Cinque Terre is famous for its colorful seaside villages, dramatic cliffs, and breathtaking coastal views along the Italian Riviera. In this itinerary, I share exactly how I explored Cinque Terre from La Spezia, visiting all five villages, combining scenic hikes with easy train travel, and even adding a day trip to Portovenere.

Practical Information

Getting There

We traveled to La Spezia from Genoa on a FlixBus for only €6 per person. The bus doesn’t drop you right in the city center, but the walk is still manageable if you’re traveling with hand luggage only, which is how we did it. It’s an affordable and easy way to reach La Spezia if you don’t mind a short walk at the end.

Accommodation

We stayed at Lia Art Hotel in La Spezia. It’s a small, modern hotel with clean and comfortable rooms, ideal as a base for visiting Cinque Terre. The hotel is a bit of a walk from La Spezia Centrale train station, but it’s located close to the city center, restaurants, and the boat terminal, which makes it very convenient in the evenings or for day trips by boat. Overall, it’s a good option if you want a comfortable stay without paying for a large hotel.

Train + Hike Pass

To get around, we bought a Cinque Terre train + hiking pass for €27 per person (medium season, prices may vary depending on the time of year). This pass allows unlimited train travel on the Levanto–La Spezia line and access to the paid hiking trails. It’s ideal if you want to mix train travel with some hiking. Even if you only plan to hike part of the trails, the combined pass can save both money and time.

Our Route

Riomaggiore

We started in Riomaggiore, the first village. Instead of heading straight to the main viewpoint, we walked uphill into the village itself. The narrow streets and quiet terraces gave us a real sense of local life. For lunch, we stopped at Grandma Vittoria and had sandwiches with pesto and goat cheese: simple but delicious.

Manarola

After Riomaggiore, we continued to Manarola by train. This village is known for its postcard-perfect views and colorful houses stacked high above the sea. From the station, we walked along the rocks just outside the village, where you get one of the best panoramic views of Manarola and the coastline. The contrast between the bright houses, the deep blue sea, and the rugged cliffs is stunning. Even without a long hike, this short walk already gives you a great impression of why Manarola is one of the most photographed villages in Cinque Terre.

Corniglia to Vernazza Hike

From Manarola, we traveled to Corniglia, which sits high above the sea. Here we started the hike to Vernazza, which took about 1.5 hours. The path is steep in parts, but the views of the sea, cliffs, and vineyards are amazing. Halfway through, we stopped at Il Gabbioni, a small bar with one of the best viewpoints we’ve ever seen. Perfect for a cocktail break. I 100% doing this hike since it allows you to see amazing views, you don’t get with going by train.

Vernazza

In Vernazza, we enjoyed wandering through the harbor and streets. We tried the typical fried seafood, which was excellent. Vernazza is one of the most beautiful villages, and it was nice to relax after the hike. They have plenty of cute gift shops but don’t forget to bring cash because some of them don’t give you the possibility to pay by card!

Monterosso

We ended the day in Monterosso al Mare, the largest village. I took a swim near the Statue of the Giant, right by the water. Monterosso has a relaxed, beachy vibe: a perfect way to unwind after walking and hiking all day.

Back to La Spezia

For dinner, we went to Palati Fini in La Spezia. The pizzas here are amazing, a perfect reward after a full day of hiking and exploring. Two pizzas I highly recommend:

• Bronte: Fiordilatte, burrata, mortadella Favola IGP, and pistachio granules (€10). A delicious combination of creamy, savory, and crunchy from the pistachios.
• Carlotta: Fiordilatte, pesto, basil, a whole burrata, and yellow and red cherry tomatoes added after baking (€10). Fresh, flavorful, and full of taste.

Both pizzas were fantastic and definitely worth trying if you’re in La Spezia.

Bonus Day Trip: Portovenere

If you have an extra day, I recommend a trip to Portovenere. We took a boat from La Spezia with Navigazione Golfo dei Poeti for €15 per person; the ride took 20–30 minutes.

In Portovenere, we:

• Walked up to Doria Castle for great views of the village and San Pietro Church.
• Went swimming at Spiaggia dell’Olivo. Bring your own food and drinks, as there aren’t many options at the beach.

Final Thoughts

Even though Cinque Terre is quite busy, I recommend going here at least once in your life. If you plan to move between villages and do at least part of the trails, getting a train and hiking pass is really convenient. Make sure to walk into the villages and explore beyond the main viewpoints, and take time to try the local specialties, from pesto and seafood to the delicious pizzas in La Spezia. The key is not to rush: enjoy the scenery, the walks, and the small moments along the way. Taking it all in slowly is what makes a trip to Cinque Terre truly memorable.