Our Cinque Terra holidays & tours
Our Cinque Terre holidays hit the iconic trails and the viewpoints they offer of these five stunning clifftop villages. But they also seek out lesser-known routes that reveal surprising and beautiful panoramas of the Ligurian Coast while also relieving the pressure on this famously popular walking destination. So you’ll follow the Via dell'Amore dipping in and out of picturesque coves, but you'll also head into the rocky foothills of the Ligurian Maritime Alps or stroll through other lovely villages that are the equal of Cinque Terre but without the big name status. Our Cinque Terre tours take place all the way from March to October, allowing you to enjoy walking in this stunning setting for as long as possible, and helping local communities to benefit from a longer tourism season. You’ll stay in smaller, family-run hotels too, places that cannot host coach groups, and which offer you an authentic taste of Ligurian life.
Italian Riviera walking and gastronomy holiday
Scenic walks, cultural landmarks & exquisite regional cuisine
From
£2119 to £2499
7 days
ex flights
Women only Italian Rivieria tour
Discover Genoa, Portofino & Cinque Terre women only
From
€3700
8 days
ex flights
Cinque Terre holiday, Italy
Technicoloured & surreal – welcome to Cinque Terre
From
£2050 to £2150
8 days
ex flights
Cinque Terre highlights walking holiday
Cinque Terre self guided walking holiday
From
£670 to £785
5 days
ex flights
Cinque Terre walking holidays, self guided
Explore Cinque Terre's majesty: hiking, history & sea
From
US $657 to US $1300
6 days
ex flights
Contact Us
Call us for a chat about our holidays. We are happy to discuss your holiday and help in any way we can. No bots, queues or awful hold music.
01273 823 700
Call us until 6pm
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Cinque Terre map & highlights
Cinque Terre was once plagued by marauding pirates. Now it’s overrun by tourists. È sempre la solita zuppa – always the same old soup.
The ‘Five Lands’ of the Italian Riviera, from north to south Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore, are strung like pearls on a crescent-shaped stretch of coastal beauty between Ventimiglia and La Spezia. These charming villages with their pastel-shaded houses and fishing harbours form the centerpiece of Cinque Terre National Park, the smallest in Italy and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Driving here is not recommended, with steep, twisty roads and parking almost non-existent. Instead you get between the villages by train, the ferry (doesn’t go to Corniglia) or a network of ancient walking trails, with routes higher up and in the surrounding countryside providing a welcome break from the day-tripper crowds.
1.
Azure (Blue) Trail
2. Corniglia
3. La Spezia
4. Levanto
5. Manarola
6. Monterosso al Mare
7. Riomaggiore
8. Vernazza
2. Corniglia
3. La Spezia
4. Levanto
5. Manarola
6. Monterosso al Mare
7. Riomaggiore
8. Vernazza
Azure (Blue) Trail
1. Azure (Blue) Trail
Linking the five villages, the Azure Trail (so-named for its dreamy sea views) is the most attractive, the most well-known and consequently by far the busiest walking route in the area. Centuries old and taking five hours to walk, it follows the coast and is frequently affected by landslides – as of July 2023 the Via dell’Amore section was closed for repairs. Walking at higher elevations is much more peaceful and just as scenic.
Corniglia
2. Corniglia
Corniglia is about as near to ‘escaping the crowds’ as you’re going to get in Cinque Terre. Set back from the sea, it feels like a rural country village, with fewer than 200 residents. The ‘fasce’ terraced fields are numerous here as people relied more on farming than fishing. Many visitors are put off by the ‘Lardarina’, 382 steps over 33 flights, though a small bus does go from the station. Reward your climb with a mouthwatering honey gelato.
La Spezia
3. La Spezia
La Spezia serves as the gateway to Cinque Terre just to the west and a base for many tours exploring the villages. The city is a cruise port (bleurgh) and naval base, and there are ferries along the coast from the harbour. Browse the old town’s trattorias to enjoy typical Ligurian cuisine, and perhaps time your visit for mid-March and the St. Joseph Fiesta, with feasting and a huge market that’s fab for traditional handicrafts and foods.
Levanto
4. Levanto
Set just to the north of Cinque Terre, Levanto is a little more relaxed, and a regular base for those wanting to avoid staying in the villages themselves as it is just a few minutes away by train or boat. The town has a longish strand of beach and like the rest of the area, plenty of well-kept historic architecture. Don’t leave without tasting the gattafin, a deep-fried pastry purse stuffed with sautéed onions and chard.
Manarola
5. Manarola
Close to Riomaggiore, Manarola feels even more crammed in summer as it’s the second-smallest of the five villages. It is an exquisite place though, with a small harbour and a piazza lined with seafood restaurants. The ubiquitous, sweet Sciacchetrà wine is especially good from Manarola’s vines. Go in December or January to see the hills behind illuminated by the largest nativity scene in the world.
Monterosso al Mare
6. Monterosso al Mare
The largest and to be honest the least attractive of the villages, Monterosso al Mare has a resort-y feel to it, with lots of modern hotels and restaurants. Stick to the old town for a more pleasurable visit. It has the only beach of any significance in Cinque Terre which predictably gets crazily busy. The gigantic statue of Neptune, cast in concrete and iron, is the most interesting sight.
Riomaggiore
7. Riomaggiore
Riomaggiore welcomes, if that’s the word, some two million visitors every year, being the most southern and accessible of the five villages. The fishing boats bobbing in the harbour should be a reminder that not everyone here depends on tourism for their livelihoods, so do try a cone of anchovies, a local speciality – the fishermen trick them into their nets with lamps at night.
Vernazza
8. Vernazza
Dominated by its old fortress, Vernazza is perhaps the prettiest of the five villages, its harbour overlooked by wonderfully elegant pastel-shaded houses. The olive groves here are said to produce some of the finest oil in Italy, and many other homegrown specialties from pesto to craft beer can be tasted at July’s Feast of Santa Margherita. The new pebble beach tends to be a little quieter than the city beach.
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