Cinque Terre is a collective name for five colorful villages in Italy. Together these villages and the surrounding nature form the Parco Nazionale delle Cinque Terre or the National Park of Cinque Terre. Each village is equally atmospheric and colorful and has different highlights. Many travelers make a day trip to Cinque Terre during their holiday in Italy. That’s why I show you the ideal route along the most beautiful places of Cinque Terre in one day!
Can you see Cinque Terre in one day?
First of all, of course, the key question: can you see the five villages of Cinque Terre in one day? The good news: you can! If you have the time, however, I would recommend that you spend at least two days in Cinque Terre, so that you can properly visit all five villages and there is also room to eat at your leisure, take one or more walks or for example to do a boat trip. Yet you can also see many of the highlights of Cinque Terre in one day. In this article I tell you exactly how you can see the most beautiful places of Cinque Terre in one day.
Planning for a tour in Cinque Terre in one day
Start at the port of Riomaggiore
Depart as early as possible in the morning and start your day in Riomaggiore. This is the first village of Cinque Terre that you encounter when you travel to Cinque Terre from the side of Pisa or La Spezia. Riomaggiore is easy to reach by train from Florence, Pisa, Milan, Lucca and La Spezia, among others. Check the website of TrenItalia for the current train times and the most convenient route.
Because of the many boats and the colorful buildings in the background, the port of Riomaggiore is especially attractive. For the best view of the colorful harbor of Riomaggiore, I recommend that you clamber over the large boulders along the coast.
Discover the atmospheric center of Riomaggiore
Although many travelers mainly linger in the port of Riomaggiore, I advise you to also take a walk into the village. We walked ourselves through the narrow streets up to the Chiesa di San Giovanni Battista, a beautiful church located on a large square. From the edge of this square you already have a nice view of the city, but it is better to continue a bit further on Via Pecunia. This narrow street gives you the very best view of all of Riomaggiore. Both the view towards the water and towards the mountains is beautiful.
Take the train to Vernazza
Walk back to Riomaggiore station and take the train to Vernazza. On the way you pass the villages of Manarola and Corniglia, which you will see more often later today. The train journey from Riomaggiore to Vernazza takes 15 minutes.
Visit the port of Vernazza
Vernazza is the most popular village of Cinque Terre and according to many travelers it is also the most beautiful village of Cinque Terre. This is also noticeable in the hustle and bustle in the main street and the harbor of the village. So try to get to Vernazza fairly early if you can, to avoid the worst crowds. Despite the crowds, I think the port of Vernazza is highly recommended to visit. There are several colorful boats at anchor and the pastel-colored buildings in the background are a cheerful sight.
Enjoy lunch with great views of Vernazza
Fortunately, you can also enjoy Vernazza in peace. To do this, walk up from the center towards Corniglia. As soon as you go up the stairs here, there are hardly any tourists to be seen. If you walk along this walking path towards Corniglia, at some point you will automatically see a staircase on the right with a sign saying ‘Bar Ristorante La Torre’. From here it is another 30 meters up until you reach restaurant La Torre with one of the most beautiful views of Vernazza. Enjoy a delicious lunch here. The fresh homemade lemonade is also recommended.
Hike from Vernazza to Monterosso al Mare
There is a nice walking path between Vernazza and the next village, Monterosso al Mare. From this path, which runs high through the vineyards, you have the best view of Vernazza in my opinion. To get to this viewpoint, at the square at the port of Vernazza, walk up the narrow stairs to the right of number 26. When you have climbed for a while, you will be on a level with the characteristic yellow tower of the village. Just after this is a checkpoint where you have to show your Cinque Terre Card, more about that later. You then climb further and further into the mountains and see below you the track that connects the different villages. Between the vineyards you already catch a glimpse of the harbor and the higher you climb, the more beautiful the view becomes. This is such a typical picture of Cinque Terre that you should not miss.
From this point you have two options to get to Monterosso al Mare:
- Walk the entire hiking route from Vernazza to Monterosso al Mare. This takes about 2 hours and you mostly walk through vineyards and forests. As a result, there is also sufficient shade on the route.
- Little time or don’t feel like walking the entire route? Then walk back to Vernazza station and take the train to Monteresso al Mare. The train takes 4 minutes.
Discover the ancient village of Monterosso al Mare
When you walk along the hiking trail towards Monterosso al Mare, you first arrive in the older part of Monterosso al Mare. Here it is a lot quieter than in the new part, but at least as beautiful and cozy.
Monterosso station is located in the new part of the village. From here you can easily walk to the old village via a footpath to the coast. The beach here is also significantly quieter than in the newer part.
Of all the villages in Cinque Terre, you will also find the most restaurants, terraces and shops in the center of Monterosso al Mare. Perfect for stocking up on some souvenirs!
Spend the afternoon in Monteresso al Mare
Where the other four villages have a jagged coastal strip with a lot of rocks, you can also relax on the beach in Monterosso. In the old part of Monterosso al Mare you already saw a small beach, but in the newer part you will find an even more beautiful and larger sandy beach. Be sure to admire the Scoglio di Monterosso, a unique rock right on the beach that is often used as a diving board. You have the best view of the Scoglio de Monterosso from the walking path that is located along the beach.
Have you worked up an appetite? Then stroll to Il Bocconcino for some delicious Italian street food. This small business is located in the station of Monteresso al Mare. Here you will find cones with different types of fried fish, but also delicious mozzarella balls. The homemade sauces are also top notch!
