The Cinque Terre is a very special part of Italy, located in the province of Liguria, very close to the city of Pisa and beautiful region of Tuscany. Known for its colourful fishing villages, vineyards and hiking, it’s become a very popular destination in the last decade. Spending 3 days in the Cinque Terre, expect to taste a lot of good food and local wines, and spend your days hiking the hilly, coastal landscape and cooling off by the water in the afternoons.
Having visited the area twice now, on two completely different trips, I feel I know the area now a lot better than I did the first time. Our first 4-day trip was spent rushing from place to place, trying to fit in all the hikes, views and photo spots, whereas the second visit was a lot more relaxed. We focused on eating good food, swimming in beautiful places, and really taking out time to explore – and doing this we still managed to see everything we wanted!
So, in this 3-day Cinque Terre Itinerary, you will find our second trip itinerary. I think this is a much more sustainable and enjoyable way to visit the area so while it may not feel as packed as other itineraries you read online, it is achievable and enjoyable!
If you are arriving from Pisa, make sure to read my guide to travelling from Pisa to the Cinque Terre!
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Where to Stay in The Cinque Terre
We stayed in the beautiful town of Corniglia on both trips. While it may seem sort of out of the way, being the only hilltop town in the area, we found it to be a beautiful escape. During our first trip, we didn’t spend much time in Corniglia itself – more used it as a base for hiking and exploring the more coastal villages. Booking the second trip, I was inclined to stay in Manarola or Riomaggiore instead, but after looking at the prices decided on a small apartment in Corniglia again. This time we spent a lot more time discovering every corner of Corniglia and fell in love with the town – so much so to say that it is now my favourite of all the villages!
The only thing to note when staying in Corniglia is that there are a lot of stairs up and down so I would only recommend this if you feel comfortable with that!
Budget Friendly
Airbnb Room with Sea View: We stayed here on our second trip and loved it! While it is a very small room (only a double bed with very little space for unpacking) it was such good value for money and the host was so lovely. On the last morning he came down with lemons from their tree as a parting gift.
Mid-Range
Arbanella: This is where we stayed on our first trip, and it was equally as great! The room is a lot bigger and has everything you need (plus an amazing view out onto the sea!). Everything was really fresh and comfortable. Find out more here.
For The family
Rossi Tramonti 2: A nice big studio apartment with one double bed and two sofa beds, you won’t beat the view from the balcony! The apartment is modern, clean, and spacious, and in the heart of Corniglia so only a few minutes’ walk from the shops, restaurants and cafes. Find out more here.
See more: See all your Cinque Terre accommodation options here!
3 Day Cinque Terre Itinerary
This itinerary is written in the order that we travelled but it doesn’t really matter which order you do the days in! You base yourself in the same location and it is just as easy to get to one village as another. However, I do like starting in Riomaggiore as I think it is one of the most picturesque towns in the Cinque Terre, so you get more of a feel for where you are. I also loved started with the local cooking class as this was not only an opportunity to learn about the local food, but the history of the area and Italy as a whole.
See more: How to travel between the Cinque Terre Villages
Day 1: Hiking to Vernazza, Riomaggiore, and a Cooking Class
Breakfast at Bar Pan e Vin
This was our favourite breakfast spot in Corniglia – it felt more like a locals hang out than a touristy café. Sat on a small table tucked away in the back of the café we had a typical Italian breakfast of coffee, a croissant and a juice. If you feel like something a bit bigger, they also had loads of different sandwiches, focaccia, and meals to choose from. Only thing to note is that the café is very small with only 3 tables inside and 3 outside so you may need to wait a bit before you sit down!
Hike from Corniglia to Vernazza
Day 1’s hiking trail takes you from Corniglia to Vernazza. This is part of the popular SVA2 Cinque Terre coastal hike which runs between all 5 villages. The trail is 3.5km, takes around 1 hour and 30 minutes, and is classified as a difficult hike (for expert hikers). I would say that the reason for this is because the landscape is so hilly there is a lot of climbing up and down stairs, and the pathway isn’t always perfect in places. We do a lot of hiking so didn’t have any problems, but I would say if you were not used to walking and struggle with stairs then it is probably best to avoid the walk!
