Cinque Terra in One Day – Day Trip from Genoa

Cinque Terra, meanings “Five Lands” in Italian, is a group of 5 breathtaking, seaside villages along the Northern Coast of Italy. With dramatic cliffs and colorful houses, each town has its own charm and is certainly postcard worthy. The great thing about these villages is that they are connected by the “Blue Trail” (Sentiero Azzurro), a 12 kilometer (7.5 mile) long trail that runs between Monterosso al Mare (the Northern and Western most village), and Riomaggiore (the Southern and Eastern most village). This makes it the perfect day trip from Genoa, where you can take the train early in the morning, explore and hike all day, enjoy a nice seaside dinner after a long day, and head back to Genoa on the train.

What to Expect

No matter how you choose to get around Cinque Terra (hiking or by train), you will be treated to splendid views in and around each of the villages of Cinque Terra. Starting in the northeast is Monterosso al Mare. Then, working our way to the south and west are the villages of Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, and then finally Riomaggiore.

Cost

You can expect to pay about 7.50 euro per adult for the Cinque Terre Trekking Card, which grants access for the day to all the hiking trails (except the Via Amore, which requires an additional reservation and fee, see below for further details), and/or 19.50/day for the Cinque Terre Treno Card which includes unlimited access to the trains, plus the access to the hiking trails. It is recommended to purchase your ticket in advance online due to the fact that these are very popular tourist destinations, so lines can be long in the ticket booths, especially in the summer, and tickets are subject to capacity.

Explore Cinque Terra

You can start on either end, as you can take the train from Genoa to Monterosso or Riomaggiore without having to change trains. However, I started my journey in Monterosso and worked my way south, which I recommend for a couple of reasons. First, as mentioned above, the sections of the Blue Trail between Corniglia and Riomaggiore are currently closed. Therefore, it was more enjoyable for me to hike first in the morning and early afternoon, rather than in the late afternoon heat, and then take the train in the late afternoon/evening to finish out the visit to Manarola and Riomaggiore. Second, the train to Monterosso runs more often, as you can take several different train lines to get there (get the TrenItalia app to check all options), so you’ll have more flexibility and options for transport.

Hike from Monterosso al Mare to Vernazza: This hike is about 3.5km (or 2.25 miles), and on average takes about 1.5 – 2 hours to complete. Of all the hikes between the different towns in Cinque Terra, this one is considered to be the toughest, but also with the most rewarding views. The views from above as you approach Vernazza are especially beautiful, so be sure to snap your photos of the town before descending all the way down.

Hike from Vernazza to Corniglia: This hike is again about 3.5km (or 2.25 miles), and on average takes about 1 – 1.5 hours to complete. Despite being the same distance as the first stretch of the hike, this section is slightly easier so will take less time, but still moderately challenging with significant elevation change.

Train from Corniglia to Riomaggiore: From Corniglia, I recommend taking the train past Manarola and continuing to the final town first, Riomaggiore. That way, you can enjoy a late afternoon snack or early dinner in Riomaggiore and take in all the views there, before taking the breathtaking walk from Riomaggiore back to Manarola.

Walk from Riomaggiore to Manarola: This section of the trail is short (1km) but is the most famous, and for good reason. The views are stunning and the path runs right along the water. Because of its popularity, you will need to make a reservation in advance (in the summer, last admission is at 8:30pm).

 

Back to Genoa: If you take the suggested route above, you will first need to take the smaller regional train from Manarola to either Riomaggiore or Monterosso al Mare, where you can then take the larger train back to Genoa or wherever you are staying. There are typically numerous options, but it’s a good idea to check the TrenItalia timetables ahead of time so you know the time of the last train for that day.