In Portovenere, you will have about an hour of free time. Portovenere is perhaps the best-kept secret of the Ligurian coast. This sweet fishing village sits on a beautiful little bay, much like Portofino, its more famous neighbor further up the coast. For scenic beauty, Porto Venere is unrivaled in terms of both natural and man-made elements. If the dramatic cliffs rising from the shimmering Ligurian Sea are not enough to make you feel like you’re in a fairy tale, the imposing church from the 13th century on the promontory surely will.

Sitting high on a cliff, Corniglia is unique amongst the Cinque Terre villages; it's the only village that doesn’t sit at the level of the sea. In Corniglia, you get a sense of the medieval past of the place as well as jaw-dropping panoramas up and down the coast.

Vernazza is one of the most popular destinations in Cinque Terre. Although tourism now drives the local economy, its fishing village past is still evident everywhere. The wide piazza on the harbor is a marvelous place to sit on a terrace to enjoy the sun and a beverage or meal. The village is brimming with restaurants where seafood, the local white wine, and amazing views are featured.