Top things to do in Milan
Milan To Cinque Terre
Travel from Milan to Cinque Terre and explore its islands. Spend time at Manarola's vineyards and savor local cuisine at Monterosso al Mare. Your tickets also include a 90-min cruise from Monterosso and enjoy the stunning views of Portovenere from the sea.
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- Cinque Terre (pronounced Chin-kwa Terr-e with a rolled 'r') is a string of five charming little villages neatly tucked away in Northern Italy. With its rustic authenticity, picture-perfect coastline and mouth-watering seafood, it’s often dubbed as every traveler’s dream. The romantic atmosphere in Cinque Terre has often been captured by famed poets like D H Lawrence, Percy Bysshe Shelley, Lord Byron, and most notably, Eugenio Montale, who wrote, “Standing on the dramatic cliffs of Cinque Terre, I have no wants, needs, or concerns. I am simply coexisting with the land…”Located just three hours from the hustle and bustle of cosmopolitan Milan, this UNESCO World Heritage Site, with its sun, sand and wine, is ideal for a relaxing getaway. It is, therefore, a must-visit destination on your top day trips from Milan. Here’s everything you need to know to plan a seamless day trip from Milan to Cinque Terre.
- Distance: 230 km (143 mi)
Duration: 3 hrs 15 min
Best time to visit: September-October or April-May
Best way to travel: Train/Boat
Approximate budget/head: €110 ($131) per day
Highlights: Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza & Monterosso
Cities close by: Pisa (80 km), Genoa (80 km), Florence (152 km) & Rome (400 km)
- Anyone who's ever been to Cinque Terre before knows that this coastal region is synonymous with the word "paradise". So if you've never been before, this is your chance to experience a slice of heaven in Italy!Located in a romantic corner of the Italian Riviera, the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Cinque terre is comprised of 5 picturesque and lazy towns: Manarola, Corniglia, Riomaggiore, Monterosso and Vernazza. Leave behind your traffic woes as you come to this city, filled to the brim with jovial locals (and tourists)! The villages' ruggedness presents accessibility challenges today, but that provides an isolated angle for tourists, making it all the more exciting!
- It’s near impossible to narrow down from the myriad of reasons why the five towns of Cinque Terre -- Manarola, Corniglia, Riomaggiore, Monterosso and Vernazza -- should be on every traveler’s bucket list. But we'll try.
There's history, architecture, and culture around every corner
Experience the best of the Italian Riviera with its beautifully-preserved architecture along a magical coastline! A centuries-old castle in Riomaggiore, Ligurian Gothic styled Church of San Pietro, the 13th century Church of San Lorenzo, and Doria Castle in Vernazza are just some of the landmarks that represent this coastal region's history, architecture, and culture.The food is to die for!
If you're a fan of seafood, you've come to the right place. Originally fishing villages, these five towns have seafood etched into the authentic cuisine of the Cinque Terre. Stuff your face with calamari, prawns, and fish, along with anchovies, pesto sauce, focaccia, and then some.Be one with nature
Calling all nature lovers! Cinque Terre has dozens of hiking trails for the adventurous at heart. From calm leveled paths to rugged mountain trails, you'll find them all here. Bird lovers will have a fun time spotting exotic and native birds here.There's plenty of wine & Limoncello
Cinque Terre is home to some of the most serene vineyards that produce world-class wines, but here's another reason why you should visit: the sweet, alcoholic, lemon liquor, Limoncello, is actually from Liguria! (Tip: Montersso holds a lemon festival every year on the 3rd Sunday of May!)Eat your body weight in Gelato!
Hiking along Cinque Terre's trails or swimming in the Mediterranean will sure work up an appetite. When in Italy, do it right: eat gelato. Soft and muted signs outside gelato stores invite you in, and encourage you to sample two or three flavors per serving!
