Pretty Manarola is the second-smallest of the five towns of the Cinque Terre (after Corniglia) and the second town (after Riomaggiore) that you’ll encounter if you’re coming up the coast from the south. The colorful houses of Manarola seem to tumble down to its small harbor on the bright blue Ligurian Sea, making it one of the most photographed of the Cinque Terre’s picturesque villages.

Manarola was likely begun by the Romans and was founded on a freshwater creek. It is thought that its name derives from an ancient great waterwheel (magna rota in Latin), and a replica of this waterwheel is found in the town. This is the village we have now and dates back to the 1300s and is therefore one of the oldest villages of Cinque Terre. Manarola belonged to the powerful Republic of Genoa and once had a castle and a watchtower to protect it from pirates. Manarola is famous for Sciacchetrà which is a sweet and very sought-after dessert wine, then and now.

What to Do in Manarola

Off-season visitors usually see Manarola as this sleepy place. Pretty much just fishing boats and vineyards keeping things going. Population’s maybe 350 tops. But come spring or summer. Packed solid with camera crews and hikers hauling gear over those cliffs. Everyone’s hiking those Cinque Terre trails.
Or snapping pics of the colorful houses and cliffs. Sure, hiking’s the main draw. But honestly? You could just chill and take in the views. The whole village vibe is gorgeous between those steep hills and bright buildings leaning over the water. Few things you gotta check out while there anyway.

– Tour Manarola Town: Up at the town’s highest point sits Piazza Papa Innocenzo IV. You’ve got the 15th-century Oratorio dei Disciplinati right there too. And don’t forget San Lorenzo Church from way back in the 1200s.
Head downhill toward the sea. That’s where things get interesting with the old waterwheel still turning after all these years. The little harbor’s got boats bobbing around, you know. Streets get narrow here, cobblestones underfoot, flowers spilling over walls everywhere you look.

Down at the dock area you can swim around, snorkel a bit if that’s your thing. Some folks rent those zippy zodiac boats they call gommoni here anyway. There’s a seasonal ferry too if you want to hop over to other Cinque Terre spots when it’s running. Oh and that picture-perfect view everyone talks about? Just walk north from the harbor for like two minutes to Manarola viewpoint. You’ll get that classic shot of colorful buildings tumbling toward the water no problem.

– Enjoy a seaside meal or drink: Life moves slower around Cinque Terre. You really gotta slow down yourself to catch that vibe. Like having lunch or dinner outside at some spot overlooking the water. Those meals stick with you forever, you know.

– Walk part of the Via Dell’Amore (The Way of Love): Via dell’Amore starts or finishes in Manarola, winding toward Riomaggiore. It hugs those coastal cliffs everyone photographs. Out of all Cinque Terre trails, this one’s shortest. Takes 15 to 30 minutes if you’re strolling. You’ll spot those metal padlocks everywhere. Couples clip them there as symbols. You know, eternal love promises and all that.
Path’s got decent views over the water. Rocks get pretty steep in sections but nothing too wild. Locals say it got popular after some movie came out ages back. Still draws crowds during summer months though. Locks pile up until maintenance crews cut them off occasionally. Metal scraps get recycled into art installations sometimes. Makes for quirky photo spots between villages.

– Christmas in Manarola: If you’re there December through January, Manarola’s giant glowing nativity scene takes over the hillside above town. Built entirely from recycled stuff, they say it’s the biggest one on the planet. You’ve got multiple spots to check it out from different angles. Plus a walking path that winds uphill past various parts of the display right up close.

What to Eat and Drink in Manarola

In Cinque Terre’s Manarola, restaurant menus focus on fresh seafood and local ingredients. Much of the fish gets caught that same morning. Dining can get pricey. You’ll pay extra for those seaside tables.
Or grab a casual meal at a simple trattoria instead. Some folks hit up grocery stores for picnic supplies. They’ll eat along hiking trails or down by the water. However you handle meals, there are a few local dishes worth trying here.

Anchovies in Liguria come marinated, lightly fried, or mixed into pasta. They’re way better than those salty ones people sometimes pick off pizza. You find them on pretty much every menu there.
Street vendors sell them too, in those paper cones stuffed with fried seafood they call fritto misto. Thing is, they’re not just some afterthought ingredient out here. Locals really lean into making these little fish shine in different ways.

Pesto is that strong green sauce you get on pasta. It starts with basil from Cinque Terre, which grows like crazy there. Then they add local pine nuts and olive oil. Plus two cheeses, parmigiano-reggiano and pecorino. Throw all that good stuff together and you get pesto that’s way better than anything from a jar. Like seriously different from what most people are used to.

Focaccia’s everywhere in Italy now. Started in Genoa apparently. That pizza-style flatbread comes either basic with rosemary and oil or piled high with tomatoes, olives, stuff like that. Hikers grab it mid-trail all the time. Thing is, that dense crust keeps you moving when slopes get steep. You’d think something so simple wouldn’t work so well but here we are.

Where to Stay in Manarola

Manarola’s lodging mixes basic hotels and B&Bs with Airbnb-style rentals locals call affittacamere. You won’t find luxury spots here but some places still feel surprisingly modern. Pools or gyms barely exist though. Most hotels stick to offering just an on-site restaurant or bar. Maybe decent views if you pick right.

Booking vacation rentals means scrolling through every photo carefully.
Checking cancellation policies matters too. And summer visitors should definitely confirm air conditioning. Unless sweating through linen sheets sounds fun. Which let’s be honest it never does.

How to Get to Manarola

Manarola by Train

Manarola’s got a train station. You can get there from La Spezia or Levanto. Coming from La Spezia, grab the regional train heading toward Sestri Levante. First stop’s your destination. From Levanto, same deal but going the other way toward La Spezia Centrale.

Thinking about hiking and train hopping in Cinque Terre. You’ll want that Cinque Terre Card Train thing. Basically covers park buses, all hiking trails, Wi-Fi access. Oh and unlimited rides on regional trains between Levanto, Cinque Terre, La Spezia line. Second class only though. Local trains run pretty often but check schedules ahead. Some folks forget that part. The card makes things easier if you’re bouncing between villages multiple times a day. Just show it when they check tickets. Trains get crowded midday during peak season so plan around that if you can.

Manarola by Car

Manarola shuts out cars completely like every Cinque Terre village. Couple parking spots sit outside town but get packed in summer months. Best bet is ditching your vehicle at La Spezia or Levanto then taking the train in. Honestly though starting from Riomaggiore or Monterosso al Mare works better if you’re up for hiking between villages. Trails link all five spots including Manarola anyway.

Manarola by Plane

The closest airports around here are Genoa Cristoforo Colombo (GOA), Pisa Galileo Galilei (PSA), and Florence Amerigo Vespucci (FLR). But if you need something bigger, Milan Malpensa (MXP) is up there as the main international hub. It sits about an hour or so northwest of Milan proper. You’ve got options depending on where you’re coming from really.