Guide To Cinque Terre On A Budget

There are a string of small seaside villages that make up the Italian Riviera and Cinque Terre is a part of that. You’ll find colorful buildings, vineyards, coastal hikes, amazing views, plenty of activities, and cuisine to enjoy while in Cinque Terre. Manarola, Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia, and Riomaggiore make up the five cities of Cinque Terre. It can be expensive but there are ways to visit Cinque Terre on a budget.

Cheaper Transportation To Cinque

Take Trennitalia to Cinque Terre. Cinque Terre doesn’t have a direct train to its location due to its size and keeping the preservation of the area. The nearest train station is La Spezia. From here you can follow signs and purchase a ticket to Cinque that will last for several days. The train will start at La Spezia and end at Levanto. Levanto isn’t apart of the five cities, but if you choose to stay overnight I recommend lodging here. If you are trying to cut costs Levanto has cheaper hotels, B&B options, and it’s an easy quick five to ten-minute train ride to Cinque.

Hotels On A Budget

While there I stayed at Albergo Villa Gentile. The staff was welcoming, spoke English, she had several guides, train schedule, walking hikes etc. The hotel is styled with traditional Italian decor, the beds were comfortable and felt clean, our bathroom was across the hall but we had a key and were the only ones to use it. If I venture back to this area I would definitely stay here a second time!

I started out in Riomaggiore and explored the city and its views. I only had a day and a half so I didn’t stay in one town too long. Each city has great food, views of the colorful buildings and quality shops to explore. If you come during the warmer months, scuba diving and other water-related activities are available to you as well.

Hiking In Cinque Terre

The best thing to do in Cinque Terre on a budget is hike I hiked from Monterosso to Vernazza. This doesn’t mean walking on the beach or a boardwalk that lines the cliffs like I thought it was going to be. To hike from one city to the next there are a lot of narrow pathways, single file crossings, makeshift stairs cut into the hilltop, etc.

There are coastal hikes that are easier than others. Depending on the time of year you are traveling it will determine which paths are open. During the colder months, the easier paths are closed because of the wind, how close they dip towards the rough water, etc.

For more check out my full post on Hiking Cinque Terre to get the complete guide.

Pizza, Vino, and Views

If you squint your eyes and notice the little yellow umbrellas near all the small boats at the edge of the coral building across the bay that is where you should eat. I had the quattro formaggi pizza con speziato salami e carciofi; which is basically a really cheesy pizza with pepperoni and artichokes on top. This restaurant had great food, vino, and views!

I hope you were able to use this guide and enjoy your stay in Cinque Terre! Follow My blog for updates on travel destinations and tips! Ciao!