Here is our perfect 1-day Cinque Terre Itinerary with lots of tips!
Is it possible to see Cinque Terre in 1 day?
Yes, it’s definitely possible! Will it be easy? No, definitely not. 😀 Be prepared for a very packed, but fantastic day!
Seeing the highlights of every Cinque Terre village (there are five) will require some planning and sticking to the set schedule. But that’s where we come in!
We already did all the research, visited all the villages and the best sights, and created this super-optimized one-day Cinque Terre highlights itinerary.
Also, make sure to get enough sleep, as this itinerary requires a lot of walking and many stairs. But it will be worth it!
Good to know: Do you need to visit every village in Cinque Terre? Definitely not, as, beyond the main village viewpoints, they are pretty similar. However, we really enjoyed seeing all of them and their unique characteristics, so we tried to make an itinerary that included them all!
AND our 1-day in Cinque Terre itinerary is super flexible, and we give you some tips for fully tailoring it to your wishes at the end of this blog.
It’s pretty easy to follow this itinerary in late spring and summer when the days are longer, but in other months, you might need to tweak it a little bit.
Hour-by-hour Itinerary Overview
Here is a quick overview of our one-day Cinque Terre itinerary with timings. This should help you approximate whether this itinerary is doable for you or if you need to adjust anything based on sunrise and sunset times during your visit.
- Check sunset and sunrise times by month here.
We also added 15 minutes to the itinerary for train travel between the towns – the minimum time needed, including waiting for the train. Definitely check the train schedule in advance and time your exploration accordingly so you don’t spend too much time waiting.
And allow a bit more “travel time” during the peak summer months, when Cinque Terre is extremely busy.
Tip: Get an eSIM (this is the best one we used) to stay connected and solve any issues that might arise along the way, without hassle.
7:30 – 9:30 Exploring Vernazza – 2 hours
9:30 – 11:30 Hike from Vernazza to Monterosso – 2 hours
11:30 – 13:30 Exploring Monterosso – 2 hours
13:30 – 13:45 Catch a train to Corniglia
13:45 – 15:45 Exploring Corniglia – 2 hours (stairs take 15 minutes each way)
15:45 – 16:00 Catch a train to Manarola
16:00 – 18:00 Exploring Manarola – 2 hours
18:00 – 18:15 Catch a train to Riomaggiore
18:15 – 20:15 Exploring Riomaggiore & watching sunset.
You can also start your exploration at the northernmost village (Monterosso) or the southernmost village (Riomaggiore) and go in order from there. But in this itinerary, we tried to optimize the best time for each, so you avoid the biggest crowds in Vernazza, hike when it’s not too hot yet, swim during the hottest time of day, and watch the sunset from the prettiest point in Cinque Terre.
If you want to adjust this itinerary in any way, please read our tips at the end of the blog to help you make the changes more efficiently.
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🔌 Bring a Universal Travel Adapter with fast-charging capabilities (45W and Power Delivery).
📶 Stay online by getting an eSIM. You can get our favorite eSIM at a 10% discount.
1 Day Cinque Terre Itinerary
This 1-day Cinque Terre itinerary is mainly focused on seeing as much as possible in each village and doing at least one hike (it is a highlight of any Cinque Terre visit after all!).
That’s why we don’t have any tours or activities recommended. However, you can check our guide to the absolute best tours and experiences in Cinque Terre and choose one that suits you best.
Most of these tours are short (1.5-4 hours max), so you can easily choose one and fit it into this itinerary. That is, if you don’t plan to visit every village or do the hike. Otherwise, it might be hard to squeeze it in.
Top 3 SHORT tours to add to your day
📸 ❤️ Couple/family photoshoot – only 30 minutes – any village
🌅 ⛵️ Sunset boat tour – 2.5 hours – starts in Riomaggiore but passes every village 😍
👩🏽🍳 🍷 Pesto making class with wine tasting – 1.5 hours with food – Vernazza
Early morning in Vernazza
Your 1 day in Cinque Terre starts with an early morning in Vernazza.
We recommend arriving in Vernazza around 7:30 am if you want to do everything from this itinerary. However, if you don’t want to or can’t start this early, read our ‘Itinerary Tips’ section.
