Embark on a serene seven-day journey through Cinque Terre, immersing yourself in the tranquility of slow travel along the Italian Riviera. Spend leisurely days exploring the colorful villages, hiking scenic trails for the adventurous, and savoring local cuisine. Take time to unwind on sandy beaches, admire panoramic views of the Ligurian Sea, and embrace the laid-back atmosphere of the coast. With each passing day, let the beauty of Cinque Terre envelop you, offering a peaceful escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.
Itinerary
For the closest airport to the Cinque Terre, fly into Pisa Airport.
Take the Pisa Mover Train from the airport to the train station, Pisa Centrale.
Hop on a train from Pisa Centrale to La Spezia.
Switch trains in La Spezia and get on the Cinque Terre Express.
Arrive in Levanto, a town just one stop after the Cinque Terre. This cute little town is more relaxing due to being a bit larger and spread out, along with sporting much less tourists.
After settling in, you are sure to be hungry. Dinner tonight will be at a beautiful restaurant in town.
After dinner, head right around the corner to a quaint wine bar for a drink.
Take a peaceful stroll back to your room in the Italian Riviera.
Head to our recommended local cafe or bakery for a great start to your day. For a quick traditional meal, enjoy a local fresh baked good and an espresso.
Today you will be exploring the Cinque Terre by water, on a small group boat tour.
Catch a short train ride to Monterosso to meet your boat and guide, providing a tour taking 2-3 hours. Sunset tours are also available.
When returning from your boat tour, you will probably be hungry, and Monterosso has a few great places. Eat lunch in the old town, also giving you a chance to explore.
Take a short walk to a local winery to relax in a beautiful atmosphere with a wine tasting.
Walk along the beach before returning to Levanto by train to head to dinner.
Head to dinner at a great seafood restaurant with a unique atmosphere.
If you want to extend your night out past dinner, there are a few great bars in town to check out.
Head to our recommended local cafe or bakery for a great start to your day. For a quick traditional meal, enjoy a local fresh baked good and an espresso.
Catch the train to the beautiful town of Riomaggiore, taking about 26 minutes. Walk through the tunnel that runs alongside the train to get to the rest of the town, separate from the train station.
Explore the town, beginning your exploration by walking through the village’s main street, Via Colombo, lined with shops, restaurants, and cafes. Admire the architecture and the vibrant colors filling the town. Don’t miss the Church of San Giovanni Battista, dating back to the 14th century, known for its Gothic-Ligurian style. Some other things to see are the marina, and for those willing to take on a long climb, the Castle of Riomaggiore. It is worth the climb, if just for the view of the coast.
Head back to the train platform to grab some lunch at a great pizzeria.
After lunch, take the hike from Riomaggiore to Manarola, taking about 30 minutes. Make sure to take Via Dell Amore and not Via Beccara, unless you want a more difficult hike, rewarding you with different views. The entrance to the path is not far from the pizzeria.
Explore Manarola, namely the marina and the town. You can swim and view fish or jump off the large rock at varying heights. When near the water, continue around the path to get a beautiful view of the town. Part way up the main street will be a set of stairs on the left. This set of stairs takes you to a path through the vineyards.
After getting your fill of Manarola, head back to Levanto for dinner at a beautiful local restaurant dedicated to quality.
Head to our recommended local cafe or bakery for a great start to your day. For a quick traditional meal, enjoy a local fresh baked good and an espresso.
Hop on the train to take a short ride to Corniglia, exploring the beautiful town perched atop the cliffs. After hopping off the train, you will walk through the pedestrian tunnel to the town. A few things to see in town are of course the beautiful buildings with narrow winding streets, terraced vineyards, hiking trails, and you guessed it, a 14th century church. You could get a meal in town, but many cater to tourists, meaning less authenticity, so opt for our recommendation in Vernazza instead.
Head to Vernazza by getting on the train, taking a very short ride.
Have lunch at a great place for some seafood in Vernazza. It is a small place, so you may have to settle for take away if a table is not available, but there are many beautiful places to take your food and sit in the harbor.
Some things to see in Vernazza include exploring the harbor and waterfront, visiting Doria Castle, seeing the Church of Santa Margherita d’Antiochia, hiking the trails, dining at local restaurants, shopping for souvenirs, and visiting wineries.
To catch restaurants that do not cater to tourists as much as the 5 towns for which the Cinque Terre is named, we have our guests eat most meals in Levanto. While still a tourist town for the Italian Riviera, it will have a larger concentration of Italians, leading to a higher quality food as they have to impress locals too. This isn’t to say you can’t find great restaurants in the 5 towns, but you will have a larger concentration of quality restaurants in Levanto. For dinner, return to Levanto.
Head to our recommended local cafe or bakery for a great start to your day. For a quick traditional meal, enjoy a local fresh baked good and an espresso.
Catch a train to move one town over.
Today you will relax in Monterosso, soaking in the sun at the beach and exploring more of the largest town of the Cinque Terre.
There are a few good restaurants in Monterosso’s old town so you may stay here for dinner as well, or you can have lunch in Monterosso and return to Levanto for dinner.
Head to our recommended local cafe or bakery for a great start to your day. For a quick traditional meal, enjoy a local fresh baked good and an espresso.
Levanto is also a great place to relax all day, with a beautiful beach and a fantastic view of the coastline.
Pick from our list of recommended restaurants for lunch and dinner and spend the day enjoying the relaxing riviera.
Head to our recommended local cafe or bakery for a great start to your day. For a quick traditional meal, enjoy a local fresh baked good and an espresso.
Catch a train from Levanto to La Spezia. Transfer trains and take a train from La Spezia to Pisa.
A taxi will be waiting for you in Pisa to take you to the airport.
