# Cinque Terre

Five villages (Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore) wedged into a coast of vine terraces, linked by train and footpaths. A World Heritage Site since 1997 and a national park.

Fuente: https://www.geocalia.com/en/italy/liguria/cinque-terre · Revisado: 2026-11-12

## How do you get there from Spain?

Fly to Pisa or Genoa and continue by train to La Spezia or Levanto, the two gateways to the line. From there regional trains stop at Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza and Monterosso. A car is no use: the villages are pedestrian and there's almost no parking.

## How do you get around between the villages?

By train, on foot and by boat. The train takes a few minutes between villages and the Cinque Terre Treno Card gives you unlimited trips, the paid trails and each village's minibuses. The line 02 boat links four of them and Portovenere, but doesn't stop at Corniglia and doesn't sail in a rough sea. To walk along the coast you need the Cinque Terre Card.

## What do you need to book in advance?

The Via dell'Amore runs on reserved time slots. The rest isn't booked, but on busy days the card goes up in price and trains are full. Sleep in one of the villages or in Levanto and set out early: by mid-morning the groups arrive.

## Where to eat and where to sleep?

For eating, the Trattoria Gianni Franzi, on the harbour square in Vernazza, serves the same Ligurian cooking as ever: anchovies, stuffed mussels and trofie with pesto. For a special dinner, the Ristorante Belforte, in Vernazza's tower, above the sea. For an aperitif, Nessun Dorma, on the terrace opposite Manarola, which in the morning runs a pesto workshop.

For sleeping, the Hotel Porto Roca, in Monterosso, with a pool and the Sentiero Azzurro at the door; La Torretta Lodge, in a tower in Manarola; and the Albergo Gianni Franzi, in Vernazza's old town.

## Qué hacer
- **Sentiero Azzurro from Monterosso to Corniglia via Vernazza** (3 h 30 · 7.8 km · From about age 10 if used to walking · Desde 10 € per person per day): To walk this path you need the Cinque Terre Card. The Trekking Card costs €10 a day per adult in normal season and €15 on very busy days; the Treno Card includes it together with the train. It is bought at the park's information points in the stations or on its website.
What it is and which stretches are open
The Sentiero Azzurro, now signposted as trail 592, is the historic path that linked the five villages along the coast before the railway arrived. Now you can walk two consecutive stretches, from Monterosso to Vernazza and from Vernazza to Corniglia: almost 8 km with stone steps, steep climbs and passages among olive trees and terraced vines. The stretch from Corniglia to Manarola remains closed, and between Manarola and Riomaggiore is the Via dell'Amore, with reserved access.
Which direction to do it
From north to south, as in the steps above, the first stretch is the hardest and you do it with fresh legs; you finish at Corniglia, with the train below. The other way round you start by climbing the 377 steps of the Lardarina from Corniglia station, but you finish on Monterosso beach. If you only have half a day, the Monterosso to Vernazza stretch has the best-known views.
Card prices

Trekking Card: €10 a day per adult aged 12 to 69, €15 on high-demand days; €7 or €10 for ages 4 to 12; family from €27.10. It includes the trail, the Via dell'Amore and the village minibuses.
Treno Card: adds the train between Levanto and La Spezia. From 2 November to 31 December 2026 it costs €17.30 a day per adult.

