Who has never dreamt of traveling to the colorful seaside villages of Cinque Terre, Italy? Here are the best things to do in Cinque Terre in two days.
It’s no surprise Italy is among the first destinations to travel to post Covid 19 for many world travelers. This place is all over the web for good reason : Cinque Terre National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage site.
This european country is the fifth most visited country in the world, with 65 millions international tourists arrivals in 2019. That beautiful land in the shape of a heeled boot has so much to offer, both culturally and naturally.
From the impressive architecture of Rome, incredible lake Como in the north countryside or the yummy lemons of the Amalfi Coast, your Italy road trip will already be pretty full.
But we guarantee you one thing : your two days in Cinque Terre will be the highlight of the trip.
To help you make the most of your 2 days in Cinque Terre, we’ve got you covered. Here’s a complete Cinque Terre itinerary, along with as many tips as possible regarding where to stay, eat, explore and chill.
What is Cinque Terre?
The Cinque Terre are a collection of five picturesque seaside villages on the Ligurian coast in Italy. Located in the northwest region, those famous small towns can be found between Levanto and La Spezia.
They are known for their colorful houses in the middle of nature and the Mediterranean sea.
From north to south, the Cinque Terre towns are respectively called Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore. Portovenere, located right after Riomaggiore, is considered to be the “sixth village of the Cinque Terre“.
How many days do you need in Cinque Terre?
That is the one thousand dollar question, because you can find all kinds of articles online : Cinque Terre itinerary 3 days, Cinque Terre itinerary 2 days or even Cinque Terre itinerary 1 day…
But is a day trip to cinque terre worth it? Definitely! It totally depends on how deep you want to explore each village.
If you choose a Cinque Terre one day itinerary, you can spend a few hours in each village.
To explore each village more in depth, we recommend a Cinque Terre two day itinerary. To do some more hiking or beach days, you can stay longer.
What is the best way to explore Cinque Terre?
Cinque Terre by train
The absolute best way to go around Cinque Terre is by train. The Cinque Terre train route going from La Spezia to Levanto Sestri Levante stops at each village. It runs approximately 4 times an hour.
Be careful with the Cinque Terre train route map though. If you’re navigating from La Spezia, you should always take the train to Sestri Levante and not Levanto because the one to Levanto doesn’t stop at the Cinque Terre villages.
The Cinque Terre Treno MS card costs 16€ ($18 USD) for one day, or 29€ ($34 USD) for two days. This price includes the access to all the trail paths of the Cinque Terre.
Cinque Terre by boat
Travelling between the different villages by ferry is actually an excellent idea because you’ll get to see all the colorful houses from the sea without paying for a private boat tour.
It’s free for children under 6 years old, 27€ ($31 USD) for one day unlimited tours in the Cinque Terre only, and 35€ ($41 USD) for one day of unlimited tours in the Cinque Terre from La Spezia and Portovenere as well.
🛶 Another fun thing to is is kayaking in Cinque Terre! Seeing those colorful villages from the sea is an experience like no ther.
Cinque Terre by foot
If you’re the sporty kind, you can do the Cinque Terre walking route. All the villages are connected by a hiking trail called the Blue Trail. But how long to walk the Cinque Terre?
This famous path going from Riomaggiore to Monterosso is 11 kilometers long and takes about six hours. It takes time as it is a mountain trail, with a lot of uphill and downhill.
However, the part between Corniglia and Riomaggiore has been closed for quite a long time. In 2021, we were told it should reopen anytime soon but for now, you can take alternative trails if you want to travel Cinque Terre only by foot. The open part between Monterosso and Vernazza is 3.6km (approximately 1h45) and Vernazza to Corniglia is 3.2km (1h30).
If you don’t have the train card, you’ll need to pay for the Cinque Terre trekking card to access the different trails. It costs 7.50€ ($9 USD) for one day and 14.50€ ($17 USD) for two days.
Are cars allowed in Cinque Terre?
