Itineraries for Your Trip to Cinque Terre
2 Days in the Cinque Terre for First Timers
Some of my best memories from my many visits to the Cinque Terre involve sitting on the patios of various waterfront restaurants, enjoying a glass of local wine while soaking up the views. To me, this perfectly represents the simple pleasures that draw visitors to these unpretentious fishing villages.
With two days in Cinque Terre, you have time to visit more than one of these famous towns and admire the area’s natural beauty from both the shore and the water. Here are my suggestions for making the most of your time in the area, from hiking to wine tasting.
Even in the hot summer, temperatures cool in the evening, so pack layers.
If you only have time for one thing, make it a visit to the town of Manarola.
Cinque Terre translates to “Five Lands,” referring to five famous villages on this stretch of coastline. On the first morning of your trip, check them out from the water on a private boat tour. You’ll get to see colorful buildings that spill down from the cliffs toward small ports full of fishing boats, and you might get a sense of which towns you’d most like to see up close.
After lunch on the main square of Monterosso al Mare, take advantage of the area’s many active outdoor offerings. Paddle around the Cinque Terre National Park in a kayak and take breaks to jump into the sea and snorkel. You can also hike, fish, or swim in the crystalline waters off of Monterosso al Mare’s beach.
In the evening, discover the Cinque Terre wine scene by visiting a winery for a tasting and tour. You’ll learn about local winemaking traditions and techniques as you sample wine from various grape varietals. Depending on which town you’re based in, you may have to take a ferry, but the public transportation between villages is easy to navigate.
Spending time in the Cinque Terre is about appreciating the scenery from multiple angles. On your second day, start with a coffee, pastry, and fresh-squeezed orange juice in a café before hiking between towns. Alternatively, hop on a horse and take in those sweeping views over the coastline and the sparkling Ligurian sea as you ride the hillside trails.
The region of Liguria (where Cinque Terre is located) is known for its cuisine, which focuses on fresh seafood, pesto sauce, focaccia, and other local specialties. One of the best ways to learn more about Ligurian cuisine is on a walking food tour, where you’ll learn about the best regional dishes from someone in the know, sampling local products along the way.
This is your last chance to soak up the magical scenery of the Cinque Terre, so start your evening off with a rooftop aperitif before getting professional photos taken at sunset for the perfect souvenir to remember your trip. There are many beautiful photo backdrops in the Cinque Terre. Alternatively, go bar hopping in Monterosso al Mare or stargazing before you call it a night.
