What the Guide Books Won’t Tell You About the Cinque Terre (2024 Guide)

Last Updated on April 16, 2024 by snaphappytravel

Cinque Terre is one of our favorite places in the world. Here is our unique guide to the Cinque Terre, to help you avoid the crowds.

Italy’s Cinque Terre is one of those places that has to be seen to be believed. If you’ve not visited, I’m sure you’ve seen the photos plastered across the internet. Yep, the Cinque Terre is the village with the brightly colored houses on a rocky outcrop jutting into the sea.

It trully is spectacular. But, as you know, in this day and age the spectacular tend to get ruined by mass-tourism. For the tiny villages of  the Cinque Terre this excessive tourism can take away from its charm – think hundreds of coach-loads of tourists swarming narrow streets, loading onto already overcrowded trains, and queuing to take selfies.

Despite the crazy levels of tourism the Cinque Terre attracts, it remains one of our favorite places in the whole world, and the special place we got married. In this piece I will offer all my insider knowledge so that you can enjoy the Cinque Terre and avoid the crowds!

We’ve been to the Cinque Terre three times now – the first time in 2014, then in June 2018, we went back to the area to plan our Wedding, and finally for our wedding in the Summer of 2019.

Things to Know Before Visiting the Cinque Terre

This list will help you make the most of your visit to the Cinque Terre (scroll down for more detailed information):

1. You should stay the night – it’s so worth it!
2. Book your accommodation in advance to avoid disappointment
3. Avoid getting the train at ‘peak’ times
4. Locate the best spot for sunset (I’ll give you my recommendations)
5. Eat where the locals eat
6. The nightlife here is very chilled-out
7. Be prepared to walk heaps
8. Try to visit off-peak, like April & May or September and October

1. Stay the night in the Cinque Terre

For the love of god, unless you really have no other choice  – please don’t be a day-tripper to the Cinque Terre! If you can, stay here for a few nights I highly recommend you do. The locals will thank you for it; nearly all of the hotels and B&Bs in the area are locally owned. Plus, the villages are a completely different place at night.

The Cinque Terre moves at a slower pace when dusk falls. The edges and stresses of the busy day before are softened. The locals come out with their families, and all of a sudden, the place recaptures its magic. 

When the sun sinks into the ocean at the end of the day, and there are very few people around – you will say to yourself, “Yes, this is the real Cinque Terre.” I promise you that!

I’ve listed my favorite places to stay in the Cinque Terre at the end of this article.

2. Book your accommodation in advance

While I’m on the subject of accommodation, if you do plan to stay  – book in advance! There are just over 3,000 rooms in the Cinque Terre, and with the area being on most peoples’ bucket list, accommodation tends to sell out quick.

Top travel tip – a lot of the accommodation options in the Cinque Terre are small with many having less than 10 rooms. Not many have swimming pools and last time I checked there are no all-inclusive resorts in the Cinque Terre. Another great option for a place to lay your head is airbnb – it’s becoming more and more popular in the Cinque Terre of late and there are some great options.

Read Later: Check out our list of the best places to stay in Monterosso.

3. Avoid getting the train at ‘peak times’

As you know, the 5 villages in the Cinque Terre are connected by a train line. And this is how most tourists travel between the 5 villages of the Cinque Terre. You can buy a train day pass, which you can use as many times as you want in 24 hours, from €19.50.

Avoid walking the Cinque Terre Trail or getting the train between the villages during the hours of 11 am – 4 pm, as this is when the day-trippers are out in full force. Instead, rent a beach bed at Monterosso – the only village in Cinque Terre with a beach.  

I should add that Monterosso al Mare is the only village in the Cinque Terre with a ‘proper’ beach. It’s a long, stony beach with beach beds and umbrellas and a couple of beach bars/ Cafes. The other 4 villages just have piers or rocky outcrops, from which to swim off!

4. Find the best sunset spot

You don’t need to go to a waterfront bar to watch the sunset, in fact some evenings we grabbed a few bottles of beer from the supermarket and walked to the bell tower at the top of Manarola village. We sat on the stone wall and watched the sun sink into the ocean. And there wasn’t a soul around.

The best place to watch the sunset in the Cinque Terre is in Manarola – on the walkway just below Nessun Dorma or in the restaurant itself if you can get a table. FYI- Nessun Dorma doesn’t take bookings, it’s a case of ‘first come first served’. 

Another epic sunset-watching spot in Cinque Terre is Manarola Cemetery, which is located just above Nessun Dorma. So, if you can’t get a table at Nessun Dorma, then here is a great spot to admire the famous Cinque Terre scenery. However, because it is a graveyard and a very sacred place – you CANNOT take photos here.