Vernazza is a beautiful village renowned for its picturesque viewpoints. It’s one of the most popular villages in Cinque Terre, so arriving early will also help you with exploring, as it won’t be as crowded yet.
One of the main things to see in Vernazza is the charming harbour, where the colorful fishing boats bob along the water – perfect for some picturesque photos and a leisurely stroll.
Right there, you’ll also see Vernazza’s beach and the Church of St. Margaret of Antioch, a beautiful little church with a lovely façade that adds to the village’s charm.
Looking for a good breakfast place? Check out Il Pirata delle 5 Terre. It offers both sweet and savory breakfast options, and it should be open this early! Plus, their pastries are supposedly amazing!
After that, climb to the viewpoint for a famous view of Vernazza, with a dramatic vista of a cliff lined with pastel houses and the Doria Castle tower rising above.
Next, you should visit the other famous viewpoint of Vernazza, which is conveniently located soon after the hiking trail to Monterosso starts, which is the next thing on your Cinque Terre itinerary.
Good to know: Since the sun rises behind the hills, most of the Cinque Terre towns will be in shade until about 1-2 hours after sunrise (especially outside the main summer months). But starting early helps you see as much as possible, and hike early in the day, when it’s still not hot and humid.
Morning: Vernazza viewpoint & hike to Monterosso
You’ll be walking a lot today, so if you don’t want to hike, you can also take the train. Personally, we think that doing at least one hike is one of the best things you can do in Cinque Terre. The views are absolutely incredible, so we do recommend it.
Even if you decide to skip the hike, you should still climb up to this viewpoint for an absolutely stunning view of Vernazza.
Good to know: From 9 am, there is a fee for hiking this trail. So, you’ll need to buy a Cinque Terre Trekking Card (we recommend the Train Card, which includes unlimited trains AND hiking trails).
And, if you’ve already made it this far (there are quite a few stairs to reach this viewpoint), you honestly might as well continue hiking the trail. However, if you’re still not sure, read our guide on How to hike from Vernazza to Monterosso, which discusses each section of the trail in detail.
The hike is about 3.6 km and should take about 2 hours. It is one of the easiest hikes in Cinque Terre, but don’t underestimate it. It’s still pretty steep (with lots of stairs), although starting in Vernazza makes it slightly easier 👍🏼.
The hike from Vernazza to Monterosso is pretty scenic, so don’t forget to turn around and look towards Vernazza. The views are fantastic!
Planning an active trip?
Don't risk it without travel insurance
We never travel outside our home countries before getting travel insurance. And sure, we don’t count on anything happening. But it can when you least expect it! 🤕
For example, Arijana twisted her ankle just because she took a wrong step when going down completely normal stairs. 🤦♀️
In those situations (and hopefully nothing worse), travel insurance comes in handy so you don’t have to pay the medical costs.
Plus, since it costs about 3 USD/EUR per day, it’s not a crazy expense, and definitely not something to ignore. 😷
Noon: Exploring Monterosso
Monterosso al Mare, the largest of the villages, is known for its beautiful beaches and vibrant promenade. It is your go-to place in Cinque Terre if you want a proper beach time.
The hike from Vernazza to Monterosso passes through a scenic section of Monterosso, which we recommend walking even if you don’t hike. The shades of the blue sea and a few old buildings popping up on the hill are fantastic sights.
Before heading to the beach promenade, check out the old Monterosso. It’s a small, cute area where you’ll find the main attractions (such as the black-and-white marble church of St John the Baptist and Oratorio dei Neri), a small square with lots of restaurants, the harbour, and a small pebble beach.
After, continue to the new Monterosso (also called Fegina). But don’t take the tunnel. Instead, take the short uphill path to the right towards the San Francesco d’Assisi statue for a fantastic view. You can even see other Cinque Terre towns in the distance.
Descend to the coastal path, and you’ll soon end up at the Monterosso beach promenade. Here, you should stop by for the famous postcard view of the Monterosso coast – a rock popping from the sea and the coast filled with perfectly lined umbrellas and sunbeds.
Along the way, you can stop by Il Massimo della Focaccia for a quick snack. We liked their affordable focaccias, which were tasty, plus there were many vegetarian options. If you’d rather eat in an actual restaurant, expect higher prices – we recommend La Cantina di Miky.
