Here’s my guide to the best photo spots in Cinque Terre. A stunning group of five coastal villages along the Italian Riviera, and a paradise for photography enthusiasts. With its colourful buildings, breathtaking vistas, and charming streets, this UNESCO World Heritage site offers an array of Instagram photo spots. In this blog post, I’ll share the best photo spots in Cinque Terre. Including the most picturesque locations, the best time to go and my tips for taking pictures of cinque terre villages.

If you are planning a trip here make sure to also check out the best of Cinque terre itinerary and where to stay in Cinque Terre.

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Best Photo Spots in Cinque Terre – Vernazza

In my opinion, Vernazza has some of the best photo spots in Cinque Terre. It’s the town that inspired Disney’s Luca, and the rugged coastline and charming harbour provide countless photo opportunities. It’s also a great place to base yourself during your stay in Cinque Terre.

1) Above Vernazza on the hiking trail from Monterosso al Mare

You’ll find one of the best views of Vernazza is on the hiking trail from Monterosso al Mare. You will need the hiking pass to access this trail (€7.50), although I recommend taking the Cinque Terre pass which covers both hiking and the train for the day for €18.20.

You’ll find the exact photo spot here.

Best time to take photos in Vernazza
During the day you might have a queue of people waiting here for a photo. So I recommend going either early in the morning before 8am (the sun will be behind the town), or later in the afternoon/an hour before sunset. I went a couple of hours before sunset and didn’t even need to show my hiking pass as the cabin was closed.

2) Vernazza port

One of the most iconic pictures of cinque terre villages is the main harbour area in Vernazza. The church bell tower and the colourful boats create a perfect composition for a striking Instagram post.

Best time to take photos in Vernazza
If you come before 9:30am you will mostly have this spot to yourself. However the sunlight will be behind the buildings. If you want to have the sun shining on the buildings I recommend going in the afternoon. As you can place yourself in front of the water it should still be easy to avoid having too many people in the photo.

3) Above Vernazza on the hiking trail towards Corniglia

If you head up the stairs on the hike towards Corniglia you’ll find another one of the best photo spots in Cinque Terre. This location is before the cabin so you do not need a hiking pass to access it.

Best time to take photos in Vernazza
This path does get quite busy, however even around 11am, with a bit of patience, I managed to snap a nice photo with the crowds! I recommend going here in the morning as the light will be shining onto the town of Vernazza, rather than behind it.

4) Ristorante La Torre (One of the most instagrammable restaurants in Cinque Terre)

Located just above Vernazza, on the trail towards Corniglia is one of the most instagrammable restaurants in Cinque Terre. Ristorante La Torre offers incredible views of Vernazza and the coastline. They have a delicious seafood menu, as well as other options. You can reserve a table here. However, I went for opening at 12:00 (early May) and had one of the best tables in the restaurant (which was in an area that you can’t reserve).

Best photo spots in Cinque Terre – Riomaggiore

Riomaggiore is one of the cutest towns in Cinque Terre, and offers many photo opportunities. Below I will share my favourite instagrammable places in Riomaggiore, so you can capture the best pictures of this cinque terre village.

5) Via Giocomo, wall in the harbour

My favourite photo spots in Riomaggiore are down by the harbour. The wall located on Via San Giocomo offers a leading line towards the beautiful colourful houses of Riomaggiore.

Best time to take photos in Riomaggiore
This wall gets really busy during the day, and even more so at sunset. So I recommend taking photos here in the morning, however everything will be in the shade.

6) On the rocks below the town of Riomaggiore

One of the most instagrammable photo spots and best sunset view in Cinque Terre, are the rocks below the town in Riomaggiore’s harbour. Just make sure to be careful on the rocks, as they can get quite slippy.

Best time to take photos in Riomaggiore
It does get quite busy at sunset, however it is worth it to enjoy and capture the golden glow!

