Cinque Terre is one of the most charming and photogenic places in Italy. The five adorable villages making up Cinque Terre are full of beautiful corners, vibrant colors, and fascinating ocean views. They are considered a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the smallest national park in Italy. Their lively ambiance and sea views make them real gems! Cinque Terre, Portofino, and Genoa are the best parts of the Ligurian Coast and are worth visiting. You can visit them all as day trips, from Milan and Florence. However, you need at least 48 hours to fully experience their unique beauty. In this article, you will find the 6 most Instagrammable photo spots in Cinque Terre, Italy.
Travel Together Gr contains affiliate links. By purchasing through our links, you support us at no additional cost. Thank you for your support ❤︎ Read our full disclosure policy here.
Best photo spots in Cinque Terre – Italy
1-Riomaggiore Beach
Riomaggiore is the first stop of the “La Spezia” train. It will probably be the first village you visit. Getting to Riomaggiore Beach and taking beautiful photos from the rocks is not easy. You have to reach the beach first and then climb the rocks to get to this viewpoint. However, this view is worth your effort! Be well prepared, take your photography gear, and wear comfortable shoes to climb the rocks. Since Cinque Terre is one of the most popular places in Italy, the villages fill up very quickly. Try to reach there before 8 am in peak season (late June to August). Even when we visited it in October, there were tons of tourists at 9 am.
2-Riomaggiore Village
The village of Riomaggiore is one of the most dreamy places to photograph. The characteristic colors of the cliffside houses make them a truly unique spot. Once again, you need to go down to the beach and you will find the famous spots easily. Access is easy, as you do not need to climb the previous rocks. We highly recommend browsing this spot to find the perfect perspective for your photos. You can take close-up photos (photo on the left) or from a distance (photo on the right). In case you want to visit and capture the villages, you should come as early as possible. The alleys are full of people even around 10 am.
3-Vernazza Village
Vernazza Village is an easy-to-find photo spot. You just need to get to the old town, and you will reach the harbor. The church, colorful houses, and fishing boats make a perfect backdrop for romantic photos. As you can imagine, the port is a very busy location. So, if you cannot come early, you should just skip it and go directly to the next spot. You will have the opportunity to enjoy a panoramic view of Vernazza.
4-Vernazza from the top
To get this magnificent panoramic view of Vernazza, you need to start the hike from Vernazza to Monterosso al Mare. It will take you about 15 minutes. Hiking during the day in the hot sun is not much fun. Take your precautions, wear comfy shoes, and try to get there before 9 am. The perfect time to capture it is at sunrise or sunset. This trail is free if you have the Cinque Terre card. Alternatively, you can come early when there is no one to check you. You can purchase the Cinque Terre card online.
5-Manarola Village
Manarola is considered one of the most beautiful villages in Cinque Terre, especially the Promenade of Manarola. This particular photo location offers stunning views of the village and the ocean. It is easy to find it, just by taking the main street that leads you to this unique spot. The Promenade is a very crowded location, especially at sunset, which is the best time to photograph it. That is why we recommend coming at sunrise for the same pastel colors.
6-Monterosso al Mare Beach
If you are looking for the most dreamy beach of Cinque Terre, Monterosso al Mare is the place to be. Needless to say, the beach and the surrounding area are beautiful. Particularly, the beach is a very Instagrammable spot with its signature colorful umbrellas. It is undoubtedly the ideal place to relax and take stunning photos. Lastly, although Monterosso al Mare Beach is long, it is overpacked during the peak summer season.
Tips for beautiful photos in Cinque Terre
The general advice for your photo sessions in Cinque Terre is to come as early as possible and ideally at sunrise. All the above spots look even more magical with pastel colors. For almost all photo spots, you will need a wide-angle lens to capture them. Full-length shots will be perfect. Since all the villages are full of vibrant colors, you will need neutral outfits. If you decide to have bright colored clothes like dresses, shirts, etc, it is better to choose plain clothes. The surrounding area of each photo spot is also outstanding. So, try to include it in the frame by changing the angle. We would also suggest avoiding the sunset photos and trying the sunrises instead. Lastly, we highly recommend walking around, exploring the villages, getting inspired, and your photos will reflect it.
Final Thoughts
We hope you enjoyed this detailed list of the most Instagrammable places in Cinque Terre. Now you are ready to create your beautiful photos. We can assure you that these unique Italian villages will leave you in awe. Your photos will be the most precious souvenir of your trip.
Don’t have time to read the whole article and want to save it for later? Just pin it!
