One Day In Cinque Terre Itinerary

Chances are you’ve seen one of these colorful villages over the years. The five small, traditional fishing villages perched on cliffs along Italy’s Ligurian coast has long been on my travel wish list too. Ideally, the best way to see the villages is to stay at one of them at least for a night or two. Since we were short on time, it had to be a day trip. It is doable and this was our one day itinerary in Cinque Terre. 

We were in the Tuscany area last summer using Florence as a base and did  a day trip to explore the Cinque Terre area. It was a very long day but so worth it. I’m more on the side of I would rather visit for a short time than not see a place at all. Being close enough, there was no way I was missing these picturesque UNESCO World Heritage sites. 

We took the train from Florence to the town of La Spezia and then rode the local Cinque Terre Express train. This is the recommended best way to see the villages especially when short on time. Cars are not allowed in the town centers and parking is also limited in the villages. 

The Cinque Terre Express train service runs regularly through the villages between Levanto and La Spezia. It runs every 15 minutes during late March through early November (check specific dates on the website) and once or twice every hour during the winter months. 

It is a better deal to buy the Cinque Terre Train Card (currently costs 18.20 euros for adults, 8.50 for children ages 4-11). If you’re traveling with children, look into the family pack (48 euros) for 2 adults and 2 kids (ages 4-12) for more cost savings. A one-way train ticket costs 5 euros for adults and 2.50 euros for children ages 4-11). Visiting only two of the villages will already recoup your card costs. The card also gives free access to all the Cinque Terre National Park hiking trails. 

Train cards and tickets can be purchased at every train station and some tourist welcome centers. Though, we highly recommend buying the Cinque Terre train card online beforehand to avoid queues and to save you time especially during the summer. Cards are date and name specific when buying online.

Our One-Day Itinerary

I read some tips on other blogs to not follow the crowds when on the Cinque Terre Express train. The train’s first stop from La Spezia is the village of Riomaggiorre. Sure enough, most of the people on the train got off here. We rode the train all the way  to the furthest of the villages which was Monterosso. Tip: Sit on the left side for some dramatic ocean views during the train ride. 

Monterosso al Mare 

We got to Monterosso around 10:30 AM. Known as the “Pearl of the Cinque Terre”, Monterosso is the oldest and the biggest of the villages.  The train stop overlooks the beach area. 

Monterosso has a vast beach area and gave resort town vibes. The promenade had sweeping views of the beaches filled with chair beds and umbrellas. If you need to cool down in the summer, this is the village to hang out. I can also see why people save this for their last stop to enjoy more beach time. 

For the perfect local snack, try one of the villages’ specialty – pesto focaccia bread. We enjoyed the pastries and the bread at Il Massimo della Focaccia which was right under the train station and across from the beach. It was delicious and not overpowering. 

Walk the promenade filled with restaurants and souvenir shops. You can also opt to hang out at the beach. There is a public area and the private ones with all the amenities. There were so many colored umbrellas here.

We followed the promenade going up hill to explore the old town area and found some interesting views along the way. Don’t miss the area behind the La Tortuga restaurant. There was a pathway there that led to an old military bunker and great coastal views. We also passed by the Aurora Tower which was one of the 13 defense watchtowers built around the area. 

Follow the uphill path (go through the short tunnel on the way back) which led to a smaller beach and to the historic town center. The town was a wonderful place for some gelato and souvenirs. The town was filled with many restaurants and shops. There weren’t that many people here during our visit yet. We suspected they were either at the beach or were at the other villages.  

I loved the backdrop of this town with rolling green hills of olives, lemons and grapes. It meets the shimmering waters of the Ligurian Sea.   

The must see attraction here is 13th century San Giovanni Battista or St. John the Baptist church. There was a mass during our visit but we did get to take a quick peek inside to see its ornate black and white marble columns.

Vernazza 

Our next stop was beautiful Vernazza which was a quick four-minute train ride away. We were right in the center of the town as we stepped off the train station. The main walkway was lined with colorful buildings filled with shops and restaurants. With only one way in and out, it got very crowded walking through the town.    

