Cinque Terre
Terraced vineyards, steep cliffs and fishing villages linked by trails and trains above the Ligurian Sea.
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Cinque Terre is a coastal area in Liguria, in northwest Italy, in the west of La Spezia Province. The name means "Five Lands." The five villages, from north to south, are Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore. They sit on cliffs above the Ligurian Sea, with terraced vineyards climbing the slopes behind them. The national park that covers the coast and hillsides is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, listed in 1997.
The villages date to the 11th century and were part of the Republic of Genoa. Heavy rain in October 2011 caused floods and mudslides that damaged Vernazza and Monterosso. Paths, trains and boats link the villages, and the coastal path is the classic way between them. Food is Ligurian, with pesto, focaccia and seafood. Winters are mild, with average temperatures near +9°C. Summer is the peak season, when visitor numbers can rise to up to ten times the village population and parking is very limited.
Cinque Terre in five
- Buy a Cinque Terre Card for the Blue TrailThe Blue Trail from Monterosso to Vernazza and Corniglia, and the Via dell'Amore between Riomaggiore and Manarola, need a Cinque Terre Card. Prices rise on high-demand days.Cinque Terre National Park
- Use the train between villagesRegional trains between La Spezia and Levanto stop at all five villages. The hop between neighboring villages takes only a few minutes.
- Leave the car in La Spezia or LevantoThe villages have little parking and narrow access roads. Arrive by train, and base in La Spezia or Levanto if village rooms are full.La Spezia
- Check which trails are openLandslides can close trail sections for months at a time. Check the park's trail status before you set out.
- Pick the village by what you needMonterosso has the beach and the most rooms. Vernazza and Manarola are the postcard stops, and Corniglia sits high above the sea, reached by steep steps from the station.Vernazza
Neighborhoods
Monterosso al Mare
- Best for: Beaches, rail and boat links
- Price band: $$
- Station in Fegina, with the widest beaches
- Some InterCity trains stop at Monterosso
- Boats to Portovenere, Levanto and Lerici in season
Skip if you want a small harbour village with a compact centre.
Vernazza
- Best for: Harbour views, first visit
- Price band: $$$
- Inlet harbour, sheltered since the Genoa era
- Parking is very limited; walk down to the centre
- Scenic walkway along the hillside to Corniglia
Skip if you plan to drive in and park near the centre.
Corniglia
- Best for: Quiet stays, honey gelato
- Price band: $
- No boat landing: the only village off the coast
- Lardarina stairway with 382 steps, or the road
- Miele di Corniglia gelato, made with local honey
Skip if you want to step straight down to the sea.
Manarola
- Best for: Sea views, Via dell'Amore walk
- Price band: $$
- One main street built over a covered stream
- Via dell'Amore walk links it to Riomaggiore
- Trails can close after landslides; check status
Skip if you want a larger village with more choice.
Riomaggiore
- Best for: History, anchovies, Via dell'Amore start
- Price band: $$
- Easternmost village; centre from the 13th century
- Via dell'Amore starts here, toward Manarola
- Salted anchovies are a local speciality
Skip if you want the widest beaches; those are in Monterosso.