Take the boat to Manarola
From Monterosso al Mare you can travel by boat to Manarola. From the water you have a spectacular view of the various villages of Cinque Terre and the green surroundings. In addition to the previously visited village of Vernazza, you can also see Corniglia on the way. This is the fifth village of Cinque Terre. This village is the only one without a harbor and from the station you have to walk up 382 steps to get to the village. Due to the limited time and because this village is a bit more difficult to reach, we only view it from the water in this day trip in Cinque Terre.
The cheapest option to travel by boat from Monterosso al Mare to Manarola is the ferry from Navigazione Golfo dei Poeti. It sometimes differs where the different boats dock, so check the exact timetable in advance on the official website. Also keep in mind that the boats only sail in good weather. This usually means that the first boats will sail again in mid-March and that late October is the last option to explore Cinque Terre by boat.
Prefer not to go by boat? You can also take the train from Monterosso al Mare to Manarola. The train takes 19 minutes.
Walk among the green hills in Manarola
As soon as you arrive in Manarola I advise you to walk all the way up the steep road through the village. You will also come here again at a large church. Just before the church you will find a path up with a sign ‘Volastra Corniglia’, referring to the path towards Corniglia. This hiking trail is also known as Trail 6P and it is a beautiful road between the green vineyards. Unfortunately, you will probably not be able to walk all the way to Corniglia on this day trip, but it is really worth walking at least a small part of this path so that you can enjoy the unique view of Manarola.
Enjoy a sunset dinner with iconic views of Manarola
If you know Cinque Terre from photos, chances are the iconic view of colorful Manarola is featured in these images. There is no better way to end your day trip in Cinque Terre than with a dinner with this beautiful view. Especially around sunset it is really worth it. Walk from the village of Manarola to the harbor. Here you see a walking path along the water that goes up. You will then automatically arrive at restaurant Nessun Dorma. This restaurant not only has the most beautiful view of Cinque Terre, but also the most delicious bruschetta in the entire region and it is also surprisingly affordable. Don’t be put off by the line at the restaurant. It often runs quite smoothly and both the food and the view are really worth it. A perfect way to end your day in Cinque Terre!
What do you need for this one-day trip in Cinque Terre ?
- Cinque Terre Trekking Card (€7.50 for one day*). All hiking trails in Cinque Terre belong to the Parco Nazionale delle Cinque Terre. You need a Cinque Terre Trekking Card to enter these hiking trails. For this day in Cinque Terre you will need it for the hiking trail between Vernazza and Monterosso al Mare and for the two viewpoints in Vernazza. You can buy the Cinque Terre Trekking Card on the spot at the various stations in Cinque Terre or purchase it online.
- Cinque Terre Treno Card (€16 for one day*) or separate train tickets (€4 each*). If you want to use the train a lot, the Cinque Terre Treno Card is a good option. This is a kind of upgrade of the aforementioned Cinque Terre Trekking Card. With the Cinque Terre Treno Card you can make unlimited use of the trains between the different villages of Cinque Terre. This also applies to the entire train route, so you can also visit Levanto and La Spezia for free by train. You can buy the Cinque Terre Card at any station. You can also order the card online via the official website. Please note that you must validate the Cinque Terre Treno Card once before use at the stamp machines on the platform. Single train tickets can be a cheaper option if you don’t often take the train. Keep in mind that you also have to validate each ticket separately at the machines on the platform.
- Boat ticket Monteresso al Mare – Manarola (€11 for one way*). If you choose to travel by boat from Monteresso al Mare to Manarola, you must buy a ticket at the ferry. You can find the exact timetable on the website of the ferry company Navigazione Golfo dei Poeti.
- Good shoes for the hiking trails. For safety reasons, since 2019 there has been an official ban on flip flops on the hiking trails of Cinque Terre. To avoid a fine, wear sneakers or walking shoes during your day trip to Cinque Terre.
*Prices subject to change. These are the prices for 2022.
Overview of the trip in Cinque Terre in one day
Below you will find a brief overview of the ideal planning for Cinque Terre in one day:
- Take the train to Riomaggiore
- Visit the port of Riomaggiore and the atmospheric old town
- Take the train to Vernazza (15 minutes)
- Visit the port of Vernazza and the different viewpoints and enjoy a nice lunch
- Walk to Monterosso al Mare (about two hours) or opt for the train (4 minutes)
- Visit Monterosso al Mare and the only sandy beach in Cinque Terre
- Take the boat to Manarola and enjoy the view of Vernazza and Corniglia (30 minutes) along the way or opt for the train (19 minutes)
- Visit Manarola and enjoy a sunset dinner overlooking the harbor
Organized day trip to Cinque Terre from various Italian cities
It is also possible to book an organized day tour to Cinque Terre from various Italian cities. That way you are sure to see the most important highlights in one day. These are several one-day trips to Cinque Terre:
- Cinque Terre day trip from Florence
- Day trip Cinque Terre from Pisa
- Day trip Cinque Terre from Milan
- Cinque Terre day trip from Lucca
- Day trip Cinque Terre by boat from La Spezia
Most of these day trips combine your visit to Cinque Terre with nearby Portovenere, a colorful port town that is sometimes referred to as the sixth village of Cinque Terre.
