Are you looking for the perfect 3 day Cinque Terre itinerary? The Cinque Terre is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, made up of five colourful villages perched on the cliffs of the Italian Riviera. It’s a must-visit destination when planning your Italy trip and this is the best 3-day itinerary you should use.
This Cinque Terre itinerary includes where to stay, what to eat, cultural attractions plus amazing activities like kayaking and pesto making.
Day 1: Monterosso al Mare > Vernazza
Day 2: Vernazza > Corniglia > Manarola
Day 3: Riomaggiore
Where is Cinque Terre?
The Cinque Terre (translation: ‘Five Lands’) is located on the northwest coast of Italy, in the region of Liguria. It’s situated between the cities of Genoa and Pisa. We flew into Genoa and then jumped on the train to the Cinque Terre, which took less than an hour. You can get relatively cheap flights to both Genoa and Pisa from across Europe with Ryanair. You can also get the train to the Cinque Terre pretty easily from other key cities in Italy like Rome, Florence and Milan.
Which Villages Make Up The Cinque Terre?
The Cinque Terre is made up of five villages – Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore. They are all beautiful in their own way and it’s worth checking out every single one during your trip.
Where to Stay in the Cinque Terre
All five villages of the Cinque Terre offer great accommodation options for your stay. I’ll be honest, it’s not the cheapest location in Italy, but remember that it is a UNESCO World Heritage area and it’s a real privilege to stay here.
A lot of tourists choose to stay in La Spezia because it’s much cheaper and only a 10 minute train journey from the villages.
Also it’s worth noting there aren’t really any hostels in Cinque Terre either.
Which Cinque Terre Village Should You Stay In?
When considering which village to stay in on the Cinque Terre, it depends what vibe you’re after.
Corniglia is the smallest village so it was a bit too quiet for us during the evenings, but this may be exactly what you want.
If you love sunbathing and spending time on the beach, I would choose to stay in Monterosso al Mare because it has the biggest beach with beach clubs and lovely ocean to swim in.
For nightlife, I would choose Manarola, Riomaggiore or Monterosso because they have lots of restaurants and bars that stay open until around midnight. Manarola is also the most famous spot on the Cinque Terre for sunset, because the sun turns the houses on the cliffside an incredible pink colour.
And finally, wonderful Vernazza. This is where we chose to stay during our trip, mostly because of the beautiful harbour. You can get takeaway aperol spritz with fried seafood cones and eat them by the water, which we loved. It’s quite a chill village but for us it was the perfect balance.
Budget Accommodation in The Cinque Terre
The cheapest place I’ve found to stay in the Cinque Terre (with a private bathroom) is the Enrica Barrani Room on Booking.com, it has excellent reviews and is ideally located right in the centre of Vernazza.
Mid-Range Accommodation in The Cinque Terre
This Manarola hotel is a great option for mid-range budgets, with balcony rooms available for around £130 per night. Ca’ del Monica has lovely coastal decor and is ideally located right in the centre of Manarola.
Luxury Accommodation in the Cinque Terre
If you want a hotel to remember in the Cinque Terre, I would stay at The Upper House.
The rooms with balconies offer amazing views over the colourful houses of Riomaggiore and the ocean beyond.
The interiors are modern and sleek, whilst the exterior offers lemon trees and ample sunshine.
Cinque Terre Itinerary: Day 1
Morning
Hello Cinque Terre! The first village you’re going to explore is the gorgeous Monterosso al Mare.
Monterosso al Mare is the largest of the Cinque Terre villages and offers visitors a mix of historical architecture and a relaxed seaside atmosphere.
First up, grab coffee and pastries from the lovely Ely Caffè (the only way to start your day in Italy).
Take a stroll through the old village, perusing the colourful market stalls. Head inside the Church of the Skeletons (free entry) to see real skeletons on display.
Next, head down to the harbour to admire the fishing boats bobbing in the perfect turquoise water.
Monterosso Fegina Beach is the best beach on the Cinque Terre, so spend a while sunbathing and swimming here before lunch. There are beach clubs where you can pay around €15 per person for a sun lounger and umbrella, or you can simply lay your towel down in the free sections of the beach.
Feeling adventurous? Book on this epic kayak tour where you’ll discover hidden coves of the Cinque Terre National Park and stop off for snorkelling and swimming.
Lunch
Lunch is at the amazing Da Eraldo Restaurant, a trattoria specialising in local seafood and pasta dishes.
I had the seafood pasta dish here and it was amazing, but they also offer fresh fish of the day and some meat dishes too.
Don’t miss the tiramisu – it comes in a martini glass and is definitely the best I’ve ever eaten.
After lunch, you may want to grab a digestif at Enoteca Da Eliseo, one of the best wine bars on the Cinque Terre. The Cinque Terre is actually a wine growing region, so you can sample some local drops on the wonderful terrace overlooking the old village.
Afternoon
It’s time to leave Monterosso al Mare and head to the second village, Vernazza.
Jump on the train for one stop (a couple of minutes) and voilà, you’ve arrived.
Vernazza train station is at the top of the village, so take a leisurely stroll down Via Visconti (a narrow cobbled street lined with shops and market stalls) towards the harbour.
Head inside the impressive Chiesa di Santa Margherita di Antiochia (Church of St. Margaret of Antioch), a 14th century church overlooking the Ligurian sea.