Things to do in Cinque Terre
See all attractions in Cinque Terre
Need to know
- Airport
- Pisa (PSA) or Genoa (GOA), about 1.5 hours by train
- Getting there
- Train to La Spezia Centrale or Levanto
- Getting around
- Local trains and trails; ferries in season
- Best base
- A village for evenings, La Spezia for price
- Time needed
- 2–3 days
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryPartly cloudy12 rainy daysHigh11°Low6°Quiet, coolJanuaryPartly cloudy
Poor
- High
- 11°
- Low
- 6°
- Precipitation
- 123 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Quiet, cool
- FebruaryPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh12°Low7°Quiet, coolFebruaryPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 12°
- Low
- 7°
- Precipitation
- 127 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Quiet, cool
- MarchPartly cloudy12 rainy daysHigh14°Low8°Trails quietMarchPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 14°
- Low
- 8°
- Precipitation
- 118 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Trails quiet
- AprilPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh16°Low10°Hiking weatherAprilPartly cloudy
Good
- High
- 16°
- Low
- 10°
- Precipitation
- 92 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hiking weather
- MayRain13 rainy daysHigh19°Low14°Warm, busyMayRain
Good
- High
- 19°
- Low
- 14°
- Precipitation
- 118 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, busy
- JuneClear9 rainy daysHigh24°Low18°SwimmingJuneClear
Best
- High
- 24°
- Low
- 18°
- Precipitation
- 59 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Swimming
- JulyClear6 rainy daysHigh27°Low21°Hot, crowdedJulyClear
Best
- High
- 27°
- Low
- 21°
- Precipitation
- 42 mm
- Rainy days
- 6
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, crowded
- AugustClear8 rainy daysHigh28°Low21°Hottest, crowdedAugustClear
Best
- High
- 28°
- Low
- 21°
- Precipitation
- 86 mm
- Rainy days
- 8
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hottest, crowded
- SeptemberPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh24°Low17°Warm seaSeptemberPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 24°
- Low
- 17°
- Precipitation
- 134 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm sea
- OctoberRain12 rainy daysHigh19°Low14°Rain riskOctoberRain
Mixed
- High
- 19°
- Low
- 14°
- Precipitation
- 219 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Rain risk
- NovemberRain14 rainy daysHigh15°Low10°WettestNovemberRain
Poor
- High
- 15°
- Low
- 10°
- Precipitation
- 188 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Wettest
- DecemberRain13 rainy daysHigh12°Low7°Quiet, coolDecemberRain
Poor
- High
- 12°
- Low
- 7°
- Precipitation
- 146 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Quiet, cool
Average daily high and low in La Spezia, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Cinque Terre
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
16
- Feels like
- 10°
- Humidity
- 56%
- Wind
- 28 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 0%
Corniglia
09:37 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today17°11°0%Monday: Cloudy. High 17°, Low 11°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Tue18°13°3%Tuesday: Cloudy. High 18°, Low 13°. Chance of rain 3%.
- Wed17°10°6%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 17°, Low 10°. Chance of rain 6%.
- Thu19°11°8%Thursday: Cloudy. High 19°, Low 11°. Chance of rain 8%.
- Fri17°10°23%Friday: Rain. High 17°, Low 10°. Chance of rain 23%.
- Sat15°11°17%Saturday: Rain. High 15°, Low 11°. Chance of rain 17%.
- Sun16°8°44%Sunday: Rain. High 16°, Low 8°. Chance of rain 44%.
Updated 06:45 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Every year
- Feb–MarCarnival of ViareggioLucca, a day trip
- Jul–AugFestival PucciniPisa, a day trip
Before you go to Cinque Terre
We may earn a commission. It never decides our picks.
Rules for Cinque Terre, checked
- Blue Trail (Monterosso–Vernazza–Corniglia) and Via dell'Amore: Cinque Terre Trekking Card required, with higher prices on high-demand daysChecked Oct 1, 2026 · Source
Plan around Cinque Terre
Regions, rail, entry rules and money
Read the guideMonterossoThe beach village with the most rooms
Read the guideVernazzaThe harbor village and its castle tower
Read the guideManarolaVineyard terraces and the classic sunset view
Read the guideLa SpeziaThe gateway city for trains, ferries and cheaper rooms
Read the guideItaly by train off-peakA route that avoids the summer rush
Read the guideIs a Eurail pass worth it?Price your Italian trains first
Read the guideCinque Terre FAQ
Do you need a ticket to hike Cinque Terre?
For the Blue Trail between Monterosso, Vernazza and Corniglia, and the Via dell'Amore, yes: a Cinque Terre Card. Many higher trails are free.
How many days do you need in Cinque Terre?
Two days lets you walk one trail section and see all five villages by train. Stay three to hike more and enjoy the evenings after day visitors leave.
Which village is best to stay in?
Monterosso has the beach and the most rooms, Vernazza and Manarola the classic views. La Spezia is cheaper and a short train ride away.
When is the best time to visit Cinque Terre?
April to June and late September for hiking weather and sea. July and August are hot and crowded, and autumn rain can close trail sections, so check the park's trail status.
Can you visit Cinque Terre as a day trip?
Yes, from Pisa or Florence, but the day gets long: Pisa to La Spezia is about an hour by train, and Florence about 2 to 2.5 hours with a change. A night in a village gives you the calm evenings.