Two days are enough to see all five villages, but only if you pick the right route. The classic “walk from Vernazza to Monterosso” is off the table: the Corniglia–Vernazza–Monterosso trail has been closed since 10 September 2026. This itinerary uses only what works today. Day 1 goes south, with the Via dell’Amore and Manarola. Day 2 goes north, with the trail from Levanto to Monterosso and then Vernazza. Times, costs and the backup plans were checked against official sources on 25 October 2026.
- Suggested base: Monterosso (or Levanto): both the south and the north are a few minutes away by train
- Day 1: Riomaggiore, Via dell’Amore (booked), Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza at sunset
- Day 2: Levanto–Punta Mesco–Monterosso trail (about 3 hours), then Vernazza by train
- Cost: €36.50–61 with the 2-day Train Card until 1 November, €29 from 2 November
- Avoid: the RFI works weekends (14–15 Nov, 19–20 Dec, 9–10 Jan, 6–7 Feb) and orange or red weather alerts
- Book ahead: the Via dell’Amore time slot, which also needs a card
Before you go: what has changed
- Closed trails: on 10 September 2026 the Park closed the Corniglia–Vernazza–Monterosso section of the Sentiero Verde Azzurro for geological checks. As of 25 October there is no reopening date. The coastal path from Manarola to Corniglia has also been closed for a long time because of landslides.
- Via dell’Amore: you need a Cinque Terre Card (Trekking or Train) and a booked time slot. It is one-way only, from Riomaggiore to Manarola. From 26 October 2026 to 28 March 2027 it is open 9:00–18:00, last entry 17:30.
- Trains: the extra “5 Terre Express” services end on 1 November. After that only the regional trains run, with fewer departures: check the timetable for your day.
- Boats: the full service ends on 1 November; from 2 November to 8 December there is one trip a day. We do not count on them here.
- Weather alerts: with an orange or red alert the trails close and the cards are not sold. The Park issued alerts on 16 September and 20 October.
You need closed shoes with a lugged sole on the trails. The status of the day is on the Park’s trail page: check it the evening before. Full guide: Cinque Terre trails.
Day 1: south, Via dell’Amore and Manarola
Start in Riomaggiore, because the Via dell’Amore begins there. At this time of year the light fades around 17:00, so the plan gets you to Vernazza while the sun is still low. Train times are approximate; after 1 November there are fewer departures.
| Time | Stop | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 8:30 | Train from Monterosso to Riomaggiore | about 14 minutes |
| 9:00 | Riomaggiore: the Marina and via Colombo | the castle, included with the Trekking Card, opens at 10:00 |
| 10:00 | Via dell’Amore, booked slot | about 25–30 minutes, towards Manarola only |
| 10:45 | Manarola: harbour and Punta Bonfiglio | the classic photo is from the path towards the point |
| 12:30 | Lunch in Manarola | pick the place the day before: some close in winter |
| 14:00 | Train to Corniglia | 2–3 minutes; then 377 steps or the Park bus |
| 14:30 | Corniglia: Largo Taragio and the Santa Maria viewpoint | the quietest village |
| 16:15 | Train to Vernazza | 3–5 minutes |
| 16:30 | Vernazza: harbour in the evening light | dinner here or in Monterosso |
| after 18:00 | Train to Monterosso | about 5 minutes |
Book early: the slots for the Via dell’Amore are limited and can be booked on the Park’s website even after buying the card. Riomaggiore castle is included with the Trekking Card, open 10:00–13:00 and 14:00–17:00. If the Via dell’Amore is closed or full, the backup is the Via Beccara: 1.5 km, one hour, for experienced hikers, with a long staircase.
The coastal path from Manarola to Corniglia is closed, so you take the train. In Corniglia you climb the Lardarina from the station, 377 steps in 33 flights, about a quarter of an hour with stops, or take the Park bus: tickets are not sold on board, but the card is valid.
Until 1 November you can go from Manarola to Vernazza by boat: 25 minutes, €15 per person. It does not run in rough seas.
Find a hotel in the Cinque Terre
Day 2: north, Levanto–Monterosso and Vernazza
Day 2 replaces the closed trail. The route from Levanto to Monterosso goes past Punta Mesco, between scrub and sea, and is open according to the sources, though none of them is official: check the Park notice before you leave. It does not normally require the card.
| Time | Stop | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 8:40 | Train from Monterosso to Levanto | a few minutes |
| 9:00 | Set off on foot (paths 591 and 590) | about 6–7 km and 350 m of climbing |
| 11:15 | Punta Mesco: ruins of the Sant’Antonio hermitage and the old signal station | about 2 h 15 from the start |
| 12:15 | Arrive in Monterosso | 2 h 45 (CAI) to 3 h 30 of walking, depending on the source: bring water |
| 13:00 | Lunch and a walk round the village: the Giant statue, the striped church | no swimming in winter, but the promenade is fine |
| 15:00 | Train to Vernazza | about 5 minutes |
| 15:15 | Vernazza: Doria Castle and Santa Margherita church | castle is paid, check opening hours |
| 17:45 | Train to Monterosso | dinner and bed |
Start in Levanto and finish in Monterosso, so lunch and the train to Vernazza are close to the finish. The path goes up and down: bring water and stop at Punta Mesco, where the view opens over the whole coast. If you start late or the weather turns, walk to the hermitage and go back to Levanto.
