So many travelers have dreamed of going to the Cinque Terre, and now you’re going. Yes, it’s beautiful and a wonderful place on Italy’s Ligurian Coast. But unless you’ve done your homework and researched the area, you may not be fully aware of what to expect. Recent laws have been enacted that include crowd restrictions and require timed-entry reservations for certain locations.
So here are some travel tips which likely will make your trip a memorable experience.
You probably know that the Cinque Terre consists of five small villages, but are you aware that it has been designated as Italy’s first national park?
Known as Parco Nazionale delle Cinque Terre since 1999, the small 15 square-mile area encompasses five colorful villages as well as the rugged cliffs, bays, and coves that hug the Ligurian coast.
The total population of the five villages is roughly 4,000 residents, yet it’s images like the one above of Manarola that attract so many to this beautiful location. The annual number of visitors is estimated to be between 2.5 and 4 million. While the Cinque Terre is notably popular with hikers, the area also attracts beachgoers, especially during the summer months, and other travelers in general. In the Cinque Terre, you can count on lots of walking up hills or stairs, and a few trains stations include numerous stairs just to enter or exit. Do not underestimate this fact, especially the difficulty in most of the hiking trails.
Beginning with the northernmost location, these villages include Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, and Riomaggiore at its southernmost point. Although a boat trip along the coast presents the most phenomenal scenic views, the best mode of transportation to arrive at the Cinque Terre is the train. It is also the best way to travel between the five villages.
While it’s true that you can hike from village to village, the low coastal trail known as Sentiero Azzurro or Blue Trail is not open in certain spots. Because of an active, long-term closure, this trail cannot be hiked sequentially from end to end. However, other alternative trails higher up in the mountains will allow you to hike all five villages seamlessly. It just will entail more work, harder climbs, and longer distances.
The trail from Manarola to Corniglia remains indefinitely closed due to severe structural instability and landslide damage. Only the first 950 feet on the Manarola side are accessible. The earliest date this is expected to reopen is 2028.
The simplest trail because it is flat is between Riomaggiore and Manarola. Along this walk, known as Via dell’Amore, are padlocks with lovers’ names and initials as symbols of their eternal love for each other. This trail is completely open but highly controlled. The 20-minute one-way walk requires a timed-entry reservation via the Cinque Terre National Park Portal as well as a supplemental fee tacked on to your park card.
The trail from Corniglia to Vernazza is fully open and rewarding for being particularly scenic. Be aware though, that reaching Corniglia from its coastal train station necessitates climbing the 382 steps of the Lardarina stairway, arranged in a zigzag pattern. Or you have the option of taking the shuttle bus, which is timed with train arrivals.
The popular trail from Vernazza to Monterosso remains open with stringent crowd controls. To prevent congestion during high-traffic summer days and peak holiday weekends, this section operates only as a one-way trail from Monterosso to Vernazza between 9:00 am and 2:00 pm.
THE VILLAGES
Monterosso al Mare
The largest village is divided across an older and newer section separated by a tunnel. Beach lovers flock here during the summer, and the numbers of restaurants entice vacationers to spend more time here.
Vernazza
This is yet another beautiful and popular village for the beaches and restaurants. When I hiked here from Monterosso, I was exhausted, but when I suddenly noticed the most breathtaking view of the colorful village below of Vernazza, the grueling hike was totally worth it. How gorgeous it looked with its pastel-colored houses sitting almost on top of one another on a cliff, and a beautiful, green-colored ocean at Vernazza’s shore. Every ache and pain was worth that one scene!
Corniglia
The smallest of the five villages and the only one with no shoreline, has a population of less than 200 people. From its train station there are only two options to reach the hilltop village perched high above the water. It seems less touristy and more residential, which is part of its charm. Corniglia is also famous for its basil-flavored gelato.
Manarola
This is such a lovely village where I’ve sauntered through the streets, enjoyed the people and the shops, and took a lot of photos. The streets are steep and consist of staircases and inclined walkways winding and twisting around the town. It’s very popular as a base or daytrip.
Riomaggiore
In the second largest and southernmost village, you get a sense of a more youthful atmosphere with easy access to the water. Compared to the other villages, Riomaggore offers more activities, tours, and quite a lively nightlife.
The people of the Cinque Terre are resilient and have suffered much damage over the years to their villages. On October 25, 2011, a catastrophic flash flood pummeled the area with 22 inches of rain in 6 hours, causing mudslides that partially buried the villages of Vernazza and Monterosso and took the lives of four locals and five others who were not from those towns. The storm was referred to as the “Flood from Hell.”
Within 6 months both villages were operational and open for the spring tourist season. But it took a full two years for these towns to rebuild infrastructure and to fully recover. It speaks about the resiliency of the people who live in the Cinque Terre.
Have you been thinking of going to the Cimque Terre? Or have you been there? I love feedback, so please leave a comment. Grazie and Ciao
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