Milan to Cinque Terre by train
The fastest and most economical way to reach Cinque Terre is by train. There is a train service that runs locally between all five towns in Cinque Terre through the day, departing every few minutes from their respective train stations.Train providers like ItaliaRail and TrenItalia allow you to book a direct train from Milano Centrale railway station to Monterosso. For most journeys, we recommend purchasing tickets online to avoid waiting in lines or running into a risk of sold-out train tickets.To commute between the five towns of Cinque Terre, you can use your travel card and just hop-on-hop-off according to your schedule. The rail travel distance between each town varies between 4 to 6 minutes:- Monterosso - Vernazza: 4 minutes
- Vernazza - Corniglia: 4 minutes
- Corniglia - Manarola: 5 minutes
- Manarola - Riomaggiore: 6 minutes
Milan to Cinque Terre by boat
Traveling to Cinque Terre by boat is another option to consider if you’re looking for an opportunity to admire the stunning coastline. Ferries run frequently from La Spezia and Portovenere to Monterosso, Vernazza, Manarola and Riomaggiore. Corniglia is the only village inaccessible by ferry. Note that ferry tickets cannot be purchased online in advance. You may buy them at the ticket counters 30 minutes before you depart.Milan to Cinque Terre by car
While you can travel by road from Milan to Cinque Terre as well, this option isn’t frequently picked by travelers. The five villages are vehicle-free zones, so you would have to park your car outside Monterosso or in La Spezia at the rail station and still have to take the train to commute between the five towns. So, essentially you’ll be paying for a car and expensive paid parking without really using the vehicle through the day. The drive takes about three hours, but requires nerves of steel due to the narrow roads and dangerous hair pin curves.Organized tour
You can avoid the hassle of planning the day trip by simply booking an organized tour. No more waiting in lines, worrying about planning a step-by-step itinerary and arranging travel from scratch. Soak in the best of these scenic towns with this guided tour from Milan to Cinque Terre. Book an organized tour from Milan to Cinque Terre here.
- Typically, April to October is the ideal time period to visit Cinque Terre, with July and August being the busiest. During the summer, travelers make the most of what the five towns have to offer: be it hiking, leisure visits to the beach and generally exploring the narrow, crooked streets without worrying about rain or biting temperatures. However, the best option would probably be to visit between April to May or September to October, since you can experience Cinque Terre to the fullest without having to navigate through thousands of tourists.
- TRATTORIA DAL BILLY: Find longstanding fisherman traditions being followed at this much-adored trattoria. Enjoy freshly-caught fish off the coast at this seaside dining spot, perfect to curb your seafood cravings. Whether you order to salted anchovy appetizer or the squid ink pasta, you'll leave feeling satisfied. Find on Map >
- ENOTECA IL PIRUN: The small town of Corniglia does not have too many dining options for you, but anywhere you go, you're bound to find an excellent meal. At Il Pirun, find fried anchovies, gnocchi con pesto, paccherri pasta, spaghetti and mussels, and a plethora of Italian wines. Find on Map >
- RISTORANTE MIKY: Fresh seafood and pasta is Ristorante Milky's specialty, and is adored by tourists and locals alike. Buy yourself cappellini with tomatoes, baked fish in puff pastry shells, and a wide selection of local wines. Find on Map >
- IL PIRATA DELLE 5 TERRE: Enjoy a slice of Sicily at It Pirata, run by two Sicilian borthers. A balance between sweet and savory dishes gives you plenty of options to choose from: homemade pastries, panzerotti with ricotta, millefeuille with chantilly cream compete against bruschetta with pesto, sausage rolls, arancini, panini, and more. Find on Map >
- A PIE’ DE MA’: A Pie' de Ma' serves a little piece of paradise in a simple and fresh manner. Choose from an extensive menu of pasta and seafood dishes, paired perfectly with aperitifs and wine. Find on Map >
- Cinque Terre has a host of things to take back home with you. After the vacation you've had, you're going to want to have souvenirs to remember this remarkable trip by. Be it cheese and wine, shoes and jewels, or hand-crafted pottery and ceramic objects you'll find it all. In these small fishing villages, you'll find local craftsmen, small shops, food markets, weekend pop-up markets, and more- do not expect high-scale boutiques.
- If you’re buying the Cinque Terre travel card, consider purchasing it in the evenings to avoid the morning crowd. Also, don’t forget to validate it before use!
- Local police and forest officials are fining tourists for wearing flip-flops and sandals on hiking trails. You can avoid a fine of up to €2500 by simply wearing appropriate hiking shoes
- Stay hydrated! The bright sun can easily drain your energy. Always carry a reusable bottle of water along which you can refill at coolers present in different pockets of the towns
- Carrying sunscreen, hats and any other protective gear will do you good
- Taking photographs during the day is difficult due to the glaring sunlight. For the perfect photo, early mornings or late afternoons is the best time
- If you’re looking for a quick snack, pick up a Friggitoria (bite-sized seafood in a cone), some crepes or bruschetta at a nearby bakery or grocery store
Nearby cities to explore
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