7) Vista Panoramica di Riomaggiore – the rocks in the harbour

Visit another one of the best photo spots in cinque terre, by walking along the rocks to the Vista Panoramica di Riomaggiore. Make sure to be careful walking along the rocks here! I recommend bringing your swimsuit so you can go for a bathe after the photo!

8) On a sunset boat cruise overlooking Riomaggiore

A unique way to take pictures of cinque terre villages is on a boat cruise! This is a really fun way to see the five villages, I definitely recommend it for your Cinque Terre itinerary.

For a more intimate and relaxing time I recommend booking a private sunset boat tour, however if you’re travelling on a budget the group tour is a great and fun alternative!

Best photo spots in Cinque Terre – Manarola

Manarola is probably the most popular village of the five, especially for Cinque Terre photography, It is renowned for its magical sunset views.

9) Manarola Overlook Viewpoint

Head to the Overlook Viewpoint for the best view of the pastel-hued buildings, and the most instagrammable photo spot in Manarola.

Best time to take photos in Manarola
Manarola is the best sunset view in Cinque Terre. As the sun goes down there is warm and inviting glow over the tranquil waters. However this does mean that it gets pretty busy here. I also went in the morning around 10am when the light was also beautiful.

10) Nessun Dorma – most instagrammable restaurant in Cinque Terre

Another one of the most instagrammable restaurants in Cinque Terre, is Nessun Dorma in Manarola. Located in the overlook viewpoint, you have picture perfect views of the pastel houses and harbour.

It is a VERY popular lunch and dinner location, and you cannot reserve in advance. Once you are there you will need to join an electronic queue via their app. So I recommend heading to Nessun Dorma as soon as you’re in Manarola, and then exploring whilst you wait in the digital queue.

Best photo spots in Cinque Terre – Monterosso al Mare

11) Beach with parasols

If you are looking for the iconic beach with the orange and green parasols in Cinque Terre, then you need to head to Monterosso al Mare. You’ll find one of the best views in Cinque Terre by coming out of the train station and walking left for about 300m.

The best time to take photos here is in the morning, when the sun is shining on the beach, rather than behind it. However you don’t want to go too early as I don’t believe they open the parasols until after 9am.

Best photo spots in Cinque Terre – Corniglia

12) On the hike from Vernazza to Corniglia

If you have a zoom lens, you’ll be able to capture some nice photos of Corniglia, perched on top of the cliff, on the hiking trail from Vernazza to Corniglia. This spot offers a unique perspective for those looking to enhance their collection of pictures of Cinque Terre villages.

13) Best viewpoint of Corniglia

One of the best photo spots in Cinque Terre is over the cliffside town of Corniglia. Many people skip this Cinque Terre village as it’s up high. But I think this makes it even more unique (and also less busy!). Corniglia boasts unique terraced vineyards that cascade down the hillsides. Visit during golden hour for soft, diffused lighting that enhances the enchanting atmosphere.

Just before you enter the town you’ll find this beautiful viewpoint of Corniglia, next to Cecio ristorante.

Where to stay in Cinque Terre?

As there are five villages in Cinque Terre, there are several options for accommodation. Where to stay in Cinque Terre will completely depend on your preferences. Personally I have stayed in both Vernazza and Riomaggiore, where you’ll find the most amount of photos spots in cinque terre. But Manarola is another great place to stay, especially if you want to capture the sunset here.

Conclusion – best photo spots in cinque terre

Cinque Terre is a visual feast for photographers, offering a diverse range of stunning photo opportunities. From Manarola, the best sunset view in cinque terre, to the cute boats moored in Vernazza harbour, each village has its own unique charm waiting to be captured. Whether you’re an amateur photographer or a seasoned pro, the best photo spots in Cinque Terre will undoubtedly leave you with a camera full of breathtaking memories.

I recommend spending at least one night in Cinque Terre so that you have time to visit all of the villages and experience a sunset here. However it’s also possible to visit Cinque Terre in one day. Whilst you’re in this part of Italy, I also recommend visiting the nearby town of Portofino.