Cinque Terre, a string of five colourful seaside villages perched along Italy’s rugged Ligurian coastline, is often squeezed into a rushed day trip—but it deserves far more. Beyond its iconic backdrop of vertiginous cottages and turquoise waters lies a deeper experience. Base yourself in the much quieter Portovenere. Just a 35 minute boat ride from the Cinque Terre’s most southerly village, Riomaggiore, it is often referred to as the region’s silent ‘sixth town’; its labyrinth of characterful churches and charming cafés offering a more subdued charm than its livelier neighbours. Watch sunrise from trails linking each town (namely Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza, Monterosso al Mare and Riomaggiore). Spend late afternoons tasting wines over lyrical harbours and savour sunset on a traditional Ligurian fishing boat. This is a place meant to be lingered in.
Cinque Terre, a string of five colourful seaside villages perched along Italy’s rugged Ligurian coastline, is often squeezed into a rushed day trip—but it deserves far more. Beyond its iconic backdrop of vertiginous cottages and turquoise waters lies a deeper experience. Base yourself in the much quieter Portovenere. Just a 35 minute boat ride from the Cinque Terre’s most southerly village, Riomaggiore, it is often referred to as the region’s silent ‘sixth town’; its labyrinth of characterful churches and charming cafés offering a more subdued charm than its livelier neighbours. Watch sunrise from trails linking each town (namely Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza, Monterosso al Mare and Riomaggiore). Spend late afternoons tasting wines over lyrical harbours and savour sunset on a traditional Ligurian fishing boat. This is a place meant to be lingered in.
Why travel to Cinque Terre, you ask? For its impossible beauty, of course. Candy-coloured houses perched precariously on bluffs overlooking crystalline seas; terraced cliffsides that tell a thousand-year old story of olive and wine cultivation; photo opportunities at every turn. Cinque Terre is Italy at its most undiluted, free of cars (a single road arrived in the 1960s), untouched by time. In fact, contrary to popular belief, Italy’s smallest national park isn’t the product of fishermen, but rather farmers who needed access to the sea to ship their wine. Today, it sits as a real life representation of dolce far niente, the Italian notion of pleasant idleness. It can be embraced across the area, from bistros carved into cliffsides, offering refreshing aperitifs and breathtaking sea views, to clifftop castles such as the Castello di Riomaggiore and deckchairs on Monterosso’s long, sandy beach.
It’s also the perfect destination for those who like their relaxation with a side of adventure. Take on the 7.5-mile Sentiero Azzurro (or Blue Trail) that links the five villages, pausing in its lemon groves where glasses of fresh lemonade await with sweeping coastal vistas. Carved by villagers in the 1920s to replace a daunting 600-step climb, the trail takes around 6 hours to complete in full. However, many opt to break it into manageable sections over several days, allowing for a more leisurely pace and time to explore each village along the way.
Spending 2 to 3 days in the Cinque Terre gives you the chance to explore each village properly, without rushing. Unlike daytrippers who barely skim the surface, you’ll have time to experience the unique character of each village from all angles without the crowds, especially in the early morning and evening. It also gives you the opportunity to explore the wider region and its other often overlooked natural treasures.
Take a morning to explore the near empty island of Palmaria, just across Le Bocche channel. Hike along its crowd free trails lined with archaeological treasures, hidden coves and endemic fauna and flora. Sail past Portovenere’s ‘Marble Caves’, noted for their intricate limestone formations, reefs and sea species. And once on dry land, spend the afternoon indulging in typical Italian experiences, from traditional cooking classes and oyster tastings to sunbathing sessions on some of the region’s best beaches like Aranella and Il Gabbiano Beach.
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