Cinque Terre or Amalfi Coast? Comparing Two of Italy's Summer Destinations
Riomaggiore, Italy
One question I often get when it comes to traveling in Italy in the summer is whether to visit Cinque Terre or Amalfi Coast - or both!
They often get grouped together since they’re beautiful seaside areas with colorful homes built into the cliffs, but they have a different feel and appeal.
(However, something they have in common is that both get very crowded in summer from tourism - FYI)
In this post, I’ll do a quick breakdown of the two to help you decide if you are short on time!
Cinque Terre, Italy
Cinque Terre, Italy
Riomaggiore, Italy
Cinque Terre (pronunciation: Chink-weh Tehr-eh) is a group of five seaside villages located in Liguria, northwest of Florence and Pisa.
Cinque Terre literally translates to “Five Lands/Five Towns” which are:
• Monterosso
• Vernazza
• Corniglia
• Manarola
• Riomaggiore
There is nothing more iconic than beach umbrellas during the European Summer - taken in Monterosso, Italy
More about Cinque Terre:
Many people do a day trip from Florence or other nearby city to Cinque Terre, or spend a night (I did a day trip and went to 3/5 towns) - there is not as much to do as Amalfi since it is a much smaller area
You can train to La Spezia and then take the Cinque Terre Express Train to go throughout the towns. I went to La Spezia, then to the northernmost town (Monterosso), then made my way down before going back to Florence
Monterosso is the one with a sandy beach and has umbrellas if you want to do a beach day. The other beach areas along this area are smaller and rocky
You can walk/hike through the towns (plan ahead for time) or train through them
Monterosso, Italy
Who can resist taking a piece of fresh fruit from a local fruit stand down to the beach?
Amalfi Coast, Italy
One of the iconic viewpoints of Positano, Italy
Gorgeous architecture in Sorrento, Italy
The Amalfi Coast refers to an area of coastline south of Naples known for its picturesque cliffside homes and lemon groves.
Popular parts are Positano (the famous photo you’ve prob seen on Instagram and blogs), Sorrento (where most people stay), and Capri Island and Pompeii (common day trips).
More about the Amalfi Coast:
You can take a series of trains to Amalfi, or rent a car - be careful driving on the VERY tiny, tight roads along the cliff
Boat cruises around Positano and Capri are fun
The beaches are rocky
The Blue Grotto (Capri) is cool but if the wind/weather makes the seas too rough you can’t go in
There are pretty hikes in Capri or if you don’t want to hike there is a chairlift to see some views
Try all the lemon-flavored things; this is where Limoncello is made
A few of many purple flowers along the Amalfi Coast
Lemon groves in Sorrento - it smells amazing!
Views of Positano, Italy
Cinque Terre or Amalfi Coast?
Amalfi Coast views
This is a quick overview of the two destinations, so I recommend doing a little more research to determine which is best for you to visit based on your travel preferences, especially if you are short on time and cannot do both in one trip! Both areas have beautiful seaside towns, hiking options, and delicious food. Cinque Terre is smaller and the Amalfi Coast area is larger.
Personally, if I had to choose, I’d prefer Amalfi Coast since it is a beautiful area with many activities to do.
However, if I were short on time and already planning to go to Florence/Tuscany and more northern parts of Italy, then Cinque Terre would be a little easier to get to for a day trip or overnight. It really boils down to your preferences, the length of your trip, and your proximity for getting to each area.
Buon viaggio!