Cinque Terre in 20 Photos: A guide to the five lands
Cinque Terre is like stepping into a photo, a postcard – any kind of cliche you can think of.
Exploring the five lands comes with one downfall, though, you may just forget to put your camera down for five minutes and enjoy it – I mean, how photogenic can one place be?
Where is Cinque Terre?
Cinque Terre is a collection of five villages along the coast of the Italian Riviera, translating literally as ‘Five Lands’. This stunning Liguria region is nestled between Genova to the west and Pisa. It’s an ideal spot for Hiking, eating, drinking and soaking up some of the most colourful houses alongside small winding lanes and greenery.
In my opinion, this is the most beautiful part of the Italian coast. That said, many would argue that driving along the Amalfi coast is actually the true winner – take a look at Erica’s post and I’m sure you’ll have another Italy ‘must do’ on your list.
BIG NEWS: Cinque Terre is about to introduce a ticket/fee system to limit tourist numbers to it, I headed there in winter and I had it blissfully to myself – but the overcrowding in summer is soon to be reduced.
Book your rail tickets for Italy in advance and secure savings
In general, when travelling by train in Italy and Europe, the best value fares are those booked in advance.
With a variety of high-speed and slower trains serving Italy, you can usually find the right journey at the right price. I’d suggest searching for routes and tickets on Italiarail before travelling to secure discounts.
If you are planning to travel to Italy for more than one or two trips, consider purchasing an Italiarail travel rail pass which will allow savings on extended travels.
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The Five Lands
There are five villages which make up Cinque Terre, each with their own charm and reason to visit.
Monterosso
The first village you will hit coming from the North. If you are after the ‘beach’ option of the five this is it. Split into both the old and new parts you will find cars driving around and a much flatter appeal – making it the preferred choice for baby strollers and those not as active. The beach is not really something to rave about and this was my least favourite of the five, mainly because it is not as ‘intimate’ as the rest.
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Vernazza
My top tip is to stay in Vernazza, it is not cheap but it is the most visually impressive if you ask me. As such, it is one of the busiest, but once the day trippers roll out it becomes calm. It was my favourite to photograph and has a small harbour with little bars and restaurants as well as some easy hiking points to get some great views. There aren’t many villages in Italy as beautiful and charming as this, perhaps a weekend in Lake Como further inland might be the only rival.
READ MORE: FINDING SILENCE IN CINQUE TERRE
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Hey! I’m Dan and I am a little bit obsessed with exploring the world, meeting people on the road and can usually be found lost and attached to a camera. I’ve been lucky enough to visit 50+ countries and aim to share the best travel tips, stories and guides here on the blog. If you want to be kept up to date every month + get access to the latest deals and competitions sign up on the form just down there or feel free to stalk me a bit more if you need help planning a trip, click here to get in touch!
Safe Travels, Dan
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