In Vernazza, if you still have energy, climb to the sanctuary of Nostra Signora di Reggio: a paved climb of about 2 km from the station (path 508), whose status you should check; allow an hour and a half for the climb, descent and visit. The harbour is crowded in the middle of the day: arrive in the afternoon.
What it costs: card or tickets
This plan uses 7 train rides and the Via dell’Amore: Monterosso–Riomaggiore, Manarola–Corniglia, Corniglia–Vernazza and Vernazza–Monterosso on day 1; Monterosso–Levanto and Monterosso–Vernazza and back on day 2. Until 1 November the Cinque Terre fare is €5, €8 or €10 per ride, depending on the fare band of the day. For the Via dell’Amore you need at least the €10 Trekking Card anyway.
| Fare band of the day | 7 tickets + 1-day Trekking Card | 2-day Train Card | Saving with the card |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | 35 + 10 = €45 | €36.50 | €8.50 |
| B | 56 + 10 = €66 | €51 | €15 |
| C | 70 + 10 = €80 | €61 | €19 |
The Train Card also includes the Via dell’Amore: it pays off from 6 rides. The sum is for one adult over two days in the same band; the calendar of bands is in the widget below. From 2 November to 31 December 2026 the 2-day Train Card costs a flat €29. The special Cinque Terre fare ends on 1 November, and the ticket price after that is not among our data: the €29 card still beats tickets if a ride costs more than €2.71 (€10 Trekking Card plus 7 rides, against €29). The card is personal: write your name on it before using it. It does not need to be validated at the machine. It is valid until midnight on the second day. Details on the Cinque Terre Card page.
When are you going?
Tap a day: the colours show the expected crowds according to the Trenitalia and Park calendar.
Plan your day
Choose where you start and which villages you want to see: we build your day around the real trains.
Times and stops of every train
Pick two stations: you see every departure of the day, with platform, stops and trains that skip some villages.
Regional train times from the RFI timetable (scheduled timetable, downloaded on ). Strikes, works and changes are not shown: check the Trenitalia app before you leave. Crowds come from the Trenitalia and Park calendar, not from free seats on the train.
Full timetables: Cinque Terre trains and boats.
If it rains or there is an alert
With an orange or red alert the trails close, the Via dell’Amore too, and you cannot buy the Train Card: if you already have the card, follow the Park’s rules for refunds. In that case you are left with the train and single tickets. In light rain, spend both days between the villages: Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza and Monterosso can be visited without hiking. In La Spezia, the CAMeC museum is included with the card. In heavy rain, pick Portovenere or La Spezia, which have more to do indoors. Forecasts on the Cinque Terre weather page.
If the Corniglia–Vernazza–Monterosso trail reopens
If the Park publishes a reopening notice, you can change day 2: from Corniglia to Vernazza is 4.1 km, about 1 h 30; from Vernazza to Monterosso 3.7 km, about 2 hours. These two sections are paid: the Trekking Card or the Train Card are enough. Without an official notice do not count on it: many blogs still have the old itinerary.
When to avoid, and when to go
Avoid these weekends: 14–15 November, 19–20 December 2026, 9–10 January and 6–7 February 2027. Because of RFI works at Riomaggiore and Manarola, trains are suspended for 48 hours between Corniglia and La Spezia, and those two villages cannot be reached by train. On those weekends do both days in the north: Vernazza, Monterosso and the trail from Levanto. The Levanto–La Spezia line also has night stops from 22:30 to 6:30 from Friday to Sunday.
Vernazza is busiest in the middle of the day: that is why day 1 leaves it to the late afternoon and day 2 starts early. The sun sets around 17:00, so evenings are short: eat where you sleep. How to get there and what to expect in this season are in the guides how to get to the Cinque Terre and Cinque Terre in winter. To get your bearings: Cinque Terre map.
Where to stay
Sleeping in one place is the simplest choice. We suggest the north: both days start and end there.
- Monterosso: the most convenient base for this itinerary: station, beach and a train to Riomaggiore in about 14 minutes. See where to stay in Monterosso.
- Levanto: calmer, and the day 2 trail starts there. Riomaggiore is about 20 minutes by train. Search hotels in Levanto.
- La Spezia: handy for day 1 (Riomaggiore is about 10 minutes away); day 2 means under half an hour by train to Levanto. Search hotels in La Spezia.
- Manarola, Riomaggiore, Vernazza: very scenic but with stairs and luggage: see Manarola, Riomaggiore, Vernazza.
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More or less time? See also Cinque Terre in 1 day and Cinque Terre in 3 days, or go back to the Cinque Terre itineraries.
Frequently asked questions
Are two days enough for the Cinque Terre?
Yes, to see the five villages and do one trail. In two days you cannot walk everything: the path between Vernazza and Monterosso is closed today.
Can I walk the Via dell’Amore without booking?
No. You need the Trekking Card or the Train Card and a booked time slot, even if you already have the card. It runs from Riomaggiore to Manarola, one way only.
Is the card or are tickets better value?
With 7 rides and the Via dell’Amore, the 2-day Train Card costs €8.50–19 less than tickets until 1 November, depending on the band. From 2 November it costs €29.
Can I walk from Vernazza to Monterosso?
Not now: the section has been closed since 10 September 2026. The Park publishes notices on its website: if it reopens, see the box above.
Where should I stay for two days?
In Monterosso or Levanto for this itinerary; La Spezia is an alternative. The southern villages mean more stairs with your luggage.
What if it rains?
With an orange or red alert the trails close. In ordinary rain, do the villages by train and leave the trail for another day.