Home

Solo Travel

Europe

Italy

Cinque Terre

Cinque Terre, often described as a crown jewel of Italy, is a string of centuries-old seaside villages situated on the rugged Italian Riviera coastline. Centred perfectly in Italy's Ligurian Region, this awe-inspiring destination is famously known for its five vibrantly colored fishing villages: Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, and Riomaggiore. These distinct settlements, perched delicately atop steep cliffs, are renowned globally for their exquisite pastel-colored houses, ancient vineyards clinging to terraced hills, mouthwatering local seafood, hand-crafted wines, and the iconic romantic footpaths that interconnect each village. With its breathtaking panoramic views and timeless charm, Cinque Terre is a UNESCO World Heritage site, and serves as a captivating testament to a bygone era, promising to enthrall every travel enthusiast.

Cinque Terre is currently ranked #96 best place for solo female travellers. Check full ranking.

4.1 /5

Based on 8 experiences

4.1 /5

Based on our research

4.6 /5

Based on safety reports

Meet new people

Get the Travel Ladies app to meet new people, find travel buddies, share solo travel experiences and stay with locals through couch surfing.

Safety:Very safe

Cinque Terre is renowned for its safety, especially for solo female travelers. The smaller communities have low crime rates, locals are known to be friendly, and there's generally a peaceful ambiance. Police personnel and locals are usually ready to assist tourists at any time. It's still suggested to partake in regular travel safety measures like keeping an eye on your belongings, especially in crowded places. Keeping an awareness of your surroundings, especially at night is also suggested. Overall, it's one of the safer destinations to travel to.

Transport:Easy

Navigating Cinque Terre isn't difficult considering the towns are compact and well connected through a convenient trail. However, it entails some steep climbs and maneuvering through narrow streets, which might present a slight challenge. The towns are interlinked via train, and boats which travel frequently between them, but you will have to navigate some hikes and stairways to explore each town. The stunning views and picturesque landscapes make the effort worthwhile.

Things to do:Fascinating

Cinque Terre is a picturesque destination offering a multitude of activities suitable for diverse interests. It is famed for its colorful cliff-side dwellings, offering captivating and photographic views. The region offers wonderful opportunities for hiking and is known for trails that connect the five villages giving scenic views of the landscape. The Italian cuisine adds more flavor to your travel diaries with the local delicacy of seafood, especially anchovies and the Sciacchetrà wine. There are also lovely little souvenir shops for those who love shopping. Swimming and sunbathing on the beautiful secluded beaches provide impeccable experiences. The place is a display of ageless charm, infused with a cultural allure.

Food:Above average

Cinque Terre, is a delightful experience for food lovers. The region is renowned for its fresh seafood and traditional Ligurian dishes such as Pesto alla Genovese and Focaccia. The wine made from the region's terraced vineyards is also much celebrated. Offerings, however, are not incredibly diverse outside Italian cuisine, and vegetarian or vegan options may sometimes fall short. Still, the food experience is very much a part of the area's charm and is generally of a high standard.

Budget:Moderate

Cinque Terre can be moderately budget-friendly. While it is one of the pricier destinations in Italy, mainly due to its popularity among tourists and limited accommodations, there are ways to cut down costs. Food and drinks, especially if you stick to local and less touristy places, are reasonably priced. The biggest expense will be accommodations and activities like boat tours. Utilizing public transportation and hiking can save some money.

Overall rating

4.1 /5

based on 8 experiences

Rating summary

Things to do

4.7/5

Safety

4.6/5

Food

4.3/5

Budget-friendly

3.4/5

Solo travel experience

Cinque Terre is charming, but... in my opinion, it's a bit boring. The towns are beautiful, but identical; each of them consists of just one street and there are not many charming nooks where you can hide from the crowd and admire the views.

Posted: December 24, 2023

Things to do: 5/5Food: 4/5Budget-friendly: 4/5Safety: 5/5

favorite_border 0

mode_comment 0

Solo travel experience

My first solo trip was to Cinque Terre. I was there in April. I didn't stay in Cinque Terre, but in the town of Framura. I spent one day in Cinque Terre, and the rest in Pisa, Lucca, Bonassola, Framura and La Spezia. I felt safe.

Posted: October 1, 2023

Things to do: 5/5Food: 5/5Budget-friendly: 3/5Safety: 5/5

favorite_border 1

mode_comment 0

Solo travel experience

Cinque Terre is beautiful. There are many small towns with colorful houses right by the ocean on the cliffs. There are also very beautiful walking routes from one town to another, but there is also a train that stops in every town. I was there in September and it wasn't overly crowded.

Posted: June 18, 2023

Things to do: 5/5Food: 5/5Budget-friendly: 5/5Safety: 5/5

favorite_border 0

mode_comment 0

Marlow (31)

Canada

Couple travel experience

Absolutely beautiful and romantic. Small airbnb in Vernazza was just a place to drop our bags while we traversed the trails connecting the five villages. The terraced vineyards and Venetian architecture complete the fairy tale honeymoon.

Posted: May 18, 2023Experienced: September, 2017

Things to do: 5/5Food: 5/5Budget-friendly: 2/5Safety: 4/5

favorite_border 1

mode_comment 0

Solo travel experience

My first solo trip was to Cinque Terre. I took a train from Milan and in one and a half day I visited all 5 towns, doing a bit of hiking along the way. It was quite quick, but in the end it turned out to be worth it. I felt quite safe. I stayed in a hostel in La Spezia.

Posted: April 13, 2023

Things to do: 5/5Food: 5/5Budget-friendly: 5/5Safety: 5/5

favorite_border 0

mode_comment 0

Couple travel experience

We flew to Pisa (really cheap flights there), and then we took a train to La Spezia, which is only a 10-minute train ride from the start of Cinque Terre. We stayed there overnight upon arrival, because it is very cheap. Then we booked an air bnb in Vernazza (the fourth town of Cinque Terre) for two nights, which was also very cheap) and from there we visited all the towns. I really liked this trip because there is a lot to do. We kayaked between towns/hiked between them/took a pesto preparation lesson/went to the beach/toured the towns. Really a lot to do.

Posted: December 18, 2022

Things to do: 5/5Food: 5/5Budget-friendly: 3/5Safety: 5/5

favorite_border 74

mode_comment 1

Solo travel experience

I went to Cinque Terre in May. The weather was absolutely wonderful. As for the food, I ate seafood and fish, the best dishes I have ever tried. One of the restaurants was at the end of Riomaggiore. I highly recommend it.

Posted: December 3, 2022

Things to do: 5/5Food: 5/5Budget-friendly: 3/5Safety: 5/5

favorite_border 64

mode_comment 0

Solo travel experience

I stopped in La Spezia during my visit to Cinque Terre and it was really practical, as I could get to the Cinque Terre villages with a quick train trip. La Spezia is also a very charming small town; there aren't many tourists there (at least off-season) and there are many nice little restaurants.

Posted: November 22, 2022

Things to do: 5/5Food: 4/5Budget-friendly: 3/5Safety: 5/5

favorite_border 54

mode_comment 0

Connect with upcoming visitors to Cinque Terre who are looking for travel buddies or meet ups.

Elina

About Me

A solo mama by choice living in Stockholm, Sweden, who loves to discover the world with my 2 year old son. Upcoming trip to Italy for 3 weeks in May 2024. Any advice on playground is always appreciated! 😅