On the left side of the walkway, look out for a small rocky entrance underneath a building. This led us to a small cave that opened into ocean and provided a nice little break from the crowds. 

The walkway led us to a small piazza anchored by a domed church, a small beach and harbor. It was beautiful and so scenic. Go on the short boardwalk that led to a an open area with some seating to admire the ocean and the town behind. 

We didn’t really have a place in mind for lunch. But, we were traveling with my kids and their cousins who are all big Disney fans. The Disney movie, Luca, was inspired by the setting of the Italian Riviera and the Cinque Terre villages and one of the characters was named Bruno. We followed a sign and somehow ended up at Ristorante Belforte. 

We got very lucky with getting a table overlooking the water and spectacular sweeping views of the beach, village and harbor for our group of nine. This actually turned out to be our most unforgettable meal in Italy during our 17 day summer trip. Most of us got some type of seafood pasta and the food was delicious. Prices were reasonable considering the location and ambience. 

Spend some time looking and admiring the town from the harbor area with the fishing boats. If you still have some energy and want this view of Vernazza, there is a pathway behind the church but it is a steep climb. The rest of us were too hot to do this trek so my husband and son took photos for the rest of us. 

Manarola 

Our next stop was the very beautiful village of Manarola via a nine-minute train ride. I was most looking forward to visiting this village because the colorful houses perched on the cliff has been the Cinque Terre postcard picture imprinted in my mind. It did not disappoint.

Emerging from the train station’s tunnel, you can either go up or go down. We chose the latter. Always go towards the water when visiting the villages. This led us to a small plaza area that looked out into a walkway flanked with colorful houses and some fishing boats parked on the street.

Like the others, there were several shops and restaurants that lined the main walkway. But, this one wasn’t as crowded as Vernazza.

The street ended on an overlook of the ocean and several rock outcroppings where quite a number of people were jumping off. Watching all these people “cliff jumping” was quite entertaining and the kids spent some time mesmerized by these strangers.  

There’s a stairway to get down to the water for a swim. If you’re coming here in the summer, bring your swimsuits since this looked like a wonderful spot to cool off in addition to the beaches of Monterosso. 

To get the best views of Manarola, walk up the hill on the right of the viewing area. You can see the popular Nessun Dorma Restaurant where you can dine with one of the best views of the Italian Riviera. Reservations are recommended. 

But, you don’t actually have to go to the restaurant to have this view. Keep following the uphill path and not towards the restaurant to get to Punta Bonfiglio. We were above the restaurant with the same eye-level views of Manarola and that postcard picture I have dreamed of. 

There were several benches on this lookout under the shade to fully enjoy the views. So, grab some sandwiches from town or pack your lunch for a picnic with the iconic Cinque Terre views. For anyone with kids, there was a small children’s playground and a free, clean restroom. The coastal views on the other side are not to be ignored either. 

Riomaggiore

Our last stop was a quick train ride away to Riomaggiore. There were some shops by the train station and a park store. Head towards the blue tunnel which made us feel like we were entering an aquarium. 

Walk towards the water area to the small natural port filled with traditional fishing boats with the colorful stone houses looming over it. The houses were bright, vibrant and stunning especially with some clouds overhead. It was wonderful to be surrounded by all that color as you stand looking out into the ocean. 

You can head towards the rocks on either side of the port to hang out and enjoy the views or to people watch. There were also quite a number of people swimming or just hanging out with their legs in the water. 

Walk uphill on the side road for a panoramic viewpoint and this iconic shot of Riomaggiore. Keep walking further from this lookout point and you’ll find the ferry docking area and a quieter side of the village. 

There was a stairway in the back that led to the rocks where we found a number of people sunbathing and enjoying a different vantage point of Riomaggiore from the rocks. This was a great spot for photos and to hang out and enjoy the water. 

