Nestled dramatically on a steep cliffside where colorful houses appear to cascade into the sea, Manarola is the quintessential Cinque Terre postcard come to life. Often regarded as the most photogenic of the five villages, Manarola blends striking beauty with deep tradition, making it a favorite for first-time visitors and returning travelers alike.

Manarola embraces the sea, its buildings stretching right to the water’s edge, where small boats bob in a natural harbor and sunbathers lounge on sun-warmed rocks. But don’t let its popularity fool you. While it may draw more tourists than some of its quieter neighbors, Manarola still holds a sense of timelessness and tranquility if you know where (and when) to look.

The Same

As both the DINKs and the Family explored Cinque Terre, we found Manarola to be a shared highlight. Its walkable size, family-friendly harbor, and legendary views gave us common ground, while our different approaches; one lingering over wine and quiet corners, the other diving into daily gelato rituals and shoreline play revealed even more ways to appreciate its layered charm.

It’s hard not to fall in love with Manarola at first sight. Arriving by train, you step out into a world painted in sherbet hues pink, yellow, coral, and teal buildings rising vertically from the cliffs. The narrow main street leads downhill from the station, gradually widening into a tiny harbor that invites you to pause and soak it all in.

There are no cars here (save for a few service vehicles), and every turn down an alleyway or flight of stairs brings a new surprise: a hidden wine bar, a burst of bougainvillea, a local grandmother chatting with neighbors from a balcony above.

For both of our traveling styles, Manarola’s central location in the Cinque Terre chain made it an ideal base. From here, it’s a short train ride or hike to neighboring villages, though we often found ourselves wanting to stay put and savor the view.

Via Discovolo:

Manarola’s main drag, Via Discovolo, is where most visitors begin their exploration. This gentle slope through the center of the village is lined with small shops selling local crafts, bakeries offering Ligurian focaccia, and trattorias perfumed with garlic and herbs. It’s lively but not overwhelming, with the kind of bustling charm that never feels forced.

The Harbor and the Rocks

At the bottom of Via Discovolo lies the harbor, where tiny fishing boats rest on stone ramps and swimmers jump from rocks into crystal-clear waters. There’s no sandy beach here, but the flat rocks and natural pools make for a fantastic (and photogenic) swimming spot. Kids scrambled up and down the rocks with ease, while others sunbathed or watched cliff divers with wide eyes.

Church of San Lorenzo:

Set back from the crowds, the Church of San Lorenzo is a 14th-century Gothic gem worth the short climb from the village center. With its rose window and carved stone façade, it offers a moment of serenity, a place to sit, reflect, and enjoy the soft chime of bells against the sea breeze.

The view from this area is also exceptional. The terraced vineyards come into sharper focus here, as do the winding stone paths and tucked-away homes that dot the hillside. It’s a side of Manarola often missed in the rush to the harbor, and one that rewards the curious traveler.

The Dinks

We spent a week in Cinque Terre for our Honeymoon and enjoyed each of the little towns fully. It had rained pretty heavily prior to our arrival so while we lucked out with nice weather, most of the hiking trails were closed.

Via dell’Amore: the “Lover’s Lane”

Though the famous Via dell’Amore, the “Lover’s Lane” coastal path connecting Manarola and Riomaggiore, has been partially closed for restoration for several years, a portion of the walk and the panoramic terrace near the start remain open and accessible. And what a view it offers.

This path, clinging to the cliffs high above the sea, delivers iconic vistas of Manarola from afar. From here, the village looks like it’s grown out of the rock itself, with pastel homes stacked like dominoes and framed by rugged hills. It’s one of the most photographed scenes in Cinque Terr and for good reason.

Tip: Be sure to pick up a lock before you get to Cinque Terre. Not saying the purposely dont sell any but we could not find one anywhere and had to go to La Paz to get one.

Wine Tasting

Manarola is part of the Cinque Terre DOC wine region, and its terraced vineyards rise dramatically above the village. These steep plots, often tended by hand and monorail, yield grapes for crisp white wines and the famed dessert wine Sciacchetrà, sweet, golden, and ideal with biscotti or aged cheese.

We chose to do a wine tasting at Cantine Burasca. Tucked into the hillside just above the village, this family-run winery felt like a hidden gem. We walked up through narrow stone paths and terraces lined with vines to reach it, and the view alone was worth the effort, sweeping panoramas of the sea, the rooftops of Manarola, and the steep vineyards that define Cinque Terre. The tasting was intimate and relaxed, with generous pours of local white wines, including a crisp Vermentino and the region’s iconic Sciacchetrà.

Summary:

What sets Manarola apart is its ability to blend beauty and simplicity. It’s visually stunning, yes, a place where nearly every angle could be a painting but it’s also grounded in real, daily life. Fishermen still mend nets. Grandmothers still water their flowers. And even among the crowds, there’s always a quiet alley or overlook to call your own.

Whether you’re a couple sipping wine as the sun dips below the cliffs, or a family chasing crabs along the rocky harbor, Manarola offers moments that linger. It’s a village that doesn’t need to try hard to impress. it just exists in its colorful, cliff-clinging glory, inviting you to slow down and simply be.

In our double take, we found different ways to love this village but both came back with the same feeling: Manarola is magic.