dessert
2 Days in Cinque Terre, Italy – The Complete Travel Guide and Itinerary
Last updated on March 3rd, 2024 at 04:55 am
Cinque Terre – translated to mean Five Lands is among one of Italy’s most picturesque places to visit. Located in the Liguria region and often overlooked (or mistaken for Amalfi), Cinque Terre is made up of five small towns (hence the name) – Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, and Riomaggiore.
Every inch of the villages are postcard worthy – from the brightly colored homes cascading down the cliffs, to the balconies and terraces overlooking the turquoise waters of the Mediterranean, along with the endless amount of hiking trails through the rugged landscape of the National Park. It’s easy to see why Cinque Terre is a frequently visited UNESCO site and the ideal weekend escape in Northern Italy.
Keep in mind that this site contains affiliate links. I may receive a commission for purchases made through these links. However, this does not impact my honest reviews and comparisons. I only make recommendations based on personal experience(s), in order to help you make the best decisions while traveling!
The itinerary below covers a moderately paced 2-day visit to Cinque Terre in 2024 while in transit between Milan and Florence. But first, some general tips and useful information:
How to get to Cinque Terre
Depending on where you’re coming from, there’s a high likelihood that you’ll be traveling into Cinque Terre by train or by car. From Milano Centrale, the journey costs 16€ (one-way) and takes ~3 hours nonstop. On the other hand, cars are generally not allowed in the main villages, so all cars must be parked outside the center. Most parking can be found in the first town of Monterosso. Check out Rome2rio to plan the fastest and cheapest route(s) to get to Cinque Terre.
Day 1: Arriving into Cinque Terre
After arriving in Monterosso which is where our airbnb was, we put our bags down and immediately hopped back on the train to explore the other villages. A one-way ticket costs 5€ or you can pick up a 1 or 2 day Cinque Terre Train Card that gives you unlimited access to all 5 villages for 18.20€ and 33€, respectively.
Enjoy a panoramic lunch in Manarola
We chose to make our first stop in Manarola and headed to Nessun Dorma for lunch. The view from this restaurant is absolutely breathtaking. This is easily one of the most Instagrammable spots in Cinque Terre – which means the wait can be long. Instead of waiting, you can download the app in advance and add yourself to the virtual waitlist which is what we did. The waitlist opens at 11:30 and the restaurant opens at 12!
This will save you a ton of time and ensure that you get seated at one of the tables alongside the water.
Trek your way to a different village
After lunch, we took the train up to the village of Vernazza. This village ended up being my personal favorite due to the size, the energy of the residents, and the dramatic hilly landscapes. Vernazza is the village located directly south of Monterosso and instead of taking the train back to the airbnb, we decided to hike the Vernazza to Monterosso trail.
Starting from the Vernazza train station, you’ll walk straight for 2-3 minutes and make the first right on Via Agostino del Santo. From there, you’ll begin your ascent through these quiet residential streets (pictured below) until you reach the beginning of the trailhead. Since the trail crosses through the national park, there is small fee of 7.50€ to enter which goes towards maintenance of the park and trail. In my opinion, the cost is a small price to pay in exchange for these breathtaking views.
The can be rated as intermediate so make sure to wear sunscreen, bring water, and wear comfortable shoes. Shoes with grip aren’t needed but never hurt!
Try the local fried fish
Seeing as how Cinque Terre is a fishing village, you will probably notice (or smell) a fried fish shop on just about every corner. They serve all types of fish but you must try the calamari or fried anchovies with a squeeze of lemon and salt. Everything is so fresh and it makes for a great afternoon snack!
Wine and dine in Monterosso (part 1)
Did you even go to Italy if you didn’t eat so much pasta that your stomach hurt?
Well if you haven’t done that yet, be sure to stop by Ristorante Il Moretti for all your pasta needs. Liguria is the birthplace of pesto so naturally, you have to try a traditional Trofie al Pesto which is a pesto pasta with potatoes and green beans.
Day 2: Visiting other towns in Cinque Terre
Fall in love with Riomaggiore
Located at the very south of Cinque Terre is Riomaggiore. Compared to the rest of the villages, Riomaggiore seemed to be the most peaceful. Things to do here include dining on one of the many cliffside restaurants, taking photos down at the harbor, and going for a relaxing boat ride. Riomaggiore is also one of the only villages without a proper beach but don’t worry – there is plenty of space to lay a towel down and sunbathe on the rocks.
