Cinque Terre is a great place to relax and do nothing — you could easily spend a week boating between the villages, dining in their charming restaurants, and wandering the footpaths between wineries, but even if you only have 2 days there, you will find it easy to fall in love. Unlike Rome and Florence, there are no museums and crowded attractions to speak of — welcome to the real Italy!
Most people arrive in Cinque Terre by boat or via the La Spezia-Levanto railway line. You’ll want to use the railway line between villages when you get tired of walking, so I think it’s worth buying the Cinque Terre tourist card — this allows you unlimited rides, and access to Route 2 (a trail between Riomaggiore-Monterosso) as well as access to public shuttle buses and a few of the villages tiny museums.
When I visited the Cinque Terre, I stayed at this hostel in Manarola, Italy. While a hostel isn’t usually a 5-star experience, you’ll spend most of your days walking, swimming, and eating here, not sitting in your room. The hostel offers 2-bed private rooms (with private bath), or 4-6 bed “family” rooms (with private bath). If it’s booked, you’ll find a number of rooms to rent in the villages, just be mindful of booking ahead during the high season (summer).
It takes about 5 hours to hike the entire path between the five villages, so make sure to allot at least one full day to seeing the beauty of the natural landscape by foot. Best of all: you can hike one direction, then take the train back since you bought the tourist card!
Remember: avoid the June, July, and August months, if you can. The influx of tourists make the paths crowded and noisy. Spring or early fall is ideal. Sometimes certain paths are closed due to landslides, so check online or with the local tourist offices before setting out. You’ll need excellent footwear, plenty of water (the price of water bottles are hugely marked up at restaurants along the way), and good stamina. The path between Vernazza and Corniglia can be especially brutal. Don’t forget the sunscreen!
When you’re feeling exhausted, take a break between villages and be sure to sample Cinque Terre’s famous Sciacchetrà, a sweet dessert wine flavored with fig, citrus, and honey.
On Day 2, I suggest you rent your own boat for the day. I suggest packing a picnic lunch and cruising leisurely along the coast in a rented motorboat (not a sailboat, unless you’re an expert sailor). Just be sure to bring (or rent) a swimsuit and mask/snorkel/fins! The cliffs have many beautiful little bays and grottos, ideal to explore by sea. There’s also many small coves with pebble beaches where you can safely swim. Again, bring a parasol and sunscreen — especially if you’re here in summer!
On your last night, be sure to splurge on an amazing seafood dinner and a Torte di Verdura, a local specialty, at one of Lonely Planet’s recommended restaurants. Then stroll along the Via dell’Amore, a quiet trail between Riomaggiore and Manarola. Couples traditionally put padlocks on the tunnel’s fence to symbolize their affection. Be sure to watch the sun set over the sea before heading back to the train station.
