Cinque Terre
Three-Day
Itinerary
An Altogether Pretty
Perfect Three Days
DAY 1:
Riomaggiore + sunset boat cruise with Cinque Terre dal Mare
Your home base for visiting the Cinque Terre is Riomaggiore – a beautiful, quaint town with a picture perfect pedestrian historical center. It’s the first of the Cinque Terre villages, so whether you’re arriving by car or by train, we’re the easiest to access from La Spezia.
Stay in our dreamy sea view apartments (Casa Giardi – The Upper House) or relax in our accommodations in the heart of the village (J&K) for a no stress stay. As we take care of the details, you’ll see the difference right away : No getting lost, no frustrating keys and no language barriers. I’ll help you personalize your stay to ensure it’s extra special.
After putting your bags in your room, have lunch in the marina (I can book this for you beforehand.). Sit on the restaurant terrace with a gorgeous view of the water and dive into your beautiful plate of spaghetti ai frutti di mare… or a Ligurian classic, pasta al pesto.
After lunch, take a walk around Riomaggiore to get acquainted. Get the lay of the land — the churches, the piazzas. If you follow my directions, you’ll end up at the train station (where there’s also the start of the via dell’Amore). Stop for drinks at A Pie de Ma: the views are unbelievable.
As our guest, you’ll have unlimited access to the via dell’Amore so if there’s time, take your first stroll on the newly remodeled sea view path to Manarola . And if there isn’t, don’t worry, once you purchase your tickets, link to tourist resident 5t card, Via Dell’Amore you’ll have access to it every day from 7am to 1am.
After the walk around, go back to your room and get ready for your sunset boat tour. I’ll book your spots beforehand so they’re secured (yes, we do sell out).
With our top notch crew, local white wine and a beautiful swim at sun down, this will be your favorite Cinque Terre experience.
(If you prefer a private or day tour, let me know and we’ll sort that in your customized itinerary).
DAY 2:
Corniglia, Vernazza and Monterosso (Blue Trails)
Get your Cinque Terre cards ready.
In the high season (May-September) take advantage of waking up in the Cinque Terre – Start your day early to beat the heat and the crowds. You’ll hate me in the morning, but you’ll thank me when you see the hoards of people at 11am (while you’ll be relaxed at the beach.)
Whether you start the hike from Corniglia or from Monterosso is up to you. (I don’t think that one way is significantly easier than the other).
- If you want to snag sun chairs at the beach, end your hike in Monterosso (ideally at 9am).
- Corniglia is the smallest town that sits up on a cliff. Remember, from the train station, there are 400 steps up to the village (aka, trailhead). You can also get up to the town utilizing the village bus for free with your Cinque Terre card.
- Bring water with you and wear good shoes.
After the beach in Monterosso, stop by Manarola for an aperitivo at the cliffside bar “Nessun Dorma”. While you wait for your train in Monterosso, you can even pre-book your spots online (through their app).
Stroll back home on the via dell’Amore.
DAY 3:
Riomaggiore, Manarola and Corniglia (Red Trails – the alternate routes to the closed Blue Trails)
- If your calves aren’t screaming at you this morning and you’re up for a different hike, you have two options:
- Manarola-Volastra-Cornigia
- Riomaggiore – Portovenere (5 hours one way)
Otherwise, (pre)book a fun experience! Here are some ideas:
- Kayak tour or rental (more for the adventure type, but no prior experience necessary). Explore caves, swim at secluded beaches and crystalline natural pools where you’ll escape the busy crowds.Duration: 1.5 hours.
- Cooking class (lunch or dinner) : Learn to make pasta, pesto and tiramisu from a local (menu will vary depending on class – our guests get a reduced rate, so ask if you’re interested). Small groups and so, so much fun.Duration: 3+ hours.
- Wine Tour: Walk through the historic terraced vineyards with stunning cliffside views of Riomaggiore. Wine is a crucial part of history of the Cinque Terre : Learn about local production and enjoy wine tastings with local growers.
*We recommend at least 2-3 nights in the Cinque Terre. If you have booked a shorter/longer stay, once you’re confirmed with us, we’ll personalize your itinerary.
More hikes:
