An Instagram Guide to Cinque Terre

Italy: a country of romance, nostalgia, and copious amounts of carbs. What could be better? Cinque Terre, a tiny string of colourful coastal villages lining the Italian Riviera, epitomises all the romantic beauty of Italy, and more. From the dainty fishing harbour of Riomaggiore to the pastel sun-dappled houses of Manarola, each coastal town is awash with charming nooks and crannies to inspire even the most reluctant photographer. And if you’re not quite convinced by the plentiful photo ops, there’s the fresh seafood, heaving antipasti platters, and hole-in-the-wall pizza joints selling steaming slices lathered in local pesto to win you over.

Admittedly, there’s not masses to do along the coast, bar admiring the beautiful views, and the occasional hike providing the paths are clear. It’s also far from undiscovered, with tourists poring in from all over the globe come Summer time. However go off-season and enjoy a slightly more secluded experience of the five towns – the weather may not be quite so glorious but the relative quiet will be worth it (besides if you’re coming from gloomy Britain pretty much any weather is decent!).

Unsurprisingly the villages are popular Insta-fodder, being as picturesque as they are. So I thought I’d pop together a little guide to the most photo-worthy spots, so you can explore the Italian coastline aaand keep your Insta on point all at once!

RIOMAGGIORE

When arriving in Cinque Terre from La Spezia you will first come to charming Riomaggiore, one of the bigger villages with several restaurants lining a bustling main street. The main focal point is the harbour, lined with fishing boats and colourful houses. There are a couple of fine dining restaurants in the harbour, or if you’re feeling less fancy you can grab a takeaway pesto pizza from one of the stalls and eat it while watching the world go by. It can get busy, so get up nice and early if you want to take photos before the crowds appear!

MANAROLA

Manarola was probably my favourite of the villages, largely because it looks so picture perfect with pastel hued houses huddled along the cliffs of the Italian Riviera. Because of the way the village curves around you can get a lovely view looking back on the buildings without walking particularly far.

Head to Nessun Dorma restaurant for gorgeous views over an Aperol Spritz and a simple, fresh menu made up of bruschetta, focaccia sandwiches, and flavoursome platters. It can generate quite a queue, particularly if you want a table with a view (which obviously you do!), so I’d recommend getting there at opening for a prime spot.

MONTEROSSO

Monterosso al Mare is the biggest of Cinque Terre’s villages, and the most commercial, with the majority of the resort hotels being located here. The most iconic Monterosso scene is the orange and green beach umbrellas overlooking ocean views, however sadly they were down when I visited, plus the beach is so busy it’s hard to get a shot. Otherwise the village is less typically picturesque than its more idyllic counterparts, however it still has a lot going for it with plenty of shops, restaurants and bars to give it character.

One of my favourite meals on the trip was Da Eraldo Tigelle, which served up heaving antipasti platters in a classic trattoria setting. It looked great for Instagram, but it tasted even better, with a selection of flavoursome meats and cheeses paired with delicious freshly made pesto which the region is known for.

VERNAZZA

Thanks to it’s colourful harbour and vibrant buildings, the view of Vernazza is probably the most iconic of Cinque Terre’s many picture postcard locations. Pretty much every corner is a photo op, but to get this shot overlooking the village you need to head out of the village and on to the walking trail leading to Monterosso. To get to this exact spot you’re going to have to hop off the trail and do some shimmying under a fence, but it’s worth it (I was nearly too scared, but then I wouldn’t have gotten my favourite photo from the trip!). Watch out for mosquitos though!

Overall Cinque Terre is such a magical place to while away a couple of days, either trekking between the villages or just taking some time to relax and enjoy the surroundings with a glass of red and a generous portion of pesto. It’s quintessential Italy, overwhelming all the senses from the higgledy characterful buildings to the sumptuous fresh food. If you’re a travel photographer or blogger it’s got to be on the bucket list!

Have you been to Cinque Terre, and if so what were your favourite spots? I’d love to know if you’d like to see more of these Insta guides as well, let me know below!