There are checks at the entrance to each stretch. The toilets at the village stations are free with the card.
Getting there
Go by train. Monterosso and Vernazza have a station in the village, and Corniglia down below, next to the sea. If you come by car, leave it in Levanto or La Spezia: in the villages parking is scarce and expensive and the centres are closed to traffic. The path leaves Monterosso from the old town, at the end of the promenade, and in Vernazza from the top of the village, behind the church.
When to go
Spring and autumn are the best seasons: from March to June and from September to November there are mild temperatures and fewer people. In summer, set out first thing; at midday the sun beats down and queues form at the narrow passages. The park closes the trails when there is a weather alert and asks anyone already on the route to return to the nearest village: check the status on its website the same day.
- **Via dell'Amore from Riomaggiore to Manarola** (30 min · 900 m · All ages · Desde 10 € with the Cinque Terre Card): It is the easiest and shortest stretch of the coast, and that is why it has a quota. Without a reservation and a card you cannot enter, and walking back is allowed only for certain groups, such as residents.
What it is and why go
The Via dell'Amore is 900 metres of path cut into the cliff between Riomaggiore and Manarola, the two southernmost villages of the Cinque Terre. For decades it was the park's most famous walk, until a rockfall closed it. It has reopened after twelve years of safety and improvement works, with controlled access and in one direction only.
What makes it special is that it is flat and always above the sea: there are no climbs, the surface is firm and every few metres you have an open view of the coast. Along the route there are five works by the artist Gino Covili. It is the only stretch of the Cinque Terre coast that almost anyone can do.
Who it suits
Families with children of any age, anyone who does not want to or cannot do the area's mountain trails and anyone who has only one day and wants to see two villages. Children aged 0 to 3 do not pay, nor do people with disabilities, who must show proof at the check.
It does not suit anyone looking for a hike: it is over in half an hour. If you want to walk properly, combine it with one of the coastal trails, which are paid for with the same card.
Getting to Riomaggiore
By train. Riomaggiore is the first stop on the Cinque Terre line from La Spezia, a few minutes away. From the station, access to the Via dell'Amore is very close. By car it makes no sense: the villages have restricted traffic and very little parking, so leave the car in La Spezia or Levanto and continue by train.
Beware of announced train suspensions for works: 14 and 15 November and 19 and 20 December 2026, and 9 and 10 January and 6 and 7 February 2027. Between Corniglia and La Spezia the interruption lasts 48 hours.
Which card to buy
Access costs from €10. There are three ways to pay for it. The single Via dell'Amore ticket, if you are only going to do this walk. The Trekking Card, which adds the park's trails, the village buses, guided visits and services. And the Train Card, which also gives unlimited trains on the line. With both cards you still have to reserve the slot for the walk, with the voucher the portal gives.
If you are going to travel by train between several villages in the day, the Train Card is usually the most convenient option: a single ticket for everything.
When to go
The hours change with the season. From 26 October 2026 to 28 March 2027 it opens from 9:00 to 18:00, with last entry at 17:30. In the spring and summer season, from late March to late October, it opens from 9:00 to 21:00, with last entry at 20:30.
In summer and on long weekends, the mid-morning slots sell out first. The first ones in the morning and, from April to October, the evening ones, are quieter and have the best light over Manarola.
If the weather is bad
In a storm at sea, check the park's notices before setting out. If the walk is closed, take the chance to explore Manarola and Riomaggiore on foot or continue by train to Vernazza or Monterosso.
- **Village to Village by Train with the Cinque Terre Treno Card** (8 h · Everyone · Desde 17.3 € per adult per day): The train is the way to get between the five villages: regional trains on the La Spezia – Levanto line stop at Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza and Monterosso, and between one and the next takes a few minutes, almost always inside tunnels. With the Cinque Terre Treno MS Card you can hop on and off as much as you like during the day.
What the Treno Card includes

Unlimited second-class journeys on regional trains between La Spezia, the five villages and Levanto.
Access to the Sentiero Azzurro between Monterosso, Vernazza and Corniglia and to the Via dell'Amore, which has reserved access.
The village minibuses, useful at Corniglia, which is up on the heights, and for going up to Groppo and Volastra.
The toilets at the village stations, which cost €1 without the card, and wifi at the park's points.
Free entry to the CAMeC in La Spezia and to Podere Case Lovara, run by the FAI, on the path from Levanto to Monterosso.

If you are only going to walk and not take the train, the Trekking Card is enough, costing €10 a day (€15 on very busy days).
Prices
The park sets three fares according to each day's expected crowds, published in its calendar. From 14 March to 1 November 2026 the one-day card for adults aged 12 to 69 cost €22, €29.50 or €35, and for children aged 4 to 12, €15, €20 or €23.50. There are two- and three-day cards and a family one for two adults and one or more children.
From 2 November to 31 December 2026 there is a single fare:

Adult: €17.30 for one day, €29 for two days and €34 for three days.
Ages 4 to 12: €11, €16.70 and €22.30.
Age 70 and over: €13.70, €21.30 and €28.50.
Family: €43.70, €67.10 and €89.10.

