Cinque Terre in One Day: Best Photo Spots & Travel Tips

Last Updated on 23/02/2025

Is Cinque Terre worth visiting on a day trip? If you have limited time in Italy, how can you make the most of your visit? This guide covers everything you need for a Cinque Terre day trip, including the best photo spots, a village map, transportation options, key highlights of each village, and the ideal itinerary.

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Other Italy Articles：Rome｜Milan｜Florence｜Cinque Terre｜Venice Main Island｜Venice Island Hopping

Cinque Terre Overview

Cinque Terre is located on the northwest coast of Italy, along the Ligurian Sea. It consists of five colourful villages: Riomaggiore (1st village), Manarola (2nd village), Corniglia (3rd village), Vernazza (4th village), and Monterosso (5th village). These villages are built along steep cliffs, offering breathtaking coastal views. Cinque Terre is a UNESCO Site and one of Italy’s most famous coastal destinations.

Cinque Terre Map

The map is read from right to left, with La Spezia (black marker on the right) as the starting point. If travelling from Florence, La Spezia is the main transit hub and the best place to buy a Cinque Terre Train Card for unlimited train rides between villages.

The villages are in the following order from right to left: Riomaggiore → Manarola → Corniglia → Vernazza → Monterosso.

The map is set to English by default. Simply click on the 'Enlarge Map' icon in the top right corner to switch to your preferred language!

How to Plan Your Cinque Terre Trip: Transportation Guide

How to Get Around Cinque Terre

Cinque Terre has three main ways to travel between the villages:

Train (Highly Recommended)：The fastest and most convenient way, with a 5-8 minute ride between each village.
Ferry：A scenic option, departing from La Spezia and stopping at all villages except Corniglia.
Driving (Not Recommended) ：Cars are not allowed inside the villages, so visitors must park outside and take a shuttle or walk.

How to Get to Cinque Terre

From Florence

Take a Trenitalia train from Firenze S.M.N. (Santa Maria Novella Station) to La Spezia Centrale, which takes approximately 2.5 hours.

After arriving at La Spezia, buy a Cinque Terre Train Card inside the station and board the regional train directly to the villages without leaving the station.

📍 Suggested Route：Since Cinque Terre is located in northwest Italy, near Florence and Milan, an ideal itinerary is: Florence → Pisa → Cinque Terre, stopping briefly in Pisa to visit the Leaning Tower before continuing to Cinque Terre via La Spezia.

💡 My Itinerary：I took an early morning train from Florence, made a quick stop in Pisa to see the Leaning Tower, and then continued to Cinque Terre. After exploring the villages, I took an evening train to Milan. This route is perfect for travellers who want to cover multiple famous destinations in a single day.

Florence Itinerary in One Day | Must-See Attractions, Food & Stay

If you prefer a guided tour, check out ➡️ Day Trip from Florence: Cinque Terre and Pisa

From Milan

For a direct route, take a high-speed Frecciarossa or Intercity train from Milan to Levanto, then transfer to a regional train serving the Cinque Terre villages.

Alternatively, travel from Milan to La Spezia, where you can buy a Cinque Terre Train Card for unlimited train rides between villages.

Milan in 8 Hours: Top Things to Do & Travel Tips

Milan: Full-Day Cinque Terre Boat Tour

This is the express train from Cinque Terre to Milan.

Cinque Terre Train Ticket Prices & Day Pass (2025 Update)

Ticket Types	Low Season (4 November – 15 March)	High Season (16 March – 3 November)
Single Ticket	€3	€5 – €10
One-Day Pass	€14.80	€19.5 – €32.5
Two-Day Pass	€26.50	€34 – €59
Three-Day Pass	€31,50	€46.5 – €78.5

For the latest ticket prices, check：Official website

Buying Tip：If you plan to visit multiple villages in one day and take frequent train rides, consider purchasing the Cinque Terre Train Card. This pass allows unlimited travel on the Cinque Terre train line and includes access to hiking trails within the national park, making it a cost-effective choice!

How to Buy Cinque Terre Train Tickets?

At La Spezia Train Station: Purchase from ticket machines or counters (recommended for flexible schedules).
Trenitalia Website or App: Suitable for advance planning.

⚠ Tip: Train services in Cinque Terre are frequent, but during peak summer months, crowds can be overwhelming. Try to avoid rush hours!

I bought my ticket at the La Spezia station ticket machine with a credit card.

