Cinque Terre is one of the most stunning National Parks in Europe, world-famous for its five brightly-coloured coastal villages and its glorious hikes – but there’s a lot you need to know before you visit.
Exploring this bucket list destination requires a bit of advanced planning, especially if you want to make the most of everything Cinque Terre has to offer. For example, did you know that you require a specific card to access the National Park? Or that cars are banned from entering any of the villages? Before my trip, I didn’t either! So I’ve put together a list of the ten things I wish I knew before visiting Cinque Terre.
1. Don’t bring your car
Simply put, Cinque Terre isn’t suitable for cars. While you might be talented at navigating the narrow coastal roads of Italy, you’ll really struggle parking. Cars are banned from entering the villages, so you’d have to park some distance away in one of the small, quickly-filled car parks. Instead, the local Cinque Terre train system is excellent (accessed from La Spezia), with trains running every twenty minutes. Each village is only around 5 minutes apart via train. We found the trains really easy to use; they’re definitely the best way to get around Cinque Terre.
2. Buy your Cinque Terre card online
To access the Cinque Terre trains you’ll need a separate train ticket, known as the Cinque Terre Card. Purchasing this will allow you to hop on/hop off any train in the National Park (and also grant you access to the best coastal hikes). A one-day card costs €19.50 to €32.50 depending on which day you visit (there’s a traffic light system based on expected visitor numbers). Always book this online before your visit! The queues to purchase this in person at La Spezia are always massive. It would significantly delay your trip, meaning you’d have less time in each of the villages.
3. Pre-book and check-in your train
If you’re visiting from Pisa or Florence, you should pre-book your journey to Cinque Terre – especially if you want one of the faster trains. The easiest way to do this is to download the Trenitalia app and book through here. You need to make sure you also check-in via the app or email link around the time of your departure. This is really important, as you can get fined for not checking in to prebooked trains. We were lucky we had a lenient ticket officer who recognised us as clueless tourists and let us off.
4. Visit during the shoulder seasons
Some pretty standard travelling advice, but applying this to Cinque Terre comes with a whole heap of perks. Avoiding the summer months means less tourists, which means the villages aren’t overcrowded and are infinitely more enjoyable; it also means more days where the Cinque Terre card is at its cheapest. The best hikes are mostly open and exposed, so they’re a lot more enjoyable in the shoulder seasons (March to early May, and September to early November), than in July and August when temperatures often hit 29 degrees. The two best hikes are also free to access from 4 November until 14 March each year. I’d recommend April as the overall best month to visit Cinque Terre.
5. It’s an easy day trip from Pisa
Cinque Terre is the perfect day trip for those staying in Pisa. I was pleasantly surprised by how simple it was to get here and back to Pisa, as well as navigating around the National Park. All you need to do is to book yourself on a train from Pisa Centrale to La Spezia Centrale station (without forgetting to pre-book your Cinque Terre card). The quickest trains will get you here in an hour, and from there it’s only ten minutes to the first village, Riomaggiore. Trains run between the villages every twenty minutes, and there are late trains from La Spezia that will take you back to your base in Pisa. For my full guide on a day trip to Cinque Terre from Pisa, click here.
6. Start at Monterosso, not Riomaggiore
Riomaggiore is the closest village to La Spezia, but don’t begin here. Instead, head to the furthest village, Monterosso, and work your way back through the villages. It only takes around 25 minutes to get here, and it means you’ll get to spend the morning on Cinque Terre’s only sandy beach, have lunch in Vernazza, and you’ll finish up in the best sunset spot in Cinque Terre! It also means that you end your visit closest to La Spezia, so if you’re doing a day trip, it’s easier to get back to your accommodation.
7. Get to Vernazza as early as possible
Vernazza is a vibrant hub of restaurants and shops, and perhaps the most popular village of the five – certainly around lunchtime. It gets extremely busy, which can make it difficult to enjoy. You’ll want to make sure you’re here by 11 at the latest. While there’s plenty of sit-down options, your best bet is grabbing something you can takeaway and wandering down to eat by the harbour. Try some of their incredible fresh focaccia loaded with toppings, or fritto misto (mixed fried seafood in a cone). For recommendations, check out my guide here.
8. Which hike to prioritise
If you’re looking to do Cinque Terre in one day, and you want to maximise the time spent in each village, you’ll likely only have time for one of the main hikes. With 120km of trails, there’s plenty to choose from, and truthfully, none of the hikes will disappoint. However, there’s a clear winner that you mustn’t skip. For my full guide to the best hike in Cinque Terre, click here.
9. Book somewhere for dinner in advance
Whether you end up in Manarola or Riomaggiore for dinner, the best restaurants fill up quickly. Nessun Dorma in Manarola is iconic, and worth visiting for the views alone. Similarly, A Pie de Ma in Riomaggiore offers spectacular harbour views and incredible food. They’re extremely popular for a reason, and I’d recommend booking in advance. You don’t want to miss the sunset stood in a queue! Some alternative fine dining options include Trattoria dal Billy and Da Aristide in Manarola, or Fuori Rotta and Rio Bistrot in Riomaggiore.
10. Where to watch the sunset in Cinque Terre
A hotly debated topic. While some people will tell you to head to Riomaggiore, you’d actually be missing out on the ultimate sunset spot: Manarola, the penultimate village before La Spezia. Follow the coastal path up towards Nessun Dorma where you’ll find a beautiful viewpoint that offers golden views of the last of the light sinking over the colourful houses of Manarola. Arrive at least half an hour before the sun is scheduled to set, grab some drinks from one of the shops, and enjoy the perfect Cinque Terre sunset experience.
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The Gossamer Traveller 