Now, it’s finally time go to the beach for some relaxation or swimming. In late spring and summer, we definitely recommend at least a quick dip after the hike. It’s what we did, and it was pretty refreshing and felt so good!
Good to know: Most of the beaches in Monterosso are private beach clubs (known as ‘lidos’). You basically have to pay to enter and use the loungers and umbrellas. Two loungers and an umbrella usually cost between 30 and 40 EUR.
There is, however, a small free part of the beach where you can freely lay your towel.
Early afternoon: train to Corniglia & explore Corniglia
Corniglia might be one of the most underrated villages in the Cinque Terre. It’s the only one sitting proudly on top of a hill (unlike others), somewhere in the middle of them all. This made Corniglia a very popular photo subject during our hikes there, as it popped out from every angle! 😁
It’s less visited than all the other villages in Cinque Terre, partially due to the lots of stairs from the train station (but it’s really not that bad!). However, it’s pretty small, so it can still feel crowded.
Top tip: You can catch a shuttle bus from the train station right up to the village (included in Cinque Terre Card). Otherwise, count 10-15 minutes (depending on your fitness level) to climb almost 400 stairs to the village.
The best thing to do in Corniglia is to stroll around the town and take in the breathtaking views. Check out the Chiesa di San Pietro (church) and the Oratorio dei Disciplinati di Santa Caterina in the city center. There is also a small piazza with cute cafes.
Don’t miss visiting Gelateria Corniglia and trying their specialty basil ice cream. Cinque Terre is famous for its quality basil, so it’s the perfect place to try it.
And if you’re looking for the beach, there actually is one down from the cliff! Follow the handwritten signs saying ‘Al Mare’, or put this point in your Google Maps. It takes approximately 10 minutes to reach it from the city center, but it involves many stairs. There is also a cute bar/restaurant there, Marina di Corniglia.
Late afternoon: train to Manarola & exploring Manarola
After exploring Corniglia, your next stop on the Cinque Terre itinerary is Manarola, one of our favorite towns in Cinque Terre.
Manarola is very picturesque, so if you arrive there in the late afternoon, the light can be so stunning.
The absolute best thing to do in Manarola is to visit the main viewpoint. From the train station, head to the marina and then just continue the coastal path until you reach it. It’s really hard to miss it.
Although it may be a bit busy, we’ve noticed that people tend not to stick around for long here, as it’s more like a photo stop. Plus, there’s enough space around as well.
If you have energy and time, you can continue a climb from here to the top of the hill with vineyards. It’s a short but vertical climb with high stairs, but the views are to die for!
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However, don’t miss strolling through the Old Town and Manarola’s incredibly picturesque backstreets. Be sure to check out the beautiful Chiesa di San Lorenzo on a small square, where you’ll see a yellow clock tower just opposite the church, offering another great viewpoint of Manarola from a slightly different perspective.
Towards the end of the day: train to Riomaggiore to watch the sunset
Take the train to the last stop on today’s itinerary: Riomaggiore. It is one of the most picturesque villages in Cinque Terre and a must-visit! The village is slightly tucked away in the hill, with tall, colorful buildings squeezed together.
We’ve saved the best place to watch the sunset in Cinque Terre for the end! 😁 Here, you can see the town and the sun setting into the water at the same time! 😍 But be prepared for crowds, especially in summer. It is absolutely gorgeous, though.
Anyway, try to arrive in Riomaggiore 2 hours before sunset to give yourself enough time to explore the town before heading to a sunset-watching spot.
Top tip: If you plan to follow this itinerary with 1 night in Cinque Terre, book this apartment for the best spot to watch the sunset from your own balcony or terrace!
Stroll down the narrow Via Colombo, Riomaggiore’s main street, and visit the beautiful Church of San Giovanni Battista, a perfect spot to soak in the local culture. We really liked the square around the church. The local atmosphere felt so lovely at the time of our visit, plus the views from there are nice as well.
For dinner, order a takeaway pizza at this popular pizzeria, and take it down to the rocks to eat while enjoying the sunset.
Alternatively, you can head to the small viewpoint, but you’ll need to arrive 30-60 minutes early to secure a good spot.
OPTIONAL – join a sunset boat tour
You’ll see all the villages from the sea during the best light of the day. And the best part, you’ll be away from the crowds. – check the price and availability
Itinerary Tips and Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some tips to help you adjust this itinerary as needed. As we said, it’s optimized to fit as much as possible, but you can adjust it to your liking with these tips.
