Cinque Terre is one of the most photogenic destinations in Italy. It is synonymous with the colorful old villages perched on the cliffs and the magnificent coastal views. If you want to get a taste of this colorful Italian paradise but you have limited time, you will find our detailed one day trip itinerary. In this article, we will show you how to visit almost all the postcard villages in just one day.
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Why is Cinque Terre a must-visit place in Italy ?
As we said before, Cinque Terre is a unique Ligurian place that you should not miss from your Italy bucket list. Not only the authentic beauty of the villages, but also the stunning ocean views make it a very special destination. As it is one of the most visited places, we highly recommend visiting it off-season, otherwise be prepared for villages full of crowds ! The months of April and May or September and October are the best to visit special Italian destination. We could call Cinque Terre the “Santorini of Italy”, due to its massive tourism. However, it is worth visiting even as a day trip. The beauty of this Italian gem will leave you in awe.
How to get to Cinque Terre ?
The best and most affordable way to get to and around Cinque Terre is definitely by train. As traffic is hectic and parking spaces are limited, the train is the fastest mode of transport. Be aware that there are a lot of pickpockets, so leaving your car in an unprotected car parking is not a safe option ! You can take the train from La Spezia train station or simply from one village to another. If you are taking a road-trip to Liguria and arriving by car, you can easily leave it in the car parking of La Spezia and continue your jouney by train.
Another way to get to Cinque Terre is by boat where you will have amazing views of the Ligurian coast ! You will need a different ticket to travel by boat. However, we do not recommend this transport for your day trip, as it will take much longer to reach each village. If you really want to visit by boat, you can alternatively visit it as a boat day trip from other major Italian cities such as Genoa, Florence or Milan.
Is one day in Cinque Terre enough ?
Even in one day, you can visit most of the amazing villages of Cinque Terre. Of course you cannot enjoy them to the fullest by exploring them at your own pace. But, it is still possible to get a good taste of these Italian gems. In case you are a photography lover, you can visit only the best photo spots during this Cinque Terre day trip. Since you only have one day ahead, your goal is to explore as many places as possible without wasting time on certain spots. Better not to go to all the “perfect” viewpoints than not to visit an entire village.
The perfect one day Cinque Terre itinerary
It is obvious that you need to start your one day in Cinque Terre as early as possible, meaning before 7am, especially if you want to create beautiful content without crowds or just have the villages to yourself ! We will start our itinerary with the village of Riomaggiore and its iconic view below. We will then proceed to Vernazza to enjoy its harbour. After that, we will go to Monterosso al Mare for relaxing by the beach. We will end our day in Manarola to experience its magical sunset. We left out the village of Corniglia (second village in the row) from this Cinque Terre day trip. The reason we didn’t include it in our itinerary is simple. You need to climb almost 400 steps to reach the center which is very time consuming.
Our one day itinerary : From the southermost to northernmost village :
- Riomaggiore
- Vernazza
- Vernazza to Monterosso al Mare (Hiking Trail)
- Monterosso al Mare
- Manarola
1-Start the day in Riomaggiore
If you take the train from La Spezia, the first stop will be the village of Riomaggiore. It is the largest and one of the most incredible places in Cinque Terre. It is very easy to get to the beach, just by walking through the tunnel from the train station. But, if you want a perfect view of the colorful façades of the old houses (from a distance), you can climb the rocks to reach this viewpoint. If you come very early in the morning, then we can strongly recommend you to try it. But, if you are running out of time, meaning around 9am, then you can skip it and keep strolling around the beach and the village for some equally stunning views.
2-Next stop : Vernazza
After enjoying the magical village of Riomaggiore with its photogenic old houses, it is time to go to the next village called Vernazza. It is a bit different from the previous village, but still very charming with a picturesque harbour and cozy cafés and restaurants. If you want to have your breakfast there, we advise you to choose one of the cafés to enjoy the Italian pastries and the beautiful ambiance of the village. Of course, it depends on your personal plan and how you distribute your meals throughout your day. So, if you are a little late in your schedule, you can definitely enjoy your lunch in Vernazza ! We highly recommend “Ristorante La Torre” for an Italian lunch with a view. You need to be aware that after 9am (maximum), the harbour will fill up quickly, especially on summer weekends. So, if you need to photograph it, take your beautiful pictures first and then enjoy your breakfast or coffee.
3-Trail from Vernazza to Monterosso al Mare
The only trail we advise you to take is the trail from Vernazza to Monterosso al Mare to admire the famous birds-eye (panoramic) view. In addition to the magnificent view of the village, you will have stunning views of the vineyards and the ocean all along the way. You will need around 15-20 minutes to reach the famous view of Vernazza. But, the whole trail (Vernazza to Monterosso al Mare) will take you about 3 hours ! This means that if it is too hot or you are not in a good physical shape, you can definitely avoid it and take the Cinque Terre train instead. After hiking this trail, you will be exhausted. That’s why it is better to enjoy a relaxing time in Monterosso al Mare ! Needless to say, you will need to bring plenty of water, comfortable shoes, a hat, sunscreen and sunglasses. Since it is a long trail, you should come well-prepared. Check the forecast to avoid rains or high temperatures.
4-Monterosso al Mare
Welcome to Monteresso al Mare ! It is the ideal place for ocean lovers, as it has the most iconic sandy beach in the region. That’s why we chose it to relax and spend some calming time. It is divided into two parts. One part is the sandy beach which is just a few steps away from the train station. The other part is the center of the village which is 10 minutes away from the train station. If you want to enjoy the famous colorful beach umbrellas of Monterosso, it is better to skip the village centre and spend your time on the beach. Alternatively you can have a delicious meal or coffee just in front of the umbrellas. We chose “La Terrazza Cigolini” for a light meal and coffee.
5-Next stop for sunset : Manarola
After enjoying our beach time in Monterosso, we need to return to Manarola which is the last village for this day trip. The village of Manarola is one of the most beautiful villages in Cinque Terre and undoubtedly the best place to watch the sunset. For this reason, you should expect huge crowds, especially at the most famous viewpoint, the “Promenade“. It is very easy to find by just taking the main street and literally following the crowds. The best way to capture it empty is to try to find different angles without people ! If you follow the little alley, you will reach the most famous restaurant of Cinque Terre, “Nessum Dorma“. You can enjoy a glass of wine or an aperol spritz with the wonderful view it offers (book in advance to secure a seat).
Final Thoughts
Cinque Terre is one of the most magical places not only in Italy, but also in Europe. It is one of those places that you should visit it at least once in your life ! If you get the opportunity, we suggest you visit it even as a day trip. The countless beautiful spots and stunning ocean views will leave you speechless. Just keep in mind that it is a very touristy place, especially during peak season and weekends, so book your day or multi-day trip in advance.
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