3 Day Cinque Terre Itinerary – Perfect Guide for First-time Visitors

There are places you visit once and check off the list. And then there are places like Cinque Terre so magnetic, so impossibly photogenic that you keep finding excuses to return. We know because we’ve done exactly that. The first time, we squeezed Cinque Terre into a packed Italy trip. And the second time, we were living in Italy for a month, working remotely. That’s why we’re sharing this 3 day Cinque Terre itinerary, the version we now recommend after visiting multiple times. .

The magic never fades. The smell of freshly baked focaccia in Vernazza. The adrenaline of jumping into the turquoise marina in Manarola. The golden glow on Riomaggiore’s cliffs as fishermen pull in their nets. If you’ve ever dreamed of living la dolce vita on Italy’s Ligurian coast, even for a few days, this guide will help you do it right.

Where to Begin Your Cinque Terre Journey

Most travelers arrive via La Spezia or Genoa and we’ve done both.

• La Spezia: This was our base when we worked remotely from Italy. It’s only a 10 minute train ride to Riomaggiore (first viallage from south to north), with regular connections to all five villages. Hotels and Airbnbs here are cheaper and reliable WiFi, which isn’t always a given in the tiny cliffside towns. La Spezia has a relaxed port-town feel which is worth a short wander if you stay overnight.
• Genoa: On a later trip, we arrived from Milan via Genoa and honestly, we were surprised by how much we enjoyed the city. It’s grittier, bigger, but has fantastic food (the focaccia di Recco is legendary). It is a one hour train ride to Monterosso al Mare (first village from north to south) If you want to pair Cinque Terre with a bigger Italian city and have time, Genoa makes a solid starting point.

Our advice: If you’re coming from Florence, Pisa or anywhere in Tuscany, go through La Spezia. If you’re arriving from Milan or the north, Genoa works too. Either way, the regional train system is your lifeline here. You buy the train tickets at the station itself (each train ride is ~5 euros) or you can also buy Cinque Terre Train Card (~20 euros/day), it covers unlimited train rides between the villages and access to hiking trails.

Best Time to Visit Cinque Terre

We’ve been in Cinque Terre during high summer and in September and let us tell you: it feels like two completely different places.

• Summer (July–August): Yes, the water is warm and the nights buzz with energy, but both the crowds and heat are intense. We once tried hiking Vernazza to Corniglia in August and found ourselves in a human traffic jam. Add in 35°C heat, and it was more struggle than serenity.
• September (our favorite): The jackpot. The sea is still warm enough to swim, the grape harvest brings the villages alive, and the day-trippers thin out after the summer rush. In September, we were able to have Manarola’s Nessun Dorma terrace without a 2-hour wait, and we swam at Monterosso beach without fighting for towel space.
• Spring (April–June): Also a beautiful time to visit, with wildflowers painting the trails and the hillsides turning lush green. Prices are lower and crowds are lighter than in peak summer. The only trade-off? The sea can still be chilly for swimming in April and May, and the occasional spring shower may surprise you.

If your schedule is flexible, trust us on this and plan your 3 day Cinque Terre itinerary for September. It’s when the region feels like its most authentic self.

How to Get Around Cinque Terre

The charm of Cinque Terre is that there are no cars within the villages. You move the way locals always have: by train, by boat or by foot.

• Train: The easiest. The villages are only 5–10 minutes apart, and trains run frequently in high season. We loved the freedom of hopping on the train for a quick cappuccino in Corniglia before heading back to La Spezia for a work call.
• Hiking: Cinque Terre is famous for its trails. The Monterosso–Vernazza hike is our personal favorite. It is steep but when you see Vernazza’s pastel houses framed by vineyards, it’s worth every drop of sweat.
• Ferry: If you want that classic “Cinque Terre from the sea” shot, take the ferry. Once, we sailed into Riomaggiore at sunset and the cliffs looked like they were on fire. Ferries don’t run in winter, though.
• Walking: Inside each town, everything is compact – expect staircases, narrow alleys and cobblestones. Wear shoes with grip. We learned the hard way when I tried to hike Vernazza in sandals.

Day-by-Day 3 Day Cinque Terre Itinerary

Day 1: Monterosso & Vernazza

Morning: Monterosso al Mare
Start your adventure in Monterosso, the largest of the five. It’s the only one with a proper sandy beach, so we usually dive straight in. There’s nothing like swimming in the Ligurian Sea to shake off jet lag. You can have breakfast at Pasticceria Laura, they have excellent cappuccinos and pastries. Grab a slice of their local specialty, the lemon focaccia.

Afternoon: Hike or Train to Vernazza
After a swim, lace up your shoes and take on the Monterosso–Vernazza trail. It’s a moderately challenging 2-hour hike with uneven steps and steep climbs but every drop of sweat feels justified. When Vernazza appears below you see a beautiful view of a cluster of pastel houses wrapped around a perfect turquoise bay.

This descent is where you’ll find the iconic “Instagram view” of Vernazza, the one that seems to be on every postcard and travel feed. The exact spot is along the trail, about 10 minutes before you reach the village. We stopped here for a long time, just watching the colors shift from gold to pink, camera completely forgotten for a few minutes.

If hiking isn’t your thing, don’t worry, you can take the train from Monterosso to Vernazza (a quick 5-minute ride) and then walk up to the viewpoint. Just head towards the trail entrance marked “Monterosso” from Vernazza’s main street. It’s a short 10-minute uphill walk and gives you the same breathtaking view without committing to the full hike.