5. Eat where the locals eat

The absolute best restaurant in the Cinque Terre is Billy’s in Manarola – primarily serving seafood and the freshest seafood at that. We’ve eaten here a total of four times across two trips. There are two seating’s a night and we recommend asking for a table at the very front – which overlooks Manarola village.

I’m a big fan of the wine from the Cinque Terre too, which is mostly of the Albarola – Bosco – Vermentino variety. My favorite wine to drink in the Summer is Italian sparkling wine – belissima!

6. Nightlife in the Cinque Terre is non-existent

If you’re the type of person who likes to party into the small hours, then the Cinque Terre may not be for you. There are no nightclubs in the area, and the only bar open “til late” is Fast Bar in Monterosso, which stays open until 2 am. Please don’t take my word as gospel; we were here in June, and it was relatively quiet. It may stay open later in the busy months of July and August.

7. Be prepared to walk heaps!

As you may already know, Cinque Terre is home to the Cinque Terre trail – a network of narrow, cliffside paths that connect all 5 villages.

Some sections of the trail are very easy to hike, especially the paved section connecting  Riomaggiore to Manarola. While other sections of the trail are quite hilly – a moderate level of fitness is highly recommended.

Be warned that when you first arrive in your chosen Cinque Terre village, you will likely need to carry your suitcase(s) to your accommodation as vehicles are limited in the villages; hence, you will struggle to find a taxi or porter service to carry your luggage for you. The path from the train stations to the town can be quite steep too!

8. Visit the Cinque Terre in the off-season

My top tip for visiting the Cinque Terre is to visit in the off-season when the crowds have died down. That means planning your vacation here for May or September. These two months still enjoy sunny weather and longer evenings but attract much less tourists and so you’re likely to get much more bang-for-your-buck when it comes to accommodation and Cinque Terre activities!

We visited the Cinque Terre in September and had so much fun that we plan to visit again this coming September for our wedding anniversary! Oh, did I mention that we got married in the Cinque Terre?!

Will Cinque Terre Start Limiting Visitors Soon?

A few years ago, the word on the grapevine was that the Cinque Terre was going to start limiting the number of tourists it allowed daily. “Hallelujah,” I said to my partner. Having visited the area three times, each time, we were stunned by its beauty but more stunned by the sheer amount of day-trippers generally being a nuisance.

But alas, this limitation of day-trippers hasn’t happened yet, but its something that’s been discussed frequently within the Government there.

We thought, with all the day-trippers (mostly from cruise ships) the cafes and restaurants in the Cinque Terre must be making an absolute fortune.  Unfortunately, that doesn’t seem to be the case. According to a few business-owners we spoke with, a lot of these groups are on a strict schedule so it’s hop on the train to one town – get off and take a few photos and repeat times five. Some groups barely have time to grab lunch.

So, while the businesses in town are definitely not “struggling”, they should be flourishing, considering the sheer amount of footfall through the area on a daily basis. Which is why we think it’s so important to spend the night in the Cinque Terre if you can.

What is the Best Month to Visit Cinque Terre?

High season in the Cinque Terre is from mid-April to beginning of October, with the busiest months being July and August. Personally, my favorite month to visit the Cinque Terre is September – the weather is still warm and there are just the right amount of tourists meaning all restaurants and bars remain open.

So, there you have it our short but sweet guide to the Cinque Terre. We hope you learned something new!

Where to Stay in the Cinque Terre?

• In Monterosso – We highly recommend Hotel Villa Adriana (one of the largest hotels in the Cinque Terre, and it has an outdoor pool). It is located in the new town of Monterosso. Mia Chi is also highly recommended and has stylish large rooms; it’s also located in the new town of Monterosso.
• In Manarola – La Torretta has stylish rooms all with sea views and a hot tub. 
• In Vernazza – Casetta de Vernazza is just 300 meters from Vernazza beach and has a terrace and garden. 
• In Riomaggiore – Allo Marina Affiticamere is in a historic building and was recently renovated, it is located right in the heart of Riomaggiore village. Hotel Due Gemelli is set on a hill overlooking Riomaggiore, it is 700 meters from the center of the village – the views are fantastic!
• In Corniglia – Affiticamere La Terraze has comfortable and homely rooms and is right in Corniglia village. Ostello Corniglia is an affordable hostel option that also has a bar, shared lounge and garden.

Thanks for Reading!

Despite the day-time madness and the expense of staying here, especially during the Summer months. Despite all of the other insignificant things that frustrate me. The fact is the Cinque Terre is one of the most special places in the world to me.

How does the saying go – sometimes you’re harder on the people you love. Well, that can be true about a place too.  I think I’m harsher in my criticism of the Cinque Terre because I love it so much. I expect perfection, when in fact it’s those annoying quirks about the place that add to it’s charm.

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