The 2027 fares have not yet been published. The one-day card is valid until 24:00 on the day marked; the two-day card, until midnight the following day.
Where to buy
At the park's information points in the stations, from La Spezia to Levanto, or on the card's website (card.parconazionale5terre.it). Buying online saves you the ticket-office queue in summer. If you do not have it, you can also travel with ordinary Trenitalia tickets, but they do not include trails or buses.
How to organise the day
Start at one end, Monterosso or Riomaggiore, and hop from village to village. The stations at Vernazza, Manarola and Riomaggiore are in the village; Corniglia's is down below, next to the sea, with the village above: either you climb the Lardarina staircase, of 377 steps, or take the minibus with the card. A good plan combines the train with a stretch on foot of the Sentiero Azzurro and the return by train, or with the Cinque Terre line boat in one direction.
By car it makes no sense to move between the villages: the roads are narrow, parking is scarce and expensive and the centres are closed to traffic. Leave the car in La Spezia or Levanto and go in by train.
With children
It is the most comfortable way to travel the coast with children or a pushchair: journeys are short and under-4s do not pay. In summer the platforms fill up in mid-morning and late afternoon: hold little ones firmly, because they are narrow and very crowded.
- **Line 02 Boat Between Portovenere and Monterosso** (5 h · Everyone; does not sail in a heavy sea): Seeing the villages from the sea is seeing the real postcard: coloured houses piled on the rock and the vine terraces above. The coast's scheduled boat stops at four of the five villages and links with Portovenere, La Spezia, Lerici and Levanto. You buy a ticket and get on: it is not a guided excursion, it is transport.
Who operates it and how it works
The line is operated by the Consorzio Marittimo Turistico Cinque Terre – Golfo dei Poeti, which brings together the local shipping companies. The boats stop at Riomaggiore, Manarola, Vernazza and Monterosso. They do not stop at Corniglia, which is high on a cliff with no harbour: for that village, take the train.
You can buy a single journey or a day ticket, which lets you hop on and off without limit at all the line's stops. The day ticket is the one to get if you want to see several villages from the water and get off at them. It is bought at the ticket offices on the quays or on the consortium's website, where advance sales open in February and tickets can be bought until the day before. The price depends on the leg and the type of ticket: check it on the website before going.
When it runs
The service is seasonal. In 2026 there was a reduced timetable until 27 March and the season timetable from 28 March. Outside spring, summer and early autumn the boats are greatly reduced or suspended: if you go in November or in winter, check the current timetable on the consortium's website before counting on it.
The boats do not sail in a heavy sea, and on the open Levante coast that often happens in autumn and spring. Cancellations are decided on the same day; do not rely on the boat to come back at a fixed time, because the train is the safe alternative.
A plan for the day

Portovenere. Start in the south, at Portovenere, which has no train: the church of San Pietro on the rocks and the castle deserve the morning. You arrive by bus from La Spezia or by boat.
Coast northwards. The boat passes the island of Palmaria and continues along the cliffs to Riomaggiore. Sit on the port side, on the left looking forward, to have the coast on your side heading north.
Riomaggiore or Manarola. Get off at one of the two, walk up through the village and return to the quay.
Vernazza. The arrival by sea, with the tower and the church above the harbour, is the best-known view of the coast.
Monterosso. The village with a sandy beach. From here you return by boat or by train.

Allow about five hours if you get off in three or four villages. In a hurry, the whole journey from one end to the other, without getting off, takes less time.
Boarding and accessibility
The quays at Vernazza and Monterosso are next to the village; those at Riomaggiore and Manarola are landing stages on the rock, with steps and, in a choppy sea, a tricky step between boat and quay. With a pushchair or wheelchair it is awkward at those two stops. With children it works well: the trip is short and the view keeps them entertained.
Combine it
The boat and the train complement each other: go by boat one way and return by train. If you have a morning left, the Sentiero Azzurro between Monterosso and Vernazza ends right at the Vernazza quay.
- **Vineyard Trail from Riomaggiore to Corniglia via Volastra** (3 h 15 · 8.3 km · Experienced hikers · On your own · free): The path above the coast: from Riomaggiore to Manarola and then via Groppo, Volastra and Case Pianca to Corniglia, between dry-stone walls, vines and olive trees, with the sea always on one side. The park's map gives it as the terraced vineyard landscape itinerary: 8.3 km and about 3 h 15 min, for experienced hikers. It is free and much quieter than the Sentiero Azzurro.
The route step by step

Riomaggiore – Manarola along the top. The path leaves the top of Riomaggiore and crosses the hillside via Costa Corniolo to Manarola, above the Via dell'Amore.
Manarola – Volastra (trail 506). It climbs the valley, to the right of the Groppo stream. At Piè di Fiesse it follows the road towards Groppo for a stretch, leaves it to scramble up among olive trees, passes the chapel of San Michele and climbs an easy staircase to Volastra. This is the hard part: a good share of the day's ascent is here.
Volastra. A hamlet of stone houses around the church of Nostra Signora della Salute, with a drinking-water fountain and some facilities.
Volastra – Case Pianca (trail 586, closed now). It leaves from the church square and runs almost level, just below the road, among the DOC vines of Le Coste and their dry-stone walls, to Case Porciana. Then it enters a pine wood that has grown over abandoned vineyards. It is 2.4 km, 121 m of ascent and about 50 minutes.
Case Pianca – Corniglia (trail 587). From the junction below Case Pianca you go down among vines to Corniglia, which awaits you on top of its cliff. The railway station is below.

