Is the Amalfi Coast or Cinque Terre better? This may be the most difficult question to answer about our trip to Italy. It is an important question to answer though because choosing where to visit on an Italian vacation is not an easy task.
I will try my best in the following few paragraphs to give the pros and cons of each location. This way you can choose whether the Amalfi Coast or Cinque Terre is the better spot for you to visit.
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Where is the Amalfi Coast and Cinque Terre
To start off let’s make sure we know where we are talking about between these two UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
The Amalfi Coast is a large coastal area south of Rome and is actually part of Southern Italy. It consists of several towns that rely on tourism for their income. And they are known for the production of limoncello liquor which is made from lemons that are specific to the area.
Cinque Terre is a coastal area in Northern Italy that consists of five rural fishing and farming villages. Nowadays they rely almost exclusively on tourism for their economy. It covers a much smaller area than the Amalfi coast but became popular for its colorful buildings and amazing hikes.
Where You’re Coming From (and Going To)
Potentially the most important factor to consider when trying to decide between visiting Cinque Terre and the Amalfi Coast is where else are you visiting on your trip?
Amalfi Coast: Since the Amalfi coast is located to the South of Rome it is most easily included when you’re visiting other cities in the area like Naples. It would also be a good stopping point if you are heading south to Sicily.
Cinque Terre: Cinque Terre on the other hand is to the North of Rome. It is more easily included in a trip that involves seeing cities like Milan, Venice and Florence because of this.
Read More about Cinque Terre and the Amalfi Coast
Duration of Visit
How much time you have to spend in Italy will affect how much time you can spend in each location as well as which destinations you visit. If you are only in Italy for a short while then you will want to keep travel times to a minimum and visit the town(s) closest to your other destinations as I mentioned above. However if you have a longer amount of time then you can be more picky. Then you can choose the destination that you feel better fits your personality and travel style.
How much time you have to spend in your chosen destination may determine which Italian coastal town you visit on this trip as well.
Amalfi Coast: The Amalfi Coast is a much larger area of land but when people think of the Amalfi Coast what comes to mind is the town of Positano. Positano is beautiful and if this is what you are coming to see then a day or two will be enough.
However, if you want to see everything the Amalfi Coast has to offer then you will need more time. There is the town of Amalfi, Positano, and the island Capri. Plus all the small towns and sights in between the larger towns. There is also the nearby city of Sorrento that is not technically part of the Amalfi Coast. But it is a fun place to visit with lemon orchards and markets to shop at. If you plan on seeing more than one town then I would recommend more time in the Amalfi area, around 2-5 days.
Cinque Terre: Cinque Terre is made up of five small towns. Because they are all small and it is very easy to move between them, you actually don’t need much time to see them all. Now you can always explore further and deeper. Plus if you decide to hike between them rather than take the train that will take more time as well. I definitely recommend hiking between at least two of the towns because the views are just spectacular.
All in all, you will need about 2-3 days in Cinque Terre to see each town and fit in plenty of hiking, swimming and sightseeing. You can definitely stay longer to explore more but two days is the least amount of time I would recommend.
Time of Year & Weather
Both Amalfi Coast and Cinque Terre are coastal towns with beaches. This makes them especially appealing to visit during the summer months. The weather is still nice in the shoulder seasons as well, so late spring and early fall.
Cinque Terre: The hiking in Cinque Terre is mostly on dirt trails so when it rains the trails get washed out and the park closes access. October is the start of the rainy season and it goes through the winter. We visited in the middle of October and lucked out with amazing weather. But that may not always be the case so if you really want to hike the trails (and you should) then consider visiting earlier in the season.
Amalfi Coast: I have no doubt that the Amalfi Coast is stunning to visit all year round. There is plenty to do besides swimming in the ocean if you decide to visit during the winter. However if you do want to swim and spend the day sunbathing on the beach then I recommend visiting during the warm summer months. The weather should stay nice through about mid-october though it will not be quite as warm.
One last thing to note, Cinque Terre is further north and Amalfi Coast is further south so Cinque Terre is likely to get colder a week or so before the Amalfi Coast.
Things to Do in Cinque Terre to the Amalfi Coast
A good way to choose which destination is better for your trip is to know which place is better for certain different activities. So let’s take popular activities and compare whether Cinque Terre or Amalfi Coast has the better options.
Hiking
If you love hiking and outdoor adventures then Cinque Terre is the choice for you. There are hikes between each of the five towns that make up Cinque Terre as well as other hikes you can do in the surrounding area.
The Amalfi Coast does have one very well known hike called the Path of the Gods. It is a great hike with great views of the area. There are also smaller hikes you can do as well however this is not the main attraction to the area like it is for Cinque Terre.
Sightseeing & Day Trips
There is plenty of sightseeing to be done in both locations! You will not be bored or regret your decision to visit either one.
The Amalfi Coast has more to see and lots of day trip options though. The Amalfi Coast is a larger area that is made up of many beautiful towns. It is also in close proximity to Pompeii, Capri and Sorrento, all of which are great and popular options for day trips from the Amalfi Coast. So overall, there is a lot to see and do in the Amalfi area.
Italy Travel Guides and Itinerearies
- Classic Things to Do in Rome, Italy
- 11 Awe-Inspiring Things to Do in Florence, Italy
- What to See and Do in Venice for 48 Hours
Shopping
You can find local shops and souvenir shops in both places that are fun to visit and find great gifts or mementos to bring home.
However, the Amalfi Coast is the better option for shopping as well. There are more shops overall and the pottery they specialize in is everywhere. I loved walking through the markets seeing the pottery, shoes and food along the road.
