Cinque Terre: Postcard Views, Pasta Carbs, and… Lots of Stairs

Ever since social media blew up with photos of cliff-hugging, candy-colored villages, Cinque Terre has turned into everyone’s summer crush. Tourists flock here year-round (especially in summer) to gawp at the rugged Ligurian coastline and five ridiculously photogenic villages clinging to the cliffs above the sea.

Those five villages? Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, and Riomaggiore. Each one brings stunning architecture, jaw-dropping views, and hiking trails with panoramas that make your phone beg for more storage. Over centuries, locals carved terraces into the steep slopes to grow grapes and olives—right up to cliff edges overlooking the Mediterranean. Add medieval fortresses, plentiful vines, and an outrageous color palette and you’ve got the perfect “I’m never leaving” holiday mood.

Cinque Terre is also famous for seafood and its local wines (hello, Sciacchetrà). The whole area is a UNESCO World Heritage site—because of course it is.

How to get to Cinque Terre

Where is it? Liguria’s coastal region, Italy. Choose your fighter:

• By train (easiest): From Milan, Florence, Pisa, or Rome, head to La Spezia or Levanto, then hop on the local train that stops at all five villages. Zero parking drama, 100% views.
• By car: You can drive via the A12 to La Spezia or Levanto, but parking in the villages is basically a myth. Park in La Spezia/Levanto and switch to the local train for village hopping.
• By boat (April–October): Ferries run between La Spezia and the villages, plus Portovenere and Lerici. Arrive like a movie star, wind in hair optional.

Where to Stay in Cinque Terre

Many people base in La Spezia and day-trip in—because village accommodation gets pricey in summer and there isn’t much of it. If you want to stay in the villages (we did!), book early, especially for summer.

• The 5 villages: Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza, Monterosso.
• Manarola wins Most Photogenic—but it’s also Stairmaster Level: Expert.
• Monterosso is most convenient for families/large suitcases (flatter terrain).
• Vernazza is a strong second for convenience: it has an elevator at the train station and a porter service (angels, truly).

Our Stay (Manarola)

After scrolling through a thousand photos, I chose Manarola—the internet’s favorite picturesque child. It’s also the smallest and, with all those elevated streets and stairs, an upper-body workout disguised as a village. Manarola station has only stairs, so the suitcase struggle is real the moment you step off the train.

We booked “Le Storie Di Manarola” via booking.com, up in the upper area for that sea view. Mid-suitcase-slog, I regretted everything—then discovered our room was on the second level (more stairs 😰). But once we settled in, no regrets. Small but well-equipped, even down to drying clips (so thoughtful!) and a great shower. The owner was super responsive with detailed arrival + key instructions, plus free cold drinks and snacks—instant love.

How to get around within the 5 Villages

The villages are stitched together by the Cinque Terre Express (plus some regional trains). In summer, trains run every 15–30 minutes, then hourly after 7 pm.

• Daily train ticket: €16 (great for one-day village hopping; no constant queueing at machines).
• Single trips within the 5 villages (La Spezia ↔ Levanto): €4 each way.

Tickets: Buy at self-service machines in stations (expect queues mid-day). When a Monterosso machine died on us, we found another on the platform—so check around.
Hiking? You’ll need the Cinque Terre Card (details at the tourist info centers in stations across the 5 villages and La Spezia).
Boat service: €30 daily ticket, but boats stop after 7 pm (check the timetable).

La Spezia: Our Launchpad (and a Tiny Misadventure)

La Spezia sits on the Liguria–Tuscany border, perfectly placed for day trips to Cinque Terre, Pisa, and Florence. We drove from Pisa to La Spezia to return our Hertz car and continue by train to Manarola. The office was closed, so we parked out front and dropped the keys in the box. Easy.

Then I misread Google Maps: what I thought was the train station was actually a bus station. Taxis? None. Taxi app? Nope. Solution: found a bus stop to the real station (bought tickets at a tobacco shop—which sells bus tickets, FYI).

Trains from La Spezia → Manarola run frequently all year; 11 minutes with one stop at Riomaggiore, departing every 15–30 minutes until 8 pm. We couldn’t spot a platform monitor and the tourist info line was long, so I used the Trenitalia app—lifesaver—to see which platform our train would roll in on.

Manarola: The Heart-Stealer

Manarola might just be the most charming of the five. Think colorful houses stacked on a hill, narrow alleys, stairways, and a pretty harbor. It’s also home to the Via dell’Amore (Lover’s Lane), the cliff-side path that connects to Riomaggiore.

The legendary colors? Said to date back to the 16th century when fishermen needed to spot their homes from the sea. Today we call it “aesthetic,” they called it “practical.”

We arrived late afternoon for a 2-night stay. Summer bonus: long daylight—plenty of time to explore before sunset.

Things to do in Manarola

Visit Church of San Lorenzo (14th century) and marvel at the  pretty rose window and notable art.

Explore town: cafés, restaurants, shops, and the best alleyway glow for photos.

