Plan on two days for the Cinque Terre: it is the minimum to see the villages without rushing. One day covers three or four villages by train, and three days add a walk, Portovenere or simply a slower pace. One thing changes your plan today: since 10 September 2026 the Corniglia–Vernazza–Monterosso trail has been closed, so between those villages you travel by train or boat, not on foot. Pick your length here, then open the day-by-day itinerary.
- Sensible minimum: 2 days, based in Monterosso, Levanto or La Spezia
- Corniglia–Vernazza–Monterosso trail: closed since 10/9/2026, no reopening date
- Via dell’Amore: open, with a booking and one-way only
- Train between villages: 4–5 minutes from one to the next
- Train Card: from 2/11 to 31/12/2026 it costs €17.30 for one day, €29 for two, €34 for three
How many days do you need in the Cinque Terre
| Length | What you see | What you skip | Who it suits | Cost with Train Card | Pace |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 day | Three or four villages by train, Via dell’Amore if you book | Hikes, beach time, Portovenere | Anyone with a single day, for example from a cruise or La Spezia | €17.30 (€22–35 until 1/11) | Early start, about an hour per village |
| 2 days | All five villages, Via dell’Amore, one easy walk | Portovenere, long trails | Most visitors | €29 (€36.50–61 until 1/11) | Balanced, with a break |
| 3 days | Everything, plus Portovenere or a walk from Levanto | Almost nothing | Hikers, photographers, slow travellers | €34 (€49–81 until 1/11) | Slow, with room for the weather |
Costs are for one adult and include second-class regional trains between Levanto and La Spezia, plus the Via dell’Amore with a booking (all Card prices). Boats are extra. Until 1/11 the price depends on the day’s band (A, B or C).
Choose your itinerary
- Cinque Terre in one day: the fastest route that works today.
- Cinque Terre in 2 days: all the villages with a break.
- Cinque Terre in 3 days: more time to walk and to go beyond the five villages.
What to know today, before you choose
- Trails: the Corniglia–Vernazza–Monterosso section has been closed since 10 September 2026, pending geological checks (Park notice). The coastal Manarola–Corniglia trail is also closed because of landslides. If the Park reopens the section it will say so on its website: check before you go.
- Via dell’Amore: booking required, one-way only from Riomaggiore to Manarola, about half an hour. Hours from 26 October 2026 to 28 March 2027: 9:00–18:00, last entry 17:30.
- Railway works: on the weekends of 14–15/11, 19–20/12/2026, 9–10/1 and 6–7/2/2027 trains are suspended for 48 hours between Corniglia and La Spezia. Riomaggiore and Manarola cannot be reached by train: choose another itinerary.
- Boats: the full service ends on 1/11. From 2/11 to 8/12 there is a single daily trip, the “Cinque Terre Trip” (€37). Corniglia has no landing. See the boats guide.
- Orange or red weather alert: trails close and Trekking and Train cards are not sold.
See hotels and prices
Where to stay
Your base changes the itinerary more than the number of days. The villages are 4–5 minutes apart by train, so the choice is about stairs, beach and price.
- La Spezia: more hotels, lower prices, fast trains and boats. Riomaggiore is about 10 minutes away, Monterosso about 20.
- Levanto: quieter, with a beach, a few minutes from Monterosso. Also handy on railway-works weekends.
- Monterosso: has the beach, and is handy if you arrive from the north.
- Vernazza: the most photographed harbour.
- Corniglia: high on the headland; from the station you climb the 377 steps of the Lardarina or take the bus.
- Manarola and Riomaggiore: steps and narrow lanes, lovely at night; avoid them on railway-works weekends.
The full comparison is in where to stay in the Cinque Terre.
Where you start from
All the villages sit on the Levanto–La Spezia line: La Spezia to Monterosso takes about 20 minutes, Levanto to La Spezia under 30. The Cinque Terre Express, about every half hour, ends on 1/11: afterwards there are fewer trains, so check the timetable on Trenitalia (or in the train times widget). From Pisa airport (about 90 km from La Spezia) or Genoa you arrive by train. All the details are in how to get to the Cinque Terre.
If it rains
Rain does not stop the trains, but with an orange or red alert the trails close. Then keep to the villages by train and spend half a day in Portovenere or La Spezia, which have more to see indoors. For monthly averages see the Cinque Terre weather; if you go between November and February read Cinque Terre in winter.
Ideas for a day and a half
- Arriving in the afternoon: Via dell’Amore booked for 4 pm, then sunset at Manarola. The next day Vernazza and Monterosso by train.
- Railway-works weekend: stay in Levanto or Monterosso and walk from Levanto to Monterosso (about 6 km, 2 h 45–3 h, normally without a card; sources are unofficial, check the trail status).
See also the map and the trails.
Frequently asked questions
How many days do you need for the Cinque Terre?
Two days is the comfortable minimum for all five villages. With one day you see three or four, with three days you add a walk or Portovenere.
Can you see all five villages in one day?
In theory yes, since the train takes 4–5 minutes between villages. In practice it is a rush: better three or four villages with some time in each.
Can you walk between the villages today?
Not between Corniglia, Vernazza and Monterosso, closed since 10/9/2026. The Via dell’Amore remains (booking required, Riomaggiore to Manarola) along with other trails reported open by unofficial sources. Always check the Park’s website.
Which card is worth it?
The Train Card includes the regional trains and the Via dell’Amore; the Trekking Card (€10, €15 on peak days) does not include trains. If you ride only a few trains, single tickets cost €5, €8 or €10 until 1/11.
Better to sleep in the villages or in La Spezia?
In the villages evenings are quiet but you face stairs and higher prices; in La Spezia or Levanto you find more choice and spend less, a few minutes away by train.