An Italian Riviera Adventure: Two days in Cinque Terre

Jan 27

We sailed on the Virgin Voyages Scarlet Lady on Itinerary Barcelona to Civitavecchia in November 2024. Our voyage docked in the charming port town of La Spezia, Italy on day 5 and was an “overnight” port, meaning we had two full days to explore this picturesque region. La Spezia allows the chance to visit the UNESCO World Heritage site of Cinque Terre.

Cinque Terre is a string of centuries-old seaside villages on the rugged Italian Riviera coastline. In each of the 5 towns, colorful houses and vineyards cling to steep terraces, harbors are filled with fishing boats and trattorias. This is an area we were most excited about seeing, so we were more than happy to spend the full two days exploring the five small cliffside towns.

Checkout all Virgin Voyages with stops in La Spezzia here: La Spezia Voyages

Day One: La Spezia and a Cinque Terre Introduction

The train station is around a mile from the port, but it was a beautiful day so we took our time and walked through the city streets. La Spezia is an old town and one of the busiest ports on the Italian Riviera. It offers a hilltop castle, maritime and archeological museums, and would be a great place to stay overnight if you are actually heading to stay in Cinque Terre.

There are two ways to travel to and through the Cinque Terre National Park - by train, or by foot - aka, hike it! The Sentiero Azzurro cliffside hiking trail links the villages and offers sweeping sea vistas. We spotted many tourists in full hiking gear ready to tackle the rocky trails. We however, opted for the train which provided quick access to and from each stop.

Train Travel to Cinque Terre

We walked all the way to the Train Station where we had to figure out the best way to purchase train tickets. I would encourage you to have your translator app ready to go on your phone - we ran into a few people who did not speak English, but using the translation app made communication a breeze!

After walking into the main train station, immediately go outside towards the tracks. To the right, there is an office solely dedicated to selling train tickets to the national park. You can buy a 24 hour ticket which allows you to get off and on as many times as you like on this route - it was 12 euros, so WELL worth it - you can opt to purchase single town tickets at around 3 euros each, but if you plan to hit a few, get the day pass so you do not have to worry about it.

There are five beautifully isolated villages to explore: Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, and Riomaggiore.

We arrived at the train station after lunch, so we decided to pick two spots to focus on - Vernazza and Manarola. Note: These are all very close to each other - minutes apart on the train.

Vernazza

We read that Vernazza was one of the livelier towns, so we opted to stop there first for a late lunch. Quite simply, Vernazza stole our hearts. ♥️ Here, we enjoyed a delightful lunch + prosecco at a local pizzeria called Focacceria Fratelli Basso. This was a one man show, short order, and he was running it so smoothly. Maybe it was the ambiance or the thrill of being in Italy and eating pizza, but I still feel that this was truly the BEST pizza I have ever eaten. The crust was simply AH-mazing!

After lunch we walked around with our prosecco (we brought the glasses back later), laughed and enjoyed getting lost in the tiny alleyways. We ended up arriving at a breathtaking viewpoint, offering panoramic vistas of the Ligurian Sea. We then walked down to the port area and watched boats being lifted from the cliffs into the sea with a crane, old fisherman pushing boats through the streets - they make it work!

We were here in November, which is the off season, so the trains run through about every hour. During the summer months, they are every 15 minutes. Be mindful of this as you plan for the time you spend in each spot - and pay attention to the electronic boards when getting on and off, because the trains are notoriously late or early. 😉

After spending a couple of hours in Vernazza, we headed back to the train station, where we met a group of about 40 lively Greeks, who inspired us to book our next adventure this coming August (Greece & Turkey!). It was a short train ride to the next stop on our list, Manarola.

Manarola

The best thing about this stop to us, was the cliffside train station. It truly felt like it was right out of a movie. After disembarking, you walk through the Via de Amore - Tunnel of Love 😍 to enter the town. It was bustling with activity and shopping, as well as tourists eating and enjoying the views. We walked all the way down to the water first, so we could catch the famous viewpoint.

We had seen this view before - in a puzzle that Will and I put together in 2012. It was starting to get dark, so we knew we would be heading back here the next day to get a great picture in the daylight for the travel wall at home.

We boarded the train to head back to La Spezia and the boat for the night. We serendipitously met the same fellow cruisers that were on our Mallorca excursion, and shared a cab back to the ship. After a long day of walking (Apple Watch said 12,000 steps!), we decided to hit the hot tub on the top of the boat to recharge our tired legs before grabbing a quick dinner in the Galley and heading to bed.

Considering other options: Florence or Milan

While we were very much looking forward to visiting Cinque Terre, other cruisers had been in the past or were looking to visit other sites nearby during our extended time at this port. There are options to do day trips to places like Florence or Milan and head back to the boat, however some opted to go off on their own and stay overnight OFF the boat. One couple took the tour to Florence and Milan and then booked a hotel stay for one night there - while this is costlier, it will allow you ample time to experience other sites you might not see otherwise. Just another option for you to consider if you have traveled to Cinque Terre before.

Day Two: More Cinque Terre Explorations

Determined not to miss our train, we rushed back to Manarola in Cinque Terre the next morning right after breakfast. Our mission was personal – revisiting that scene we once knew only as a puzzle piece. Standing before the same cliffside that graced our 2012 puzzle, we immortalized the moment with photos, struck by the surreal feeling of a dream turned into reality. #TripMade

After that goal had been reached - we felt free to explore and had the full day to just enjoy spending time together.

We headed back to Vernazza as we wanted to eat at the same pizza spot as the day before. When we find something we like - we like to repeat it! Unfortunately it was closed that day, so we headed to a spot across the street called the ‘The Lunch Box.' We grabbed a spot on the patio for more people watching while we savored a hearty meal of sandwiches and lasagna. We walked back towards the water and went in to the Church of St. Margaret of Antioch, built on the cliffside in the 13th century.

As daylight waned, we returned to La Spezia, hearts full and spirits high, ready to relax on our sea day en route to our next stop, Corsica.

Reflections and Travel Tips

Train Travel: When visiting Cinque Terre from La Spezia, purchase your train tickets at the station and make sure to check the schedule for the return trip to avoid missing the last train. Pay attention to the electronic sign boards for information - ask if you are unsure. We almost boarded the wrong train more than once.
Dining: Don't miss out on local specialties like pizza in Vernazza and the varied menu at 'The Lunch Box'. Each town in Cinque Terre offers unique flavors worth exploring.
Photography: Each village provides unique views, but the hike in Manarola offers some of the most spectacular. Pack your camera and wear comfortable shoes for the climb. Maybe plan to hike one trail versus all five.
Relaxation: After a day of exploration, taking advantage of the amenities on your cruise, such as the hot tub, can be the perfect way to unwind.

Thank you for joining us on this unforgettable journey through one of Italy's most celebrated coastlines. You can watch the footage of this day on our Youtube Channel. Be sure to like and subscribe to the channel for new travel content!

Ready to experience La Spezia or Cinque Terre?

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