The Cinque Terre are five tiny Italian fishing villages between Levanto and La Spezia perched on steep cliffs overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. Each of the villages is its own postcard with its own character:
Monterosso has a long stretch of sandy beach where summer tourists from around the world spend their holidays. The village is divided in two parts marked by the medieval tower of Aurora. Most of the hotels are situated in the newer part, Fegina.
The old town of Monterosso is characterized by typical narrow medieval streets with multi-colored terraced houses. Here you will find plenty of seafood restaurants and nice shops.
Highly recommended is the hiking trail from Monterosso to Vernazza (2 hours).
Vernazza is easily one of the most picturesque villages in Cinque Terre. Follow the narrow street down to the small port. The main square is surrounded by colorful typical Ligurian houses, restaurants and bars.
In the harbor of Vernazza there is a small sandy beach where you can take a swim and there are also flat rocks that are great for sunning.
Corniglia is located 100 meters above sea level, on top of a small promontory and is the smallest and quietest of the Cinque Terre villages. If you arrive by train you can take the bus up to the main square or you can climb the Lardarina stairway with 382 steps.
Walk the main street Via Fieschi down to the panoramic terrace from where you can admire the entire Cinque Terre coast. A perfect place to enjoy an aperitivo while watching the sunset.
Manarola is considered one of the most characteristic and beautiful of all the Cinque Terre villages. The tiny harbor features a boat ramp, picturesque multicolored houses facing the sea and a tiny piazza with seafood restaurants.
Along the main road the boats are pulled onto dry land every time the sea is rough. Although there is no real beach here, Manarola has some of the best deep-water swimming around.
Riomaggiore is a charming village perched on a terraced hillside high above the Ligurian coast. The best way to reach Riomaggiore is by train or boat. It’s famous for its colorful typical houses that seem stacked on top of one another and its harbor filled with traditional fishing boats.
There is a public beach of boulders with crystal clear waters east of the village.