5 Things to Do in the Cinque Terre in Autumn
Autumn is a wonderful time to discover the Cinque Terre at a different pace. Between October and November, Riomaggiore, Manarola, Volastra and Groppo are ideal for a trip filled with walks, panoramic views, village life and local flavours.
It is the perfect season to slow down, spend more time in each place and experience the Cinque Terre beyond their most famous views.
Here are 5 things to do in the Cinque Terre in autumn.
1. Walk among trails and terraced hillsides
Walking is one of the best ways to discover the Cinque Terre in autumn.
The trails wind through vineyards, dry-stone walls, woodland and terraced hillsides overlooking the sea, offering a close-up view of the relationship between the natural landscape and human activity.
One of the routes in the area, for example, connects Volastra with Case Pianca, following a panoramic path through terraced vineyards and wooded sections. Trail 586 starts in Volastra, near the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Health, and crosses one of the most distinctive agricultural landscapes in the area.
Autumn makes these walks particularly enjoyable, with generally milder temperatures than in summer and a softer light that gives the landscape a different character.
Before setting off, it is always important to check trail conditions and choose a route suited to your level of experience. To plan your walk, visit the section dedicated to Cinque Terre trails and itineraries, where you can find routes, difficulty levels and useful information to help you choose the best option for your visit.
2. Wander through the streets of Riomaggiore and Manarola
Riomaggiore and Manarola are among the most iconic villages in the Cinque Terre, but there is much more to discover than their most photographed viewpoints.
In Riomaggiore, it is worth starting from the marina and slowly making your way up towards the centre and the higher part of the village, walking through narrow lanes and stairways while observing how the houses climb up the hillside. Continuing along Via Colombo, you reach the Church of San Giovanni Battista, one of the village’s main religious landmarks.
Manarola also invites you to leave the waterfront behind for a while and head up towards the historic centre. Here, Piazza Papa Innocenzo IV, with the Church of San Lorenzo and the Oratory of the Disciplinati, reveals a quieter side of the village, closely connected to its history and community life.
Autumn is an ideal time to explore these places at a more relaxed pace, alternating sea views with squares, churches and streets that reveal a side of the villages beyond their best-known images.
3. Discover the hamlets between the hills and the agricultural landscape
To truly understand the Cinque Terre, it is worth heading inland as well.
Volastra offers a different perspective from the coastal villages: here the landscape is shaped by olive trees, vineyards, terraced hillsides and open views across the coastline. A walk towards the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Health or along the paths that cross the hills is a chance to experience a more rural side of the Cinque Terre.
Groppo, located on the hills behind Manarola, is also closely connected to the agricultural landscape and to the network of trails that crosses the area. Vineyards, dry-stone walls and Mediterranean vegetation accompany the transition from the coast towards the inland hills, showing how these hamlets are an integral part of the identity of the Cinque Terre.
Volastra and Groppo therefore offer a different way of looking at the territory: not simply as a series of villages by the sea, but as a continuous landscape linking the coast, the hills and traditional agriculture.
4. Join a local wine tasting
Wine is one of the most authentic expressions of the territory.
A tasting of Cinque Terre DOC or Sciacchetrà offers a way to understand the landscape through what is produced on its steep slopes.
Behind every glass are vineyards cultivated on the hillsides, terraces, dry-stone walls and work that is still strongly based on manual labour.
Taking part in a tasting, visiting a winery or meeting a local producer means going beyond the wine itself and gaining a deeper understanding of the relationship between agriculture and landscape.
In Riomaggiore, Manarola and the hamlets of Volastra and Groppo, wine culture is an integral part of local identity and offers another way to connect with the territory.
To choose a wine tasting or wine-related activity, visit the section dedicated to experiences and activities, where you can find proposals from wineries, wine bars and local producers.
5. Stop and watch the sunset over the sea
One of the simplest things to do in autumn requires no complicated planning at all: just stop and wait for sunset.
In Manarola, Punta Bonfiglio is one of the best-known panoramic spots for views over the village and the coastline.
In Riomaggiore, the sunset can be enjoyed from the marina, from the higher parts of the village or from panoramic points along the coast.
Autumn brings softer light and shorter days, making late afternoon one of the most atmospheric times to stop and take in the landscape.
Sometimes there is no need to add another stop to the day. Simply choose a place, slow down and watch the sea change colour.
Why visit the Cinque Terre in autumn?
Visiting the Cinque Terre in autumn means choosing a different way to experience the territory.
Walking among the terraces, spending more time in Riomaggiore and Manarola, heading up towards Volastra, discovering local wine and stopping to watch the sunset can turn the trip into a slower and more mindful experience.
There is no need to see everything in just a few hours.
The Cinque Terre can be experienced this way too: by giving more time and attention to the places, landscapes and people who continue to keep them alive.
