre is in the Spring and Autumn seasons as this is when the weather is at its finest and there are fewer crowds.

April and May can be unpredictable with the weather and it’s common to see some Spring showers, but it usually clears up by the end of May to early June.

July is the peak season in Cinque Terre and is when you will see the most amount of tourists. August and September are also busy because of the school holidays but come late September and early October, you’ll see the beautiful summer weather still lingering but the crowds dispersing.

November until February is considered the low season and has the fewest visitors, but the weather is cold during these months.

Final Thoughts on Things to Do in Cinque Terre

So there you have it, those are the best things to do in Cinque Terre! As you can see, there’s a lot of great activities to do in this picturesque destination.

Cinque Terre is really one of the best places to visit in Italy if you’re looking for sun, history and stunning nature.

We hope this guide helped you plan your trip to Cinque Terre and gave you some inspiration on what to add to your itinerary!

Tours of Cinque Terre

 

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