Five cliffside villages on the Italian Riviera, connected by trains and walking paths
Cinque Terre is five villages — Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, Riomaggiore — strung along an 11-kilometre stretch of Ligurian coast that has no road connecting them. The geography is the point: vineyards on near-vertical slopes, pastel houses stacked above tiny harbours, and the Mediterranean below in shades of blue you'll later assume your camera invented. Two practical realities most first-timers don't know. First: the famous photo (Manarola at sunset, from the rocks across the cove) is the only really iconic Cinque Terre photo, and it's now policed by a queue of tripods every clear evening from May to October. Second: the villages are connected by a slow train (5 minutes between each, every 15–30 minutes) and a walking trail above the cliffs — and the trail is the actual reason to come. The full Sentiero Azzurro coastal path was partially closed by landslides for a decade after 2011 but is now mostly reopened. If you only have one day here, you're missing the point. Stay three nights, walk between villages on day two, take the morning train to a quiet beach in Levanto on day three, and never set foot in a tour bus.
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Book on KlookEach of the five has a distinct character. Monterosso is the largest and the only one with a real beach — best for families and anyone wanting a swim. Vernazza is the most photogenic — a horseshoe harbour beneath a 15th-century watchtower, and the best food scene of the five. Corniglia is the only one not on the water (it sits 100m up, requiring 377 steps from the train station) — the smallest, the quietest, and the favourite of returning visitors. Manarola is the most postcard — the famous Lover's Lane connects it to Riomaggiore (closed since 2012, partial reopening promised). Riomaggiore is the working village — the largest harbour, the most local life, and a good base for the southern path. Avoid the towns of Levanto and La Spezia as bases — they're not part of Cinque Terre and the daily commute eats into the experience.
TravelBuzzy Tips
Vernazza is our default recommendation — the right balance of atmosphere, dining, and access to the trail
Avoid Riomaggiore if you arrive after dark — the steep alleys are unmarked and confusing
The Cinque Terre Card (€7.50 day, €14.50 two-day) covers train + path access — buy at any station
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Items adapt to weather & trip length
$480
per night
Perched on the cliff above Monterosso with the best sea-facing terrace in the region. Family-run since 1959, with rooms that frame the Ligurian sun like paintings.
$230
per night
Five rooms above Vernazza's harbour with private terraces facing the sea. The most coveted small property in the region — book 6 months out.
$175
per night
Right on the harbour in Manarola — the dining room and several rooms have direct rock-and-sea views. Solid mid-range that delivers above its category.
$60
per night
The best budget bed in the region — a small hostel-pension in Corniglia with private rooms, a shared terrace, and the village's quiet evening atmosphere.
*Prices shown are indicative and may vary. TravelBuzzy earns a commission on bookings made through these links, at no extra cost to you. Full disclosure
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