The Cinque Terre is five fishing villages, Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore, strung along a steep stretch of the Ligurian coast and listed by UNESCO together with Portovenere and its islands. There are no big sights to tick off. The attraction is the whole landscape: pastel houses, terraced vineyards, cliff paths and the sea. Most visitors sleep in one of the villages or in the base towns of La Spezia and Portovenere, and this guide is written for a first visit, with November in mind.
How many days
Two full days is the minimum, and three is better. One day for the villages by train, one for a trail section and a boat or kayak outing in the warm months, and one for a slower day with a wine tasting or a pesto class. Portovenere deserves a half day of its own, and adds a quieter side to the trip.
Buy the right card
The park sells a Trekking Card for the trails and a Train Card that adds unlimited regional trains along the coast. If you plan three or more train hops in a day, the Train Card is usually the better deal. Buy it online or at a welcome point before you start walking. Guests of accommodation with the park's Eco Quality Label can get a discount with a code from their host.
Know what is open
The park's trail pages list the Manarola to Corniglia section of the Sentiero Azzurro as closed, so the coastal walk cannot be done end to end at present. The Via dell'Amore between Riomaggiore and Manarola runs on timed tickets and can close at short notice after heavy rain, as it did in October 2024. Paths are closed after storms and reopened after inspection, so look at the park's trail map the morning you walk.
Trains
Regional trains link all five villages in a few minutes each. This winter the park lists weekends with no trains between Corniglia and La Spezia on 14 and 15 November, 19 and 20 December 2026, 9 and 10 January and 6 and 7 February 2027. Check Trenitalia before you travel and build a buffer into your plans on those dates.
Boats and water activities
Boat tours, kayaking and swimming are warm-season activities. In recent years the regular ferry service ended in early November, with only a few extra sailings. Small-group boat tours and kayak trips run when the weather allows, so check booking calendars for real dates and have a plan B. A wine tasting or a pesto class is a good rainy-day alternative.
Where the sights fit
Start in Monterosso, with its beach and the beginning of the walk to Vernazza. Vernazza is the most photogenic harbour and a good place for the pesto class. Corniglia sits on a cliff above its station and is quieter. Manarola is the classic photograph and a good place for a tasting of the local whites and Sciacchetrà, the sweet passito. Riomaggiore is the gateway to the Via dell'Amore and the easiest village to reach from La Spezia.
Getting around
The villages are connected by train, trail and, in the warm months, boat. Village streets are steep and often stepped, so travel with a small bag. Cars are a nuisance, because parking is limited and expensive in the villages. Leave the car in La Spezia or Levanto and use the train.
November notes
The month is cool and quiet, with soft light and far fewer people, which many visitors prefer. Some restaurants and hotels close for part of the winter and daylight is short, so start your walks early and plan dinner reservations. Pack waterproofs and shoes with good grip, because stone steps are slippery after rain.
