Choosing where to go in Italy can be tough if you only have a short time to spend in this beautiful country. I have visited Italy several times and explored many different places, and can confidently say that both the Amalfi Coast and Cinque Terre are two of the most picturesque regions in Italy.
If you’re trying to decide between these two locations, keep reading to find out which place is the best fit for you. Here is Cinque Terre vs Amalfi Coast.
Location: Cinque Terre vs Amalfi Coast
Many travelers visit Cinque Terre or the Amalfi Coast along with other Italian destinations. If you want to tack on one of these coastal destinations to your Italy itinerary, their locations can help you decide which to choose.
While you could visit both on the same trip if you have two or more weeks in Italy, you don’t want to waste too many of your precious days in this country traveling to get to your next destination.
Map of Italy: Cinque Terre and Amalfi Coast
Cinque Terre
On the northern end of the west coast of Italy sits Cinque Terre, a small coastal region. Cinque Terre is about 3 km (2 miles) long and is made of five fishing towns. You can reach Cinque Terre from Rome by hopping on a train, and you can easily add Cinque Terre to your itinerary if you’re coming from Florence, Pisa, or another northern Italian city.
Learn more on how to get to Cinque Terre from various Italian cities in my full guide.
Amalfi Coast
The Amalfi Coast is located on the coast of southwest Italy. It’s about 50 km (31 miles) long and is made of 13 distinct towns. You can reach the Amalfi Coast by flying into Rome and catching a train and ferry, or you can fly into Naples and be a quick bus ride away.
I highly recommend visiting Rome as this capital city is full to the brim with history, stunning architecture, and of course delicious food. Read more on my Rome to Amalfi Coast itinerary.
Size Difference Between Cinque Terre vs. Amalfi
The Amalfi Coast is so much larger than Cinque Terre. There are many more towns to visit and they’re all mostly farther apart than in Cinque Terre. While you could explore all five towns of Cinque Terre in 2 to 3 days, it would take more than a week to see every town on the Amalfi Coast.
Cinque Terre is about 3 km (2 miles) long with five towns, and the Amalfi Coast is about 50 km (31 miles) long and has 13 towns.
Cinque Terre or Amalfi Coast Vibes
Cinque Terre is better for short trips and the Amalfi Coast for longer stays. Because Cinque Terre is much smaller, it’s easy to explore all five towns in just 2 to 3 days. If your time in Italy is limited and you plan on visiting multiple cities, I recommend adding Cinque Terre to your itinerary.
If you only want to explore one place, the options are endless on the Amalfi Coast. You could easily spend a week here and barely scratch the surface.
Cinque Terre
If a shorter trip fits better into your Italy itinerary, Cinque Terre is a great place to visit. You can explore all five towns in just two or three days and still have time to enjoy a few activities like hiking, swimming, trying as much food and wine as you can, or opting for a boat tour.
The best time to visit Cinque Terre is April through May or September through October. If you want to swim, you’ll need to visit in summer from June through August, otherwise it’s too cold. Summer just happens to be the busiest season too.
As Cinque Terre is much smaller and each town is rather small, it’s hard to find accommodation for large groups of people. So it’s also best for couples, solo travelers, or small groups.
Amalfi Coast
If you have more time to allot to one of these coastal places, Amalfi has much more to explore as it’s bigger with more towns. This also means it takes longer to get between places, so having more time is essential when planning a trip to Amalfi. Unless you’re okay with staying in one or two towns, totally fun too!
While Cinque Terre is on the coast, there’s only a real beach in Monterosso compared to the Amalfi Coast that’s lined with beach after beach. So if you’re wanting to lounge and swim all day at the beach, the Amalfi Coast is likely a better fit for you.
You can enjoy swimming, beach going, hiking, boat tours, and day trips in Amalfi. It’s also a good option for larger groups as there are bigger towns and larger vacation rentals and hotels available along the Amalfi Coast.
The best time to visit the Amalfi Coast is May through September. It does get the busiest in summer, June through August, as these are the best months to visit for beach days and warm swimming.
Many shops and restaurants actually close in the winter months along the Amalfi Coast, so while it’s the cheapest time to visit, you likely won’t get to do everything you want to.
Transportation: Cinque Terre vs Amalfi
Along with the size difference, getting around is slightly different in Cinque Terre vs Amalfi.