What you can do while the 586 remains closed
Climb from Manarola to Volastra on the 506, walk round the hamlet and come back: go down the same path or take the park minibus, included in the Cinque Terre Card. On the way up you pass Groppo, where the cooperative winery is, so you can end the morning with a tasting. The 506 continues beyond Volastra through the woods to the Monte Marvede saddle: in all it is 4 km and 635 m of ascent from Manarola, about 2 h 40 min, in case you want to go further.
Difficulty, water and shade
The path is signposted with the park's red and white marks and numbers. The climb from Manarola is continuous and with steps; the stretch between Volastra and Case Pianca, when it opens, is almost flat. There are fountains at Volastra and at the junction of trails 502 and 506V. On the terraces there is almost no shade: in summer set out first thing and bring at least a litre and a half of water.
Hiking boots or trainers with a good sole: there are stone steps, narrow stretches and, after rain, slippery rock.
When to go
From March to June and from September to November, in good weather. The grape harvest, in late September and early October, is when you see the terraces being worked. In rain or an orange alert do not set out: the park closes the trails and asks anyone already on the route to return to the villages.
With a dog and with children
With a dog you can, on a lead and with water for it. For children it is demanding because of the climb and lack of shade; from about age 10 and used to walking.
If you are looking for the coastal path, the Sentiero Azzurro between Monterosso and Corniglia is open with the Cinque Terre Card, and the train takes you back to any village.
- **Sciacchetrà Tasting at the Groppo Cooperative Winery** (1 h · Adults · Desde 30 € per person): Sciacchetrà is the sweet wine of the coast, made from grapes left to dry after the harvest. At the Cantina Cinque Terre, the cooperative winery that brings together a good share of the growers of the five villages, you see how the grapes that come down from the terraces are handled and taste it alongside the dry whites of the denomination.
What it is and why it matters
In the Cinque Terre the vine grows on terraces held up by dry-stone walls, so steep that the harvest is done by hand and the grapes come down in baskets or on small monorails. Without the cooperative, many of those plots would have been abandoned. Today it produces the Cinque Terre DOC, a dry white, and the Cinque Terre Sciacchetrà DOC, the dessert wine made from the same grapes dried for weeks.
The winery is in Groppo, a hamlet above Manarola, on the road that climbs towards Volastra. From there you can see the terraces the wine comes from.
Visits and tastings
The winery publishes several formats, all by reservation:

Tasting with aperitif: visit to the winery and two glasses, a Cinque Terre DOC and a Sciacchetrà, with small local bites. €30 per person, or €50 with a transfer by the winery's car from Riomaggiore, Manarola or La Spezia and a stop at the Costa da Posa viewpoint. In Italian and English.
Tasting with light lunch: visit and the same two glasses with focaccia, savoury pies, lasagne with pesto and pandolce. €45 per person, or €65 with transfer.
Winery visit: on weekdays at 11:00, on the history of the area and its wines.
Walk through the vineyards: a route among the terraces that ends at the winery, €40 per person, with a minimum of four.
Trekking: a longer walk along the trails and terraced landscape, finishing at the winery. €60 per person, minimum four.
Symposium: seated tastings from Friday to Sunday and public holidays, by reservation only: a Sciacchetrà on its own, three dry wines, two dry wines with Sciacchetrà or a glass of DOC.

