Best Places for Photos and Videos in Cinque Terre

Best Photo Spots in Vernazza

All tourists first head to Vernazza's central square, but the most breathtaking view of Vernazza unfolds from the trails.

From the Azure Trail, Vernazza – Monterosso, you can capture the most unique village photos, as shown below. This spot is only a 5-10 minute walk away, but it is on a paid section of the trail, so you'll need to purchase the Cinque Terre Card if you want to take such photos.

If you follow the signs for “Trail to Corniglia”, then, after a 5-minute climb up the steps, you'll see Vernazza from a completely different perspective. The paid Azure Trail starts a bit further down, so you can access this spot for free and capture such beautiful and panoramic photos.

Where to Capture the Most Beautiful Photos of Manarola

Along the Manarola waterfront, there's a trail that's always open and free, offering a famous panoramic view of Manarola. You can also head up to the most panoramic bar in Cinque Terre - Nessun Dorma; you can find more details about it on the “Manarola” page. Next to the bar, there's a platform where you can take similar photos without visiting the bar.

In December and January, Manarola hosts one of the most famous and largest nativity scenes (Presepe) in the world. You can find detailed information about it and where to photograph it on this website: “The Nativity Scene in Manarola (Presepe) - www.bestofcinqueterre.com”.

Best Spots for Photos in Riomaggiore

Upon exiting the train station, head straight for the tunnel leading to Riomaggiore's central street. Right there, you'll find another tunnel leading to the waterfront, and it's from this spot that you'll capture the most stunning and breathtaking views of the village's colorful houses.

Additionally, you can climb the narrow streets of Riomaggiore to its castle at the top of the hill. This path will take about 10 minutes, and from here, you can capture beautiful photos and videos of Riomaggiore from above.

Best View of Monterosso

Take a leisurely stroll along the waterfront from the train station to the historical center of the village, where you'll find a couple of interesting and photogenic spots. Additionally, the village looks incredibly beautiful from the start of the Azure Trail Monterosso – Vernazza. The trail entrance is further down, so you can explore this area without the need for the Cinque Terre Card.

Best View of Corniglia

You can capture a photo with the village in the background only from the Azure Trail Corniglia – Vernazza. However, within the village itself, you'll find many interesting spots where you can take pictures against the backdrop of narrow streets, a small central square, or the Cinque Terre coastline by reaching the panoramic viewpoint at the end of the central street. For more details, visit the “Corniglia” page.

Best Photo Spots in Portovenere

If you visit Portovenere, we recommend taking a boat to the island of Palmaria and capturing a few photos from the island, which is located right across from the village. Boats operate year-round, and tickets cost just a couple of euros. Local companies don't have an online presence, so simply come to the waterfront and purchase a ticket for the next available boat; there are plenty of them here.

Within the village itself, tourists often photograph the Church of San Pietro. To do this, you can climb up to Portovenere Castle for a panoramic view from above.