Of the SVA2 trails we have walked this has to be my favourite. The views along the coastline and across to Corniglia are so pretty. If I have any tips, it would be to do this walk from Corniglia to Vernazza and not the other way around. Being a hilltop town, the walk from Corniglia has a few inclines but is mostly downhill, whereas you will have to do a lot of climbing if you begin in Vernazza!
See the trail map here.
Along the route, don’t miss the bar Bar Il Gabbiano (map). This was one of my favourite spots, with very cut wooden signs along the pathway, and the smell of lemons coming from the fresh fruit boxed outside. The café has an amazing view out over the coast – or you can head to their terrace area for a relaxed break out in the sun!
Tickets: To do this hike you will need to purchase a Cinque Terre Hiking Card or Cinque Terre train card. The hiking card costs €7.50 a day and can be bought online or in person at the hike entrance. Find out more about both cards in my guide to travelling between the Cinque Terre villages.
Note: You are only allowed to do this hike wearing enclosed shoes. If you are visiting in summer avoid doing it in middle of the day when the heat is at its peak.
Explore Vernazza
By the time you arrive in Vernazza it is probably time for Lunch! We had a little stroll around the village before stopping in a cosy little restaurant for a bit to eat. I think Vernazza is my second favourite town along the Cinque Terre as there is so much more to do and explore, but it also feels like a quiet, “secret” village in some ways. Saying that, it was a lot busier here when we visited in July compared to April!
You won’t find it hard to find somewhere for lunch in Vernazza. Walking down from the SVA2 hike we passed so many beautiful, terraced restaurants (Ristorante La Torre and Pirasca ittiturismo) but ended up in 5 Terre Bistrot along the main street. It was cosy here – almost hidden in a dark corner – and the food was great. I had a pesto lasagne and it was definitely my favourite meal we had (aside from the homemade pasta from the cooking class with Luca).
Things to do in Vernazza
- Lunch at 5 Terre Bistrot (map)
- Climb the Ruins of Doria Tower (Castello Doria): An 11th century fortress looking out over Vernazza Harbour. While there is not much history of the castle when you visit, there are amazing views over the Cinque Terre and the village of Vernazza. Just by its location alone you can tell it was once an important watch tower for the small harbour town. It costs €2 to enter and I recommend bringing cash with you!
- Take a swim in the harbour: The harbour of Vernazza has a very small sandy beach perfect for a midday dip!
- Hike up to the Vernazza Viewpoint: This is one of the best viewpoints over Vernazza. It is located very early along the SVA2 track between Vernazza and Monteross (map) so you will need your Cinque Terre hiking card to get here. If you plan on hiking this trail later in the trip (as we did in this itinerary) you can save this for when you return!
- Vernazza Beach: Don’t miss Vernazza Beach! The best way to get here is by heading through the cave just off Via Roma (map). The tides can be strong here especially on windy days so make sure the conditions are safe before heading out too far!
Train or Ferry to Riomaggiore
In the afternoon we head to our third cinque Terre town of Riomaggiore. You can catch the ferry or train to Riomaggiore from Vernazza. I recommend the ferry as it is special to see the villages from the sea, however, the ferry doesn’t run when the weather is rough so you should be prepared to also take the train! The ferry terminal is in Vernazza Harbour (Port of Vernazza) (map) and you can buy tickets from the stand when you are there! The ferries take 35 minutes and leaves around once an hour! You can find the timetable here.
See more: How to get between Vernazza and Riomaggiore
Explore Riomaggiore
Spend the next few hours exploring Riomaggiore; swimming in the harbour or down by the beach, taking in the views, exploring the winding streets, and small coastal walk. I think swimming here was probably my favourite of all our swim stops in the different villages. On the day we visited it was quite windy along the beach, so we chose to sit on the rocks in the harbour and take a dip there instead (map). With the colourful array of houses on one side and the vast coastal landscape on the other, this moment felt like such a dream.
