Amalfi Coast or Cinque Terre? In-Depth Comparison to Help You Choose

Which One Offers the Best Sights?

If the main goal of your trip is to discover beautiful sights, and take some epic photos, you’ll see below what each destination has to offer.

Cinque Terre

Cinque Terre is a National Park, and it’s mostly famous for its 5 little villages: Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza and Monterosso. The villages are made of colorful houses, and they’re built on top of the cliffs, over the sea.

Each village is a treat to discover, and there’s a reason why they are so popular. I could literally spend hours on the cliff watching over the village, with the waves hitting the rocks, and the light changing as the sun sets in the sea. Oh wait, I actually did.

Moonrise over Manarola, Cinque Terre

Amalfi Coast

It’s a much larger than Cinque Terre, and there are plenty more things to do on the Amalfi Coast. The towns are not as colorful as Cinque Terre’s, but you’ll also find colored houses built on top of cliffs in the main cities of the coast: Positano, Amalfi Town, Cetara and Sorrento (even though technically not on the Amalfi coast).

On top of the towns, you’ll also find some epic vistas: impressive nature and epic cliffs in Ravello and Capri.

Victory goes to Amalfi Coast for this one, for the diversity of things to see in the area.

Amalfi port

🏆 Winner for Best Sights: Amalfi Coast

Which of the 2 Offers the Best Beaches ?

Planning your summer getaway and looking for the destination with the best beaches? Let me tell you that while both Cinque Terre and the Amalfi Coast have great beaches, if you’re only looking for beaches you’d be better off picking another place, such as the nearby Croatia or Greece.

Cinque Terre

Cinque Terre is not really famous for its beaches. It’s either a rocky area in front of the water, or man-made cement ramps descending into the sea where you can lay down your towel and relax.

However there are a few good beaches in Cinque Terre, mostly in Monterosso al Mare where you’ll find long sandy beaches, and right outside the National Park in Levanto, the small town right next to Monterosso.

Old Town Beach in Monterosso, Cinque Terre

Amalfi Coast

The Amalfi coast has many incredible beaches dotted over the coastline, and it’s definitely more of a beach destination than Cinque Terre. Most of the beaches on the coast are made for chilling and tanning, with plenty of beach beds and umbrellas that you can rent for the day (around $12 a day).

The sea is also warmer in this part of Italy, which is one more reason why Amalfi is the best destination for beaches.

Amalfi Beach

🏆 Winner for Best Beaches: Amalfi Coast

Which of Them Has Better Food?

As far as food goes, you won’t be disappointed in any of the 2 spots. You’re in Italy after all.

Cinque Terre

You’ll find nice restaurants in all of the villages, and most of them have a nice local feel. You’ll be able to try the local delicacies, such as the iconic pesto sauce. Enjoy the locally produced olive oil that will enhance any plate, and try the local wines: Schechetra and Cinque Terre.

And obviously, Cinque Terre is a coastal region: you’ll find some great seafood: fresh fishes, fish fritters, anchovies and clams.
 

Amalfi Coast

It’s also a great place for seafood, but it’s not the only great food you’ll find in Amalfi. The region is also famous for its lemons, used in many different recipes such as the local liquor Limoncello.

If you’re more into sweet than sour, Amalfi is the place for you. There are many talented chefs there, and I’m sure you’ll enjoy Amalfi signature dessert, the Delizia al Limone, a rich & tasty lemon pastry.

Overall, the best place for food is Amalfi due to the variety of food it offers, and the fact that the area is full of Michelin star restaurants.

🏆 Winner for Best Food: Amalfi Coast

Which of Them is Easier to Get Around?

One of the most annoying parts of travel is, well, travel. Struggling to get where you want to go, getting stuck in traffic, waiting hours for a train, or simply having to walk for hours because there isn’t any transportation method. Let’s see how these 2 of the most beautiful Italian places fare in this category.

Cinque Terre

Cinque Terre is very easy to access. There is a big train station in La Spezia, the town right next to Cinque Terre; you can catch a train from any nearby town directly to La Spezia: Florence, Pisa, Bologna, Genoa, Milan, … In fact, the train works so well that you can go on a day trip from Florence to Cinque Terre.

Once in La Spezia, there is a train that goes to all of the 5 villages. There are frequent trains during the day, and it takes less than 5 minutes between each village, which will cost around 4€.

There is also a ferry that connects the villages (except Corniglia because it’s built high on a cliff), which makes it extra easy to travel between the villages.

Boats in front of Riomaggiore, Cinque Terre

Amalfi Coast

Trains are not as developed on the Amalfi Coast; you won’t be able to reach all towns by train, and you’ll need to take a bus in between towns. The Sita bus connects the cities, driving on the narrow mountain roads.

