Cinque Terre is a cluster of five picturesque and colorful coastal villages in the Cinque Terre National Park. In 1997, this beautiful area was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. If you’re interested in architecture, the Best Things to See in Cinque Terre are:

• 1. Port of Vernazza
  2. Marina di Riomaggiore
  3. Manarola Marina
  4. Church of Santa Margherita d’Antiochia
  5. Church of San Giovanni Battista (Riomaggiore)
  6. Church of San Francesco and the Capuchin Friars Monastery
  7. Church of San Pietro
  8. Church of San Giovanni Battista (Monterosso al Mare)
  9. Torre Campanaria
  10. Chiesa di San Lorenzo
  11. Castello Doria
  12. Castello di Riomaggiore
  13. L’Oratorio di Sant Maria Assunta
  14. Chapel of Santa Marta
  15. Fegina and the Giant of Villa Pastine

We spent the two weeks in April visiting the sights in Cinque Terre. Based on our experience, we compiled this itinerary of the best things to see.

If you don’t have weeks to explore, you can follow our suggested Cinque Terre Train and Walking Tour and see the best sights in all five villages in less than 6 hours. This estimate allows time to stop for photos and take a peak inside the churches (along with an occasional drink of water). But it does not include tours of the attractions or visits to any museums.

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• Address: Via Visconti, 32, 19018 Vernazza SP, Italy

The best place to see the Port of Vernazza is from the viewpoint near Castello Doria. From here, you can admire the colorful boats floating in the crystal-clear turquoise waters. The charming pastel-colored houses that line the harbor add to the postcard-perfect scene, creating a picturesque backdrop for your visit.

A tunnel under the train tracks separates the lower marina from the upper main street through town.

The narrow streets and small marina can get crowded during the high season. The upper main street is a little wider and can better accommodate the visiting hikers and tourists. Riomaggiore is the best place to watch the sunset from a viewpoint that also captures Cinque Terre’s most famous Instagram pictures.

• Address: 19017 Manarola SP, Italy

aka Chiesa di Vernazza

• Style: Romanesque
• Built: before 1318
• Address: Via G M Pensa, 5, 19018 Vernazza SP, Italy

The Church of San Giovanni Battista is located in the upper part of Riomaggiore.

• Style: originally Romanesque; restoration Gothic and neo-Gothic
• Built: originally 1340; restored 1870 to 1871
• Address: Via Pecunia, 47, 19017 Riomaggiore SP, Italy

The stone-walled façade still includes the original fourteenth-century rose window in white Carrara marble and the two entrances.

The Church of San Francesco and the Capuchin Convent (Convento dei Cappuccini e Chiesa di San Francesco) are located on the hill of San Cristoforo.

• Built: starting 1618
• Address: Salita dei Cappuccini, 20, 19016 Monterosso al mare SP, Italy

The Church of San Pietro is located in the upper part of the village.

• Architect: Matteo and Pietro di Campiglio
• Style: Gothic-Ligurian
• Built: 1334 – 1351
• Address: Via Fieschi, 19, 19018 Corniglia SP, Italy

The Church of San Giovanni Battista is located in the old part of the town, among other historic buildings.

• Style: Genoese Gothic
• Built: 13th and 14th centuries
• Address: Via Roma, 12, 19016 Monterosso al Mare SP, Italy

• Address: Chiesa di San Lorenzo, Piazza Papa Innocenzo IV, 12, 19017 Manarola SP, Italy

• Address: Chiesa di San Lorenzo, Piazza Papa Innocenzo IV, 12, 19017 Manarola SP, Italy

The Doria Castle aka Castle of Vernazza and the tower that stands approximately 70 meters above the sea is the symbol of the town.

• Built: before 13th century
• Address: 19018 Vernazza, SP, Italy

aka Castellazzo di Cerricò

Next to the castle is an overlook with a spectacular view of the Ligurian coast.

• Built: originally 1260; additions 15th and 16th centuries
• Address: 19017 Riomaggiore, Province of La Spezia, Italy

• Built: 16th century
• Address: Via Colombo, 19017 Riomaggiore SP, Italy

• Address: 30 Via Agostino del Santo, 19018 Vernazza, Italy

The ruins of Il Gigante di Villa Pastine are located at the west end of the public sandy beach (Fegina).

• Architect: Arrigo Minerbi
• Year Built: 1910 
• Address: Via Fegina 138, 19016 Monterosso al Mare, Italy

If you’re still on the fence after reading about the 15 best things to see, check out “Is Cinque Terre Worth Visiting.” We review a long list of factors you should consider before reserving a room and booking your flight.

Hiking trails through the Cinque Terre National Park and a train line, Cinque Terre Express, connect the 5 Terre. If you have the time and ability, hiking the Cinque Terre towns is a rigorous but rewarding experience. If you have limited time, traveling by train will allow you to see all the sights in a single day easily. You should consider purchasing the Cinque Terre Card for unlimited train rides for your day trip.

Riomaggiore

• • Marina di Riomaggiore
  • L’Oratorio di Sant Maria Assunta
  • Church of San Giovanni Battista
  • Castello di Riomaggiore

Manarola

• • Manarola Marina
  • Chiesa di San Lorenzo
  • Torre Campanaria

Corniglia

• • Church of San Pietro

Vernazza

• • Port of Vernazza
  • Church of Santa Margherita d’Antiochia
  • Chapel of Santa Marta
  • Castello Doria

Monterosso al Mare

• • Church of San Giovanni Battista
  • Church of San Francesco
  • Fegina and the Giant of Villa Pastine

Following the suggested route will take you past the Best Things to See in Cinque Terre, including many historic churches and marinas.

