This post contains all the practical information you need to know before visiting the Cinque Terre in Italy. This is one of my favorite regions of the world and I’ve now visited 5 times!
YOU WILL LOVE IT! This is clearly the most important thing to know before visiting the Cinque Terre!
It would be difficult not to love the Cinque Terre. It is just one of the most captivating places I’ve ever been. If you enjoy fun/adventure hiking, small colorful villages, wine tasting, beaches, crazy swim spots, seafood and sunsets, pizzas and pastas, and the Italian charm, you will LOVE this area of the world.
The Cinque Terre is so dreamy and people flock here for a reason! I have visited in 2014, 2016, 2023, & 2024, and 2025, and I STILL feel that there is plenty for me to come back to do and see.
How to get to the Cinque Terre By Train
It’s important to know before visiting the Cinque Terre that the best way to get to any of the 5 towns is by train.
If you plan to take a train to the Cinque Terre you are in luck! It is quite easy to find routes that take you to the CT. You’re going to want to familiarize yourself with the names of the towns and stations. Many trains will come through La Spezia and then you can connect to get to the towns of the Cinque Terre. If you take the train to Monterosso you have a lot more options from the major cities, then you can carry on to whichever town you’d like.
From Genoa you can be in the Cinque Terre in about an hour.
From Milan you can be in the Cinque Terre in 3-4 hours, and you can even take a train from Monterosso to Milan that requires no changes.
From Rome you can be in the Cinque Terre in 4-5 hours and can do this usually with one quick connection.
From Florence you can be in the Cinque Terre in 3-5 hours.
From the French Riviera you can be in the Cinque Terre in 3-5 hours from many different towns. In the past we have combined the South of France with our trips to the CT as they are well connected by train.
Booking tickets from outside of town must be done separately. I generally prefer using Rail Europe for train bookings as it is easy to keep all my tickets organized in the app. But for booking tickets within the 5 towns make sure to read my section below about the Cinque Terre Card.
How to get to the Cinque Terre By Car & Important Parking Info
Every once in a while a train just isn’t the right fit for you or your trip. Here is how to get to the CT by car.
It is important to know before visiting the CInque Terre that the towns of the Cinque Terre DO NOT ALLOW VEHICLES.
You will have to be prepared for when, where, and for how long you will park. This isn’t impossible by any means, but the train is far easier. On my trip last summer I flew into Venice and, in the interest of time, the best thing I could do was rent a car. I drove and parked in a parking garage in La Spezia and then spent my time in the CT. I picked up my car again at the end of my 4-day visit and drove back.
Some accommodations in the CT will have parking options for you. You should absolutely ask your hotel, apartment, etc… when booking to see what options they have for you. This can include some parking spaces on the outskirts of town, parking lots, and garages in neighboring towns. Riomaggiore and Monterosso both have small parking lots that I know of.
You should also be prepared for when getting into and closer to the towns, driving can be more difficult. Roads are narrow and winding and you need to be a confident driver. If you’re not, I highly recommend parking in neighboring towns of Levanto or La Spezia instead.
Lastly, you can also hire a car to bring you to the Cinque Terre, but it comes with a cost. When we traveled with a large group it was worth it, but you’d have to weigh your options as a smaller group or couple.
Pro tip: if you do drive, or road trip anywhere in Italy for that matter, stop at the Auto Grill! They have the best crudo sandwich, all sandwiches and paninis, coffee, and all your road side treats!
What are the 5 towns of the Cinque Terre & Reasons to Stay in Each
It’s shocking to me how many people don’t know before visiting the Cinque Terre that there are 5 separate villages that are all unique. It also surprises me how many people try to do in one day. One thing I strongly advise you to know before visiting the Cinque Terre is that you should take your time.
Now that you know how to get there, it’s important to know a bit about the 5 towns and decide which one (if any) you want to stay in/spend time in. If you can afford it, I genuinely believe that staying in the towns is a MUST. I just don’t believe you can get the full magical experience of these villages when coming in for the day. The best times to be in these villages are mornings & evenings after the day crowds have gone.
Monterosso al Mare is the largest town and you should know before visiting the Cinque Terre that it is the only town with a “proper beach”. Although you can find swimming spots in all of the towns, you will only find long sandy/rocky beaches in Monterosso. There is an “old town” and “new town” area of Monterosso and a really nice walk connecting the two. This town has a lot to offer, many accommodation choices, restaurants, wineries, vineyards, bars, cafes, etc….
Why should you stay here : You should stay in Monterosso if you like sandy beaches, if you like having an umbrella & chair on the beach, if you like a little more space, and if you’re traveling with a group. I do believe that if you have any sort of mobility issues, this town is your best bet. You can access food, hotels, beaches, and restaurants with minimal effort.