Things to do in Riomaggiore
- Take a swim: Down in the harbour or around the corner at Riomaggiore Beach (Spiaggia di Riomaggiore) are your two best options! In the summer, the harbour can be full of boats and not the best place for a dip, but in the off season it would be my go-to! The beach is a pebble beach with small waves whereas the harbour is a lot calmer due to rocks which act as wave barriers!
- Take in the view from Via San Giacomo (map): You must walk up this viewpoint that looks out over the harbour while in Riomaggiore. It is from here you will get the famous shot of the colourful towering buildings and the small boat harbour.
- Short Coastal Walk: Don’t miss the short walk down Via Telemaco Signorini which leads from Riomaggiore station to the harbour. It is a beautiful and short walk that takes you around the coast and down some very picturesque alleyways behind Riomaggiore Harbour! If you arrive by train, you will see the start of the path at one end of the platform. If you arrive by boat, you can follow the path from the harbour, or head to the train station through the tunnel and take the path back as a loop.
- Castello di Riomaggiore: A medieval fortress that sits above Riomaggiore looking out over the coast. Built in 1260, this castle ruin has amazing views over the coastal town.
- Ice cream from Gelateria Sottozero: We stumbled upon this place looking for ice cream on our way to swim in the harbour and were very happy with it! The pistachio flavour was great – and they even serve it in brioche if you want something a bit fun!
- Tutti Fritti: If you want a snack to eat on the go then the fried fish from Tutti Fritti is great! We had the calamari and the cod bites and both were so good. It was the perfect snack to keep us going before heading to our cooking class.
Cooking Class with a Local
If you like food, then you will love this local cooking class we took with Luca in his beautiful apartment in Riomaggiore. Sat at the kitchen table we prepared pesto, pasta and tiramisu from the base ingredients, all with a view out over the beautiful village.
We went to the Cinque Terre with the expectation of good food and actively sought after the best restaurants we could find, and I have to say, this knocked them out of the park by a long way! The freshly ground pesto still has me dreaming. The best part is that Luca emailed us the recipes afterwards recreate at home!
Find out more and book it here!
Day 2: Corniglia, Manarola, and a Sunset Cruise
Explore Corniglia
After a long day 1, day 2 starts with exploring our own town of Corniglia. We ate breakfast at Bar Nunzio in the centre of Corniglia. Reading reviews online, there are not many positive ones – however, for a simple croissant breakfast it was more than ok! The pistachio croissant was so good that I could have eaten one every day we were there. If you are sceptical, the bar next door (Caffè Matteo) was always full of people that seemed quite happy with their food!
We will spend some more time in Corniglia tomorrow evening so don’t worry about not fitting everything in today!
Things to do in Corniglia
- Explore the town: The highlight of Corniglia is just wandering around the alleyways and getting lost. It is quite small, so you don’t need long to do this – but I recommend doing it either in the morning or late afternoon when the town is a lot quieter. Most people come for the day so it can be almost too busy around lunch.
- Corniglia Beach: Don’t miss a walk down to Corniglia’s marina and small beach. Throughout the town you will see signs saying “marina” or “al mare” that you can follow to the steep staircase down to the beach. You can swim from the rocks or the harbour here, or simply head down for a nice morning walk!
- Ice Cream from Alberto Gelateria: Don’t miss the basil or basil and lemon flavour – by far my favourite Cinque Terre ice cream!
Train or Hike to to Riomaggiore
Just before lunch on the second day we head to Manarola. This is one town up from Corniglia so you have the option to either take the train or hike over. We chose to hike from Manarola to Riomaggiore later in the day so took the train. However, if you enjoy hiking and want to fit as much in as you can then this hike takes around 2.5 hours. As the SVA2 trail is closed you will need to take the mountain hike. It is quite difficult as it runs over the hill rather than around the cliff – but very beautiful as you pass through vineyards and other villages along the way.
To take the train you will need to head down the stairs to Corniglia Station. You can buy your train ticket in advance online or in person at the station. Bear in mind that there are only two ticket machines so it can take some time, especially when there are long queues. The machines only take coins and card.
