Manarola is one of the five intriguing and colourful small towns of the Cinque Terre coast. They are like pearls on a string, all connected by train, boat and hiking trails.
One of the most popular trails is in between Manarola and Riomaggiore in-fact and its nickname is 'Via dell'Amore' which means the road of love. It takes approximately 20 minutes to walk this trail and there is a small bar along the way where you can stop for a drink and enjoy the views towards Manarola.
Read more about Manarola
From this trail, it is possible to access the sea along many of the trails that lead from this path to the coast, so bring your bathing suit if you want to stop for a dip along the way. It's quite likely that you can find a small bay or swimming spot with nobody else around which also makes a great spot for fishing. The town, like the other towns of the Cinque Terre, sits on the rocks and there is basically only one street, namely the main street that leads to the small dock. They have not been able to build a true port here, so the small fishing boats all pull ashore side by side on the main straight that runs along the coast.
If you wish to take a boat to Manarola - and this is indeed a great way of exploring the Cinque Terre coast, it is advised that you only do so on calm days. There is no jetty as such and you have to climb a ladder on the rocks to embark and to go ashore.
If you want to walk a bit and enjoy panoramic views, but do not feel like one of the long and demanding trips or have young children, we can recommend a small local trip in Manarola. The trail starts behind the church and navigates out of town on the north-western slope where you can enjoy spectacular view of the sea and the entire Manarola area. The trip 'around Manarola' takes approx. 20 minutes.
We have handpicked a selection of vacation rental apartments in the centre of Manarola and you can search through the collection using the search machine at the top of the page. Alternatively feel free to contact us and make the most of our free travel advice. With over 15 years experience, we have what it takes to make your holiday in Italy everything you dream of.