Be a beach bum
After Riomaggiore, we decided to spend the rest of our time in Monterosso before catching the train to Florence. The only village with a true “beach”, Monterosso is the ideal place to spend a whole day basking in the sun with a gelato in hand. Right as you exit the train station, the beach is straight ahead and there are plenty of restaurants nearby for when you start feeling peckish.
If the beach isn’t your thing, you can also make a left from the train station and head towards the main square. There’s a beautiful church and a ton of local shops and restaurants to pass the time. You can also start the hike to Vernazza (and beyond) from Monterosso. The trailhead starts right at the end of Via Corone, next to the Porto Roca hotel.
Wine and dine in Monterosso (part 2)
To end the evening, we decided to check out L’osteria for dinner. L’osteria is a small seafood restaurant located right underneath the main arch in Monterosso. The restaurant was tastefully decorated in a nautical theme, with old photographs and bottles of wine displayed proudly on the shelves. The ambiance was lively and the service was impeccable. The wine list was also spectacular, featuring wines from all over Italy and other parts of Europe. We decided to go with a local red blend that was produced in Vernazza.
The food menu is simple, featuring typical Italian cuisine with a heavy emphasis on seafood. You can’t go wrong with the local seafood pasta or the ravioli with shrimp and sea bass! Both dishes were extremely fresh and the ravioli was especially unique!
Train to Florence
From Cinque Terre, you can catch a train to practically anywhere else in Italy and/or Europe making it the perfect destination while in transit to your next destination!
If you’ve made it this far, you’ll notice that we skipped one of the villages, Corniglia. Which was mostly due to losing track of time from staying in Manarola for too long. While I didn’t personally make it there, I hear Corniglia is definitely worth a visit and easy to see in under an hour.
Are you planning a trip to Cinque Terre? Let me know in the comments below!
Visiting other parts of Europe?
Check out my other travel guides on Europe here.
Looking for travel inspiration to somewhere else?
Last updated on March 3rd, 2024 at 04:55 am
Cinque Terre – translated to mean Five Lands is among one of Italy’s most picturesque places to visit. Located in the Liguria region and often overlooked (or mistaken for Amalfi), Cinque Terre is made up of five small towns (hence the name) – Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, and Riomaggiore.
Every inch of the villages are postcard worthy – from the brightly colored homes cascading down the cliffs, to the balconies and terraces overlooking the turquoise waters of the Mediterranean, along with the endless amount of hiking trails through the rugged landscape of the National Park. It’s easy to see why Cinque Terre is a frequently visited UNESCO site and the ideal weekend escape in Northern Italy.
Keep in mind that this site contains affiliate links. I may receive a commission for purchases made through these links. However, this does not impact my honest reviews and comparisons. I only make recommendations based on personal experience(s), in order to help you make the best decisions while traveling!
The itinerary below covers a moderately paced 2-day visit to Cinque Terre in 2024 while in transit between Milan and Florence. But first, some general tips and useful information:
How to get to Cinque Terre
Depending on where you’re coming from, there’s a high likelihood that you’ll be traveling into Cinque Terre by train or by car. From Milano Centrale, the journey costs 16€ (one-way) and takes ~3 hours nonstop. On the other hand, cars are generally not allowed in the main villages, so all cars must be parked outside the center. Most parking can be found in the first town of Monterosso. Check out Rome2rio to plan the fastest and cheapest route(s) to get to Cinque Terre.
Day 1: Arriving into Cinque Terre
After arriving in Monterosso which is where our airbnb was, we put our bags down and immediately hopped back on the train to explore the other villages. A one-way ticket costs 5€ or you can pick up a 1 or 2 day Cinque Terre Train Card that gives you unlimited access to all 5 villages for 18.20€ and 33€, respectively.