Buses are often too full and you’ll have to wait for the next one, and when you do catch one it feels cramped and you’ll have to stay up during the ride.

I would advise against driving there, because of the narrow roads, and because parking space can be extremely hard to find.

Amalfi at night

🏆 Winner for Best Transportation: Cinque Terre

Which of Them is the Best for Hiking?

Tired of sitting at work all day, being stuck in your car or in the subway? In need of the great outdoors and great hikes to feel alive again? Both regions offer great walks, and you won’t regret going there!

Cinque Terre

All five villages of the Cinque Terre are connected by hiking trails. It’s actually one long path, named the Sentiero Azzurro, or Blue Path. Hiking the entire path from Riomaggiore to Monterosso takes around 5h, and it offers spectacular views all along. The path is on the side of the cliff, and you’ll have great views of the sea while you enjoy being outdoors.

As you get close to another village, you’ll be greeted with a postcard view of the colorful houses, making this a must-do hike in Italy!

The most famous part of the hike is the Via dell’Amore, or Lover’s Lane. It connects Riomaggiore to Manarola, and it’s a large paved path where plenty of space to walk slowly and enjoy the landscape.

Riomaggiore in Cinque terre

Amalfi Coast

There are several great hikes on the Amalfi coast, with the most famous one being the Sentiero degli Dei, or Path of the Gods. With a name like this, you can only expect an epic hike!

You’ll find plenty of short hikes around the region, such as the Valle delle Ferriere (with waterfalls) and the Monte Tre Calli (mountain hike). Even if you spend several days there, you’ll have plenty of hikes to choose from, which is why Amalfi Coast wins out the best hiking place trophy.

Hiking on the beach of Positano

🏆 Winner for Best Hiking Place: Amalfi Coast

Which of Them is Less Crowded?

Honestly, both Cinque Terre and Amalfi Coast are terrible when it comes to crowds. If you want to get away from the crowds, they are probably not the best destination for you. However the height of tourism is in summer, and if you visit in any other season you’ll be fine.

Cinque Terre

The postcard views of Cinque Terre attract tons of tourists every year, and it’s so easy to reach the villages that crowds rush in during summer. The coastal villages are not the best place for crowds, as everything is pretty narrow: narrow streets, narrow beaches and narrow trails.

It feels crowded pretty fast and if you hate crowds you should definitely not visit in summer.

Crowds on Monterosso Beach

Amalfi Coast

The Amalfi coast is just as bad as Cinque Terre on this point. It’s a hype destination, and it feels every one and their mom is coming there for summer.

Because the Amalfi Coast is much more spread out than Cinque Terre, there is more space for tourists, and you can find some spots with less crowds. This is the reason why it wins for the “less crowded destination” factor.

Crowded beach in Amalfi Town

🏆 Winner for Less Crowded Destination: Amalfi Coast

Which of Them Has the Greatest Resorts?

Your idea of a perfect vacation is staying in a fancy resort, with huge comfy beds, infinity pool, and a luxurious bath tub? Well this sounds pretty neat to be honest! Let’s see Amalfi Coast vs Cinque Terre for resorts & hotels.

Cinque Terre

Cinque Terre is a National Park: as such, it’s a protected area. There isn’t any big resorts, and there is only a handful of hotels on the coast. Most of the accommodations there are either apartments, B&Bs or small hotels.

While there are a few luxury hotels in Cinque Terre, it’s probably not the fancy resort you’re dreaming of. It’s also a great place to camp, with some nice sites for camping near Cinque Terre.

Vernazza, Cinque Terre

Amalfi Coast

It’s exactly where you need to go for resorts. The coast is full of fancy resorts, luxurious hotels, and it’s no wonder so many Hollywood stars visit the coast over and over again.

View of the Amalfi Coast from a hotel

🏆 Winner for Best Resorts: Amalfi Coast

Which of Them Has the Best Vibe?

This category is up for debate, as there isn’t one best vibe; it all depends on you, and what kind of vibe you’re looking for. Either way, let’s see what to expect in the 2 destinations.

Cinque Terre: Cinque Terre has a very laid-back vibe. It’s the perfect place for backpackers and solo travelers, you’ll feel great in shorts and hiking shoes. The locals are friendly, and most of the accommodations feel just like home.

It’s very casual there, and you definitely don’t have to worry about how you dress or how you look like.

The streets of Vernazza, Cinque Terre

Amalfi Coast: The vibe in Amalfi coast is completely different than in Cinque Terre. It’s a place to be seen, and feels very posh. People are all dressed up in fancy clothes, and everything feels luxurious & classy. It’s not surprising to see people in very expensive clothes on the hiking trails.

