The Cinque Terre – essential facts & top tips

What are the Cinque Terre?

They are five villages – Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore – strung along a spectacular near-vertical rocky coastline in northwest Italy. This is the Liguria region and we're talking about a mere 12km stretch between the towns of La Spezia and Genoa.

What's so special about the Cinque Terre?

The villages are a photogenic jumble of tiny, medieval tower-like houses perched on rocky terrain, often just a wave's spray from the sea. Flights of steps and steep alleys lead to higher buildings on headlands. Historically, communication was by boat and a network of mule tracks linking inhabitants to their fields. These "fields" are tiny plots, painstakingly terraced over centuries, supported by dry stone walls. Cascading down slopes, they form the breathtaking landscape of Cinque Terre. For walkers, marked routes follow these ancient trails, passing grapevines, olive groves, and vegetable plots.

How do I get to the Cinque Terre?

Getting to the Cinque Terre is easy—just take the train. From the south and Tuscany (via Pisa's international airport), the naval port city of La Spezia is your gateway. From the north, you'll pass through Genoa before reaching the key station of Levanto. Fast trains between Genoa and Pisa skip most Cinque Terre stations, so it's best to catch the local all-stops Cinque Terre Express between Levanto and La Spezia, which runs every half hour from spring to autumn and hourly the rest of the year. Train timetables are available at trenitalia.com.

To travel between the Cinque Terre villages, a good ferry service operates from spring to autumn. Additionally, the Explora bus runs between La Spezia and some villages.

While there are roads to each village, they are narrow, steep, traffic-restricted, and mainly for residents and deliveries. Car parks are limited and expensive. Bottom line: visitors should not plan on arriving by car.

Where accommodation options are available in the Cinque Terre?

The Cinque Terre area is not huge and any one of the villages makes a handy walking base thanks to the excellent train and local bus services. Hotels as such are few and far between due to space restrictions. However there is a wonderful range of accommodation for all pockets. Hostels with shared dormitories and separate rooms can be found in Levanto, Manarola and Porto Venere, otherwise there are countless B&Bs and apartments for rent everywhere. Accommodation is best booked well ahead in high season – namely May and September, as well as Italian public holidays. Camping is not allowed anywhere.

Hint: bring as little as possible as rooms are small and you’ll inevitably have to drag your bags up and down steep flights of steps yourself – lifts are unheard of. Most railway stations have left luggage facilities.

Do I need to book to walk the famous Via dell'Amore?

Booking path access is never necessary however this route (which links Manarola and Riomaggiore) is currently closed as it is being reconstructed after storm damage. The Cinque Terre Park website gives up-to-date info about paths.

Is there a charge to use the paths?

The only route subject to a fee is the Sentiero Verde Azzurro – SVA – which links all five villages. However, at present only two sections are accessible. In any case you can buy a day pass at the ticket booth where the walk starts. The Cinque Terre Park uses the proceeds for path maintenance. Multi-day passes including train travel, WC and local shuttle buses are also available. See the Cinque Terre Park website.

Are all the Cinque Terre walks day routes? Are there any multi-day treks?

While most of the routes in Walking Italy's Cinque Terre are day walks, you can easily put together a superbly rewarding traverse by stringing together six of them. Trek from Levanto all the way over to Porto Venere on the Gulf of La Spezia in 3–4 days. Along the way you stay in a different village each night and get a wonderful idea of the Cinque Terre as a whole.

I've heard it's difficult to carry luggage into the villages. What's the best option?

Carry as little as possible as you'll be the one lugging your bags up and down gravity-defying flights of steps and squeezing along alleyways on the way to your accommodation. Lifts are virtually unheard of. Most railway stations have left luggage facilities so, needs be, you can leave excess stuff there.

What if the path I've chosen is closed?

Choose another one. Under no circumstances should anyone venture onto a path that has been closed by the local authorities.

You are putting your own life and those of the emergency services at risk if you need rescuing. The local authorities take risk very seriously – as should all visitors. In the aftermath of strong storms and heavy rain paths are often closed off – sometimes as a precaution as rockfall and landslides are a constant threat. Fire danger in high summer is another reason. All closures are listed on the Cinque Terre Park website.

Is it OK to walk in sandals?

The terrain is uneven and rocky and you need footwear with good grip and some ankle support. Lightweight walking boots are the best bet, although quality sports shoes will be OK.

Will I need trekking poles?

This depends on knees and individual preferences, but I can personally guarantee that if you take a pair of trekking poles with you to the Cinque Terre you won't regret it. Level terrain is unheard of, gradients tend to be steep and never-ending flights of stone steps appear out of nowhere.

Are there any quiet walking routes?

You bet there are! Several jaw-dropping (and knee-challenging) paths can be found in the southernmost section near the mountain hamlet of Campiglia, including the spectacular stone stepped way down to Monesteroli.