Should I spend 1 or 2 weeks in Cinque Terre?
Should you spend 1 or 2 weeks in Cinque Terre?
Many travelers spend two to five days in Cinque Terre during their visit. After all, the stunning coastal region has plenty to explore such as the hiking, the historic old town, and the small town charm.
Cinque Terre is both a national park and a UNESCO World Heritage site. The area is famous for its five villages that are connected by hiking trails. Vehicle traffic is heavily restricted in the area, so the towns feel frozen in time. They're filled with charming cobblestone streets, colorful buildings, and are perched precariously on the hillside looking out on the striking blue ocean waters. The countryside is filled with vineyards and the atmosphere of the area offers a truly unique experience.
Do you have one or two weeks to visit Cinque Terre? Here's our comprehensive breakdown of how much time you might need for your trip along with some suggestions for things to do.
Is one week enough time in Cinque Terre?
One week is more than enough time to see pretty much everything in Cinque Terre. You can move at your own pace and relax in your hotel. You could also use Cinque Terre as a base for exploring the nearby destinations. You'll find some great day trips in the region.
How to spend a week in Cinque Terre
Known for it's hiking, Cinque Terre sees plenty of visitors looking to get outdoors. Spend a day exploring the natural beauty and scenery on a nearby hike. The five towns are part of Cinque Terre National Park and there are 120 kilometers of hiking trails in the park. Most people hike along the trails that follow the coastline and connect the towns. There are fees for the most popular stretch of trails which connect Monterosso to Vernazza and then go from Vernazza to Corniglia. All other hiking is free in the area.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Private Cinque Terre Trekking Tours ($184)
- Eco Hiking and Wine Tasting in Cinque Terre ($97)
The culinary scene in Cinque Terre is world famous, and draws visitors from around the globe. Make sure you spend time enjoying breakfast, lunch, and dinner at some of this coastal region's best restaurants. And consider a food tour, too. Many are either a half day or just a few hours, so you can fit one into your schedule easily. Like much of Italy, the area focuses on local flavors that include lots of seafood, as well as local fruits, vegetables, and herbs. The towns are known for their focaccia, which actually originated in nearby Genoa. Anchovies are a favorite here as well, and don't be turned off by your experience with anchovies outside of Italy. They don't compare. Also make sure you sample the pesto, mussels, and any fresh caught seafood.
A few tour suggestions include:
- BarCa Winery Cinqueterre Tour with Wine Tasting & Pesto Class ($60)
- 2-Hour Boat Tour at sunset in the Cinque Terre with Pesto tasting and focaccia ($104)
- Home Cooking Class & Meal with a Local in Riomaggiore ($194)
Cinque Terre is a walkable city and easy to explore on foot. With only a day in the coastal region, you'll have no trouble seeing the local sights. Vehicle traffic in the towns are heavily restricted so it's very enjoyable to explore on foot. The terrain is hilly and uneven, but that's part of the charm. There are also hiking trails that connect each of the five towns.
The charming atmosphere and history of the old town area is worth exploring, so spend the day learning about the history and culture of the area. Each of the five towns have their own charming old town which have restaurants and local boutique shops.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Cinque Terre Walking Tour with Food and Wine Tastings ($169)
Cinque Terre is known to be such a beautiful destination, so just exploring and taking it all in should be one of the top things to do on your list. The region is famous for its striking beauty and dramatic hills that sit beautifully against the rich blue waters.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Cinque Terre Private Boat Tour ($218)
- Cinque Terre Sunset Tour ($142)
- Cinque Terre Lunch boat tour ($218)
The public transit in Cinque Terre is fast and efficient. Over the course of a few days, you should be able to explore the coastal region quite easily and affordably. Most people arrive by train but there are also ferries available.
The small-town atmosphere of Cinque Terre is one of the main reasons that visitors come here. Spend at least part of your day exploring the town to see the many sights and attractions. The charming villages are filled with colorful buildings, meandering cobblestone streets, and almost no cars.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Cinque Terre Walking Tour with Food and Wine Tastings ($169)
There are plenty of restaurants you haven't tried yet, so don't miss another amazing meal at local places for lunch and dinner. Try to go out of your way to find the small, locally owned places that offer the charm and ambiance that can only be found in Cinque Terre.
Cinque Terre offers a charming atmosphere that's hard to find anywhere else. Spend part of the day exploring the scenery. Each town has its own personality and character, giving the region a unique local atmosphere.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Cinque Terre Walking Tour with Food and Wine Tastings ($169)
There are plenty of restaurants you haven't tried yet, so don't miss another amazing meal at local places for lunch and dinner. Try to go out of your way to find the small, locally owned places that offer the charm and ambiance that can only be found in Cinque Terre.
Don't miss Vernazza Harbor during your trip to Cinque Terre, as it's one of this destination's most well-known attractions. You should make sure to set aside enough time to see it.
There are plenty of restaurants you haven't tried yet, so don't miss another amazing meal at local places for lunch and dinner. Try to go out of your way to find the small, locally owned places that offer the charm and ambiance that can only be found in Cinque Terre.