Enjoy a panoramic lunch in Manarola
We chose to make our first stop in Manarola and headed to Nessun Dorma for lunch. The view from this restaurant is absolutely breathtaking. This is easily one of the most Instagrammable spots in Cinque Terre – which means the wait can be long. Instead of waiting, you can download the app in advance and add yourself to the virtual waitlist which is what we did. The waitlist opens at 11:30 and the restaurant opens at 12!
This will save you a ton of time and ensure that you get seated at one of the tables alongside the water.
Trek your way to a different village
After lunch, we took the train up to the village of Vernazza. This village ended up being my personal favorite due to the size, the energy of the residents, and the dramatic hilly landscapes. Vernazza is the village located directly south of Monterosso and instead of taking the train back to the airbnb, we decided to hike the Vernazza to Monterosso trail.
Starting from the Vernazza train station, you’ll walk straight for 2-3 minutes and make the first right on Via Agostino del Santo. From there, you’ll begin your ascent through these quiet residential streets (pictured below) until you reach the beginning of the trailhead. Since the trail crosses through the national park, there is small fee of 7.50€ to enter which goes towards maintenance of the park and trail. In my opinion, the cost is a small price to pay in exchange for these breathtaking views.
The can be rated as intermediate so make sure to wear sunscreen, bring water, and wear comfortable shoes. Shoes with grip aren’t needed but never hurt!
Try the local fried fish
Seeing as how Cinque Terre is a fishing village, you will probably notice (or smell) a fried fish shop on just about every corner. They serve all types of fish but you must try the calamari or fried anchovies with a squeeze of lemon and salt. Everything is so fresh and it makes for a great afternoon snack!
Wine and dine in Monterosso (part 1)
Did you even go to Italy if you didn’t eat so much pasta that your stomach hurt?
Well if you haven’t done that yet, be sure to stop by Ristorante Il Moretti for all your pasta needs. Liguria is the birthplace of pesto so naturally, you have to try a traditional Trofie al Pesto which is a pesto pasta with potatoes and green beans.
Day 2: Visiting other towns in Cinque Terre
Fall in love with Riomaggiore
Located at the very south of Cinque Terre is Riomaggiore. Compared to the rest of the villages, Riomaggiore seemed to be the most peaceful. Things to do here include dining on one of the many cliffside restaurants, taking photos down at the harbor, and going for a relaxing boat ride. Riomaggiore is also one of the only villages without a proper beach but don’t worry – there is plenty of space to lay a towel down and sunbathe on the rocks.
Be a beach bum
After Riomaggiore, we decided to spend the rest of our time in Monterosso before catching the train to Florence. The only village with a true “beach”, Monterosso is the ideal place to spend a whole day basking in the sun with a gelato in hand. Right as you exit the train station, the beach is straight ahead and there are plenty of restaurants nearby for when you start feeling peckish.
If the beach isn’t your thing, you can also make a left from the train station and head towards the main square. There’s a beautiful church and a ton of local shops and restaurants to pass the time. You can also start the hike to Vernazza (and beyond) from Monterosso. The trailhead starts right at the end of Via Corone, next to the Porto Roca hotel.
Wine and dine in Monterosso (part 2)
To end the evening, we decided to check out L’osteria for dinner. L’osteria is a small seafood restaurant located right underneath the main arch in Monterosso. The restaurant was tastefully decorated in a nautical theme, with old photographs and bottles of wine displayed proudly on the shelves. The ambiance was lively and the service was impeccable. The wine list was also spectacular, featuring wines from all over Italy and other parts of Europe. We decided to go with a local red blend that was produced in Vernazza.
The food menu is simple, featuring typical Italian cuisine with a heavy emphasis on seafood. You can’t go wrong with the local seafood pasta or the ravioli with shrimp and sea bass! Both dishes were extremely fresh and the ravioli was especially unique!
Train to Florence
From Cinque Terre, you can catch a train to practically anywhere else in Italy and/or Europe making it the perfect destination while in transit to your next destination!
If you’ve made it this far, you’ll notice that we skipped one of the villages, Corniglia. Which was mostly due to losing track of time from staying in Manarola for too long. While I didn’t personally make it there, I hear Corniglia is definitely worth a visit and easy to see in under an hour.
Are you planning a trip to Cinque Terre? Let me know in the comments below!
Visiting other parts of Europe?
Check out my other travel guides on Europe here.
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