I have now stayed in Monterosso 4 times for varying reasons and I have written a post about the best things to do here —> “Mini Guide to Monterosso Al Mare”
Vernazza is SUCH a charming town and has arguably the most beautiful marina. This town is one of the most beautiful Italian villages and has a lot of offer. Although a bit more crowded, this town is quite delightful. It has a very small beach, but also lots of rocky areas in which you can jump in to swim and cool off. There are so many incredible viewpoints in and above this town, and there are great restaurants, bars, cafes, etc… to be found here.
Why you should stay here : You should stay in Vernazza for the beautiful views of both the town and the sea, and the quiet in the mornings and evenings. You can find a lot of sweet boutique stays and airbnb or vacation rentals here and feel like a local.
Corniglia is the only town that is not situated right on the sea. This is very important to know before visiting the Cinque Terre. Many people will list this is a negative, but I see all the positives. The town has all the charm of the other towns, but it is so much quieter and more local feeling in the early mornings and evenings. It is worth noting that you have to go up almost 400 stairs(!) to get up to the town from the train station, however there is also an option to take a shuttle bus. Don’t rule this town out, it is really something special.
Why you should stay here : You should stay here for the quiet around the day tripper times. The town really feels like you are a local, especially in the evenings. There are so many stunning viewpoints from being up so high. The effort to get to and stay in this town is so worth it.
I also have a post about Corniglia and you can find it here —–> “What It’s Like to Stay in Corniglia”.
Manarola is quite possibly the village you’ve seen images of online. The way the houses are stacked on the cliff side is one of the most epic scenes of the Cinque Terre. This town is full of hidden charm as well, sneaky little swimming corners, beautiful views, and all the same wonderful restaurants, bars, cafes, etc… as the other towns.
Why you should stay here : Again, all of these towns are quite special outside of the “day trip” hours. The views from within Manarola are some of my favorite in the whole Cinque Terre. It would be really charming to watch sunset here and wake up and go for a swim before the crowds. There are some lovely bnb and apartment rentals here.
Riomaggiore is the town everyone flocks to for sunset. Again it is just such a beautiful, charming, colorful village.
Why you should stay here : Again, for the charm of mornings and evenings. For the views of the incredibly beautiful houses stacked up, for the sunsets in the evening with a slice of pizza. I have seen so many stunning bnb and apartment rentals in this town as well. To me this town has a bit more of a local feel than the other towns, especially up above the main areas.
We stayed in Riomaggiore on our last trip and if you’re looking for more information on why it makes a great base you can check out my post here —-> Riomaggiore as a base for Cinque Terre
Book End Towns of La Spezia & Levanto
Both of these towns are going to be important to know before visiting the Cinque Terre.
The towns that I call the “book ends” of the Cinque Terre are La Spezia and Levanto. La Spezia can be considered a bit more “important” as it is a transportation hub for connecting to the Cinque Terre. Both of these towns are also included along the Cinque Terre Card train line, so if you buy the pass for the day or multiple days, it includes transport to/from these towns.
Pros & Cons of staying in these towns:
Pros: These towns can provide cheaper accommodation. These towns can provide a more diverse array of accommodation. These towns allow cars and have parking. These towns can still be very nice and quite charming. You can also do hikes from each of these towns. These towns are included in the Cinque Terre Card train line pass.
Cons: They are not considered the actual villages of the Cinque Terre and they do slightly lack some of the charm of the villages. You will be a “day tripper” of sorts so you may not get to see the towns at their best times (early & later). You will have to be far more dependent on train schedules, especially if you plan to stay and have dinner in any of the towns to make sure you got home.
$$$ Costs of Traveling to the Cinque Terre $$$
One of the top things everyone wants to know before visiting the Cinque Terre… how much does it cost?
Unfortunately, I cannot figure out any way in which I could pretend the CT is a budget destination. It simply isn’t. There are some ways you can pull it off at a more affordable cost for sure, but I think of it kind of like an island vacay. The towns are “hard to get to”, there are no vehicles, and the landscape is steep. It is hard for people to get goods & products in, etc… so things are naturally going to cost more. This doesn’t mean it can’t be enjoyed for cheaper, and it is FAR from the most expensive place we’ve been in Italy. Below, I’m going to list some costs to give you an idea. These are costs as of summer 2024.
Accommodation: I would say that in any of the villages, during any of the times of year that you’d want to be there, you’re likely spending a minimum of 100 per night. You can offset this by traveling with others, but there is no other real way to get around it.