Evening: You can watch the sunset from the viewpoint or grab an Aperol spritz by the harbor. Watching the sun dip behind Vernazza with a spritz in hand is the best way to end your day!

Day 2: Corniglia & Manarola

Morning: Corniglia
Corniglia is the underdog of Cinque Terre. Because it’s perched 100 meters above the sea, fewer tourists bother. We love it for exactly that reason. Yes, you’ll have to climb the Lardarina staircase (382 steps) from the train station but the views over the vineyards are spectacular.

We enjoyed a quite bite at Pan e Vin for bruschetta and local wine tastings. Try the Sciacchetrà, Cinque Terre’s amber-colored dessert wine. We once bought a bottle here and shared it later that night back in La Spezia. It is sweet, rich, and unforgettable.

Afternoon: Manarola
Manarola is the star of every Instagram feed, but it’s even better in real life. Head to the rocky marina for a swim, it’s not a sandy beach but the water is crystal clear and the cliffs are perfect for sunbathing.

Manarola Food & Drinks:

• Nessun Dorma: Famous for pesto bruschetta, cocktails, and the most iconic view in Cinque Terre. Download their app to reserve a table. We once rearranged our entire work schedule to eat here at sunset. It was worth every late-night email after.
• Trattoria Dal Billy: Tucked above the village, with seafood platters and sea views. They make excellent vegetarian pasta too.

Evening: Stay for golden hour. The pastel houses light up as if someone painted them just for you.

Day 3: Riomaggiore + Your Personal Finale

Morning: Riomaggiore
Riomaggiore has the most dramatic cliffs. Walk through the tunnel from the train station to the harbor and you’ll see boats pulled up on ramps, laundry fluttering from windows, and fishermen preparing their gear. Bar O’Netto is the best spot for espresso and cornetti.

Afternoon:

If you haven’t done a ferry yet, today is the day. Seeing the five villages from the sea is a memory that sticks. Or if you are feeling more active, hike a portion of the Sentiero Azzurro (also known as the Blue Trail). This trail technically stretches for about 12 kilometers (7.5 miles) from Monterosso to Riomaggiore but you can easily choose just one or two segments depending on your energy and the weather. The paths between villages typically take 1.5 to 2.5 hours each with moderate climbs (150–250 meters of elevation gain) and plenty of uneven stone steps.

Evening: Have dinner in Riomaggiore and watch the sun set behind the cliffs. It’s the perfect farewell before your train ride back.

Our Favorite Experience in Cinque Terre

If you’re planning something unique and fun during your 3 day Cinque Terre itinerary, definitely book the Pesto Experience in Manarola. It’s part cooking class, part postcard come to life and one of our favorite memories from all our trips to Italy.

It’s not a hike, not a viewpoint and not even a restaurant (though food is involved, of course). It’s the Pesto-Making Class at Nessun Dorma – yes, the same terrace that has the most iconic view of the Manarola village.

We stumbled upon it during our second trip while looking for something more immersive than the usual sightseeing. The class takes place outdoors on a sunny terrace overlooking Manarola’s colorful houses and the sparkling Ligurian Sea. Armed with a mortar and pestle, you crush fresh basil, pine nuts, and Parmigiano just the way Ligurian grandmothers have done for generations. The best part? You get to enjoy your freshly made pesto right there, with a glass of local wine and that unreal view.

Where to Stay in Cinque Terre

• Stay in a village: Magical, but pricey and often small rooms. We stayed in Manarola once, and waking up to church bells echoing over the sea was unforgettable.
• Stay in La Spezia: Budget-friendly, better food variety, and reliable WiFi for remote work. Great base if you’re staying longer.
• Stay in Levanto: A quieter alternative just north of Monterosso, with its own beach and train access.

Our personal formula? Spend most nights in La Spezia, then splurge on one night inside a village (Vernazza or Manarola) for that “storybook” morning experience.

What to Eat & Drink in Cinque Terre

Food in Cinque Terre is simple but soulful:

• Pesto Genovese: Born in Liguria. Try it on trofie pasta or spread on focaccia.
• Focaccia: Sweet or savory. We still dream about the onion focaccia from a tiny bakery in Riomaggiore.
• Seafood Pastas: Anchovies are the star, but vegetarians can enjoy gnocchi al pesto or tagliolini with truffle.
• Sciacchetrà Wine: Golden, sweet, unique to the region. Perfect souvenir.
• Aperitivo Rituals: Spritz, olives, and chips at golden hour because no Italian day is complete without it.

Practical Tips for Your 3 Day Cinque Terre Itinerary

• Buy the Cinque Terre Train Card (covers trains + trails).
• Wear shoes with grip, those cobblestones and stairs are brutal in flip-flops.
• Bring cash for small cafés.
• Carry a reusable bottle, public fountains have great water.
• Travel light. Dragging a big suitcase up 200 steps is not fun.
• If working remotely: Monterosso and La Spezia had the most stable WiFi for us.

Final Thoughts

Three days in Cinque Terre is just enough to see all five villages, swim in the Ligurian Sea, hike a couple of trails, and still leave time for slow meals and lazy sunsets. Every time we’ve gone back, we’ve discovered something new. A bakery tucked down a side street, a swimming spot hidden under cliffs or just the joy of doing nothing and sipping wine by the harbor. This 3 day Cinque Terre itinerary isn’t about rushing through a checklist. It’s about slowing down, breathing in the salty air, and letting Italy’s most colorful coastline work its magic on you. And trust us, you’ll already be planning your return trip before you leave.