In the shop you can try something without a reservation during its opening hours.
Shop hours
From April to October and in December, Monday to Saturday from 8:00 to 19:00 and Sundays and public holidays from 10:00 to 19:00. In January, February, March and November it opens with reduced hours on weekdays and closes on Sundays and public holidays; the website itself gives two different versions of these hours, so call before going.
Getting there
From Manarola the park minibus goes up to Groppo; with the Cinque Terre Card it is included. By car, the winery has ample parking, rare in the area, on the road that leaves the coast road towards Volastra. On foot, trail 506 climbs from Manarola towards Volastra along the bank of the Groppo stream: it is steep, more than 600 m of ascent to its end, although the winery is on the first stretch.
If you are going to taste wine, do not drive: the bends of the coast road are unforgiving. The format with transfer solves the problem.
Who goes and what to bring
The tastings are for adults. Minors may accompany the visit, but do not drink. Book by phone (0187 920435), mobile or email a few days ahead; for the vineyard outings, bear in mind that they do not run with fewer than four people. Bring shoes with a firm sole if you do the walk or the trek: the terraces have stone steps.
The visit fits with the Volastra vineyard trail, which passes through Groppo, and with an afternoon in Manarola.
- **Mortar-made pesto workshop on the Nessun Dorma terrace, Manarola** (2 h 30 · Everyone; children under 6 do not pay · Desde 85 € per person): Pesto is the sauce of Liguria, and Manarola is a good place to learn to make it the way it used to be made: by hand, in a marble mortar, with freshly picked basil. The class is held on the terrace of Nessun Dorma, at Punta Bonfiglio, facing the village's best-known view. During the class the place is for the group alone.
What the class is like
You arrive at the terrace, are given an apron and are told where each ingredient comes from and the history of those who invented the sauce. You pick the basil leaves from their plants and, with pine nuts, garlic and sea salt, make the pesto in an old Carrara marble mortar. Then you taste it and are shown the trick for getting it right and repeating it at home. There is a small prize for the best pesto in the group.
Then you eat: burrata, Parma ham, melon, the house bruschette and focaccia, with wine and water. There are vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options, though the house warns that the kitchen is small and cross-contamination is possible. It ends with a tasting of a Cinque Terre white and a short chat with a Ligurian sommelier. Anything you order off the menu is paid separately. In all it takes about two and a half hours.
Times and price
It costs €85 per person, and the price is the same for groups and agencies. Children under 6 do not pay, those aged 6 to 9 pay half and from 10 the full price. There are three departures: at 10:30 every day from 11 March, at 13:45 from 1 May and at 17:00 on Mondays and Wednesdays from May. No sessions on Tuesdays. In the rain the class is cancelled.
You book on the house's website or in its app, where you keep the confirmation. Cancelling is free from the app. Classes are given in English, with plenty of Italian hands.
Getting there
Get off the train at Manarola and follow the signs to the marina. At the end of the street there is a balcony with a sea view: take the little path round the cliff and, at the corner, climb the steps to the white parasols. It is five to ten minutes from the station. If you take the train after the class, they keep your luggage while you cook.
Combine it
The 10:30 class fits after the Via dell'Amore, which reaches Manarola from Riomaggiore in half an hour. In the afternoon you can go up to Groppo for the Sciacchetrà tasting or walk the vineyard trail.

## Dónde comer
- **Nessun Dorma** (Bar, Manarola, €€). Qué pedir: a bruschetta with tomato or a board of cured meats and cheeses, with a glass of Cinque Terre white or a limoncino spritz
- **Trattoria Gianni Franzi** (Restaurant, Vernazza, €€). Qué pedir: the anchovies in their three versions (stuffed, salted and with lemon) and the tegame alla vernazzana, the village's stew of anchovies and potatoes
- **Ristorante Belforte** (Restaurant, Vernazza, €€€). Qué pedir: the tagliolini al nero di seppia with prawns or the tagliatelle all'aragosta, which the house recommends, and for dessert the pan-sautéed strawberries with ice cream