The surrounding waters are great for scuba diving and snorkeing, so spend some time in the water to see nature up close. The surrounding waters are part of the of the Pelagos Sanctuary. The area has many rocky coves which are fun to explore with a mask and snorkel. There are also boat excursions available that may let you stop to snorkel, as well as a few dive spots in the area.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Kayak experience with Carnassa Tour in Cinque Terre + Snorkeling ($73)
- Marine Biology & Snorkelling Experience in the Cinque Terre ($59)
There are plenty of restaurants you haven't tried yet, so don't miss another amazing meal at local places for lunch and dinner. Try to go out of your way to find the small, locally owned places that offer the charm and ambiance that can only be found in Cinque Terre.
The beautiful beaches await you in Cinque Terre, so spend the day (or several, if you can) relaxing on the sand or swimming in the water. The area is more about the towns than the beaches. The most typical beach setting is in the newer part of Monterosso. There's a long sandy beach with chairs and umbrellas available. There's also a beach near the town's old town. Several of the other towns have swimming areas, including a small stretch of pebbly sand in Vernazza. It's fun to swim between the months of May and October, when the water temperatures are fairly warm.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Cinque Terre Private Boat Tour ($218)
- Kayak tour from Monterosso to Vernazza ($98)
- Cinque Terre Lunch boat tour ($218)
There are plenty of restaurants you haven't tried yet, so don't miss another amazing meal at local places for lunch and dinner. Try to go out of your way to find the small, locally owned places that offer the charm and ambiance that can only be found in Cinque Terre.
Is 2 weeks enough time in Cinque Terre?
Two weeks provides ample opportunity to explore the entirety of Cinque Terre at your own pace to experience the hiking, the historic old town, the small town charm, and the quaint atmosphere. Then you can use this spot as a convenient base for venturing into nearby destinations where you'll discover exciting day trip options.
Manarola in Cinque Terre
How to spend 2 weeks in Cinque Terre
With 2 weeks in Cinque Terre, you'll have a bit more time to enjoy everything that the coastal region has to offer.
After you've explored most of Cinque Terre, take a day trip to one of the many beautiful destinations nearby.
There are plenty of restaurants you haven't tried yet, so don't miss another amazing meal at local places for lunch and dinner. Try to go out of your way to find the small, locally owned places that offer the charm and ambiance that can only be found in Cinque Terre.
You'll probably want to spend even more time exploring the town of Cinque Terre for it's charm and atmosphere. With another day, you can just relax while browsing the shops, restaurants, and local attractions at your own pace.
There are plenty of restaurants you haven't tried yet, so don't miss another amazing meal at local places for lunch and dinner. Try to go out of your way to find the small, locally owned places that offer the charm and ambiance that can only be found in Cinque Terre.
With so much time here, you should absolutely take another day trip to one of the many nearby destinations around Cinque Terre. Plenty of amazing options are available.
There are plenty of restaurants you haven't tried yet, so don't miss another amazing meal at local places for lunch and dinner. Try to go out of your way to find the small, locally owned places that offer the charm and ambiance that can only be found in Cinque Terre.
Another fun day at the beach awaits, so spend more time relaxing and swimming. After all, a beach vacation usually calls for plenty of time to have fun on the sand and in the waves.
There are plenty of restaurants you haven't tried yet, so don't miss another amazing meal at local places for lunch and dinner. Try to go out of your way to find the small, locally owned places that offer the charm and ambiance that can only be found in Cinque Terre.
With plenty of hiking trails and viewpoints around Cinque Terre, you'll need another day to experience the gorgeous hiking trails that you haven't seen yet. Either head out in a different direction, or pick up where you left off before.
There are plenty of restaurants you haven't tried yet, so don't miss another amazing meal at local places for lunch and dinner. Try to go out of your way to find the small, locally owned places that offer the charm and ambiance that can only be found in Cinque Terre.
Even more time is needed here to explore the old town with its many shops, restaurants, landmarks, and charming atmosphere. Find those local spots that are perfect for the local charm and cuisine.
There are plenty of restaurants you haven't tried yet, so don't miss another amazing meal at local places for lunch and dinner. Try to go out of your way to find the small, locally owned places that offer the charm and ambiance that can only be found in Cinque Terre.
You'll probably want to spend even more time exploring the town of Cinque Terre for it's charm and atmosphere. With another day, you can just relax while browsing the shops, restaurants, and local attractions at your own pace.
There are plenty of restaurants you haven't tried yet, so don't miss another amazing meal at local places for lunch and dinner. Try to go out of your way to find the small, locally owned places that offer the charm and ambiance that can only be found in Cinque Terre.
More Info
If you're looking for more information about Cinque Terre, we have even more advice to help you plan your journey.
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.
Some of the links on this website are sponsored or affiliate links which help to financially support this site. By clicking the link and making a purchase, we may receive a small commission, but this does not affect the price of your purchase.