Positano street

🏆 Winner for Best Vibe: Cinque Terre (personal preference there)

Which of Them is the Best for Day Trips?

If you’re planning to spend several days in Italy, you’ll probably want to explore other destinations within the country. We’ll look at which destination is best for taking day trips.

Cinque Terre

Cinque Terre is more the destination where you’ll go on a day trip, rather than a home base to go on trips.

However there are a few great day trips destination nearby:

• the coastal town of Porto Venere
• Genoa, capital of Liguria
• the marble mountains of Carrara
• world famous Pisa and its leaning tower

Pisa’s leaning tower

Amalfi Coast

The southern coast is close to some very famous destinations in Italy, and it’s easy to spend several days in the area. Here are the most interesting nearby destinations:

• the stunning island of Capri
• the ancient city of Pompeii, buried in lava
• Mount Vesuvius
• Naples, where you’ll definitely need more than a day

Capri Island

🏆 Winner for Best Destination for Day Trips: Amalfi Coast

Which of the 2 Has the Most Pleasant Weather?

The final element of the Cinque Terre Amalfi Coast comparison is the weather. Let’s see what to expect in the 2, and if there’s a clear winner for best weather.

Cinque Terre

The weather is great in Cinque Terre in summer, and it’s definitely hot enough to walk around in shorts & t-shirt. The sea also gets warm in summer, which is nice if you’re a beach lover. It’s still nice enough outside from April to October to go hiking and enjoying being outdoors, but the water gets a bit chilly.

And finally, the weather is pretty terrible in winter, with high winds on the coast, and frequent rainfalls that often close down to hiking trails.

Great weather in Vernazza, Cinque Terre

Amalfi Coast

The Amalfi Coast is located south of Cinque Terre, and for this reason the weather is better there. The temperature is in average the same, but the water is generally warmer in this part of the country.

Amalfi in summer

🏆 Winner for Best Weather: Amalfi Coast

So there you have it, the Amalfi Coast Cinque Terre comparison based on 10 categories! I hope this guide helped you make your choice for your next travel destination; in the end, whichever you choose, I’m sure you’ll have a wonderful time. It also comes down to personal preference.

And if you still can’t choose, here’s a solution: go to Cinque Terre first, then Amalfi on your next trip!

Cinque Terre or Amalfi Coast, Italy? Quick Answer + FAQ

Don’t want to read the full post? Here’s the recap of the Cinque Terre vs Amalfi Coast comparison to help you choose.

Quick Answer

Based on 10 ranking factors, Amalfi Coast is the best travel destination. If you want to quickly decide where to go between Amalfi Coast and Cinque Terre, I’ve summed it up below for you.

The illustration below recaps everything we’ve seen in the article, i.e. which destination is the best by category. Save this image to quickly reference later when planning your trip, or send to your friends to help them decide!

Everything you need to know to choose between Amalfi Coast & Cinque Terre!

Go to Cinque Terre if:

• you only have a few days
• you’re coming from Milan or Florence
• you’re looking for a chill vibe
• you don’t have a car

Go to Amalfi Coast if:

• you have several days or weeks
• you’re coming from Naples or Rome
• you want to stay in luxurious hotels & resorts
• you need very warm water to swim

Here’s what you’ll find in both destinations:

• crowds (yep)
• average beaches (stones & pebbles beach mostly)
• great hikes
• yummy Italian food
• good day trips destinations (great for Italian road trips!)

Frequently Asked Questions

I’ve listed below some frequently asked questions about Cinque Terre and the Amalfi Coast in Italy. If you still have any questions left, ask them in the comments below!

Can I visit both?

I don’t recommend visiting both in the same trip. They are pretty far from each other, and you’ll have to travel half way across the country to visit both. There is plenty of things to do in each, and several day trips to take. You’re better off going twice to Italy and going to a different one the second time.

How to Get from Cinque Terre to Amalfi?

Well, clearly you didn’t read the question above. If you still want to visit both, here are the details:

• How far is Cinque Terre from Amalfi Coast: the distance between Cinque Terre and Amalfi Coast is 557 km / 346 miles.
• By car: pretty straight forward, follow the A1 highway. The full trip takes about 7h30.
• By train + bus: take the train from La Spezia to Salerno (from 6h to 8h / from 40€ to 65€). Then take the bus from Salerno to Amalfi (bus 5120, 1h20 ride)

To conclude, we can say the Amalfi Coast and Cinque Terre are 2 pretty similar destinations in Italy, and they both make for a great trip. You’ll find beautiful villages, great outdoors and delicious Italian food. Which of the 2 you end up choosing will depend a lot on personal preference, and it will give you an excuse to come back to Italy again to discover both!

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