Cinque Terre does have shops to stop in at but not nearly as many in Positano. Walking down the street I saw more restaurants and cafes than anything else. I’m not complaining because I love food more than shopping!
Eating
Nowhere in Italy has bad food in my experience. There are delicious choices to eat at in both Cinque Terre and Amalfi Coast.
If I had to choose I would lean slightly towards Cinque Terre personally because I had my favorite dish of our whole trip while in Monterosso. The pansotti with walnut sauce is something I still dream about.
Beaches
Both Amalfi Coast and Cinque Terre have beautiful ocean views and cool water that you can cool off in when the weather is nice.
That said, Amalfi Coast has the nicer beaches to visit. They have large sand beaches, areas full of chairs and umbrellas to rent for the day and lay out in the sun.
While you can definitely find beaches similar in Cinque Terre (Montorosso has the largest beach area) overall the sand is not as nice and the beaches are smaller. They also have some stone beaches which are unique but not as nice for walking on or laying out in the sun.
If it is a beach vacation you’re looking for, head to the Amalfi Coast.
Environment
What kind of atmosphere are you looking for when you vacation? Do you like high end restaurants and hotels? Maybe you prefer small town feels and outdoor activities. The Amalfi Coast and Cinque Terre, for all their similarities, are actually very different places!
Amalfi Coast: The Amalfi Coast, in my opinion, has a more high end feel to it than Cinque Terre. You will find nice hotels and restaurants and lots of places to go shopping..
Cinque Terre: That is not to say that Cinque Terre feels cheap in any way, rather it has a more laid back vibe. The crowd it draws is more outdoorsy and adventurous.
Cost to Visit the Amalfi Coast or Cinque Terre
The more cost effective destination is going to be Cinque Terre. Although during peak seasons both areas can get pretty pricey.
Cinque Terre has cheaper accommodations than Positano for example. However if you are willing to stay in a hotel outside the city centers of Positano or Amalfi then you can find budget lodgings on the Amalfi Coast as well. There are several small towns that you can stay in, for example you can stay in Sorrento and ferry to the Amalfi Coast.
Transportation
Transportation is much easier in Cinque Terre. The train system between the five towns is affordable, quick and very easy to use. You can also hike between towns if you want to. It is also much more simple to get to and from Cinque Terre because the trains will take you directly into town.
On the Amalfi Coast however there is no train system. Instead due to the winding roads and cliffs there are only buses which are less easy to use than the trains. Your other options are renting a car which can be fun to drive especially on the winding roads with amazing views. However parking is expensive and sparse. Plus the roads can be narrow and dangerous at times. Overall getting around is just a little harder on the Amalfi Coast than in Cinque Terre.
You can also stay in Sorrento, which is above the Amalfi Coast, and ferry into Positano, Capri or Amalfi. This is straightforward but at around $20 per person it is fairly expensive (in my opinion). However it is still cheaper than a hotel in Positano. And it gets you there and doesn’t take too much time. Plus the views from the water are beautiful. Just remember that the ferry typically only runs from May-October.
Travel Tips + Hacks
Escaping Crowds and Tourism
Although both locations started out as small, quiet fishing towns they have both gained their fair share of popularity in recent years. Neither location is the quiet recluse it once was. Now Amalfi Coast and the five towns of Cinque Terre are bustling with tourists almost all year long.
To really escape the crowds you can visit in the off season although the weather may not be as good then.
Alternatively, you could visit some lesser known coastal cities in Italy. On the Amalfi Coast the town of Atrani is still fairly unknown and beautiful. Near Cinque Terre is the small but colorful town of Portofino. And lastly, in a whole new location you could visit a lake town along Lake Como like Bellagio for a different kind of “coastal” getaway!
Should You Visit Both Cinque Terre and Amalfi Coast?
I would argue that yes, you definitely should see both Cinque Terre and Amalfi Coast at some point in your life. And if you have the time for an extended visit to Italy then seeing both in one trip should be no problem
When we visited Italy for two weeks we fit both into our trip. You can see how we did it in our fast paced two week Italy itinerary.
However, due to the amount of time that it takes to travel between the cities I would recommend choosing one for a two week trip. You can always come back to Italy a second time. There is certainly no shortage of things to do or places to see! A natural split would be to visit north of Rome in one trip and then south of Rome in another.
How to Visit Both Cinque Terre and Amalfi Coast
If you do visit both Cinque Terre and Amalfi Coast in one trip like we did then I recommend using the train system to get between them.
The train system does not go all the way to the Amalfi Coast. So the easiest thing to do is to stay in Sorrento and take day trips over to the cities of Positano or Amalfi. Both of which are located on the Amalfi Coast.Â
From Sorrento you can catch a train to Naples. Then catch another train that will take you all the way to Cinque Terre. The train ride will take roughly 6 hours so make sure you have a card game to play or a good book to read.
Practical Information for Cinque Terre
Find accommodation, sign up for a local tour, or buy your Italy Travel Guide.
Practical Information for Amalfi Coast
Find accommodation, sign up for a local tour, or buy your Italy Travel Guide.
Amalfi Coast or Cinque Terre – The Choice is Yours
I know that was a lot of information. But it should be helpful in deciding whether to visit the Amalfi Coast or Cinque Terre (or both!) during your trip to Italy. In the end you cannot go wrong no matter what choice you make.
Both Cinque Terre and the Amalfi Coast are beautiful places in Italy with good food, fun experiences and unique aspects that make them very worth visiting.
