Since 1997, Cinque Terre are part of the UNESCO World Heritage and it is not so hard to understand why. It has been always a tourist area and a place of naturalistic interest.
If you are going to have a trip to Cinque Terre you will be surrounded by a timeless atmosphere where you will enjoy incredible views. Once in a lifetime, you might have an experience like this, even if just for a few days.
How to get to Cinque Terre
It is not so hard to arrive at Cinque Terre. There are two airports next to this area. The first one is Pisa’s airport (about 27k ft) and the other one is that of Genoa (about 36k ft). When you will land at one of these two airports you can take a train or rent a car.
It could be useful to know that, if you like to travel by train, you have to stop at La Spezia railway station. Then, you can take another train that will stop at each one of the Cinque Terre railway stations. It is a regional train and there is a run per hour from La Spezia to Cinque Terre villages and back.
If you prefer a car instead, you might travel to La Spezia by driving on the A15 Parma – La Spezia highway. When you will be there you will have to take the so-called “Litoranea delle Cinque Terre SS 370” or you might also take the A12 Genova – La Spezia highway and then take the exit “Brugnato Borghetto”. When in Brugnato Borghetto find the road signs for Soviore, Pignone, and Monterosso and follow them. There are three of the Cinque Terre well-known villages.
Where to sleep in Cinque Terre
If you would like to live an unforgettable experience then you can’t book one of the beautiful hotels in Levanto Italy. Surely, you can choose between several solutions in one of the villages and we would like to recommend you to have a stop here, in Levanto. It is one of the most beautiful tourist destinations in the Riviera di Levante and it is also known as “The Door of the Cinque Terre”.
Levanto is the perfect starting point for your trip to the district due to its strategic position. Also, there are several restaurants, gardens, hotels, and attractions so you will have a wider choice and here you can discover traditional tastes and the untouched nature.
There are several hotels in Levanto for every need. You can reach Monterosso by train in six minutes, Corniglia in fourteen minutes, Manarola in eighteen minutes, and Riomaggiore in twenty-one minutes. So, Levanto is a strategic point if you want to use public transport.
What to see in Cinque Terre in a three days trip
Levanto
This is your first day in Cinque Terre. We recommend you breathe and relax.
If you choose to stay here in Levanto, you can’t miss the peace of the sea and its characteristic medieval historic center. It is gathered around Saint Andrew’s Church and Saint Giacomo’s hills, with interesting palaces from the 17th and 18th centuries.
So, for your first day in Cinque Terre, we advise you to simply wander through the alleys and the ups and downs that offer breathtaking views. There are unique views here that you have to see once in a lifetime.
Monterosso
Surely, Monterosso is one of the most tourist destinations in Cinque Terre. You cannot miss Saint Giovanni Battista’s Church, the Santuario di Nostra Signora di Soviore, and the Statue of Neptune.
If you like hiking and trekking, you can also reach Monterosso from Levanto by foot, having a walk of about two and a half hours
The difference in height is 300 meters. You will go uphill and steps having a panoramic view of the bay.
You will walk on a marked CAI path and it will lead you to a wild spectacular promontory.
On the way back you can retrace the same route or, alternatively, you can take the regional train that will take you back to the base in six minutes.
Corniglia and Manarola
The distance from Levanto to Corniglia is challenging but if you don’t want to miss anything there is a good alternative solution. You can take a train from Levanto to Vernazza (about eight minutes), and then follow the Sentiero Azzurro. It is a 13k ft walk between breathtaking landscapes. It will need about 1 hour and a half. You will need to pay for a five euros ticket if you want to walk on this path. If you have previously bought the Cinque Terre Card you can use this one.
When you will be in Corniglia you cannot miss the Belvedere of Santa Maria, the Santuario della Madonna delle Grazie, and Saint Peter’s Church.
In the afternoon we recommend you take a train to Manarola where you can admire the harbor, Saint Lorenzo’s Church, and the main square.
If you have time left, also enter Riomaggiore in your itinerary with its castle and the guard tower. This is a show that deserves to be seen before returning to the hotel and leaving for home.
