Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza and Monterosso Al Mare make up the five coastal villages known as the Cinque Terre (Five Lands) located on the Italian Riviera in the Liguria region. The villages and surrounding area are part of the Cinque Terre National Park and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Each town is unique and offers something special for everyone. My favorite is Vernazza, which was on my bucket list and I finally made my dream visit in 2017. It was everything I dreamed of and more and the postcard views from the hillside above the town are very beautiful.

Use the Cinque Terre's public transportation system to visit the five villages and surrounding towns.

Hiking in Cinque Terre.

Riomaggiore is the first town you will arrive to coming from La Spezia. It's a steep hill town and home to one end of the Via dell'Amore path which is a top tourist attraction that connects Riomaggiore to Manarola. The path has been closed since 2012 and not sure when it will be reopened. Unfortunately I do not have any pictures because I arrived to the town at night because I was living my dream of spending time in Vernazza and there was no way I was in a rush to leave! I will now take the time to offer a shameless plug and tell you to eat at "Mamma Mia! Take Away" and try the mix cone of fried anchovies and squid. It's very delicious.

Manarola is a colorful charming town full of fishing boats parked in the main street just like cars all the way down to the harbor. The picturesque harbor is a beautiful site to see full of vibrant colors, young people lounging and swimming, fishermen, and ferries traveling between the towns of the Cinque Terre. Manarola should be a top priority on your visit to Cinque Terre.

Corniglia is located way up on the hillside. You can either take the local small bus or hike up and down the 382 steps to get there. Yes, you read correct, 382 steps! And yes I hiked all of them very slow, methodically, patiently worked my way up to the town. The views alone are so worth it. Just take your time and enjoy the surrounding vineyards and landscape. I find it difficult to stay here because of the fact if it's busy you will have to use the steps every time you come and go from town as the bus can fill up fast and I personally don't want to do this at night especially after a long day of hiking and sightseeing. It's definitely a town to visit and the local honey and limoncello flavor gelato from Alberto Artigianale is amazing and worth the 382 steps!

Vernazza is considered the crown jewel of the Cinque Terre and is one of the most photographed places in the world. This was definitely high on my bucket list of places to see. It was everything I imagined it to be and more. I had the harbor to myself at night after all the day trippers left while enjoying a delicious gelato and I kept the window open overnight so I had the pleasure of listening to the ocean waves from the Ligurian Sea all night long. I woke up the next morning and went on the trail above the town and watched the town come alive. I carefully planned my stay in Vernazza to coincide with the market that comes to town every Tuesday for the locals. I also wanted to meet Eros Lombardo, Florist by day, and Opera singer at night. His family has been selling flowers every Tuesday in Vernazza for many years. It was an honor to meet him, his brother and his trusty dog.

Monterosso Al Mare is the only town in Cinque Terre with 2 parts, one being a new town that feels more like a resort area with a proper beach and the other part is the old town, much like the other towns in Cinque Terre. They are divided by a tunnel that you can walk or bike through. Many people spend the night here because of the many hotel choices compared to the other towns. The beach is very lovely but can be very crowded during the summer.