Looking to find those picture-perfect spots in Cinque Terre for your Instagram feed?
As you stroll the rugged cliffs and winding streets, scenes beg to be captured through the lens – weathered boats bobbing in the harbor, clusters of colorfully painted houses clinging to hillsides, trails threading through terraced vineyards.
At sunset, golden light bathes the fishing villages, creating magic hour moments you’ll want to savor.
Your photos will transport viewers to this coastal escape, capturing its allure in candid glimpses of life along the Italian Riviera.” With its colorful, cliffside villages and breathtaking seaside views, there are endless opportunities to get that shot.
Let me guide you to the exact spots where you can click such beautiful Instagram-worthy photos and gather the likes and followers…
Riomaggiore
Every village in Cinque Terre is a stunner – postcard perfect through the lens. But Riomaggiore and Vernazza? They took our breath away, hands down our favorite!
Riomaggiore, when seen from the harbor rocks (watch your step!) with the pastel buildings cascading down the cliffs into the sea, is magic. Pure magic.
Cinque Terre really lives up to its reputation. Believe the hype. And make sure you have extra memory cards, you’ll need them!
As the sun begins to set over the ocean, make your way to the rocky overlook. This is one of the best spots on the island to watch the sunset – the rocks perfectly frame the fiery colors spreading across the sky. Grab a glass of wine from the nearby cafe and find a comfortable perch. Savor the moment as day softly fades into night. Don’t forget to snap a photo of the stunning scene! The rocks and sunset will make for an Instagram-worthy memento of this peaceful evening.
Manarola
As you stroll into Manarola, you’ll feel like you’ve stepped right into a storybook scene. Candy-colored houses cling to the cliffs, popping against the vivid blue sky. Meander along the seaside promenade to find the perfect viewpoint for snapping photos of boats bobbing in the shimmering harbor with rocky outcroppings in the background.
When you get to the harbor, take the trail that runs alongside it. Follow it toward the Nessun Dorma restaurant, keeping an eye out for that iconic Cinque Terre postcard view you’ve probably seen online – it’s somewhere along here!
While you’re in the harbor, kick off your shoes and let the waves tickle your feet as you sit on the rocks. The village looks absolutely magical from this vantage point. Be sure to take lots of photos!
Corniglia
Nestled along the rugged Italian coastline, Corniglia is a small quaint village. Wandering the colorful streets of Corniglia, camera in hand, you never know what scene will unfold before your lens. The hike between Corniglia and Vernazza is full of incredible vistas overlooking the village and the sparkling Mediterranean sea.
To take in the full beauty of the Cinque Terre shoreline, make your way up to the Santa Maria Belvedere terrace. From this unbeatable vantage point, you can soak up the sweeping coastal views and truly appreciate the region’s captivating scenery. It’s a sight you won’t want to miss while visiting this magical slice of Italy!
Vernazza
Vernazza, as we mentioned above, was our second most photogenic village after Riomaggiore. It is made for photography, with delightful details and picture-perfect vistas around every turn. Lose yourself in composition and color as you discover enchanting angles and vignettes. Don't just see Vernazza - capture its spirit through your lens. This fishing village rewards those with an eye for beauty and a sense of adventure.
Capture the beauty from this viewpoint. Walk straight down to the harbor from the train station, and up ahead, the glittering expanse of the harbor comes into full view, dotted with tiny colorful fishing boats.
The hike from Vernazza to Corniglia is a stunning coastal trail with breathtaking views around every bend. As you leave the pastel-colored houses of Vernazza behind, the path climbs steeply up the cliffside, revealing a bird's-eye vista of the charming village and its harbor nestled by the sea. About 10 minutes into the hike, you reach a panoramic viewpoint that is an ideal photo opportunity. Here, the glittering Mediterranean stretches out before you in shades of azure, turquoise and teal.
There is another beautiful photo spot, when you hike from Monterosso towards Vernazza. This vantage point gives a view of the village from the top.
Monterosso al Mare
Nestled along the rugged coastline of northwest Italy’s Ligurian Sea lies the charming beach village of Monterosso al Mare, the largest and most visited of the five seaside hamlets that make up the famed Cinque Terre. With its vibrantly-colored homes and cliffside vineyards cascading down to meet azure waters, Monterosso emanates a captivating Old World charm.
The village’s main beach, Spiaggia di Fegina, is a local favorite, with its postcard-perfect landscape of crystalline turquoise waters gently lapping against a shoreline dotted with seaside restaurants and beach chair rentals. The beach is lined with smooth gray pebbles that crunch pleasantly underfoot as you stroll along the water’s edge.
Just offshore looms an iconic rock formation known as Stella Maris, its craggy outcropping jutting out of the sea like a great stone sentinel standing guard over the cove. This rock formation creates striking vistas and serves as a focal point for countless photos taken by visitors seeking to capture the quintessential scenery of Monterosso.
Whether you’re dining al fresco at a beachside cafe, sunbathing on the pebbled shore, or gazing out over the sea towards Stella Maris, Monterosso’s Spiaggia di Fegina offers an idyllic Mediterranean escape.
