Vernazza’s harbour
The most photographed of the five — a pastel piazza right at the water’s edge, with a castle above.
Cinque Terre
Five pastel villages on the Ligurian coast
Best time
May – June & September
Gentle pace
3–5 slow days
Ideal for
Active families · Couples · Photographers
Cinque Terre is a string of five pastel villages clinging to the cliffs of the Ligurian coast — Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore — linked by ancient footpaths and a little train through the vineyards. There are no cars in the villages, and the pace is set by the sea, the boats and the bells of the churches.
With children, base in Monterosso for its sandy beach, ride the train between villages, walk the easy Sentiero Azzurro sections, and swim at every harbour. Carry a carrier for the steep lanes and reward every climb with focaccia.
Worth lingering over
The Sentiero Azzurro
The classic cliff path between villages — do the easy sections with older children, and take the train back.
Monterosso’s beach
The only sandy beach of the five — a calm base for swimming and a lazy afternoon.
Hidden gem
The sanctuary of Soviore, above Monterosso
High above Monterosso, reachable by a steep forest path or a winding road, sits the Sanctuary of Soviore — a medieval church and pilgrim refuge among the chestnut trees, with a terrace looking straight down to the sea. Most visitors never leave the five villages; those who climb up find a cool, silent place, a tiny café, and a view that takes in the entire Ligurian coast — the perfect escape when the villages below are heaving.