You can’t drive in most areas of Cinque Terre. So if you’re in the middle of a road trip, we highly recommend leaving your car outside of the Cinque Terre towns. The best place to park near Cinque Terre is at La Spezia, the train stop before the national park.
You can park for free at Piazza d’Armi, near the Museo Navale, or for 0,75€ (less than $1 USD) per hour in the street of Via Antonio Gramsci. As many tourists park in La Spezia before taking the train, you should go early to secure a spot!
Is Cinque Terre worth visiting?
Cinque Terre is one of the best places to travel to in Italy because it delivers very unique landscapes, connecting the sea, nature and the city. You can’t find a similar place anywhere else in the world. So yeah, a Cinque Terre Italy itinerary will blow your mind and it’s a must do.
What to do in Cinque Terre for two days?
After visiting all the area, here’s the best Cinque Terre route map you could possibly find. I even added a bonus visit if you have time at the end of your two days in Cinque Terre itinerary.
First day in Cinque Terre
During the first day of your Cinque Terre trip, you’ll get to explore three of the five famous towns. You’ll travel by train and do a portion of the legendary hike along the coast that connects all the Cinque Terre.
Corniglia
You can start your visit of Cinque Terre by the central village of Corniglia. Perched on top of a mountain, it is the only village that does not have direct access to the sea. This particularity makes it quite unique and offers sublime views of the sea.
There are only 150 people who live there, which also makes it the smallest village of the Cinque Terre. To access it, you’ll need to take the train to the Corniglia station at sea level, walk a few minutes and then climb 382 steps to the top. It’s called the Scalinata Lardarina.
We garantee you it’s very worth it as the village has a lot of small and cute streets to explore. If you can’t climb the Corniglia stairs for some reason, there’s a shuttle bus waiting outside the station to drive people to the top.
Once you reach the top, we strongly advise you to wander around and to go to all the small streets you can possibly find! You can also do some shopping, taste their delicious pistachio ice creams or enjoy the sun at Corniglia viewpoint, near the bar Terza Terra.
Cinque Terre Blue Trail : Corniglia to Vernazza hike
Cinque Terre is perfect for experienced hikers, but also for Sunday hikers (people who aren’t the sporty kind). The Blue Trail is 12 kilometers long, but you don’t have to do it all and the part between Riomaggiore and Corniglia is closed due to some landslides.
However, you can easily enjoy the rest of the trail and we strongly advise you to walk from Corniglia to Vernazza after your Corniglia visit in the morning. For one hour and a half, you’ll get to walk on a beautiful mediterranean path with a strong forest smell, surrounded by olive trees. When leaving Corniglia and arriving in Vernazza, you’ll witness wonderful colorful village views.
Vernazza
To separate the 3 hour hike into two parts, we advise you to stop off in the beautiful town of Vernazza. This fishermen village looks like a postcard. Its small pebble beach surrounded by colorful seaside cafes and restaurants seems frozen in time.
You can have a dip in the blue water of Vernazza Beach and a well deserved lunch at one of its many restaurants. Then, you can scroll around in the village to discover more about it, like the Doria Castle.
Cinque Terre Blue Path : Vernazza to Monterosso hike
After recharging your batteries and your stomach, you can start the second part of the blue trail, which is the famous Vernazza to Monterosso hike! This one is 3.6 kilometers long, and it should take you around 1 hour and 45 minutes with some water breaks. It takes longer than a straight road because of all the ups and downs, but it’s very worth it.
Monterosso al Mare
Finally, enjoy a swim in the blue water of the biggest beach of all Cinque Terre : Monterosso Beach! This long sandy beach is what attracts many tourists in Monterosso. However, do not expect a wild beach ; 90% of it is occupied by deckchairs!
If you’re looking for some free space for your towel, go to the very left of the beach. Depending on the weather, the waves might be too strong for you to swim in it safely. But even if the beach is the only thing you can see when you arrive at the Monterosso station, don’t be fooled. It also has the cutest town at the far left of the beach when you’re facing it.
