The UNESCO World Heritage Site of Cinque Terre consists of 5 fishing villages perched on the coastline of Italy’s Liguria region. Each of the 5 colorful villages have their own unique characteristics and offer something different. This post covers 10 of the best things to in the 5 villages of Cinque Terre.
Note – This post contains affiliate links. When you make a purchase using one of these affiliate links, I get paid a small commission at no extra cost to you.
1. Train Hop from Town to Town
One of the best things to do in Cinque Terre is to visit the 5 villages and you can do this via train. You can easily start on one end and make your way to the other end, exploring each village as you go. The villages are relatively small so you can easily explore most of them in a day or two.
2. Hike the Blue Trail and Beyond
Hiking is not only another one of the best things to do in Cinque Terre is it also one of the best ways to explore the 5 villages and the surrounding areas. You can hike either the main coastal trail which is called the Blue Trail or the upper trail that sits just above it or a combination of these. I wrote a very detailed post about hiking in the Cinque Terre.
You can check it out HERE.
3. Take a Pesto Making Class
Pesto is a regional specialty and is something you must try while in the Cinque Terre. Taking a pesto class is such a fun experience and I highly recommend it. Even if you don’t like to cook (like me!), it’s still a low involvement dish that is easy to make and you can even make it at home once you learn how.
You can take a class at Nessun Dorma in Manarola. This is where I took the class and it was one of the most fun things I did during my entire trip to Italy! They give you so much food and wine and there is even a dance party while making pesto! But if you want a more quieter and authentic experience, you could ask either your hotel or accommodation provider for a recommendation.
4. Drink Local Wine and Visit Wineries
Cinque Terre is surrounded by verdant vineyards and drinking local wines is another top thing to do in Cinque Terre.
Sciacchetrà is the local specialty and is a type of sweet wine that you eat with biscotti. Below are some recommended vineyards but note that you have to trek to get up to them.
- Cantino Cheo
- Cantina Capellini
- Buranco
You can either book these on your own or take a tour like one of the ones listed below:
If you don’t want to visit the vineyard itself, the towns also have wine bars that you can visit. My absolute favorite was Enoteca Da Eliseo in Monterosso. I loved it so much, I visited 3 times! They have a huge selection of wines (and even spritz) and play classical music and Italian arias.
5. Visit Top Rated Restaurants
Cinque Terre is home to some amazing restaurants and some even come with stunning views!
Da Miky – Located on the seafront in Monterosso, Miky is known for its seafood dishes and is on the Michelin Guide.
L’Ancora Della Tortuga – Another restaurant in Monterosso with nice views of the sea. Great for a romantic night out.
Ristorante la Torre – Located in Vernazza, this restaurant is a bit of a trek to get up to from the village center but don’t let that deter you. The views and the food are fully worth it!
6. Eat Local Seafood
It goes without saying but being fishing villages, Cinque Terre has some amazing seafood. Highly recommend trying one of the famous seafood cones at Tutti Fritti in Riomaggiore. It was delicious and very reasonable.
7. Have a Beach Day
Barring Corniglia, all the other 4 villages have ‘beach’ areas where you can jump in the ocean. However, Monterosso is probably the best choice if you are looking for an entire beach day. Monterosso is known to be a beach town and is one of the best places to have a full beach day. It actually has a decent stretch of beach area verses the other towns where the “beach” is technically a rocky area. You can hire a beach chair and umbrella and spend the whole day swimming and relaxing by the sea. The water in this area is also very clear and shallow enough to swim in.
8. Spend a Day or Half Day on a Boat or Go Kayaking
Another great way to see Cinque Terre is actually from the water. Not only is this a fun and relaxing activity but you can also see lots of marine life along the coast if you jump in and snorkel. You could also go kayaking along the coast. I did a boat tour with Cinque Terre dal Mare and it was wonderful. They are located in Riomaggiore and offer both private and group boat tours. During this tour you will see all 5 villages from the coast and be able to jump in to the sea a few times as well. See HERE for the company’s website.
9. Try Food from the Region
I recommended pesto, seafood and wine and you maybe wondering what else Cinque Terre is known for. You also definitely need to try focaccia in Cinque Terre! They have so many different flavors and toppings. Also try anchovies and torta monterossina, a cake that is famous in Monterosso. The best of these can be found at Pasticceria Laura in Monterosso. Another one to try is trofie, which is a short twisted pasta from the Liguria region of Italy.
10. Take a Day tour
Cinque Terre is close to the Italian Riviera and you can easily do a day trip or two from Cinque Terre to Levanto, Santa Margherita Ligure or Portofino. I visited Portofino and really loved it!
See HERE for detailed itinerary for Portofino.
Did you find this post useful? Please let me know by liking/commenting below or sharing this post on social media! Thank you!!
Pin this post for later!
