Cinque Terre vs. Amalfi Coast
Cinque Terre vs. Amalfi Coast: Which should you visit?
Both of these coastal Italian destinations are very popular, but they’re also very different. If you’ve never been to either place before, you might be wondering how to choose which destination to visit.
As someone who has traveled extensively in Italy and visited Cinque Terre and the Amalfi Coast multiple times, I’ve put this guide together to compare them and help you decide which destination is right for you.
While both Cinque Terre and the Amalfi Coast are regions in Italy consisting of a collection of seaside towns, they’re actually quite different when it comes to overall vibes, things to do, and travel style.
Here’s a comparison of Cinque Terre vs. Amalfi Coast to help you pick which one to visit:
Location
Both Cinque Terre and the Amalfi Coast are located on the western side of the Italy on the Mediterranean Sea. Cinque Terre is further north, part of Liguria. The Amalfi Coast is further south, part of Campania.
The two largest cities near Cinque Terre are Genoa and Florence. Cinque Terre is about midway between them, Genoa to the north and Florence to the southeast. The biggest city near the Amalfi Coast is Naples.
Cinque Terre, which literally means “Five Lands” in Italian, consists of five colorful coastal fishing villages all in a row: Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza, and Monterosso al Mare.
The Amalfi Coast is a 36-mile stretch of coastline from Sorrento to Salerno, consisting of about a dozen towns including Positano, Amalfi, Praiano, Vietri sul Mare, Atrani, and Ravello.
Getting Around
When it comes to getting around Cinque Terre and the Amalfi Coast, you have several options.
In Cinque Terre, there’s a train station in every town. All fives towns are just a few minutes apart from each other on the regional train. This is the easiest way to get around. There are also hiking paths between each of the five towns, the shortest which takes just 30 minutes and the longest taking over two hours.
I do not recommend renting a car in Cinque Terre, because it takes much longer to drive between the towns (you have to take winding roads in the hills above the towns, whereas the train cuts straight along the coast) and it can be a nightmare to find parking. Taking the train is much more convenient.
In the Amalfi Coast, there are no train stations in most of the towns. Only Sorrento, Vietri sul Mare, and Salerno have train stations. Other towns on the coast are reachable by bus and ferry, though.
Renting a car makes a little more sense on the Amalfi Coast since it’s larger and not well-connected by train, but I do want to mention that the roads are narrow and winding, there’s tons of traffic in the summer, and it can be very difficult to find parking. I’d personally still stick to public transportation here.
Vibes
Now let’s talk about the overall vibes of each destination. Like I mentioned earlier, even though they’re both coastal destinations in Italy, Cinque Terre and the Amalfi Coast feel very different.
Cinque Terre is more relaxed and laidback. This region was once just a sleepy collection of fishing villages, and the area still has a more rustic feel (although make no mistake, it’s also very touristy!)
The Amalfi Coast, on the other hand, is more of a luxurious and glamorous vacation destination. You’ll find more high-end hotels, restaurants, and boutiques in the towns along the coast here. But with more than a dozen different towns, you can also find some quieter, more authentic places to go.
If you’re into nature and hiking, both Cinque Terre and the Amalfi Coast have plenty to offer, with coastal walking paths that offer amazing views. Cinque Terre has hiking trails that are easier to get to, though.
Beaches
Both Cinque Terre and the Amalfi Coast have beaches, although I can honestly say that neither are the best beach destinations in Italy. (Try Sardinia, Sicily, or Calabria for the most amazing beaches!)
In Cinque Terre, Monterosso al Mare is the only town with a proper beach. Most of the other towns (Riomaggiore, Manarola, and Vernazza) have harbors that people swim in, but Monterosso al Mare is where you’ll find a long, sandy beach with colorful umbrellas and lounge chairs to rent if you wish.
On the Amalfi Coast, most towns have a beach. Some of the best are in Vietri sul Mare, Cetara, Positano, and Amalfi. Just note that many beaches here require walking down lots of steps to get down to them!
I’d say the Amalfi Coast is the winner here because it has more proper beaches than Cinque Terre.
Things to Do
There are lots of things to do in Cinque Terre and on the Amalfi Coast.
I will say that Cinque Terre is much smaller, and you can pretty much see and do everything with three days and two nights, whereas you could easily spend double that amount of time on the Amalfi Coast.
In Cinque Terre, I recommend visiting all five towns, doing some hiking between the towns, and heading to Porto Venere, the unofficial sixth town that is located further south from Riomaggiore.
On the Amalfi Coast, you can also hop between towns, but there are so many more to discover. Some of my favorites include Sorrento, Positano, Amalfi, and Vietri sul Mare. Aside from visiting the coastal towns, there are also some amazing day trips you can take to islands, volcanoes, ruins, and more.
Capri, Ischia, and Procida are three stunning islands in the Bay of Naples that are all worth a visit by ferry or private boat. You can also take a day trip to Mount Vesuvius and then visit the ruins of the ancient city of Pompeii, which was buried under ash and remarkably preserved after the volcano erupted in 79 AD.
With all that there is to do near the Amalfi Coast, you could easily spend a full week here.
Budget
Cinque Terre and the Amalfi Coast are both very touristy destinations, which means they can be pricy.
The most expensive time to visit either destination is the summer, especially July and August. During the summer, hotel prices skyrocket, whereas you can save hundreds of dollars in the shoulder season.
Overall, I’d say that Cinque Terre is a bit cheaper, but only because it doesn’t really cater towards luxury travelers. You won’t find any five-star hotels or fancy restaurants here. You’ll find plenty of those on the Amalfi Coast, but you can also find more modest accommodations and cheap local restaurants too.
When to Visit
Finally, let’s talk about when to visit Cinque Terre and the Amalfi Coast.
Both are popular seasonal destinations, which means summer is the busiest time of year, spring and fall are considered the shoulder season, and winter is very quiet. In both places, you’ll find that a lot of restaurants, shops, and hotels close during the winter months, particularly from November through March.
If you go during the winter, prepare for things to be shut down and expect cold weather. If you go during the summer, you can anticipate big crowds and extremely hot weather. Personally, my favorite time for both destinations is the shoulder season when it’s not too crowded and the weather is nice.
May, early June, late September, and October are my favorite times to visit both Cinque Terre and the Amalfi Coast. If you want to swim and enjoy the beach, late September is a good time because the sea is still warm at the tail end of summer. The shoulder season also sees fewer crowds, which is more pleasant.
Cinque Terre or Amalfi Coast?
This guide helped you compare Cinque Terre vs. Amalfi Coast to choose which destination is right for you. Both of these Italian coastal regions are worth visiting, but hopefully this helped you narrow it down!
If you only have time to visit one destination, you can’t go wrong with either Cinque Terre or the Amalfi Coast. It all depends on what exactly you’re looking for out of your Italian coast getaway.
Whichever you choose to visit, enjoy your trip to Italy!
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