Find out more: Hiking and Train Guide to the Cinque Terre
Explore Manarola
Arriving in Manarola station, you will need to head through the long tunnel from the platform to the old town. At the other end, you have the harbour to the left, and the town’s bustling main street to the right. I recommend spending time exploring both areas. Manarola is a lot bigger than it seems at first, with beautiful alleyways winding around the mountain on each side of the village. Head down to the harbour for a swim, take a look at the views, and maybe grab a bit to eat from the famous Nessun Dorma.
Things to do in Manarola
- Swim in Manarola Harbour: Manarola harbour is one of the most popular swimming spots on the Cinque Terre – namely because of the high rocks that sit in the middle of the water making it possible to enjoy cliff jumping. Here, you can sit on the dock either side of the harbour and enjoy a swim. We swam here twice but my favourite was when we sat at the bottom of the ramp, looking out over the Manarola “skyline” as we paddled. It is such a beautiful village, and you really feel you are in a magical place when you are there.
- Local Wine Tasting: Spend the evening in Bar-Enoteca, a former wine cellar converted into a cosy bar. Enjoy tasting and learning about three varieties of wines from the Cinque Terre, paired with locally inspired snacks. Find out more and book it here!
- Vineyard Tour: Meet a local for guided tour of a Cinque Terre vineyard, beginning in Manarola and hiking up to the town of Volastra before heading to Sentiero 586 for a wine tasting. We didn’t personally take this tour, but it was on my list to book if we had been staying a few more days! We tasted so many different wines from the region throughout our stay but felt we really missed out on finding out more about each one and where it was grown! Find out more and book it here!
- Coastal Walk from Manarola: From Manarola Harbour, follow the walkway past Nessun Dorma and around the coastline for beautiful views of Corniglia and beyond. The walk isn’t very long but it’s worth a visit! It is along this path that you get the iconic view of Manarola’s “skyline” too – with the colourful houses perched on top of one another looking over the harbour (map).
Pesto Class or Aperitivo at Nessun Dorma
Nessun Dorma is one of the most popular bars in the Cinque Terre, known for its terrace that looks out over the village of Manarola.While it is quite hyped, I still recommend a visit here as I think it has kept its charm even though its popularity has increased. The bar is open from 4pm to the public, with two pesto classes at 10.30am and 1.30pm.
The pesto class is really great and a good way to get a spot in the bar without having to wait hours for a place. However, if I had to choose between this and the local cooking class that we took I would pick the cooking class as it felt much more authentic and there was a bit more to it.
I recommend heading to Nessun Dorma for aperitivo instead. The bruschetta is amazing so make sure to order a few on the side of your drinks! We took one with anchovies, one with prosciutto, and one with mozzarella and all were delicious!
Tip: Nessun Dorma does not take bookings (aside from the morning Pesto class). In recent years they have introduced a new system for walk-ins where you need to download an app and add yourself in the virtual queue system. You can download the app here (apple / google). I recommend looking into how many people are in the queue around 1 to 2 hours before you want to visit and then putting yourself in the queue accordingly. When we signed up there were 20 groups ahead and it took around 45 minutes to get a table. This was in April and I imagine it can be much longer in the summer.
Hike from Manarola to Riomaggiore
This was my favourite hike we did during our long weekend on the Cinque Terre! I loved that it took you along the cliffs and through the vineyards – the views were incredibly beautiful, and it was a side of the Cinque Terre you don’t otherwise get to see. This was one of the easier of the hilltop walks (only 1 hour long), however, it is quite steep in both directions so only consider doing it if you are prepared for a lot of climbing and a not-so stable trail.
The walk begins in Manarola, looping around the back streets to Via A. Rollandi before turning up into the vineyards. When you first turn right off this street and begin climbing, you will get a glimpse of how the entire path looks. It is rocky and steep so this is a good point at which to decide whether you think you can do it or not! Around half of the trail is up hill and the other half downhill.
This trail is not part of the Cinque Terre paths, so you do not need the hiking card to do it. However, it is still recommended you hike either in the morning or late afternoon when it is not so hot! You can find the trail map here.
