A Day in Italy’s Cinque Terre: Hiking, Eating, and Exploring

Without a doubt, Italy’s Cinque Terre region is one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever visited.

Cinque Terre, which translates to “five lands,” includes the towns of Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, and Riomaggiore. These five towns are famous for their colorful buildings tucked into the dramatic rocky cliffs along the northwest coast of Italy.

The five coastal villages are connected by hiking trails and train lines that run through the Cinque Terre National Park. In addition to being protected as an Italian national park, Cinque Terre is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

I found Cinque Terre to be awe-inspiring. The colorful towns appear especially striking against the enormous gray cliffs and the bright blue-green sea. And on top of all of that, the national park is home to lush vegetation and terraced vineyards, as well as trickling streams. All of this together makes for incredibly unique panoramic views.

In this post, I’ll tell you about the day I spent hiking, eating, and exploring in the Cinque Terre.

Where I Stayed

During my visit to the Cinque Terre region, I stayed at a hostel in La Spezia, called Gran Hostel Manin. I highly recommend the hostel for travelers looking for a budget-friendly option in the area.

I decided to stay in La Spezia rather than the Cinque Terre itself because the main regional train station in the area is located there. Also, it’s a much bigger city than any of the five Cinque Terre towns, so there’s more to do and more places to eat at. Besides, staying in La Spezia proved to be significantly cheaper than staying in the actual Cinque Terre.

Getting to the Cinque Terre

Trains to the Cinque Terre run roughly every fifteen minutes from La Spezia Centrale. And since I knew I’d be spending the entire day in the Cinque Terre, I bought a Cinque Terre Train Card that gave me access to the trains and the hiking trails for the entire day.

Note: The Cinque Terre National Park charges to hike its trails, so even if you’re not planning on taking many trains, it might still be worth it to buy the Cinque Terre Train Card, since it covers the park fee, too.

Visiting Levanto

From La Spezia, I went straight to Levanto, a town on the other side of the Cinque Terre that I wanted to check out since I had bought a day-long train pass. I didn’t spend much time in Levanto, but I enjoyed walking down to the beach and taking in the spectacular views before heading back to the train station.

Hiking From Monterosso to Vernazza

Monterosso was my first stop in the actual Cinque Terre National Park. There, I walked along the beach and made our way to the trail to Vernazza. As I hiked, I felt in awe of the sights around me. It’s rare to see a place where such tall mountains meet the sea, and it’s even rarer to see a place where the forest goes right up to the sea. The combination of sea, forest, and mountains makes for breathtaking views and a deeply comforting atmosphere.

After about two hours—and after climbing and descending tons of stone stairs—I finally made my way to Vernazza. Vernazza is stunning, with its cliffside colorful buildings typical of the Cinque Terre region.

Lunch in Riomaggiore

Craving fried seafood after my long hike, I took the train to Riomaggiore for lunch. I ate at Tutti Fritti, a take out only restaurant that fries seafood to order. I ate piping hot seafood and french fries—chips—across the way on a public bench.

When I finished eating, I explored a bit and took some photos in Riomaggiore.

Gelato and Views in Manarola

After a very late lunch, I decided to squeeze a little more out of the Cinque Terre Train Card before calling it a day.

I went to Manarola, and there got some gelato and enjoyed it up at a lookout point with panoramic views of the iconic town.

So, that’s how I spent my dream of a day in the Cinque Terre. Again, it’s one of the most gorgeous places I’ve ever seen in person.