Cinque Terre
The easiest way to get around Cinque Terre is by train. There is a train that connects each town and it’s cheap and reliable. You can also hike the entirety of Cinque Terre and stop in each town if you’re looking for a real adventure. Just make sure you leave yourself plenty of time if you opt to hike.
Amalfi Coast
The Amalfi Coast doesn’t have trains, but there are buses I recommend utilizing. They’re the cheapest, easiest way to get around if you’re wanting to explore each town or not travel too far from your base. You can also use the ferries to get around.
Since the Amalfi Coast is quite a large area, buses are great for nearby towns, and ferries are great for longer scenic routes, like Amalfi to Positano.
Learn more about getting around the Amalfi Coast here if you’re planning to visit this picturesque coastal region in southern Italy.
More Budget Friendly: Amalfi or Cinque Terre
Both Cinque Terre and the Amalfi Coast are pricier places to visit in Italy. However, you can visit both on a budget if you’re willing to stay outside of the touristy areas, cook a few of your own meals, and opt for cheap or free activities.
Cinque Terre
Overall, it’s easier to travel on a budget in Cinque Terre. You can buy a single railcard to travel between towns, eat at cheap cafes or cook your own food, and explore more on foot. Generally, accommodation is slightly cheaper in Cinque Terre, but that doesn’t mean you can’t find luxury stays here or cheaper places in Amalfi.
Browse the best places to stay in Cinque Terre on a budget here.
Amalfi Coast
It is possible to visit the Amalfi Coast on a budget, but it takes a little more effort than it does in Cinque Terre. To find cheap accommodation, you’ll likely have to stay in a smaller town which means you’ll be taking the bus or ferry every day to explore the surrounding areas. This isn’t necessarily bad, just a factor to consider.
Restaurants also tend to be more expensive in Amalfi, and you’re more likely to get stuck eating at a tourist trap of a restaurant here. Google Maps is your best bet when it comes to finding highly rated restaurants in Italy, or anywhere for that matter.
Activities like tours and guided day trips will also cost more in Amalfi as there’s farther to travel, more to explore, and likely more tourists. *More tourists in a larger area vs. fewer tourists in a smaller area in Cinque Terre.
Food and Wine
If you’re a foodie, you can’t go wrong with either Cinque Terre or the Amalfi Coast. Italian food is top notch wherever you go in the country. You can find high end restaurants in both places, but overall, I think Cinque Terre has the best.
Cinque Terre
While the food and wine are delicious in Amalfi and Cinque Terre, you can find exquisite dining experiences in Cinque Terre. Some of Italy’s best restaurants are found in Cinque Terre, like Nessun Dorma overlooking the sea in Manarola (Manarola has the best restaurants if you ask me).
Amalfi Coast
The Amalfi Coast has many tourist traps that charge too much for mediocre food. To find the best restaurants on the Amalfi Coast, venture out of tourist hot spots onto quieter roads and you’ll find the places the locals dine at where only Italian is spoken, the wine keeps flowing, and the food is so good you’ll want to try everything.
There is a lot of seafood in both Cinque Terre and the Amalfi Coast as they’re both located right on the coast, but you’ll generally find a larger variety of pastas and pizza in Cinque Terre and more lemon flavored dishes in Amalfi (lemon pasta is one of my favorites though!).
Cinque Terre vs Amalfi Coast FAQ
Is the Amalfi Coast or Cinque Terre better?
You can’t go wrong with either Cinque Terre or the Amalfi Coast, it’s hard to say which is better other than to base it on your travel style and desires. If you want a more laid back trip with quieter towns and a local feel, Cinque Terre is the place for you. But if you’re wanting a big beach trip with larger towns, tons of shopping, and more places to go then the Amalfi Coast is better for you.
Is Cinque Terre part of the Amalfi Coast?
Cinque Terre, or the “five lands,” is its own region of five distinct towns located on the coast of northern Italy. The Amalfi Coast is made up of 13 towns of varying sizes along the coast of southern Italy. Both are spectacular places to visit, but because of their distance from each other, it can be difficult to fit both into the same Italy trip.
Is Cinque Terre similar to Amalfi Coast?
The main difference between Cinque Terre and Amalfi Coast is the vibe. Cinque Terre is much smaller and offers a quieter, more local feel in the coastal mountains of Northern Italy. The Amalfi Coast offers larger towns and bigger beaches, famous views, and a busier feel in Southern Italy.
Amalfi Coast Travel Guides:
