Cinque Terre Itinerary: 7 Days of Coastal Gems and Delicious Cuisine

Enjoy some swimming or sunbathing on Monterosso's free public pebble beach.

Monterosso is the most popular Cinque Terre town for those wishing to enjoy some beach time, but not all of its beach is accessible without paying. This area of the beach (pebbly) next to the "old town" is free for public use although there are also umbrellas and sunbeds available for hire as well. You'll also find another free public beach further up after the train station in what is known as "Monterosso's New Town" and a paid beach with rented sunloungers in front of the train station. 

Spend a little cash on an umbrella, and you can enjoy the Cinque Terre's best beach.

Most of this long stretch of beach is for paying customers only, where you can hire a set of umbrellas costing around €20-25 for the day. Use of this section of the beach is prohibited unless you pay for an umbrella and security lifeguards are always on the watch and will ask you to leave if you do not wish to pay. There is also a beach restaurant and beach huts with toilets and showers available for paying customers.

Hike up to this statue of Saint Francis for a beautiful view overlooking Monteross and the sea.

Sculpted by Milanese sculptor Silvio Monfrini in 1962, the Statue of St Francis of Assisi and his dog (often referred to as a wolf or Lupo in Italian) occupies a gorgeous terrace high above the village near the Convent of the Capuchin Friars. While the steep stairs may tax your muscles, the view from the terrace over Monterosso and the bay below is breathtaking. Well worth the effort! Below the statue you will see the Torre Aurora, a former 16th-century watchtower built by the Republic of Genoa to defend the town from Saracen pirates. In the past, Monterosso was guarded very well, with thirteen towers keeping a watchful eye over the horizon. Torre Aurora is one of three remaining towers. Looming over the town it now holds no purpose other than being used as a private residence, but you will find a small restaurant called Ristorante L'Ancora della Tortuga at its base and a small bunker built in World War II as a defense against an Allied invasion.

Step inside this 14th-century church that sits in the heart of old Monterosso.

The Church of San Giovanni Battista (St John the Baptist) located just off the main piazza in Monterosso was constructed in the 1200s, in the Gothic-Genovese style. Inside, there is a fresco depicting the baptism of Christ and near the second side door, you'll find the high-water mark from a flood in October 1966 which was famous for also destroying the city of Florence. Nearby a second plaque marks the high-water from the devastating floods of 2011 that destroyed many of the towns in Cinque Terre.

Take on the coastline's most scenic but rugged hike.

The trail from Monterosso and Vernazza is the longest, most difficult hike on Trail #2, with a lot of stairs and narrow passages. During this section of the trail, you may want to consider a hiking stick or trekking pole for additional support. It’s also the most rewarding view-wise. Its panorama of all five Cinque Terre towns is one of the highlights of the trip. You'll ascend to 550 feet in elevation, pass through picturesque vineyards and hike into Vernazza and enjoy one of the national park's most spectacular views.

Enjoy perfect views of Vernazza and Corniglia as you hike on the hills and cliffs overlooking the sea.

This picturesque route passes through some olive groves with excellent views to Corniglia and the next village south, Manarola. Expect some long sections of stairs before the path levels out. This section of the trail is 4km long, which should take around just over 2 hours. There is a small shop with a panoramic terrace on the route which is worth stopping at for a cold drink before walking down into Corniglia.

Take on the coastline's most scenic but rugged hike.

The trail from Monterosso and Vernazza is the longest, most difficult hike on Trail #2, with a lot of stairs and narrow passages. During this section of the trail, you may want to consider a hiking stick or trekking pole for additional support. It’s also the most rewarding view-wise. Its panorama of all five Cinque Terre towns is one of the highlights of the trip. You'll ascend to 550 feet in elevation, pass through picturesque vineyards and hike into Vernazza and enjoy one of the national park's most spectacular views.

Enjoy perfect views of Vernazza and Corniglia as you hike on the hills and cliffs overlooking the sea.

This picturesque route passes through some olive groves with excellent views to Corniglia and the next village south, Manarola. Expect some long sections of stairs before the path levels out. This section of the trail is 4km long, which should take around just over 2 hours. There is a small shop with a panoramic terrace on the route which is worth stopping at for a cold drink before walking down into Corniglia.

Go to the best spot for that famous photo of Riomaggiore.

Cinque Terre is an incredibly photo-worthy destination and you'll surely find plenty of viewpoints to capture some awesome photographs. If you're looking to capture the famous photo of Riomaggiore's colourful houses stacked up around its little harbor, then this small terrace overlooking the cove is the spot! 

Watch the boats bobbing in the waves in this ultra-scenic little cove.

Riomaggiore's seafront marina is the most picturesque part of town. When you exit the tunnel from the rail station you'll immediately arrive at the marina where you'll find some of the town's most expensive restaurants, a great spot for dinner or lunch (if you can afford it). On the south side of the marina (to the left) you'll find a path that leads to the ferry dock as well as a small rocky beach. To the right, you'll find a maze of back streets and steep stairways that lead to some of the tightly clustered 'carruggi' houses that hug the side of the rocky cliff. Many visitors enjoy perching themselves up along the marina with an ice cream in hand, taking in the postcard-perfect scene of this quaint fishing village.

Look out to the sea as Riomaggiore's defenders once did from this small 13th-century hill-top fortress.

Not much is known about the castle that stands on top of the hill between the Rio Maggiore and the Rio Finale river valleys. According to historians, it was built in the second part of the 13th century for defense from Saracen pirates. In case of attacks from the sea, the inhabitants of the town would flock to hide here. During the 19th century, it was used as a cemetery, but today, it is a center for conferences, cultural events and weddings. 

Go to the best spot for that famous photo of Riomaggiore.

Cinque Terre is an incredibly photo-worthy destination and you'll surely find plenty of viewpoints to capture some awesome photographs. If you're looking to capture the famous photo of Riomaggiore's colourful houses stacked up around its little harbor, then this small terrace overlooking the cove is the spot! 

Visit this 16th-century castle that sits high above Portofino's harbor.

Facing the water, scan to the right and up on the bluff you will see Castello Brown. Standing on Roman foundations the first structure was built in 1425. During the 16th century, it was built up by the Genovese in order to increase the protection of the village against pirates incursions. It later became known as Castle Brown, named after its owner from 1867 to 1949. Since 1961, when it was donated to the Municipality of Portofino and is now used for events and exhibitions while the storybook gardens and dreamy terraces surrounding the building offer an extraordinary panorama of Portofino. You can visit the museum inside the castle and its lush gardens with sweeping views (a must for any photographer).

Take a short walk to this small church and find the perfect view point to admire the colorful harbor.

The Church of San Giorgio sits above the town of Portofino. According to a commemorative stone inside, the church was built in Romanesque style in 1154, but it was renovated in the late 17th-century. San Giorgio church was completely destroyed during World War II and once more rebuilt during the ’50s in Baroque style. Most people simply head up this way to visit the castle and/or enjoy the view from the terrace outside the church which provides you with the famous panoramic postcard view you see everywhere.

Take in the harbor views and Portofino's colorful buildings from its main town square.

The heart of Portofino and the center of the action is around the Piazza Martiri dell'Olivetta. If you head here first you'll get a good perspective of how small Portofino is. The charming atmosphere of Portofino’s Piazzetta makes it an ideal spot for a coffee, lunch or wine spot late afternoon while admiring the traditional fishing boats in the harbor being lulled by the waves. Take your time here, enjoy the sun and the unique panorama simply observing people passing by for this is the beauty of Portofino.

Visit this 16th-century castle that sits high above Portofino's harbor.

Facing the water, scan to the right and up on the bluff you will see Castello Brown. Standing on Roman foundations the first structure was built in 1425. During the 16th century, it was built up by the Genovese in order to increase the protection of the village against pirates incursions. It later became known as Castle Brown, named after its owner from 1867 to 1949. Since 1961, when it was donated to the Municipality of Portofino and is now used for events and exhibitions while the storybook gardens and dreamy terraces surrounding the building offer an extraordinary panorama of Portofino. You can visit the museum inside the castle and its lush gardens with sweeping views (a must for any photographer).

Enjoy breathtaking views of one of Cinque Terre's most picturesque towns from this popular viewpoint.

While the entire town is a photographers dream, you'll find most head up to the viewpoint, walking up the inclined trail leading off the right-hand-side of the harbor (if you are facing the water). From here you get the iconic picture of Manarola as well as a view out to sea and the Cinque Terre coastline, where on a clear day you can see Corniglia and Monterosso. 

Enjoy breathtaking views of one of Cinque Terre's most picturesque towns from this popular viewpoint.

While the entire town is a photographers dream, you'll find most head up to the viewpoint, walking up the inclined trail leading off the right-hand-side of the harbor (if you are facing the water). From here you get the iconic picture of Manarola as well as a view out to sea and the Cinque Terre coastline, where on a clear day you can see Corniglia and Monterosso. 

Enjoy breathtaking views of one of Cinque Terre's most picturesque towns from this popular viewpoint.

While the entire town is a photographers dream, you'll find most head up to the viewpoint, walking up the inclined trail leading off the right-hand-side of the harbor (if you are facing the water). From here you get the iconic picture of Manarola as well as a view out to sea and the Cinque Terre coastline, where on a clear day you can see Corniglia and Monterosso. 

Enjoy breathtaking views of one of Cinque Terre's most picturesque towns from this popular viewpoint.

While the entire town is a photographers dream, you'll find most head up to the viewpoint, walking up the inclined trail leading off the right-hand-side of the harbor (if you are facing the water). From here you get the iconic picture of Manarola as well as a view out to sea and the Cinque Terre coastline, where on a clear day you can see Corniglia and Monterosso.