Length of days throughout the year
If you decide to follow our 1-day itinerary (which you should 😁), check the sunrise and sunset timings to optimize it as best as possible.
- In late spring and summer (May to August/start of September), with longer days, it is very easy to follow this itinerary.
- Days in March & April, as well as in September & October, are neither too long nor too short, so this itinerary is doable. But you might still need to remove one village, spend less time in each, or skip the hike.
- In the winter months (from November until February), the days are very short, so you’ll need to remove at least one village or lower the amount of time you spend in each.
Good to know: Since the sun rises behind the hills, most of the Cinque Terre towns will be in shade until at least 1-2 hours after sunrise (especially outside the main summer months).
How much time is needed to see each village?
We suggested spending approximately 2 hours in every village. That should be the optimal time to see all the highlights in every village without running around. Although keep in mind that this isn’t enough time to go fully relaxed either. 😀
Ideally, you’d need 3-4 hours per village if you want to take it slow and sit down for a drink or meal.
If you want to do everything on this 1-day Cinque Terre itinerary, you’ll need to limit your time in each village to about 2 hours.
Honestly, for some villages, you might need a bit less time, especially if you don’t care about seeing them in detail but want to hit the main photo spots (guide to the best ones coming soon!).
We’ll touch on which are the best villages to visit in more detail in one of the following sections.
I don’t want to (can’t) start my day this early.
No problem if you don’t want an early start. However, in that case, you’ll have to lower the time in each village or remove one completely (for example, Corniglia). While we liked it and think it’s a bit underrated, it’s the smallest and the highest to reach, as it’s on the cliff. Plus, it’s not as picturesque, at least not from the town directly. More from hikes.
Or you can decide not to do the hike. Although we highly recommend doing at least one for the experience.
Is one night in Cinque Terre enough?
Yes, one night in Cinque Terre can be enough to see the main highlights of each village and even do a hike. While we do recommend staying longer if you can, 1 night is enough to get a taste of Cinque Terre.
If you plan to follow this itinerary with 1 night in Cinque Terre, book this apartment for the best spot to watch the sunset from your own balcony or terrace!
In case you spend one night in Cinque Terre, you can split this day in half, and do one part on your arrival day, and then the second part of exploring in the morning before leaving. You can even ask your hotel to keep your stuff if the check-out time is too soon.
I don’t want to visit all the villages. Which are the best?
This definitely depends on your preferences, but here is our summary and our observations of each Cinque Terre village.
Starting from the northernmost village:
- Monterosso al Mare – best beaches, perfect for relaxing (lots of sunbeds and umbrellas); the largest town; not as picturesque, but the beach promenade is beautiful.
- Vernazza – So beautiful, but also very busy. Picturesque viewpoints from both sides of the village and a great starting point for hiking trails.
- Corniglia – Small and underrated. More authentic feel. Perched on top of a cliff, so it has almost 400 stairs to reach it (they’re not as high though). Also, a great starting point for hikes.
- Manarola – Very picturesque. It has stunning viewpoints and beautiful backstreets. Romantic. Great cliff jumping spots.
- Riomaggiore – Best spot for watching the sunset. Romantic vibe. Good nightlife (lots of bars).
Trains and Cinque Terre Card
We recommend buying the Cinque Terre Card to save money and make the most of your time in Cinque Terre.
To follow this itinerary, you need to buy the Cinque Terre Treno MS Card (includes the hiking fee and unlimited train rides between La Spezia, all the villages, and Levanto).
To learn more about the card and prices (which vary by season), read this article.
Trains in Cinque Terre go frequently, and travel distances are short (max 5 min between each village). However, leave some buffer time for crowds, as train stations and trains can be extremely busy. This is the worst in peak summer months, but more manageable in spring or fall. Also, expect more crowds around midday.
Check the train schedule and time it with your exploration to make the most of your time. But arrive at least 10 minutes before the departure.
I’m not sure I want to hike.
Personally, we think the hikes in Cinque Terre are the highlight any trip. You can get such amazing views that you aren’t able to get otherwise. So, if you’re someone who likes small hikes and incredible views, we encourage you to do at least one.
