Guide
How to visit the Cinque Terre in 2027
Train or boat, card or single ticket, open and closed trails: everything you need to plan the Cinque Terre in 2027, with the new rules and a tip on where to stay away from the crowds.
Updated 7 November 2026
At a glance
- The five villages, from south to north, are Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza and Monterosso al Mare, all on the railway line between La Spezia and Levanto.
- The regional train is the quickest way to get around: each village is just a few minutes from the next.
- In 2026 the Cinque Terre Train Card cost between €22 and €35 for one day, depending on the season. The 2027 price list comes out in January 2027.
- From 1 January 2027 guided groups may not exceed 25 people, and groups of more than 10 must use radio guides with earphones.
- On the Blue Trail, the section between Manarola and Corniglia remains closed and is not expected to reopen before 2028.
- The Via dell'Amore, between Riomaggiore and Manarola, is open with a timed ticket that you book in advance.
See what changes in 2027
2027 brings stricter rules for anyone visiting the villages in a group. From 1 January, guided tours may include no more than 25 people, not counting children under six, and above 10 people the guide must speak through radio guides with earphones, so that lanes and stairways are not blocked.
Groups will also no longer be allowed to stop in the narrow lanes, at junctions or on stairways. If you are traveling as a couple or a family you won't need to do anything differently, but the message is clear: these villages are small and ask for respect.
Two changes from recent years remain. The Via dell'Amore, closed in 2012 after a landslide, has been open to visitors again since 9 August 2024, with tickets and time slots. The Blue Trail section between Manarola and Corniglia, on the other hand, remains closed for works and will not reopen before 2028.
The 2027 price list for the Cinque Terre Card and the trains comes out in January 2027. Until then, this guide shows the 2026 prices for reference; we'll update it as soon as the new ones are out.
Via dell'Amore in 2027: how to book, tickets and opening hours
Choose the right time of year
The best months are April, May and June, then September and October: the days are long, the sea is already (or still) lovely, and you can walk the trails without the heat of July and August. In summer the villages are packed from late morning to late afternoon, as day visitors arrive and leave.
The numbers explain the feeling of crowding. In 2025 Monterosso recorded almost 212 nights spent by tourists for every resident, Riomaggiore 182 and Vernazza 149, without counting people who come and go in a day. Portovenere, at the gateway to the Cinque Terre, stops at 29.
In winter the villages grow quiet again. Some restaurants close for a few weeks, the boats stop and you can walk the trails without a Card, but the landscape is the same and the January light on the sea is among the most beautiful of the year. In December, on the hillside above Manarola, one of the largest illuminated nativity scenes in the world is lit up.
Manarola Nativity Scene 2026: dates, times and how to see it
Get around by train, not by car
The regional train between La Spezia and Levanto stops in all five villages and is the easiest way to get around: each village is just a few minutes from the next. The stations are a short walk from the center, except Corniglia's, which sits below the village: to get up there you climb a long flight of steps or take the shuttle bus.
In 2026, from 14 March to 1 November, Trenitalia applied the Cinque Terre fare: a single ticket cost €5, €8 or €10 depending on the period, half price for children. If on the same day you take the train at least four times and walk a section of the Blue Trail, the Train Card costs less than single tickets.
| Train Card, adults | Band A | Band B | Band C |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 day | 22 € | 29,50 € | 35 € |
| 2 days | 36,50 € | 51 € | 61 € |
| 3 days | 49 € | 68 € | 81 € |
2026 prices. A, B and C are the date bands set by the Park, from the cheapest to the most expensive. The 2027 price list comes out in January 2027.
The Train Card covers regional trains between Levanto and La Spezia, the paid sections of the Blue Trail and the Park buses. You can buy it online on the official website of the Cinque Terre National Park or at the information points in the stations. There is also a Trekking Card, without trains, which costs less and is meant for walkers who won't be taking the train.
Buy the Card on the Cinque Terre National Park website
Leave the car behind. The roads are narrow, parking is scarce and expensive, and the village centers are closed to traffic. If you arrive by car, leave it in La Spezia or Levanto and continue by train.
Take the boat at least once
From the sea the Cinque Terre are something else: the villages appear one after another, clinging to the rock, and you understand why they became famous. Boats run by the Consorzio Marittimo Turistico leave from La Spezia, Lerici and Portovenere and stop at Riomaggiore, Manarola, Vernazza and Monterosso. Corniglia has no landing.
In 2026 the boats ran from 29 March to 2 November, with a day ticket at €42. When the sea is rough, sailings are cancelled: keep the boat for a clear day and use the train as a backup. To see the coast at your own pace, and stop for a swim wherever you like, there's the private boat tour from Portovenere.
Portovenere and the Cinque Terre by boat: our guide
Walk the Blue Trail, section by section
The Blue Trail links the five villages along the coast. In 2027 you can't walk all of it: here is the status of each section and how long it takes at an easy pace.
| Section | Status | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Riomaggiore – Manarola (Via dell’Amore) | Open, with a timed ticket and one-way only | 20 minutes |
| Manarola – Corniglia | Closed, not reopening before 2028 | - |
| Corniglia – Vernazza | Open, paid in season with the Card | About an hour and a half |
| Vernazza – Monterosso | Open, paid in season; one-way until 2 pm on peak days in 2026 | About two hours |
These are real trails, with steps, narrow stretches and little shade. You need hiking shoes and water: walking in flip-flops or unsuitable footwear can earn you a fine of up to €2,500. Before you set off, always check the trail status on the Park website, because after heavy rain some sections close, sometimes for days.
If you want fewer people, head uphill: the paths through the vineyards and up to the sanctuaries above the villages are free, scenic and far less crowded.
Follow a two-day itinerary
Two full days are enough to see all five villages without rushing. The secret is to start early: before 10 am the trains are emptier and the light on the sea is at its best.
Day 1: Riomaggiore, Manarola and Corniglia
Book the Via dell'Amore for 9 am, when it opens, and reach Manarola on foot. After a coffee by the little harbor, take the train to Corniglia, the only hilltop village, and have lunch in its lanes. In the afternoon, if your legs allow, walk on to Vernazza; otherwise head back to Manarola for sunset from Punta Bonfiglio.
Day 2: Vernazza and Monterosso
Start with Vernazza early in the morning, while the harbor is still quiet. Then follow the trail to Monterosso, the village with the largest beach, and treat yourself to a swim. In the late afternoon, take the boat back to Portovenere: from the sea you'll see the whole stretch of coast you've walked.
Stay in Portovenere, away from the crowds
Staying inside the Cinque Terre has its charm, but also a few drawbacks: narrow houses, stairways to climb with your luggage and villages crowded until evening. Portovenere offers the same coast at a different pace. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site together with the Cinque Terre and the islands of Palmaria, Tino and Tinetto, it is linked to the villages by boat, and in the evening, when the day visitors leave, it becomes a seaside village again.
Capitolare Tower stands at the entrance to the village, in Piazza Bastreri. Built between 1113 and 1161, it is now a private suite for one party at a time, up to four guests, with a terrace above the rooftops and the gulf. Breakfast and covered parking are included: you leave the car and spend your days between train, boat and trails.
Where to stay in Portovenere: our guide
Frequently asked questions
Do you need to book to visit the Cinque Terre?
Not to enter the villages. You do need to book the Via dell'Amore, which has a timed ticket, and in the months when the checkpoints are open you need a Cinque Terre Card for the paid sections of the Blue Trail.
How many days do you need?
Two full days to see the five villages at a relaxed pace; three if you want to add a long walk, a day on the water or a trip around the Gulf of Poets and Palmaria island.
Can you see the Cinque Terre in one day?
Yes, by train, but you'll rush through the villages at the busiest hours. If you only have one day, pick three villages, start early and skip the trail.
Train or boat?
The train to get around, the boat to take in the view. The train is faster and cheaper and runs even when the sea is rough; the boat offers the finest views, but it doesn't stop at Corniglia and only runs in season.
Where can you park?
Our advice is not to drive into the villages. Leave the car in La Spezia or Levanto and continue by train. If you stay at Capitolare Tower in Portovenere, covered parking is included in your stay.
Is it worth going in winter?
Yes, if you're looking for peace and quiet. Trains run all year, the open trails can be walked without a Card and the Via dell'Amore stays open from 9 am to 6 pm. The boats, however, stop until spring.
Sources: Cinque Terre National Park and lecinqueterre.org (2026 Card), Trenitalia (2026 Cinque Terre fare), Consorzio Marittimo Turistico Cinque Terre Golfo dei Poeti, viadellamore.info, ISTAT (nights spent in 2025, including short-term rentals, processed by DatiTuristici.it), Il Fatto Quotidiano, 13 May 2026 (rules from 2027).
Stay at Capitolare Tower
Capitolare Tower is the Torre Capitolare of Portovenere, built between 1113 and 1161 and restored as a private 128 m² suite on three floors, with a panoramic rooftop terrace, for up to four guests. It is the oldest tower in the world you can sleep in, in the UNESCO site of Portovenere and the Cinque Terre. Breakfast and covered parking are included; the concierge answers 24/7 on WhatsApp and by phone.