It has a market in the morning and many restaurants. You can definitely visit it, buy some souvenirs and eat a nice dinner. It is also animated at night as many tourists are staying in one of Monterosso hotels.
Second day in Cinque Terre
The first day of the itinerary was a bit intense, so the second day of this Cinque Terre itinerary will be much more relaxed. Instead of taking the train, we advise you to book an unlimited one day ferry ticket! This way, you’ll be able to see the last two Cinque Terre and more from the sea as well. You can either take the ferry or book a private boat tour and take the train on the second day too.
Riomaggiore
Riomaggiore is the closest Cinque Terre to La Spezia. It is a former fishermen village and is now home to 1542 locals. This one delivers picturesque views on the multi-colored houses stacked on the rocks. Depending on the point of view, you’ll feel like they’re literally built on each other, it’s very impressive.
You can wander and go down the main street toward the port, take some pictures without too many tourists in the background and have an ice cream. Then, you can eat lunch at one of the Riomaggiore restaurants with a view.
For instance, the bar and italian cuisine restaurant called Bar e Vini a Piè de Mà overlooks the sea and cliffs. You’ll see the terrace from the train station when arriving. You can also eat at a Trattoria, the typical italian restaurant.
Cinque Terre boat tour
Seeing the Cinque Terre villages from the sea is definitely something else, and a must do. You can either choose to go to all the towns with your one day ferry ticket, and book a private boat tour online.
The ferry ticket will cost less than a private boat tour, but you’ll be with more people and only follow the route of the ferry between each town. In both cases, you should try to see each of the five villages from the sea.
Manarola
Here comes the time to visit Manarola, the favorite village of many travelers… for good reasons! Manarola is fully nestled on a rock 70 metres above sea level. The rest of the village is built among vine plantation of different levels.
What makes it the most charming village of the Cinque Terre is the unreal viewpoint from above on the colorful Manarola houses, on a rock surrounded by water. The panoramic view is breathtaking.
Things to do in Manarola
You can do pretty much everything you’d like to in Manarola : swim, sun bath, jump in the water, wander in the streets, drink and eat well. First, I’d say go to the right part of the station when you arrive, explore the area and get lost in the small paved paths ascending to the heights of the city.
Speaking about views, there’s one special place you absolutely must go to for sunset : the path going up facing the houses on the rock. It’s easy to get to, you turn left when you arrive at the station and you go straight for about five minutes. It’s where everyone is sunbathing and taking pictures, contemplating the scenic view.
Nessun Dorma Manarola
Located on this small hill, you’ll find only one bar and tapas restaurant called the Nessun Dorma. This place truly is the only bar with a view on the village, so it’s really packed and you’ll need to queue to get a ticket, and then wait to get a table corresponding to the number on your ticket. So you should plan your time accordingly because yes, it’s worth it!
Manarola sunset
Seeing the sunset in Manarola on the hill is an absolute must do in Cinque Terre. It will be the highlight of your trip without a doubt, and it doesn’t matter if you’re seated at Nessun Dorma or just in the path of the hill ; the magic remains the same!
In order not to miss it, you should book a table at a restaurant before or after the time of the sunset, depending on the season of the year. It’ll be very worth delaying the dinner, you’ll see.
Manarola restaurants
For dinner, you should either stay in Nessun Dorma to eat tapas or book a table in one of the restaurants overlooking terraces in the main town! It’s a bit further from the swimming area but still very pretty.
However, there are not as many restaurants in Manarola as there should be considering the tourists invasion. You don’t want to be left with nothing right? This town is where you can eat at the restaurant with the best view you’ve ever had.
We recommend La Regina di Manarola, a brand new terrace restaurant built on four levels of former vine plantations. They serve excellent italian food, like pizza and pasta, and have wonderful flowers and modern decorations. The staff is really nice and goes out of their way to meet everyone’s requests.
We heard about la Trattoria dal Billy as well, but it was full so we couldn’t try it ourselves. This hillside restaurant serves lobster, pasta and typical high standing italian food. You should expect to spend a little more money than the average italian trattoria.
