Is it better to stay in Cinque Terre or do a day trip?

There are cliff tops, narrow roads, and colourful buildings, making Cinque Terre a stunning area to visit.

Five beautiful coastline villages create Cinque Terre, Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza, and Monterosso. Cinque Terre is a stunning picturesque area, where it feels like paradise with the seaside views and buildings sitting on the cliff tops.

It’s worth staying in Clique Terre for about two to three days, allowing you to enjoy the beaches, learn about the culture and get to know the villages. But if you stay longer, you can do multiple boat trips, hiking around the mountains, and quick trips to other nearby towns.

What can I do in Cinque Terre?

When you plan to stay for a couple of days, there is a lot to do to make your stay worthwhile.

Hiking the Cinque Terre trail is one of the most popular hiking trails. It takes about five hours to complete as you walk the entire distance through the towns. Though we recommend putting a day aside when doing this hike, so you have time to explore parts of the villages.

Spend a few hours relaxing at one of the many beaches. Al Mare Beach in Monterosso is one of the best and the biggest beach. During the summer months, you can rent umbrellas and loungers. The other villages all have small, but still picturesque beaches. Only Corniglia doesn’t have a beach as the village is on a hill.

Have dinner at sunset and enjoy the incredible glow cast across the villages. Manarola is the best village to go to for a sunset!

Buy a boat day ticket and visit four of the villages! You’ll get incredible views as you’re riding on the sea and seeing the colourful buildings up on the cliffs. You won’t be able to visit Corniglia as this village is up on the hill.

What if I can’t stay 2 to 3 days, is a day trip worth it?

A day trip is certainly still worth going if that’s all you can do! You can book tours that leave from nearby cities like Florence, Milan, Genoa, and even Venice and Rome. Tours are a great way to see Cinque Terre, especially if you’re short on time.

This one day tour leaves Florence in the morning and travels down to the first Cinque Terre village, Riomaggiore. Enjoy the views and colourful buildings, and try some local wine! Or you can walk through the streets and visit some of the local cafes and restaurants.

Next, you go to Manarola to see the waterfront promenade and more picturesque views and colourful homes.

Then you go see the white sandy beaches and the flourishing village, Monterosso. Take up the opportunity to enjoy the beach and swim in the refreshing water. This village is an ancient fishing village and is also known as The Pearl of the Cinque Terre.

Lastly, you jump on a boat and go towards Vernazza before ending your beautiful day exploring the Cinque Terre.

You’ll find sometimes a day trip to Cinque Terre isn’t enough! This is why we recommend staying for a few days just so your time isn’t limited to exploring the villages.