## Car-free: Car-free: train, boat and trails
The Cinque Terre is one of the few places where a car is a nuisance. All five villages have a station on the La Spezia – Levanto line, a few minutes apart, and between them there are seasonal boats and trails. Sleep in one of the villages to start walking before the groups arrive.
Presupuesto orientativo: 110–350 € por persona y día.
### Dónde dormir without a car
- **Hotel Porto Roca** (Hotel): A hotel on the rocks of Monterosso
Porto Roca is a four-star hotel at the top end of Monterosso al Mare, the northernmost village of the Cinque Terre and the only one with a long sandy beach. It is on Via Corone, on the rocks that close the old town, with the sea below and the whole gulf in front. It has 43 rooms and is a hotel for adults and teenagers only: it does not admit children under 14.
What sets it apart is the location. From the door starts the Sentiero Azzurro towards Vernazza, the best-known stretch of the coastal path, so you can start walking early, before the morning trains arrive. When you return there is an infinity pool with a sea view and, in summer, a private beach with sun loungers.
The rooms
There are several types, almost all with a sea view: Retro rooms, standard rooms with a sea view, those with a balcony, those with a terrace, one with a side view, junior suites, suites and a Garden Suite with a garden. Most have their own balcony and some a terrace. All have air conditioning, satellite television, minibar, safe and free wifi, which also reaches the bar, restaurant and pool.
Breakfast is a buffet and is included if you book directly with the hotel. The hotel has its own bar and restaurant, La Terrazza, and a free shuttle service at any hour between the hotel, the beach and the restaurant.
Getting there
By train to Monterosso station, on the La Spezia – Levanto line. The hotel offers paid transfers from airports and stations in major cities, useful if you fly to Pisa or Genoa and do not want to change trains with luggage. Monterosso is not a village for cars: the approaches are narrow and parking is scarce. The hotel's website does not say whether it has its own parking; ask when you book if you are coming by car.
Reception is open 24 hours and they speak Italian, English, French, German and Spanish. They store luggage, have a concierge, help with excursions and offer paid laundry and ironing.
With a dog
They accept small and medium-sized dogs and cats for €20 a night. They must be on a lead in the common areas and may not enter the pool or the hotel's beach.
- **La Torretta Lodge** (Small hotel, desde 400 € / night): An old tower in the centre of Manarola
La Torretta occupies the interior of an old tower in the centre of Manarola, the village of coloured houses stacked above the little harbour. It is on Vico Volto, in the upper part, with a view of the bay on one side and the vineyard terraces on the other. It is a guesthouse with an affittacamere licence, not a hotel with a restaurant: what it offers is carefully kept rooms, terraces and calm when the groups leave.
The rooms and what they cost
The decoration mixes antique and contemporary furniture in Ligurian style. All the rooms have air conditioning, minibar, Nespresso machine, safe, television and a selection of Italian wines. The differences lie in the views and the outdoor space:

Classic and Superior: doubles with a window; the Superior, with a partial sea view, a four-poster bed and a frescoed ceiling, without a balcony.
Deluxe and Limonaia: with a terrace or private patio facing the sea and the garden, with hammocks.
Romantic, Design and Duplex: suites with a Carrara marble bathroom; the Duplex has a living room with two sea-facing windows and a terrace.
Panoramic Suite: the only one outside the main house, two minutes' walk away, with a large terrace over the sea.
Two-bedroom suites (Deluxe, Prestige and Tower), for families or two couples.

The published price list runs from €400 for the Classic to €3,000 for the Tower Suite, with VAT and minibar soft drinks included. It is upmarket accommodation: think of it for one or two special nights.
Getting there and what to know
Arrive by train at Manarola. From the station it is about ten minutes on foot and, according to the house, without steps. From the station they no longer collect luggage, because the street is pedestrianised; if you come by car, they help with your luggage free of charge from Manarola's public car park if you call between 7:30 and 20:00. Another option they suggest is to get off at La Spezia Centrale and take a taxi, about 25 minutes.
Reception is open from 7:30 to 20:30 and after that you can no longer reach the house. Check-in is from 14:00 and check-out until 11:30; luggage storage is free. Animals are not accepted and smoking is not allowed anywhere. Watch the cancellation terms: the total is not refunded from 30 days before arrival.
In Manarola you have the Via dell'Amore to Riomaggiore and the vineyard trail to Volastra right next door.
- **Albergo Gianni Franzi** (Small hotel): Sleeping in Vernazza with the trattoria's family
Gianni Franzi is both trattoria and albergo, in the heart of Vernazza. The trattoria is on Piazza Marconi, facing the harbour, and the hotel reception operates inside its bar. The rooms are a little higher up, on Via San Giovanni Battista, in the old town, at the foot of the Doria castle.
The house says the first rooms were made in the late 1960s in old village dwellings, under the supervision of the stage director Aldo Trionfo. Since 1997 there have been more in a neighbouring palace, on the rock. Almost all look over the Gulf of the Cinque Terre.
The rooms
There are singles, doubles with a small balcony over the sea, doubles with balcony and terrace, triples, a quad, Superior rooms and a suite. Some have no sea view, so check when booking. The two houses are connected by a garden hanging above the cliff, with an open view, which all guests can use.
Breakfast is served from 7:30 to 9:30, for hotel guests only, on the Deck: a terrace of about 70 m² carved out of the rock, on the same Via San Giovanni Battista. The house itself compares it to the prow of an ocean liner. Wifi is free for guests.
Getting there and what to know
Arrive by train at Vernazza and go down the main street to Piazza Marconi, where reception is. From there to the rooms it is about a hundred steps through the carruggi, the village's alleys, and there is no luggage service: travel light. Animals of any size are not accepted.
The room is available before 16:00 on the day of arrival; if you are going to arrive late, let them know by phone. Check-out is before 10:30. The stay is paid at check-in. Hotel and trattoria close from 10 January to 10 March; in those weeks they respond by email only.
The hotel has the Quality Mark of the Cinque Terre National Park and its guests can ask for a discount on the Cinque Terre Card. From the door you have the Sentiero Azzurro towards Monterosso or towards Corniglia, and the line 02 boat leaves from the harbour, next to the square.