Our suggested Cinque Terre Walking/Train Tour starts in the southernmost village of Riomaggiore and ends in Monterossa al Mare on the northern end.

Following the suggested route will take you from the train station to Marina di Riomaggiore, L’Oratorio di Sant Maria Assunta, Church of San Giovanni Battista, Castello di Riomaggiore, and back to the train station.

Following the suggested route will take you from the train station to Manarola Marina, Chiesa di San Lorenzo, Torre Campanaria, and back to the train station.

Following the suggested route will take you from the train station to the Church of San Pietro and back to the train station.

Following the suggested route will take you from the train station to Port of Vernazza, Church of Santa Margherita d’Antiochia, Chapel of Santa Marta, Castello Doria, and back to the train station.

Following the suggested route will take you from the train station to the Church of San Giovanni Battista, the Church of San Francesco and the Capuchin Friars Monastery, Fegina and the Giant of Villa Pastine, and back to the train station.

Cinque Terre is famous for its colorful houses attached to the sides of the hills with breathtaking views.

Cinque Terre is known for its stunning views and picturesque villages along the Italian Riviera coastline. Each of the five villages has its own unique charm and beauty, making it difficult to choose just one as the prettiest. Some visitors may prefer the colorful houses of Vernazza or Manarola, while others may find Riomaggiore’s steep cliffs and winding streets the most beautiful. Ultimately, the prettiest part of Cinque Terre depends on individual tastes and preferences.

Cinque Terre is known for its stunning hiking trails with breathtaking views of the Ligurian Sea and picturesque villages. Unfortunately, the famous Via dell’Amore that connects Riomaggiore to Manarola has been closed for many years and is not scheduled to open for several more. Currently, the most beautiful trail is the Blue Trail (Sentiero Azzurro), which connects all five villages and offers panoramic views of the coastline. For more information about these and many other routes, we recommend alltrails.com.

We recommend 2-3 days to see Cinque Terre. This will allow time to explore all the villages, visit a winery to taste the local white wine, have a few enjoyable seafood meals, and take one or two short hikes through the terraced vineyards.

If you have more time, you should enjoy a boat tour to see the coastline and villages from a different perspective. Or, better yet, one of the best ways to experience the beauty of Cinque Terre is through a kayak tour. This active excursion allows you to paddle along the coast, stopping to snorkel and explore Punta Mesco, a picturesque point that juts out into the sea. Kayaking is a fantastic way to immerse yourself in the natural beauty of Cinque Terre while enjoying some physical activity.

The time of the year with good weather and fewer crowds is often referred to as the shoulder season. The shoulder season in Cinque Terre is March, April, May, September, October, and November. For many, this is the best time of the year to visit. Summer is the peak season with August being the highest.

We spent two weeks at the end of April in Cinque Terre. The weather was beautiful, but it was crowded.

We found Cinque Terre to be more expensive than other Italian cities like Venice or Florence. Accommodations are very expensive, and food is very expensive.

We stayed in an Airbnb in Riomaggiore for two weeks, and it was our most expensive Airbnb to date.

Yes, Cinque Terre is extremely safe.

It is not necessary to speak Italian to visit and enjoy Cinque Terre. A large percentage of the locals speak English.

Cinque Terre is located in the Liguria region of Italy in an area called the Italian Riviera. Liguria is bordered on the south by the Liguria Sea which connects to the Mediterranean Sea, on the west by France, on the north by the Piedmont region, and on the east by the Tuscany and Emilia-Romagna regions.

Cinque Terre is one of the most famous tourist destinations in Liguria. The other is Portofino.

Train – The best way to get to Cinque Terre is by train. There are train stations in Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza, Monterosso, and Levanto. The trains continue north to Genoa and south to La Spezia. From there, you can connect to the rest of Europe. To purchase train tickets in advance, we recommend Rail Europe.

Ferry – Frequent ferries run between the villages of Cinque Terre and also connect to Porto Venere (aka Portovenere) and small island destinations.

Car – If you need to get to Cinque Terre by car, a taxi or private transfer is recommended since each village has either limited or no parking. To schedule a taxi or private transfer, we recommend Get Transfer.

If you have your luggage, I recommend taking the trains since they are more luggage friendly. If you stay in Porto Venere, you must take the ferry or taxi. If you take the ferry, I recommend packing light to easily board and disembark the ferry.

Your Cinque Terre packing list should include hiking shoes. The hikes are very steep, and a good pair of hiking shoes are needed. We saw many people trying to hike the trails in flip-flops.

Do you need wifi during your trip and don’t want to pay for roaming? We use eSIMs from Airalo during our travel and highly recommend them. They are cheap, easy to set up, and allow you to leave your primary sim card in your phone (so you don’t loose it). Click below for more info.

Cinque Terre is a collection of villages on the Ligurian Sea in northwestern Italy. It is a 3hr 30min train ride south of Milan, Italy, a 1hr 30min ride east of Genoa, Italy, a 3hr 30min ride north of Rome, Italy, a 60min ride north of Pisa, and a 2hr 30min ride northwest of Florence, Italy.