CINQUE TERRE

As the name suggests, Cinque Terre means the 5 lands, the 5 villages are located on the Mediterranean just south of Genoa.

The ideal is to spend 2 to 3 days there to be able to quietly visit the 5 villages which are Riomaggiore, Manarola,  Corniglia, Vernazza and Monterosso al mare. I did everything in one day, it was a bit too fast.

There are several options, you can sleep in one of the villages for example Vernazza and go back and forth between the villages or stay in La Spezia as a starting point. La Spezia is a maximum of 30 minutes by train from the first Riomaggiore village.

The best way to visit the 5 villages is still by train, if for example you stay in la spezia and you have 2 or 3 days to visit the Cinque Terre, you can visit the first 3 villages on the first day Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, and the other 2 days finish with the villages vernazza and monterosso al mare.

To move between the villages you have the choice between the train or if you have brought your walking shoes there are very well marked paths in red and white with impressive views.

If you opt for the hiking trails there is the option of the path that connects the villages of Corniglia and Vernazza, and in Vernazza take the boat to reach monterrosso al mare for dinner.

The activities at 5 Terre are many and varied, you can go hiking, kayaking, swimming or strolling.

The villages are not accessible by car, the streets are mainly pedestrianized, you can leave your car at the entrance to the villages, or even better, is to leave the car at the hotel and use the train that connects each village, you also have the option of using the boat.

The train ticket costs 4€ for each trip or you can pay 16€ for a ticket valid for all trips between each village, this ticket is really valid if you decide to connect all the villages only by train.

I slept in La Spezia and started my journey by Riomaggiore (where unfortunately everything was closed), towards Monterosso al mare.

The village that I liked the most is Vernazza, especially the access to the beach where you have to pass through a natural tunnel in the rock.

On the beach there is no sand, only rocks, it is advisable to have shoes to get there. The beach is small but it is very pleasant because you are surrounded by rocks. Of course you have to expect to meet a lot of people there.

RIOMAGIORRE

MANOROLA

CORNIGLIA

VERNAZZA

MONTEROSSO AL MARE