Cinque Terre is a series of 5 colourful villages on the coast of northwest Italy in the region of Liguria. The Cinque Terre villages are some of the most beautiful and popular destinations in Liguria, alongside pretty Portofino. The five Cinque Terre villages are Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore, and each village is slightly different to the last. There is a local train connecting the villages, as well as popular hiking trails, making it easy to visit all five villages of Cinque Terre in one trip.

Where to stay in Cinque Terre?

I’ll share my highlights from each of the Cinque Terre villages below, but my recommendation for where to stay in Cinque Terre is either in Monterosso, Riomaggiore or just outside Cinque Terre in the larger town, Levanto. I stayed in Levanto and Riomaggiore when I visited Cinque Terre, although in hindsight there was no need to move between towns – they are so close together! Levanto is a larger town, and less crowded, which is nice for escaping the Cinque Terre crowds. However, staying in the heart of a Cinque Terre village in Riomaggiore was an amazing experience. 

All of the Cinque Terre villages are beautiful, the only one I would recommend not staying in is Corniglia, because it is perched high on the cliffs, so you’ll have to hike up a long and steep set of stairs to reach the other villages, or the train station, and there is no beach.

The largest villages in Cinque Terre are Riomaggiore, Monterosso and Vernazza.

Monterosso Al Mare

Monterosso al Mare is the best town in Cinque Terre for beaches & swimming. Monterosso is the second largest village in Cinque Terre, with a population of just over 1400 residents. Monterosso’s best beach, Spiagga Fegina, is the best beach in Cinque Terre, with a large sandy beach, excellent swimming and beach club facilities. Spend the day on the beach at Monterosso, breaking only for lunch at one of the restaurants overlooking the beach. Perfection!

Vernazza

Vernazza is one of the most beautiful towns in Cinque Terre, with a picturesque harbour. Arrive in Vernazza by boat (from Levanto) for a spectacular view on arrival as you approach the village from the sea. You can swim and sunbathe in Vernazza by the harbour, but it’s not the best Cinque Terre village for swimming. Vernazza has one of the most beautiful old towns in Cinque Terre, and is regarded by many as the prettiest village in Cinque Terre. 

Corniglia

Corniglia is the only town in Cinque Terre that is not on the sea. Instead, it’s perched on the edge of a cliff, with a steep set of steps from the train station up to the village. Perhaps due to its location on the cliffs, Corniglia is the smallest village in Cinque Terre, with a population of only 150 people! Corniglia offers some beautiful views, but in my opinion, you can allocate the least amount of time to Corniglia because of its size.

Manarola

Manarola is the second smallest village in Cinque Terre, with just 300 residents. Manarola is the postcard village for Cinque Terre, with colourful houses cascading down the hillside, towards a picturesque harbour. You can swim in the harbour or sunbathe on the rocks, and explore the steep streets that lead up from the harbour through the Old Town. Get the best views of any Cinque Terre village, by taking the trail from the harbour around the headland, to get a stunning view back towards Manarola.

Riomaggiore

Riomaggiore is the largest village in Cinque Terre, but with only 1500 residents it’s still a small town by any measure. Riomaggiore is one of my favourite villages in Cinque Terre, and is where we stayed for the second half of our stay in Cinque Terre. Riomaggiore is full of the brightly coloured buildings that Cinque Terre is famous for, and a lively old town lined with bars and restaurants, and plenty of fresh seafood, of course!

Levanto 

Levanto is not one of the Cinque Terre villages, but is very close, which makes it an excellent place to stay to visit Cinque Terre if you’re on a budget. It’s larger than the Cinque Terre villages, but with only 6000 residents it still has a lovely relaxed atmosphere. I stayed in Levanto for a couple of nights at the start of my trip to Cinque Terre, and I fell head over heels for this charming seaside town. There are far less tourists, there’s a lovely beach, and you’ll meet many more locals.