Top 10 Places On The Italian Riviera (Cinque Terre & Portofino)

What's up guys my name is Ryan and I've spent the last few years exploring Italy's various regions and I want to share with you my favorite places so here's my Italian Riviera top 10. The Italian Riviera also known as the region of Liguria is a small crescent-shaped area that borders Tuscany in the east and extends to the French Riviera in the west. It's home to some of Italy's most beautiful coast. If you like colorful seaside towns, maritime history, and jaw-dropping scenery, you're going to fall in love with the Italian Riviera. Let's start this video off at Cinque Terre. When you imagine the Italian Riviera or just Italy in general, the Cinque Terre might come to mind. It's one of the most famous destinations in Italy and the inspiration behind Pixar's film Luca. Cinque Terre is made up of five seaside villages that date back to medieval times. Now to reach Cinque Terre you can't drive there but you can take a train from La Spezia in the south or from Levanto in the north. Now once you're there you can also use trains to hop around from village to village or you can also hike between each one. The entire trail is 11 kilometers and takes about five to six hours to complete but keep in mind that some sections of the trail may be closed. The most northern and large village in the Cinque Terre is Monte Rosso Almare. I'd say it's one of the less popular places in the Cinque Terre but it's definitely worth a visit. I think one of the highlights of Monte Rosso Almare is its beaches. It has the biggest and most beautiful beaches in all the Cinque Terre. It offers incredible views of the Riviera and it's just a perfect place to relax. The next village south is Vernazza. Now it's probably my favorite village on the Cinque Terre. It has the only natural port of the Cinque Terre and remains one of the truest fishing villages on the Italian Riviera. I came here during the last few weeks of August and it was beyond packed so if you want to come with less people consider visiting during the shorter months such as September or May. Regardless, I was impressed by the beauty of this little village. I enjoyed walking out on the stone pier and there's also this cool tunnel that connects the village to the other side of the sea. Another one of my favorite features of Vernazza is the Doria Castle. It was built in the 11th century and overlooks all of Vernazza. It's a bit of a climb to get to the castle but definitely worth it. You can also get a really nice view of the castle and just Vernazza in general from the hiking trail. The next village south is Corniglia. It's probably the least visited town on the Cinque Terre and it's often skipped by tourists and you can reach it by walking up 380 stairs. Now while Corniglia doesn't have a beach or easy access to the sea, it does offer some incredible views of the Cinque Terre and a more authentic less touristy experience. Now after we're going to visit the village of Manarola. Now this is probably my second favorite village on the Cinque Terre. I really enjoyed just walking around the many paths in the village. You can get some great vantage points of Manarola. One thing I really liked about the village is that it had this great cove to swim in. It was sheltered from the waves and there are these rocks that people were cliff jumping from. My biggest regret was not jumping in the water and giving it a try. You might also spot a mermaid or two there. Now right next door to Manarola is Rio Maggiore. It's the most southern town on the Cinque Terre and it's one of the most ideal locations to stay offering a lot of options for housing, eating, and activities. Now all the villages on the Cinque Terre are beautiful but I think Rio Maggiore is one of the most scenic with its unique shape and colorful buildings. Now you can get an incredible view of Rio Maggiore by walking out on the Vista Panoramica which is the pier made of giant boulders. It offers an astounding view especially during the sunset. I mean it's just hard to beat the colors and vibes of the Cinque Terre. Now before we leave one last thing I recommend that you do while you're in Cinque Terre is to see it by boat. You can take ferries that go from village to village or you can also get a private boat tour. Both options give you incredible views of the Cinque Terre and allow you to see it from a perspective that's not possible on land. Afterwards we're going to visit the nearby town of Portovenere. It's located just south of Cinque Terre on the same coastline and it's situated about 25 minutes outside of La Spezia. It's believed that Portovenere was founded back in the first century BC and after the fall of the Western Roman Empire it became the base of the Byzantine fleet. One of my favorite features of Portovenere is the Chiesa di San Pietro. It's a church that is built on this rocky outcrop that was established in 1198. Right next to the church is the Grotta di Lord Byron. It's this incredible swimming area where the English poet Lord Byron used to visit. I just love the cliffs here and just throughout all of Portovenere. It's such a scenic place on the Riviera. After we're going to visit Sestri Levante. Sandwiched between popular areas like Portofino and Cinque Terre, Sestri Levante may get overlooked by tourists but it has grown in popularity over the years amongst Italians. One of my favorite features of Sestri Levante is its promontory that was once an island until it was connected to the mainland. Now the land bridge created two unique bays and the locals have nicknamed it the city of two seas which is such a vibe here. After we're going to visit Cherbo. Located in western Liguria about an hour from the French border, Cherbo is this small village perched upon a hill. Its roots go back nearly 2,000 years where it began as a Roman mansion along the Via Giulia Augusta which was a Roman road. I think Cherbo is one of the most scenic hilltop villages in the Italian Riviera. I just love how it sits right next to the Mediterranean Sea and there's some really nice beaches there. It's such a spectacle and definitely worth checking out. Afterwards we're going to head over to Genoa. As the capital city of Liguria, Genoa has been one of the most important ports in the Mediterranean since the middle ages. From the 11th to 18th centuries, Genoa was one of the most powerful maritime republics. The history of this capital is fascinating. It's where Christopher Columbus was born and also where two of the world's earliest banks were founded during the 15th century. Today Genoa is the sixth largest city in Italy and a popular cruise ship stop and also just a great place to start your journey through Liguria. Now afterwards we're going to visit the nearby Camogli. Now located about 30 minutes outside of Genoa, Camogli is this small fishing village on the west side of the Portofino peninsula. Now one of my favorite features Camogli is its beach. It has pebble stone sand and a really nice water when it's not stormy. I also love the backdrop it has of the church with its scenic clock tower. Such a nice little fishing town. After we're going to visit Rapallo. It's located just on the other side of the Portofino peninsula. Rapallo is this beautiful town right on the sea. It has a nice harbor and one of my favorite features of the town is its castle that is situated right on the water. Now what's great about Rapallo is that it's in an ideal location and you can reach a majority of the popular places on the Riviera in less than an hour's drive. Now for our final destination we're going to visit the nearby Portofino. Located just 20 minutes from Rapallo, Portofino is one of the most idyllic towns on the Italian coast. It's renowned for its picturesque harbor and has been retreat for royalty and artists as far back as the 12th century. When I imagine the Italian Riviera, Portofino always comes to mind. I tried going here during the peak of summer but I got turned back because there was no parking. So I definitely recommend coming during the less popular months or early in the morning. You can also reach Portofino by taking a ferry from the nearby town such as Rapallo, Genoa, or Camogli. Now one of my favorite features of Portofino is its lighthouse. It's about a 20 minutes hike to get there and offers some incredible views of the Ligurian Sea. Another amazing place to visit near Portofino is San Frutuoso. It can only be accessed by boat or an hour and a half hike from Portofino. The cove features a 10th century abbey and then there's the statue of Christ that is 15 meters under the sea that you can dive to if you're feeling adventurous. Well that is it for my Italian Riviera top 10. Let me know where your favorite place is in the comments below. I hope to return to Italy this summer to make some new videos on Italy for you guys. I also have a Spanish channel if you guys would like to watch my videos in Espanol. You can find me on Instagram and TikTok at shirley.films. It's Ryan and we will see you later!