## By plane: Fly to Pisa or Genoa and take the train to the five villages
The Cinque Terre can be done without a car from the airport. There are direct flights from Madrid and other Spanish cities to Pisa, and from Barcelona to Genoa. From both airports you reach the city's station and from there take a regional train to La Spezia or Levanto, the two gateways of the line that stops at the five villages. Do not hire a car: the villages are pedestrianised and there is almost nowhere to park.
### Dónde dormir if you're flying
- **Hotel Porto Roca** (Hotel): A hotel on the rocks of Monterosso
Porto Roca is a four-star hotel at the top end of Monterosso al Mare, the northernmost village of the Cinque Terre and the only one with a long sandy beach. It is on Via Corone, on the rocks that close the old town, with the sea below and the whole gulf in front. It has 43 rooms and is a hotel for adults and teenagers only: it does not admit children under 14.
What sets it apart is the location. From the door starts the Sentiero Azzurro towards Vernazza, the best-known stretch of the coastal path, so you can start walking early, before the morning trains arrive. When you return there is an infinity pool with a sea view and, in summer, a private beach with sun loungers.
The rooms
There are several types, almost all with a sea view: Retro rooms, standard rooms with a sea view, those with a balcony, those with a terrace, one with a side view, junior suites, suites and a Garden Suite with a garden. Most have their own balcony and some a terrace. All have air conditioning, satellite television, minibar, safe and free wifi, which also reaches the bar, restaurant and pool.
Breakfast is a buffet and is included if you book directly with the hotel. The hotel has its own bar and restaurant, La Terrazza, and a free shuttle service at any hour between the hotel, the beach and the restaurant.
Getting there
By train to Monterosso station, on the La Spezia – Levanto line. The hotel offers paid transfers from airports and stations in major cities, useful if you fly to Pisa or Genoa and do not want to change trains with luggage. Monterosso is not a village for cars: the approaches are narrow and parking is scarce. The hotel's website does not say whether it has its own parking; ask when you book if you are coming by car.
Reception is open 24 hours and they speak Italian, English, French, German and Spanish. They store luggage, have a concierge, help with excursions and offer paid laundry and ironing.
With a dog
They accept small and medium-sized dogs and cats for €20 a night. They must be on a lead in the common areas and may not enter the pool or the hotel's beach.
- **La Torretta Lodge** (Small hotel, desde 400 € / night): An old tower in the centre of Manarola
La Torretta occupies the interior of an old tower in the centre of Manarola, the village of coloured houses stacked above the little harbour. It is on Vico Volto, in the upper part, with a view of the bay on one side and the vineyard terraces on the other. It is a guesthouse with an affittacamere licence, not a hotel with a restaurant: what it offers is carefully kept rooms, terraces and calm when the groups leave.
The rooms and what they cost
The decoration mixes antique and contemporary furniture in Ligurian style. All the rooms have air conditioning, minibar, Nespresso machine, safe, television and a selection of Italian wines. The differences lie in the views and the outdoor space:

Classic and Superior: doubles with a window; the Superior, with a partial sea view, a four-poster bed and a frescoed ceiling, without a balcony.
Deluxe and Limonaia: with a terrace or private patio facing the sea and the garden, with hammocks.
Romantic, Design and Duplex: suites with a Carrara marble bathroom; the Duplex has a living room with two sea-facing windows and a terrace.
Panoramic Suite: the only one outside the main house, two minutes' walk away, with a large terrace over the sea.
Two-bedroom suites (Deluxe, Prestige and Tower), for families or two couples.

