Our experience of visiting the beautiful coastal villages of Italy.


When we were researching for places to visit in Italy, Cinque Terre kept popping up. In the era of Instagram, the five coastal villages have gained immense popularity with their picturesque location by the sea, quaint little houses and shops and delicious food and wine.

How to get there

Catch a train to La Spezia from any of the major cities in Italy. If you are visiting Cinque Terre only for a day then head to 'Cinque Terre Point' area or shop to buy the Cinque Terre Card. The Cinque Terre Point is located at the La Spezia station as well as the five coastal villages.

Cinque Terre Card includes
1. Day pass on the trains between the five villages and La Spezia
2. Entrance to the national park area or the Blue Trail where you can hike between the villages
3. Free use of Restrooms in any of the five villages (La Spazia station restrooms not included)

The Villages (north to south)

Monterosso
Vernazza
Corniglia
Manarola
Riomaggiore

Cinque Terre in a day

If you are a day visitor to Cinque Terre, here are ways to cover them
1. By Train: Trains run every hour between the villages. Pick up the train schedule from the Cinque Terre Point and plan out your route

2. By Hiking: This is a popular option in summer. There are minimum of two trails between each village the most popular and crowded being 'The Blue Trail'. As it is a mountainous terrain, landslides are common and trails can get closed at any time. Its always good to check at the station for the trail closure updates and then start your hike.

3. By Boat: Just like the train, there are hourly boats between the villages (except Corniglia).

Best way to see Cinque Terre is by combination of all three options.

Where to eat

We visited Cinque Terre in early March, and unfortunately many shops and restaurants were still closed for winter. But I have heard that food is delicious (especially focaccia) accompanied with wine.