If you, however, have problems with mobility or don’t care about hiking as much, just skip it. That means you’ll have a bit more time to spend in each village or do some fun activity.
I want to do more hiking.
If you want to do some other hike or do two hikes in a day, it’s possible. Check the list of the best hikes in Cinque Terre.
Besides Vernazza to Monterosso, we also recommend the Corniglia to Vernazza hike (more details here). It’s short, lasting about 1.5 hours.
This one can be a great addition to this itinerary, and it’s totally possible if you really want it. You spend a bit less time in Vernazza and don’t visit any viewpoints right away, since you’ll pass both of them during hikes. And spend a tiny bit less time in Corniglia afterwards – also possible since you’ll pass through one part of the village during the hike.
Alternatively, if you don’t care about swimming in Monterosso, you can start your day there and hike the entire way to Vernazza, then to Corniglia.
Is the Love Path in Cinque Terre worth it?
The Love Path between Riomaggiore and Manarola (only in that direction) is paid (10 EUR on top of the Cinque Terre Card fee) and not really worth it in our opinion. It has the least impressive views of all the trails in Cinque Terre.
But if you can’t do any other hikes, you might want to do it. It’s flat and very short (read more about it in our guide with the best hikes).
Cinque Terre Map
We created an interactive map of the Cinque Terre with key highlights to help you navigate during your visit. You can bookmark it (click the star icon ⭐️), then open it on your phone’s Google Maps app and use it on the go.
Getting to Cinque Terre
It’s easy to get to Cinque Terre, and the most convenient way is by train, as the region is well connected by rail with frequent lines from major cities like Florence and Pisa.
Flying is also a great option. The nearest airports to Cinque Terre are Pisa International Airport and Genoa Cristoforo Colombo Airport, both of which offer car rental and shuttle services to the villages.
If you arrive by car, you should leave it in a paid parking lot in La Spezia, Levanto, or Monterosso, as driving between the villages is not particularly effective or, in some cases, even possible. The train is a faster and easier way to get around Cinque Terre in a day.
On an organized tour
You can also arrive in Cinque Terre on an organized tour.
- Check the list of the best day trips to Cinque Terre (from Florence, Pisa, Milan, La Spezia, and more)
Good to know:
There’s even a round-trip transfer from Florence possible. They leave you in the first Cinque Terre village, and then you’re free to follow this itinerary.
Italy Packing List
Without these things, we could not travel (comfortably or effectively)…
🔌 Universal Travel Adapter with fast-charging capabilities (45W and Power Delivery) – essentially covers us for the whole world.
⚡ We never travel without our 10.000 mAh powerbank, which is perfect for charging our phones multiple times.
💦 Filling up an insulated water bottle for days out exploring is a must.
☀🧴 We always buy a reef-safe sunscreen that applies well.
🤳 Forget selfies, having a phone tripod is the new game (easy to pack, carry around & set up).
🌦 After getting a travel-friendly raincoat (poncho), we never have to worry about staying dry.
🦟 Preventing bites with a DEET-free (picaridin) mosquito repellent is a great idea if you don’t want to cover yourself in poison.
🛄 We pack our stuff smarter with affordable packing cubes.
😎 We are active travelers, so sunglasses don’t survive long. So we bought these cheap polarized sunglasses that are travel-friendly and feel good to wear.
🔊 Countless times, we had trouble with noisy neighbors, loud streets, incredibly loud AC, rattling refrigerators, and more that kept us awake at night. Then, we finally bought some cheap earplugs – done!
📱💔 Slippery phone = broken phone. Get a phone case.
🎒 We love a good belt/crossbody bag, so we don’t always have to carry a backpack (fits our phone, wallet, tissues, candy, etc.).
📸 To capture some cooler photos and videos, a drone is a must (if used wisely). And for active stuff, our action camera – it’s so small and easy to use.
Final thoughts
If you have limited time and still want to experience the charm of Cinque Terre, spending 1 day here and following this itinerary should give you a very good introduction.
As long as you set your expectations and keep in mind that Cinque Terre is very busy (especially during the day and in peak season), you can have a great time and see a lot! The towns are really special and picturesque and worth a visit! 😊
Hopefully, this 1-day in Cinque Terre itinerary has helped you plan your trip. 🥰 If you have any questions or updates, feel free to leave a comment below and help fellow travelers.
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