Recommended Travel Route for Cinque Terre

Each of the five villages in Cinque Terre has its own charm. For a one-day trip, you don’t have to visit every village—choosing 2 to 4 villages is ideal. Here’s a recommended itinerary:

La Spezia (starting point, marked in black on the map) → Village 1: Riomaggiore → Village 2: Manarola → Village 4: Vernazza → Village 5: Monterosso
Since time is limited on a one-day trip, I recommend skipping Village 3: Corniglia.

For a more relaxed trip, you can also skip Village 5: Monterosso and visit just three villages: Riomaggiore → Manarola → Vernazza. This way, you can still experience the essence of Cinque Terre within a day.

Village 1 – Riomaggiore: The Entrance to Cinque Terre

Riomaggiore is the gateway to Cinque Terre, making it the starting point for many travellers. The village is built along steep cliffs, with colourful houses stacked closely together. The most iconic photo spot is from the harbour, overlooking the tightly packed fishing village. Riomaggiore is also the starting point of the famous Via dell’Amore (Lovers’ Path). Although parts of the trail are currently closed, it remains one of the most famous attractions in Cinque Terre.

As soon as I got off the train, this stunning sea view greeted me! The UK has coastal views too, but not this blue—so I was beyond excited!

You have to go through this tunnel to reach the village.

Follow the crowd through the narrow alley…

五漁村一日遊｜Cinque Terre 拍照打卡角度、交通、值得去嗎？ — Keep walking uphill, and soon you’ll reach this iconic postcard view!

Village 2 – Manarola: The Most Famous Sunset View

Manarola is Cinque Terre’s most photographed village. Its cliffside trail offers the most iconic panoramic view, seen on countless postcards. At sunset, the golden light bathes the entire village, creating a picture-perfect scene. Several cliffside restaurants here offer stunning sea views—an ideal place to enjoy fresh seafood while admiring the scenery. However, reservations are highly recommended, especially in peak season!

If I had to choose just one village, it would be Manarola!

Many tourists go cliff diving here—it looks thrilling!

Just follow the crowd along this path—no need to hesitate, just keep walking!

Back on the village’s main street—so many people!

If you have time (and a flexible budget), there are some stunning seaside restaurants here! But since I’ve already spent quite a bit on this trip—and well, coming from the UK, even street food here feels like a treat! (My UK friends will get me on this!)

Village 3 – Corniglia: The Only Village Not by the Sea

Corniglia is the only village in Cinque Terre that is not directly by the sea. It sits on a cliff 100 metres above sea level. To reach the village from the train station, you must climb over 300 steps or take a shuttle bus. Unlike the lively coastal villages, Corniglia is quieter and more laid-back, with charming alleyways, small cafés, and hidden gems. However, due to time constraints, I chose to skip Corniglia this time and will return to explore it in the future.

Village 4 – Vernazza: The Most Beautiful Natural Harbour

Vernazza is home to Cinque Terre’s most beautiful natural harbour and is often considered the most picturesque village. It is also the starting point of the Sentiero Monterosso hiking trail. Walking up the hillside trail offers a breathtaking view of the village and its harbour. The village itself is filled with seafood restaurants and open-air cafés, making it a perfect place to relax while watching fishing boats come and go.

I thought this village wouldn’t be that special, but as soon as I stepped out of the station, the crowds said it all.

Then, you’ll arrive at the most popular beach.

Back on the main street, plenty of shops and restaurants.

This train station is different from the others—it naturally provides shade from the heat.

Village 5 – Monterosso: The Only Village with a Beach

Monterosso is the only village in Cinque Terre with a large sandy beach. Lined with colourful umbrellas and sun loungers, this village has more of a resort-town vibe. The architecture here is more modern, attracting many European tourists for summer holidays. However, compared to other villages, Asian travellers tend to be less interested in Monterosso.

Monterosso’s large sandy beach attracts many Western tourists.

Even before leaving the station, you can already feel the beach vibes!

And a third one! I didn’t visit three times—there are just that many umbrellas and loungers everywhere!

I didn’t change into swimwear to enjoy the beach, but I did have an amazing tiramisu here 😀—a perfect relaxing afternoon!

Is a One-Day Trip to Cinque Terre Worth It?

Can you visit in one day? Yes, but with compromises!

If you’re short on time but still want to experience this UNESCO Site, then a Cinque Terre day trip is absolutely worth it! However, if you want to fully immerse yourself in the peaceful coastal beauty, staying for at least two days will allow you to appreciate its charm more deeply.

Hope this guide helps you plan your trip to Cinque Terre!