Afterwards, grab a takeaway Aperol Spritz from one of the kiosks by the harbour and take a seat as the sun begins to set over the historic village.
Evening
You’ve had a big lunch, but there’s always room for some cheese and charcuterie.
Wander up the cobbled back streets of Vernazza to The Deck Wine Bar, my favourite sunset spot.
The incredible wine terrace overlooks the ocean on top of a cliff, creating the most magical spot for your first evening on the Cinque Terre.
The Deck offers a wine tasting experience of local wines, paired with cheese and meat boards.
Cinque Terre Itinerary: Day 2
Morning
Your second morning on the Cinque Terre is starting in Vernazza.
Grab coffee and breakfast at Il Pirata delle 5 Terre at the top of the village, before commencing a section of the epic Blue Trail hike.
The Blue Trail is a popular hiking path in Cinque Terre. It connects the five villages: Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, and Riomaggiore. The trail is about 12 kilometres long, offering moderate difficulty with sections requiring an entrance fee.
In my opinion, the best section of the Blue Trail to hike is between Vernazza and Corniglia. This is because the views are amazing AND there is a little café about half way along the hike offering delicious homemade lemonade.
Start the trail from Vernazza village centre. You’ll see signs for the ‘Blue Trail’ about halfway down Via Visconti. The trail is on Google Maps, but to be honest, it’s pretty hard to get lost.
Once you ascend above Vernazza you’ll arrive at the ‘Top of Vernazza Viewpoint’ so make sure you stop for a photo.
Shortly after the viewpoint, you’ll find a little hut where you’ll be charged around €8 per person to access the Blue Trail for a full day (you can also buy multi-day passes here).
Expect amazing views between Vernazza and Corniglia, and don’t skip the homemade lemonade!
Lunch
After you’ve arrived in Corniglia, you’re going to be hungry.
Head to Marina di Corniglia Bar for the best lunch in Corniglia overlooking the ocean. We had freshly made focaccia sandwiches and a homemade pesto salad with cold drinks. It was just what we needed after the hike.
Afternoon
Spend a short while exploring the charming streets of Corniglia, not forgetting the main square ‘Piazza Largo Taragio’.
Then, it’s time to leave Corniglia and get the train to the next village, Manarola.
The great thing about this Cinque Terre itinerary is that you arrive in Corniglia via the Blue Trail, which means you DON’T have to tackle the hundreds of steep steps up to the village from the train station.
Instead, when you leave Corniglia you get to walk DOWN the steps to the train station.
The train takes just a couple of minutes between Corniglia and Manarola.
Once you’ve arrived in Manarola, it’s time for your 2:30pm pesto making class.
Pesto actually originates from the Liguria region, and the famous ‘Pesto Genovese’ was invented just up the road in Genoa.
The incredible pesto class gives you the opportunity to make your own pesto from scratch using a pestle and mortar.
You’ll learn about the history of pesto and mix the freshest ingredients to create your masterpiece.
You’ll try your pesto with homemade focaccia and a glass of cold white wine – perfect!
Evening
Manarola is the best village in the Cinque Terre for watching the sunset.
For the best sunset spot, head to the Manarola Overlook Viewpoint (you can search this on Google Maps and get directions).
The viewpoint is essentially a walkway with lots of stone benches where you can enjoy a unique sunset that turns the houses of Manarola a dazzling pink colour.
We actually bought a bottle of prosecco from the store and sat on one of the benches – it was such a magical moment.
Dinner
After admiring the sunset, grab dinner at Trattoria dal Billy, or Fooderia if you want something quick and cheap.
Cinque Terre Itinerary: Day 3
Morning
It’s your final day on the Cinque Terre and that means checking out the 5th and final village, Riomaggiore.
There are a couple of great breakfast options in Riomaggiore: BRITTA and Old School Food.
After you’ve fueled up, take the short walk up Via Colombo to the 13th century Castello di Riomaggiore, a historic piece of architecture overlooking the sea and the colourful village below.
Next, rent a paddleboard from the small harbour and take yourself for a spin around the beautiful coastline. If watersports aren’t your thing, relax with a book on Riomaggiore public beach and take a dip in the calm ocean (water shoes are recommended as it’s a rocky beach).
Don’t miss the ‘Vista Panoramica di Riomaggiore’ viewpoint, the best spot for taking in the beauty of the village.
Lunch
Originally a fishing village, Riomaggiore is deeply connected to its fishing traditions. The Cinque Terre is famous for fried seafood cones or ‘fritto misto’ and you’ll find the best one at Il Pescato Cucinato on the main street. It’s a great option for lunch, because you can eat it by the harbour.
Afternoon
Riomaggiore is also famous for wine growing, and the final activity of your Cinque Terre itinerary is a visit to a vineyard.
The amazing Terra di Bargòn is the best vineyard and winery in Cinque Terre, offering tours and tastings with the winemakers.
Book yourself onto an afternoon vineyard tour, which includes a tour of the coastal wine terraces and wine tasting with local cheese.
To visit the wine terraces you need to walk 30 minutes from Riomaggiore centre, but if you would prefer to just do the wine tasting you can simply visit the Cantina in the main historical centre.
Dinner
For your final dinner on the Cinque Terre, eat at Osteria La Torpedine for fresh homemade pasta and seafood.
Don’t forget to bookmark this Cinque Terre itinerary for your next trip! You may also enjoy my No-Expense-Spared Lake Como Itinerary.