Meals: Meals are a bit easier as they do have markets, small shops & bakeries, focaccia, etc. You can grab a simple meal for around 10 euro.
We ate dinner at Michelin starred restaurant “Miky” & the tasting menu there was 89 euro per person, without wine, which is quite reasonable for a Michelin spot.
I would say an average dinner, holding nothing back, with a few courses and drinks per person, we spent 50-60pp.
Beach: In Monterosso for a beach umbrella & two chairs you’re looking at 40 euro per set. However, you can go to free beaches and bring a towel with no problem, there is space for everyone. Any of the “beaches” or swimming spots in the other towns are free.
Pesto class: in Manarola was 80 euro pp at Nessun Dorma. I have also seen a number of pesto classes on airbnb experiences that all look nice at a similar cost.
CT Card: The daily train/hiking pass is about 16.50 pp, if you use a code from your accommodation. If you JUST want to hike and wont use trains, it’s about 7 euro pp.
Without the code, the daily hiking/train pass in peak season can run you up to 32 euro pp, so that’s another reason why staying in town pays off and another important thing to know before visiting the Cinque Terre.
Wine Tastings: Average between 30-50 euro pp for wine & snacks.
Aperitivo: 6-12 euro pp for a drink
The Cinque Terre Card: For Trains & Hiking Between Towns
The Cinque Terre Card is extremely useful when you’re visiting the area. BUT, you have to be smart about how/when you use it. You can buy the card online or at the train stations. I HIGHLY advise checking with your accommodation about a coupon code so that you can get the best rates.
There are two types of passes you can buy: one is for the hiking trails, and the other is for both hiking & trains. When you buy the day pass, you have unlimited use for the day.
One important thing to know before visiting the Cinque Terre: If you buy the hiking pass you may ONLY hike. If you buy the train pass it gives you access to BOTH.
You do not need the hiking pass for all trails, the ones you need it for are specifically laid out when you purchase the card, so check accordingly.
You can buy the pass for 1, 2 or 3 days. But make sure you are going to need it for multiple days in a row because it is consecutive. For example, if you’re going to use the trains Monday and Tuesday but take a break and stay in town on Wednesday, do not buy the 3 day pass. One of the days of our stay we spent the entire day in Monterosso so we didn’t buy the card at all for that day.
You can also book direct trains within the towns if, for example, you are only taking one train trip that day, or if you’re leaving town entirely. It’s always valuable to check the pricing for one round trip ticket vs the CT card for any given day.
Tips for Hiking in the Cinque Terre
First of all my number one tip is HIKE! This is arguably the BEST part of this area! The villages themselves are amazing, but there are adorable villages all over the world. The special thing about this area is the ability to EXPLORE it! So if you are physically able, please, please hike!
The trails between the towns are ALL different and have so many beautiful aspects to them! There are also MANY trails in the Cinque Terre that go beyond just the famous trail through the towns and I def recommend exploring further if you have more time!
Make sure to wear sneakers at a minimum. You can wear hiking boots, but I don’t think they’re 100% necessary, I’ve only ever done it in sneakers. It is illegal to wear open toed shoes of any kind on the trail. The hikes can also be quite strenuous with a lot of stairs so you’ll want to dress for sweating!
Make sure to look in the morning before hiking to see that all trails are open. Trails close at different times for issues like landslides, maintenance, etc…. This is important to know before visiting the Cinque Terre and to stay on top of.
How Crowded Is the Cinque Terre?
This is a super popular destination in Italy and it can 100% get quite crowded, HOWEVER, I absolutely do NOT think you should skip this area for fear of crowds. I DO think that you MUST be prepared. This would be a hard area of the world to visit with no plan. Accommodation can sell out or get very high priced at the last minute, dinners book up, activities get full, etc.
With a plan, you should have no problems. Make those reservations for the things you want to do, book your hotel or bnb in advance, and pack your patience on the trains.
There are many ways to get around the crowds in these towns and you just have to be willing to walk a little further than the average person, in my opinion that is where the magic happens anyway.
If you’re interested in my full list of places to stay in Italy check out my —> FREE guide to my favorite stays in Italy here
If you’re looking for more things to do in the Cinque Terre check out my post here —-> 9 Must do Experiences in the Cinque Terre This is a great list of things to know before visiting the Cinque Terre so you can book in advance.
This post about what to know before visiting the CInque Terre may contain affiliate links. This means that if you click and book through my links I will earn a small commission at NO COST to you. This helps me to keep sharing out this awesome info! I also will FULLY recommend things that I acquire NO commission on and I just think are truly good recs. You will always get the truth from me here I would never recommend something I didn’t love.