Cinque Terre in 2-3 Days
Trip Overview
I designed this 2-3 Day itinerary so that you can explore, relax and never feel rushed, despite the hustle and bustle of these villages. It's easy to customize your trip as well, feel free to pick and choose what you'd like to do best according to your interests.
Day 1
Wake up in Monterosso al Mare (sleep there the night before). Go to the beach first thing in the morning before it gets crowded! Wear your waterproof shoes/ sandals if you want to stroll along the beach because it’s covered in rocks rather than sand. Spend a few hours enjoying dolce far niente (the sweetness of doing nothing) by renting an umbrella and chair right on the beach. Grab lunch at Pizzeria Da Ely and roam the colorful village, being sure to pass by Parrocchia di S. Giovanni Battista, a 14th-century church featuring a Gothic facade with black and white marble stripes! After lunch, take the train to Manarola for happy hour and then head to Vernazza for sunset.
Day 2
Start your day in Vernazza and hike the front side of the village. Go to Corniglia for lunch. End your day with sunset and pizza on the rocks in Riomaggiore.
Day 3
Take one last early morning dip in Monterosso, enjoy a coffee/ breakfast with a view. Consider taking a cooking class or going on a sunset boat tour - or simple enjoy the day in your favorite village!
Where to Stay
First things first, where should you stay? Below are a few of my favorite places to stay, I've been to them all and 10/10 recommend!
The apartment below is my personal favorite because it's just a 5 minute walk to the beach, so if you'd like to enjoy an early morning swim and beat the crowds, this place is for you!
The second apartment included below is another wonderful choice. The view from your private terrace of the Vernazza harbor is stunning. This place is an absolute treat and I definitely recommend it!
Last but certainly not least, another favorite stay is in the heart of Riomaggiore (see below). The location is just perfect and the apartment is very cozy!
Itinerary Details
DAY 1
🌊 Start your day with an early morning stroll / swim in Monterosso al mare
🍽️ Grab lunch at Ristorante Pizzeria Da Ely. I recommend trying Farinata di Ceci - a Cinque Terre specialty! It consists of olive oil, salt, water, and chickpea flour.
🚶Enjoy a stroll around the colorful village and be sure to pass by Parrocchia di S. Giovanni Battista, a 14th-century church featuring a Gothic facade with black and white marble stripes!
🚿 Take a quick break at your airbnb to shower/ change. Download the nessun dorma app so you can make a reservation for happy hour
🚞 Take the train to the second village of this trip, Manarola. At the train station, inquire in the Welcome Center about a 2 or 3 day train pass to save you money (and time!)
📲 When you arrive to Manarola, be sure to open the nessun dorma app and reserve your spot.
Depending on the time of year/ how busy it is, you can wait an hour or more. Explore the village in the meantime, grab an gelato at Gelateria Sorbetteria and walk up to the viewpoint that overlooks the village for the best views 👀
🌅 After a delicious appitizer/ happy hour at Nessun Dorma, it’s time to head to Vernazza for sunset. Hike to the view of the back of the village, which means the hike will start on your left side as you're walking down to the harbor. Feel free to ask someone at the train station Welcome Center about the exact starting point as the street is not labeled well! After sunset, grab dinner at Blue Marlin Bar - the pesto is to die for!
DAY 2
🚤 Start your day in the harbor of Vernazza and enjoy the stunning views of the village in the peaceful morning light. Hike up to the viewpoint of the front of the village (the turn to go up will be on your left side as you walk away from the harbor, if you have trouble spotting it, just ask!)
🥾👀 Enjoy the stunning view of Vernazza from above, snap some photos and then make your way back to the train station. It’s time to explore a new village — Corniglia for lunch.
🍇 Corniglia is the only village not connected to the sea, so once you get to the train station you’ll have to catch the free shuttle bus to the village. Alternatively, you can walk, but it’s a TON of steps 🥵. Grab lunch and enjoy the unique views from this village high in the hilltops!
🍕End your day with sunset and pizza on the rocks in Riomaggiore. Be sure to head to Riomaggiore around 2 hours before sunset because the rocks tend to get crowded at sunset time. As soon as you exit the train station, head to Pizza Kepris and order pizza to go. I personally recommend the Riomaggiore — it is topped with a pesto sauce that is so good!
🪨🌅 Take your pizza and head to the rocks. To get there, walk down towards the harbor and stay to the left. You’ll walk up the steps to a point where people usually take photos to the village (be sure to sock in this stunning vantage point for a moment, too!)
Keep walking and you’ll see stairs that take you down to the rocks. Carefully make your way out on the rocks to your favorite spot and enjoy your pizza and the sunset view wirh Riomaggiore in the distance. Seriously so dreamy!
DAY 3
Take one last early morning dip in Monterosso, enjoy a coffee/ breakfast with a view. Consider taking a cooking class or going on a sunset boat tour - or simply enjoy the day in your favorite village!
One of my favorite places to find unique experiences when I travel is on airbnb. Head to airbnb experiences and search for a boat tour (sunset private boat tour to the 5 villages anyone?) or cooking classes in Cinque Terre.
There are some great options! I would consider planning and booking this ahead of time just to be sure there is availability, especially if you are traveling in the high season.
Have questions?
Let's hop on a call together, I'd be thrilled to answer your questions and help you plan your trip!
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