Corniglia, Cinque Terre in Italy: where to sleep, what to do ?

Last update : 20/08/2023

The village of Corniglia is surprising, it’s not the idea one has of the Cinque Terre! It’s a very “terrestrial” village, which doesn’t even have direct access to the sea. We found it a smaller village than the others, but very pleasant to visit. Welcome to Corniglia, the Cinque Terre village suspended 100 meters above the sea. 🐠
To get there, you have two options, either climb the 360 steps or take a free mini bus from the Railway Station, which takes you into Corniglia town center in 10 minutes. (And guess what? We took the bus both ways 😂).
Discover in our article, a good hotel address in Corniglia, a restaurant address and also our tips for things to do in Corniglia. Let’s goooo!

Summary

Visiting Corniglia in the Cinque Terre, where to sleep?

Cecio 5 Terre Rooms

The hotel’s location is ideal, offering magnificent views of the village and the sea, yet quiet and comfortable. You’ll appreciate the independent entrance to the hotel part, as well as the shared terrace on the top floor. The hotel is small, with just 8 rooms, offering personalized service. The staff are friendly and welcoming, and the restaurant’s cuisine is excellent, offering only perfectly cooked fresh produce.

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What to do in Corniglia in the Cinque Terre

We were more of a transient in this village, spending two hours wandering around, enjoying the authentic atmosphere and incredible views! You’ll also find small tourist stores and lots of accommodation, some with large terraces. But otherwise, we found there’s little to do there, few activities or good addresses…

1. Corniglia town center

As we keep telling you in each of our articles, keep in mind that the villages of the Cinque Terre are relatively small, and you’ll quickly have done the rounds. This is particularly true of Corniglia, the smallest of the Cinque Terre villages!
The village center boils down to Piazza Largo Taragio and the small streets surrounding the square. Although it’s quickly visited, you’ll find a certain charm here! 😍 It’s also, to our taste, one of the least touristy of the Cinque Terre villages. You feel at home here, you meet lots of locals and the atmosphere is peaceful.

2. The central square, Largo Taragio

This is the village’s central square, where you’ll find little cafe and restaurant terraces where you can stroll or take a little shady break, which feels good, especially with the summer heat! From this square, you’ll have a superb view of the neighboring village: Manarola.

3. The Church of San Pietro in Corniglia

This parish church, built in the early 1300s, adds an ultra-authentic touch to the little village of Corniglia! You can find it at the top of the village, and its stone façade is very photogenic. It also reminds us that Italians are very religious!

Visiting Corniglia, where to eat?

Bar Terza Terra, Corniglia

While you’re here, go for an aperitif or lunch at Bar Terza Terra! At the very end of the village, on a hillside, this little bar isn’t too crowded and offers a breathtaking view of the Cinque Terre coastline. You’ll find cheese and charcuterie boards with local produce, wines produced in the Cinque Terre as well as Spriiiiiitzs, the Italian specialty. 😋 A good address to toast your vacation in the sun! 🍹

Parc Naturel Cinque Terre in Italy

Corniglia, like the other 4 villages of the Cinque Terre is in the Natural Park of the Cinque Terre and the sea is protected all around. It’s said that some very rare animals can be found there… 🧐 Well, we didn’t see any! But fishermen are forbidden to go there, as there are said to be dolphins and even … whales! 🤩 We hope you’ll be luckier than us and catch a glimpse.

Vineyards of Cinque Terre

The Cinque Terre produces a lot of white wine, rather dry. The village heights are covered with grape varieties! We discovered a whole little metal circuit which is actually used by the winemaker to move around and catch all the grapes in this very hilly area, great to see.
You can get a better idea of the breadth of grape varieties by doing one of the hikes between the Cinque Terre villages.

Visiting Corniglia, how to organize your trip well?

How to get to Corniglia

To find the best mode of transport to your destination, we recommend you always look on the OMIO comparator. This will give you an overview of all available modes of transport. You’ll be able to compare prices very easily.

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How to find the best hotels to visit Corniglia and the Cinque Terre

In order to find the best hotels and benefit from the best conditions (security, cancellation…) we go almost exclusively through Booking.com for our trips. We recommend that you take a look at the available hotels before you leave. You can filter them according to their ratings. The customer reviews are very numerous and recent, which means you can avoid unpleasant surprises when traveling!

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How to find ideas for vacation activities

If you want to get ideas for activities to do on your vacation and want to book in advance, we’d also recommend taking a look at the GetYourGuide website. This will give you an overview of the activities on offer in your destination, so you don’t have to wait until you get there to book your places.

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