If you have more time…
You loved Cinque Terre so much that you decided to stay another day, but you already explored the main five towns? Don’t worry, the area got some more in stock, there are many things to do near Cinque Terre.
The beautiful Porto Venere is considered to be the sixth village of Cinque Terre. It’s beautiful and way less crowded… Porto Venere is layered by history and mesmerising views. You can explore more than the main town and get lost in nature, along the cliffs.
Best time to visit Cinque Terre
Cinque Terre is very unique, but it’s also known to be very crowded. July and August are the months with the most tourists and the hottest weather. The Blue trail is open from April to October, so the best months to visit Cinque Terre while avoiding the crowds would be April and October, and then May, June and September. Here’s a month by month comparison.
Is Cinque Terre expensive?
Two days in Cinque Terre will cost you more than a trip to most italian cities. It is beautiful and attracts about 2.5 millions tourists each year. The different villages are also quite far from the main roads so it costs more to supply them.
With that in mind, you should expect to pay around 80€ ($94 USD) per day if you’re the budget or mid-range traveler. You can find a double hotel room for around 60€ to 200€ ($70 to $235 USD), a full meal for 13 to 25€ ($15 to $30 USD) and an unlimited daily train ticket for 16€ ($18 USD). To that, you can add parking if you have a car.
How to get to Cinque Terre?
How to get to Cinque Terre from Genoa?
Getting to Cinque Terre from Genoa is extremely easy because the train that is running between the five villages also goes to Genoa. It means you can take the train directly from Genoa and arrive in the picturesque village of your choice. It lasts one hour and costs about 9€ ($10 USD) if you book in advance. The trip is also doable by car in 1h30.
How to go to Cinque Terre from Florence?
The road from Florence to Cinque Terre is about 2h30. There are no direct trains between Florence and the Cinque Terre villages, but around 18 trains departing from Florence per day that can get you there with one change.
How to get to Cinque Terre from Rome?
To get to Cinque Terre from Rome, you can either drive 5 hours by car or take a train to La Spezia, which lasts around 3 hours. This trip duration makes a day trip difficult, but still doable if you’re motivated!
Where to stay in Cinque Terre?
Cinque Terre hotels
Staying in one of the five villages of Cinque Terre is obviously much more convenient to get around. You’ll save time on transport and, somehow, money on parking if you travel by train or foot. However, there are not many hostels and budget hotels so you’ll need to book very early to get a bargain, or break the bank for a room with a view!
Countryside
If you travel to Cinque Terre on a budget, you might want to move a bit away from the coastline and a bit more in the mountains and countryside to find good hotel deals. We stayed in the beautiful small town of Corvara, at Hotel Paese Corvara. It’s also a good way to get away from the crowds and hear the birds when you wake up. A room at Hotel Paese costs about 70€, breakfast included!
La Spezia accommodation
If we knew more about the area, we would have stayed in La Spezia. It’s the departure point of all the trains to Cinque Terre and it’s also a very animated city. The Via Del Prione and Via Fume streets have lots of restaurants and bars, and we felt really safe walking around at night to get to our parked car. Staying in La Spezia instead of Cinque Terre will save you money while being really convenient.
Sestri Levante hotels
If you find a good hotel in Sestri Levante, it’s a great location too as it’s the other departing/arriving point of all the trains to Cinque Terre. It might be a bit cheaper than Cinque Terre accommodation, but a bit more expensive than La Spezia.
Genoa
As you read earlier, trains from Genoa to Cinque Terre are only about 10€ and one hour long. It makes the day trip very affordable and convenient as you don’t need to book an accommodation directly in the expensive area of Cinque Terre.
We hope this two days in Cinque Terre itinerary answered all your questions. Make the most of your trip : eat yummy italian food, witness picturesque views that you thought only existed in your dreams and do some wonderful hiking alongside the sea. Not sure you can afford it yet? Check out the 34 ways to travel with no money that ALL work!