The published price list runs from €400 for the Classic to €3,000 for the Tower Suite, with VAT and minibar soft drinks included. It is upmarket accommodation: think of it for one or two special nights.
Getting there and what to know
Arrive by train at Manarola. From the station it is about ten minutes on foot and, according to the house, without steps. From the station they no longer collect luggage, because the street is pedestrianised; if you come by car, they help with your luggage free of charge from Manarola's public car park if you call between 7:30 and 20:00. Another option they suggest is to get off at La Spezia Centrale and take a taxi, about 25 minutes.
Reception is open from 7:30 to 20:30 and after that you can no longer reach the house. Check-in is from 14:00 and check-out until 11:30; luggage storage is free. Animals are not accepted and smoking is not allowed anywhere. Watch the cancellation terms: the total is not refunded from 30 days before arrival.
In Manarola you have the Via dell'Amore to Riomaggiore and the vineyard trail to Volastra right next door.
- **Albergo Gianni Franzi** (Small hotel): Sleeping in Vernazza with the trattoria's family
Gianni Franzi is both trattoria and albergo, in the heart of Vernazza. The trattoria is on Piazza Marconi, facing the harbour, and the hotel reception operates inside its bar. The rooms are a little higher up, on Via San Giovanni Battista, in the old town, at the foot of the Doria castle.
The house says the first rooms were made in the late 1960s in old village dwellings, under the supervision of the stage director Aldo Trionfo. Since 1997 there have been more in a neighbouring palace, on the rock. Almost all look over the Gulf of the Cinque Terre.
The rooms
There are singles, doubles with a small balcony over the sea, doubles with balcony and terrace, triples, a quad, Superior rooms and a suite. Some have no sea view, so check when booking. The two houses are connected by a garden hanging above the cliff, with an open view, which all guests can use.
Breakfast is served from 7:30 to 9:30, for hotel guests only, on the Deck: a terrace of about 70 m² carved out of the rock, on the same Via San Giovanni Battista. The house itself compares it to the prow of an ocean liner. Wifi is free for guests.
Getting there and what to know
Arrive by train at Vernazza and go down the main street to Piazza Marconi, where reception is. From there to the rooms it is about a hundred steps through the carruggi, the village's alleys, and there is no luggage service: travel light. Animals of any size are not accepted.
The room is available before 16:00 on the day of arrival; if you are going to arrive late, let them know by phone. Check-out is before 10:30. The stay is paid at check-in. Hotel and trattoria close from 10 January to 10 March; in those weeks they respond by email only.
The hotel has the Quality Mark of the Cinque Terre National Park and its guests can ask for a discount on the Cinque Terre Card. From the door you have the Sentiero Azzurro towards Monterosso or towards Corniglia, and the line 02 boat leaves from the harbour, next to the square.

## As a family: Short Train, Boat and an Easy Walk

With children the Cinque Terre work on trains of a few minutes and a boat, not long walks. The villages have slopes and stairs, but are covered at their own pace, with a beach or harbour at the end.

### What works best
The Via dell'Amore: half an hour and no difficulty, with a reservation

The line 02 boat, from harbour to harbour and as far as Portovenere

The train from village to village with the Treno Card, from €11 per child a day

The Sentiero Azzurro from Vernazza to Corniglia, for children over 10 who walk well

### Where to sleep
Levanto or La Spezia, with more apartments and a few minutes away by train

Monterosso, with a wide beach and a station

### Where to eat
Focaccia and fried fish to take away in any village

A picnic at the harbour in Vernazza or Manarola

### Keep in mind
A pushchair is almost useless: stairs in every village. A baby carrier is better

The Treno Card has a family fare from €43.70 a day

Under-4s do not pay for the card

### Qué hacer as a family
- Via dell'Amore from Riomaggiore to Manarola
- Village to Village by Train with the Cinque Terre Treno Card
- Line 02 Boat Between Portovenere and Monterosso
- Mortar-made pesto workshop on the Nessun Dorma terrace, Manarola

## Consejos

### Buy the Treno Card if you're going to walk the trails
It includes the train, the Sentiero Azzurro and the Via dell'Amore. Separately it costs more.

### Check the forecast before you walk
With a weather alert the park advises against the trails. Check the park's website every morning.

### Corniglia, by the stairs
The village is up high. From the station the Lardarina staircase climbs, 377 steps.

## Preguntas frecuentes

### How many days do I need?
Two nights: one day for the Sentiero Azzurro between Monterosso and Corniglia, and another for Manarola, Riomaggiore, the Via dell'Amore and the boat.

### Do you have to pay for the trails?
For the Sentiero Azzurro between Monterosso, Vernazza and Corniglia and for the Via dell'Amore, yes: you need the Cinque Terre Card, from €10 a day. Other trails in the park are free.

### Is the whole coastal path open?
No. Corniglia – Manarola remains closed. Higher up you can go via Volastra, on the vineyard path.

### Is it a good idea with children?
Yes, with the train and boat as a base. The Via dell'Amore is short and easy; the Sentiero Azzurro is better with children who already walk confidently.

### Where should I sleep?
In any of the five villages, to set out early, or in Levanto or La Spezia, with more choice and a few minutes away by train.