Train to Corniglia
After a swim and maybe a drink in Riomaggiore, we head back to Corniglia for dinner and a drink.
Sunset Drinks in Corniglia
Earlier that morning we had stumbled upon a super cosy looking wine terrace looking over the village and felt like this was the perfect night to try it out! Terra Rossa (map) is open daily from 11am till sunset, it’s the perfect place to go to take a glass of wine and a snack and watch the sunset over the horizon. Staying in Corniglia, it wasn’t out of our way to get here, but even if you are staying somewhere else, I recommend a visit!
We took a glass of local red wine, a focaccia and a cheese plate to share and everything was just amazing. This was one of my favourite moments of the trip – watching the sun set over the village, looking out at the sea and enjoying the late spring evening. We even saw dolphins at one point! Apparently, they are around the area from mid-April to June as they migrate along the coastline.
Dinner in Corniglia
With recommendation from the owner of Terra Rossa, we head to Trattoria la Lanterna for dinner. This felt like a real local’s spot (as we saw the host turn up later than night) and had quite good food. We both tried different pasta dishes and were happy to taste the unique flavours that they used! They had quite a few different local wines on the menu so we ended up drinking one of those – a wine specifically from the vineyards in Corniglia.
Good to know: It is quite common in Italy to eat dinner between 8.30pm and 10.30pm so don’t worry about trying to fit an early dinner into your schedule. It is quite common to show up to a restaurant at 9.30pm and have people still arriving after you!
Day 3: Monterosso and Corniglia
Hike from Vernazza to Monterosso al Mare
Day 3 starts with hiking from Vernazza to Monterosso al Mare to see the fifth and final village along the Cinque Terre. Monterosso was probably my least favourite of the towns, so we didn’t end up spending too much time there. It is great if you like a bigger seaside village with a newer and older part, but it wasn’t my favourite!
The hike from Vernazza to Monterosso al Mare takes around 2 to 2.5 hours to complete. The path is part of the SVA2 trail, and you therefore need the Cinque Terre hiking card for access (find out more here). The hike begins in Vernazza, just behind the harbour, passing the viewpoint that I mentioned on day 1. You can find the route here.
I recommend starting the hike as early as you can as it is quite a long and steep walk with a lot of climbing so can be difficult in the full sun. Again, make sure to bring lots of water and wear covered shoes!
Explore Monterosso
Things to do in Monterosso Al Mare:
- Explore the old town (Borgo Antico): Make sure to spend some time wandering around the old town of Monterosso Al Mare. Here you will find beautiful medieval streets and terraced houses much like in the other villages. Don’t miss Church of San Giovanni Battist, the 12th century church in the old town square, and Oratorio dei Neri (the Church of the Dead).
- Take a swim at Scoglio di Monterosso: Scoglio di Monterosso is by far the most popular beach on the Cinque Terre, well known for its picturesque orange and green striped beach umbrellas spread over a sandy beach with beautiful blue water in the background. It is one of the only sandy beaches along the coastline and therefore a great place to paddle if you are not comfortable swimming in any of the harbours. In the summer, when the beach umbrellas are out, you will need to pay for a spot to use the private beach area. These can cost anywhere from €25 to €45 depending where on the beach you want to sit and for how long you are staying.
Sunset Cruise
Another of my favourite tours we did was the sunset boat cruise from Monterosso. Unfortunately, I can no longer find the tour we did online but this one looks like a very similar option in size, timing, and type of tour! What I loved most about this was that it was so special to be able to see the villages from the sea in magic hour when the sun is going down, getting up and close to the unique rock formations that make up the coastline, and meeting some new people! Find out more and book it here.
Other Cinque Terre Tours and Activities
An Overview: 3 Day Cinque Terre Itinerary
The Cinque Terre is a beautiful region of Italy, with beautiful villages, beaches, vineyards, and hikes to explore. In this 3 day Itinerary, you will visit the 5 towns of Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza, and Monterosso, enjoy three different coastal hikes, tastes regional wines, and meet some locals.