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Both Cinque Terre and Portofino fit into the description of fantasy lands. Even for seasoned travelers, Cinque Terre and Portofino conjure up feelings and emotions of an idyllic fairy world—where the iridescent glow of the setting sun is ever on the fading horizon. Both places are postcard versions of spectacular scenes tinged with a rustic look, a lush of green, and an endearing laid-back feel. However, with no direct routes to both Cinque Terre and Portofino, finding one’s way may appear difficult and intimidating.

Still, despite the forbidding terrain that mirrors the remote and isolated— here’s how to get there.

UPDATE: 2023/02/05 16:08 EST BY AARON SPRAY

Hiking Between & Around The Cinque Terre

There are lots of hiking opportunities around the see villages - some of these trails follow old mule trails dating back to Roman times. This article was updated and expanded with more information about hiking to the villages and around the local area. Some of the trails may be closed so check before going.

UPDATE: 2022/10/03 12:15 EST BY AARON SPRAY

Why Visit Cinque Terre & Updates.

This article was updated to reflect the more current costs of transport to Cinque Terre and Portofino as well as to add information on what Cinque Terre is, why it is popular, and why everyone should visit it. Italy is stunning not only for its historic cities (like Venice and Rome) but also its picturesque fishing villages like those of the Cinque Terre.

Here’s How To Get To Portofino And Cinque Terre By Road

As a heads up, it’s not advisable to travel from Cinque Terre to Portofino by car. Inside the Piazzetta, as the central business district is known, cars are not allowed. Even in areas where cars are allowed, getting a parking space is a nightmare. There are only two parking areas in Portofino and the cheapest of these—charges $5.5 per hour. Unfortunately, Cinque Terre is also just as car unfriendly. One exception is if there’s parking space in the hotel where one is staying. But even this may not really help when one is touring a different town. This is because she’ll still need to park the car somewhere.

  • How To Get To Cinque Terre: By Boat, Bus, Train, Scooter, Car (Car Not Advised)

However, if one has the parking aspect sorted, and he or she is traveling from Cinque Terre, one of Italy's most stunning regions, he’ll have to get on the A12 motorway at Carrodano and continue on it up to Rapallo, where he or she will take the left turn on SP 227 for one of the planet's best coastal drives. This is a distance of 45.3 miles and will take about an hour and a half.

Instead of using a car, travelers can consider renting a motorcycle. Touring either spot on the back of a roaring scooter provides a more thrilling exposure to the jaw-dropping landscape— and the blue, calming seascape below. However, the roads linking the two places are sharp, narrow, and winding. Meandering these high cliffs and sharp bends will be as thrilling and as blood-curdling—almost to the same degree.

  • What Is The Cost Of Hiring A Scooter In Portofino/Cinque Terre? The cost of hiring a scooter in Portofino or the Cinque Terre area is about €40 to €60 per day. In some cases, they’ll be additional delivery and pick-up charges as well. These will range from €20 to €30, spending on where one is staying. Some agencies lend for as little as €8 per day but with a minimum 2-month rental duration.

A good advantage of using scooters and motorcycles in Portofino or Cinque Terre—or anywhere else in the Italian Riviera—is the convenience of not worrying about missing the last ferry on the way back or being a second late for the train ride.

Related: Portofino Is Worth Visiting, But You Don't Need To Stay There

Here’s How To Get To Portofino And Cinque Terre By Train

For someone traveling from Cinque Terre, the nearest train station is at Monterosso. Monterosso, being only 1.3 kilometers from Cinque Terre—is just a 16-minute stroll away. From the train station, the next stop will be at Santa Margherita Ligure. The train will take about an hour, depending on the train company. The train ticket for a standard seat is about $9-$10.

  • Train: The Best Transport Option To Cinque Terre

However, for a first-class ticket, travelers will pay a dollar or two more. As many as 46 trains ply this route every day. So travelers shouldn't worry about not finding a train. In fact, after every 7-10 minutes, a train will be departing from Monterosso. Since there’s no train station at Portofino, travelers will disembark at Santa Margherita Ligure, which is about 5 kilometers (3.1 miles) from Portofino.