Riomaggiorre also has a town center area with several restaurants and shops. If we were staying here longer, we probably would have ended up at one of the Michelin star restaurants by the harbor. Their menu looked great and was affordable and with unbeatable dining views. 

Our light/early dinner consisted of fried anchovies (a local specialty), fried squid and fried mussels from a place called Mi Va. You can’t miss the eatery with the unmistakeable smell of fried goodies coming from their storefront. The seafood snacks were all delicious and got us through the train ride back to Florence for more pasta dinner over there. 

Riomaggiorre was the perfect ending to our day. Our day trip to Cinque Terre was long, hot and crowded. But, our group all agreed it was so worth it. It lived up to its expectations and it was beyond what I expected. Despite our time crunch, I am so glad we made it happen. Even if you only have a day and even during the busy summer season, you can have an unforgettable experience with some incredible photos and memories of Cinque Terre. 

The Missed Village 

With our time constraint, we had to make some sacrifices. Unfortunately, that was missing the middle town of Corniglia. This village was located on a steep uphill climb from the train station, away from the water and not as easily accessible as the other villages. 

Since we were here in late June and it was scorching hot, we did not want to climb the “Lardarina” – 33 flights with 382 steps. There was also a free shuttle (included with the Cinque Terre card) to bring visitors to the village but I’m not sure how crowded it got and how long the waits would be. 

There’s a reason many of the day tours skip this village too. But, it just gave me another reason to return to the area so we can explore Corniglia in the off season. It looks like it has some of the best panoramic views and the most preserved areas despite its small size. 

Tips for Visiting Cinque Terre in a Day

Book your train. Reserve the train tickets from whatever city you are based on as soon as you have your itinerary. We used Trenitalia for our travels. Our Florence train travel was to/from La Spezia. We left Florence at 7:54 AM and arrived in La Spezia at 9:37 AM. Our return trip was 7:48 PM from La Spezia and arrived Florence at 9:29 PM. These times worked out well for us.

*Get the Cinque Terre Express Train card online. This was such a time saving and hassle free way to get on the trains. We didn’t have to worry about ticket validations and only once did the a train staff check our tickets. The trains are clean and have plenty of seats. 

*Watch your time. If you are here on a day trip, allocate about two hours in each town. Depending on which route you do, pick a village to do lunch and dinner. 

If you’re visiting during the summer, it will be very hot and crowded especially at the trains and trails. Pack your patience. Try traveling during the shoulder or off- season to avoid the crowds. 

Bring a fan, wear a hat and sunscreen and bring a small towel to wet and cool off when visiting during the summer. It is scorching hot!

There are a variety of one day tours from Florence also available. My daughter did one a month before our visit. While it’s perfectly doable to explore the villages on your own, (to start, follow this itinerary) the tours will take all the hassle and worries away. It may allow you to see more places and learn more about the area. 

Wear comfortable shoes. You will be doing a lot of walking and step/stair climbing. 

Other Transportation Options:

Via Ferry – We would have loved to see one or two of the villages from the water. It was a different vantage point but also a bit more pricey (35 euros roundtrip) and not as ideal as the trains.  Look into some of the day tours that do include a ferry ride to one of the villages. 

Via Car – If you have a rental car, it is possible to drive to each town. Though, parking is very limited and there are no cars allowed in the town center areas. Another option would be to drive and park in La Spezia and taking the Cinque Terre Express trains between the villages. 

Hiking Option – The Cinque Terre area is not only the five villages but also Italy’s smallest national park consisting of 3,860 acres. Hiking is an amazing way to enjoy the area and visit the villages especially if you’re staying for more than a day. 

The 7.5-mile Sentiero Azzurro or Blue Trail (SVA on maps) is one of the most popular trails that links the five villages using an old mule path and along some spectacular coastal views. Though, due to previous landslides only two parts of the trail are currently open: Monterosso to Vernazza (1.8 miles) and Vernazza to Corniglia(2.5 miles). Check the xx site for more trails along the Cinque Terre. 

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Check out some of the Cinque Terre tours!

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