Hike Cinque Terre
The trails are well-marked with spectacular views. Sadly, the inter-village hiking track was closed due to landslides during our visit.

Swim in the sea
There’s a rocky swimming hole with installed stairs for easy access. I took a morning dip—refreshing, and surprisingly not too cold in late June. In the afternoon you will find braver souls jumping off rocks for adrenaline (and photos).

Dine in or enjoy late afternoon in Nessun Dorma: iconic terrace wine bar with spectacular views and local wines.

Take the Boat tour and see the coastline + neighboring towns from the water—10/10 recommend.

Eat the region: seafood and pesto are the headliners. We had a lovely dinner at Marina Piccola near the port after dark and refueled all the calories lost on the stairs. Everyone = happy ❤️

After sunset, day-trippers vanish, the village goes peaceful, and we rolled back to the apartment with happy tummies.

Riomaggiore: Big Energy, Big Convenience

Riomaggiore was our second village and it’s the largest—with more accommodation options. Airbnbs are only available here. There’s even a luggage service (we saw a car ferrying suitcases) and a shuttle up to the church/top of the village.

Accessibility level: considerate.

What to do in Riomaggiore

Visit the Castle (13th century): climb for panoramic sea + town views.

Walk along the Marina: colorful boats + pretty harbor = postcard material.

Explore town: narrow streets, bright façades, cafés, and gelato stops galore.

Swim at their small beach, crystal-clear water, excellent lazy-afternoon vibes.

Hike Cinque Terre: great starting point with well-marked trails and coast views. Again, the inter-village track was closed due to landslides when we visited.

Visit Church of San Giovanni Battista (14th century) and marvel at the stained glass and notable art.

Eat the Local cuisine: seafood + pesto (yes, again—no one’s complaining).

Monterosso: Flat, Family-Friendly, and Beachy

Monterosso is probably the most touristy and the only village with a proper flat area. If stairs make you cry, stay here. It’s also the most family-friendly with more accommodations and more restaurants.

What to do in Monterosso

Enjoy a Beach time
Monterosso has a long sandy beach split into Old Town and Fegina. Stella Marina Beach Club (since the early 80s, founded by Bruno & Adriano and their Dutch wives Wilma & Catharina) has umbrellas + loungers (paid, reserve in summer). They have a Changing room, cold shower, and hot shower for a fee—actually super convenient.

My family swam while I regretted not packing my wet suit. Lesson learned.Explore Old Town: narrow lanes, colorful buildings, shops, cafés.

Hike Cinque Terre: Monterosso is a classic starting point. The full inter-village trail was closed due to landslides during our trip, but Monterosso–Vernazza was open and takes about 2 hours.

Church of San Giovanni Battista: famous black-and-white stripes and beautiful interior art.

Taste the region: seafood, pesto, focaccia—your holy trinity.Capuchin Monastery: peaceful hilltop garden + stunning views.

Nightlife: bars and clubs buzzing late into the night.

Vernazza: Beauty with Bonus Elevators (Be Still, My Luggage)

I rank Vernazza as the second most beautiful (after Manarola). Totally subjective—but hear me out:

• Left-luggage service ✅
• Baggage/porter service ✅
• Elevator in the train station ✅ OMG.

Vernazza has more flat areas than Manarola, making it family-friendly and a superb place to stay if you want the authentic village vibe without a never-ending stair saga.

What to do in Vernazza

Visit the Doria Castle:
The castle, built in the 15th century, is perched on a cliff overlooking the sea. Climb up to the top of the castle for spectacular views of the town and the sea.

Stroll around the harbor:
Vernazza’s harbor is one of the most picturesque in the region. Take a walk around the harbor, take some photos and enjoy the views.

Swim in the sea:
Vernazza has a small beach, perfect for swimming and sunbathing. If you’re feeling adventurous, you can also jump off the rocks into the sea.

Hike the Cinque Terre:
Vernazza is a great starting point for hiking the Cinque Terre. The trails are well-marked and offer stunning views of the coastline. Sadly, the hiking track which connected the 5 villages were still closed to the landslides when we were there. However Monterosso – Vernazza track was open and took around 2 hours to complete.

Try the local cuisine:
Vernazza is known for its delicious seafood and pesto. Try some of the local dishes in one of the many restaurants in town.

Visit the Church of Santa Margherita di Antiochia:
This church, built in the 13th century, is located in the center of town. It features a beautiful rose window and some impressive artwork.

Watch the sunset:
Vernazza has some of the most beautiful sunsets in the region. Head to the harbor or the castle to watch the sun go down over the sea.

Final Thoughts (and a Tiny Regret)

We only managed to explore three villages in one day, which—honestly—was a stretch. We skipped Corniglia due to time, and I wished we’d had one more day. If you can, don’t do Cinque Terre as a frantic day trip. Stay a few nights in one of the villages and give yourself at least two full days to soak in the views, swim, sip, and stroll.

Cinque Terre is worth the hype—and yes, the stairs too.