From Santa Margherita Ligure, there are three options for covering the remaining 5 kilometers. Of course, the first option is to walk. The trip will take about an hour. While this may look like an eternity, the breathtaking scenes, the curvy roads, and the cool Rivieran air will more than make up for the effort. The second option is to jump onto a bus (camera in hand)— and take the 10-minute ride to Portofino.

The bus ride will be about $2. Getting the bus is not difficult. The bus pick-up point is near the train station, to the immediate right of it, and just by the waterfront. The last option is to board a ferry. The outside look of clinging villas, the rugged terrain, and the rippling sea will make the ride thoroughly enjoyable, especially if one finds a seat on the foredeck. Then, of course, one can also take a cab from Santa Margherita Ligure to Portofino for $12-$15.

  • How Much Is The Ferry Charges From Santa Margherita Ligure To Portofino? The ferry charges from Santa Margherita Ligure to Portofino range from $6-$9 per person.

Related: Cinque Terre: How To Explore One Of Italy's Oldest Seaside Villages

Here’s How To Get To Portofino And Cinque Terre By Boat

Every Monday and Friday until the 11th of September, a ferry departs from Riomaggiore to Portofino and back—setting aside at least a 2-hour layover at Portofino. 12-year-olds, teenagers, and adults pay €27 for this thrilling trip. On the other side, children aged between 6 and 11 will pay €18. Children below six years do not pay a nickel.

  • Adults: €27 Per Adult Aged 12+
  • Children: €18 Aged 6-11

If the Italian Riviera is Italy’s most beautiful region, Portofino—the resort of the rich and famous— and Cinque Terre are its crown jewels. And even if there are n direct routes between the two, the detours and the connections make the coastline trip even more scenic.

Why The Cinque Terre Region Is So Special

Italy is famous for its historic, cultural, and architecturally stunning cities of Venice, Rome, Milan, Florence, and Naples, but it is also home to some of the most eye-catching villages as well. The Cinque Terre is a collection of five small villages that had gone unnoticed for most of their history. Today they are an Instagram sensation and one of the most sought-after attractions in Italy.

The five villages of Cinque Terre are Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, and Riomaggiore. These and their surrounding hillsides are part of the Cinque Terre National Park and are UNESCO World Heritage Listed.

  • Designated: World Heritage Site
  • Number Of Villages: 5 Old Fishing Villages

Over the centuries, the residents of the villages have built beautiful terraces on the rugged and steep landscapes rising up the cliffs overlooking the Ligurian Sea. The village folk grew grapes and olives on the steep and rugged landscapes and fished the sea. The isolation caused by the difficulty of reaching these old fishing villages has made them unique and one of the most atmospheric attractions in the region.

Hiking Around The Cinque Terre

While most people enjoy exploring the villages by boat and taking pictures of the villages while enjoying a refreshing beverage, there are also plenty of hiking opportunities. It is said that see terraced seaside villages boast some of Italy's best hiking. There is an extensive network of trails exploring the coastlines and connecting the villages with each other.

These trails range in difficulty from easy to difficult. In Italy, hiking trails are called "sentiero."

The high path is Sentiero no. 1 and is an old mule track that may date back to the times of the Romans. It goes along the ridge and into the Italian hinterland away from the coast.

Notable Hiking Trails:

  • Sentiero no. 1: Runs Into The Hinterland
  • Sentiero no.2: Connects The Villages
  • Lover's Lane: Easy 25-minute Walk (Closed Until Summer 2024)

One of the most famous trails is Sentiero no. 2 (also called Sentiero Azzurro). This old trail connects the five villages, and hikers can complete the whole trail in six hours if they push themselves. But to enjoy the route and really see the villages along the way, it's better to spend a couple of days exploring the trail. Hikers can start in either direction (from Riomaggiore and go north or from Monterosso and go south).

Colorful buildings in Cinque Terre of Italy
Shutterstock
Colorful buildings in Cinque Terre of Italy

For those not wanting to exhaust themselves, perhaps the Lover's Lane (or Via dell'Amore) is for them. This is a path from Riomaggiore to its neighboring village, Manarola. The trail runs for 1.5 miles and takes around 25 minutes. Unfortunately, this path is closed for now, but keep it on the bucket list as it is due to open up again in the summer of 2024.

Refer to the official Cinque Terra website for more information about the hiking trails.