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Cinque Terre is one of the most picturesque regions in Italy. These steep, colorful fishing villages perched on seaside cliffs of the Italian Riviera will take your breath away!
There are 5 towns of Cinque Terre: Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, and Riomaggiore. Here you’ll find my recommendations for all five towns, plus the unofficial “sixth town” of Portovenere, Italy.
I’ve been visiting Italy extensively for decades, but it took awhile before I actually made it to Cinque Terre.
Still, it was absolutely worth the wait! It’s truly one of the most beautiful places in Italy.
Although these towns were once quiet fishing villages, Cinque Terre has become a popular tourist destination in Italy with more than three million visitors per year. That is bonkers when you consider that the villages have a population of 3,500 people total!
Rainbow-hued buildings, amazing sea views, scenic hiking trails, wine from local vineyards, fresh seafood, and glittering blue water are just some of the highlights of visiting Cinque Terre. They are quite deservedly a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
This area is an immensely popular destination for day trippers, but the best way to experience Cinque Terre is to base yourself somewhere along the coast and spend a few days exploring the region.
A lot of people assume that Cinque Terre is a monolith — but that’s not true. Each town has a VERY strong personality, making it distinct from its neighbors.
So what is there to do in each of the Cinque Terre villages? I can’t wait to show you the best of these charming little towns.
This post was published in September 2024 and was co-written by Adventurous Kate and Dale Peterson.
Monterosso al Mare
Monterosso al Mare is the largest of the Cinque Terre towns, and where you should go if you’re looking to lounge on the beach.
I find that lots of travelers assume that Cinque Terre is a beach destination, but this isn’t the truth — most of the “beaches” are a teeny-tiny swath of sand in a small harbor, filled with fishing boats, like Vermazza, or nothing but a cement ramp leading into the sea, like in Riomaggiore. Corniglia doesn’t even have waterfront access.
But Monterosso al Mare? THAT is your beach destination. This town is home to a…
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