Photo: Jack Ward / Unsplash
Cinque Terre
Five coloured villages joined by coastal walks.
Five cliffside villages linked by a coastal path and a local train. Beds are cheaper in La Spezia, 10 minutes away.
Places to see
Vernazza harbourSight · A tiny harbour with fishing boats pulled up on the slipway, a church right on the water…Free
Manarola viewpoint (Punta Bonfiglio)Viewpoint · The classic Cinque Terre photo: Manarola's pastel houses stacked on black rock above the…Free
Riomaggiore harbourSight · The southernmost village: tall, narrow houses squeezed into a steep valley around a tiny…Free
When to go
- Jan13° / 5°Some rainQuiet
- Feb14° / 5°Some rainQuiet
- Mar16° / 7°Some rainBusy
- Apr19° / 10°Some rainVery busy
- May23° / 13°Some rainVery busy
- Jun26° / 17°Mostly dryVery busy
- Jul29° / 20°Mostly dryVery busy
- Aug30° / 20°Mostly dryVery busy
Staying and getting around
Good areas to stay
La Spezia. The port town at the end of the line: cheaper beds and food, 10 minutes by train to Riomaggiore.
Monterosso. The biggest village, with the only long sandy beach; easy but pricier to stay.
Riomaggiore. The southern village, a steep main street down to a little harbour.
Flying in
Pisa Galileo Galilei (PSA): PisaMover to Pisa Centrale, then a train to La Spezia, about 1 h 30 min, ≈ A$19.
Genoa (GOA): Bus to Genova Piazza Principe, then a train to La Spezia, about 2 h, ≈ A$26.
Flewaway's estimate for the usual budget way into La Spezia; check times and fares before you fly.
Getting around
You'll need buses or trains. A single ticket is ≈ A$9. A regional train links La Spezia and the villages every 15–30 minutes; single tickets between villages cost much more in busy months (check). Each village is walkable but steep.
Cinque Terre Card (train) (≈ A$56, 1 day): Unlimited trains between La Spezia, the five villages and Levanto, plus the paid coastal paths; worth it for two or more rides and a hike.
