Cinque Terre or Amalfi Coast: how to choose + the ONE thing you need to know to pick the best

Cinque Terre or Amalfi Coast: how to choose + the ONE thing you need to know to pick the best

A practical guide to help you choose between two of the most popular destinations in Italy: all you need to know to decide if Cinque Terre or Amalfi coast is best for you.

One of the most common itinerary questions I receive is about choosing between Amalfi Coast and Cinque Terre.

The destinations are favorite ‘classic Italy’ itinerary stops but time constraints and the fact that the two places have some elements in common mean most visitors find themselves in the position of having to make a choice and going through the Cinque Terre vs Amalfi Coast debate.

I am from Rome; have been to Cinque Terre and Amalfi Coast many times and love both.

They are both stunning, out of this world beautiful places and the type of destination that can sweep off your feat and makes you want to drop everything and just stay forever!

So, I understand why it is hard to pick one over the other! I myself cannot do it, as soon as I say one positive thing about one I feel I am dissing the other and that is the last thing I want to do, they are so special, you cannot go wrong with either!

That said, since I know a choice is sometimes inevitable, I can help you choose!

As well as practical considerations, I believe there is one thing that will help you make a decision that suits you and your family best.

This is my practical guide to help you settle the debate Cinque Terre vs Amalfi Coast, based on my experience of these areas. I hope it helps you pan your trip!

Cinque Terre or Amalfi Coast: TL:DR (summary)

Both destinations are stunning and comparable in terms of access to water, quality of food and type of vacation. But personally, I recommend:

Opt for Cinque Terre if you want easy access by train from Rome, Florence or Milan, enjoy an informal, casual atmosphere or have kids who enjoy time at the playground.

Opt for Amalfi Coast if you want an option for high end hotels, car transfers, access to Pompeii and Capri, are arriving in Naples or Rome or have older kids who don’t need play time.

Now, let’s get deeper into the comparison!

Cinque Terre vs Amalfi Coast: the ONE thing that will actually help decide

The big difficulty people face when comparing these two areas is that, on the surface, they seem to offer the same things.

Both places offer a high coastline, small towns, boat trips and amazing food so, indeed, on these grounds the decision is impossible as the places are indeed similar.

There is, however, one thing that makes each of these two places unique and different from one another: atmosphere!

Cinque Terre and Amalfi Coast are completely different when it comes to vibe and feel.

Atmosphere is the hardest thing to convey in writing but it is the one that makes some people fall in love with a place rather than other and what makes the choice so difficult as it is not an objective element: it is what you like for you.

Some people find in the region of Cinque Terre their spiritual home and others fall head over heels in love with the Amalfi Coast, and both are right!

In general, I think of these areas this way (both are stunning, so that’s a given):

Cinque Terre is a relaxed, informal type of place.

The towns only have small hotels, there are no resorts, they are not wedding venues type places and the area is served by the train rather than taxis and limo services.

While you find pretty locations for drinks, this is not a place to see and to be seen; it is more a place to slow down, get an apartment and focaccia from the local shop and explore by train and ferry.

Amalfi Coast is glamorous, movie set / wedding backdrop type of place: the views as jaw-droppingly beautiful and hospitality here are top.

Despite being an area of small towns and pretty islands, the Coast has been a destination for high end conference, weddings and wealthy foreign tourism for decades so you find here tours, restaurants and accommodation that range all the way to the top of the price spectrum.

Transport is vastly by car and limo service which also impacts on price and feel of the destination.

While this is an overly simplified description of the place, I genuinely think that keeping this in the back mind while reading the rest of the guide will help you pick the best place for you and your personal taste and needs.

Now let’s look at more practical, quantifiable aspects.

Cinque Terre or Amalfi Coast for families with kids?

You can visit either destination with kids but for me, Cinque Terre is better than Amalfi Coast with young kids especially.

While neither destination is stroller friendly, Cinque Terre towns have several playgrounds and especially Monterosso is very kid-friendly as it has nice lidos and sea access.

Also, the town has fewer steps than most on the Amalfi Coast.

Amalfi Coast, on the other hand, has very few playgrounds (most towns don’t have one at all) so I find it most suited to older kids.

While it is possible to enjoy this area at any age, this is one of the places in Italy where some tips from a mama come really handy!

Cinque Terre vs Amalfi Coast comparison table

AmenityCinque TerreAmalfi Coast
Summer destinationYesYes
Train accessYesNo / very limited
High cliffsYesYes
SwimmingYesYes
Sandy beachesNoNo
Boat tripsYesYes
Uneven terrain / stepsYesYes
Stroller friendlyMostly noMostly no
Good foodYesYes
High end hotels / resortsNoYes
Best accessed fromMilan, Florence, RomeNaples, Rome

As you can see from the table above, it is not easy to pick a destination based on these criteria. So, I am going to get deeper into practicalities that I hope can help you choose

Cinque Terre vs Amalfi Coast: location (how they fit into your itinerary)

In most cases, I recommend picking Cinque Terre based on the rest of your itinerary.

Amalfi Coast is easily reached from Naples and Rome.

Cinque Terre is most easily reached from Milan, Rome and Florence.

Go to Amalfi Coast if you can fly open jaw and start or and your trip in Naples or if the rest of your itinerary is towards the South of Italy.

Go to Cinque Terre if your itinerary leads you to Rome / Florence area.

Cinque Terre vs Amalfi Coast Transport

Cinque Terre is best accessed by train or ferry. The towns are mostly closed to traffic, the roads are narrow and winding and parking is limited and challenging.

Local transport is best by ferry and train.

Amalfi Coast is best accessed by ferry or car, yet with a big warning: driving here is challenging and parking is really limited! So usually the best way to use the roads here is with private car service (limo service)

Cinque Terre or Amalfi Coast – time needed to visit

This is always a hard one as both places come into their own the longer you have but, briefly, I find:

Cinque Terre can be seen as a day trip.

The towns themselves are lovely and it is easy to enjoy a few days here, yet if you are short on time, you can have a taste for the area with one day spent town hopping.

Amalfi Coast requires at least an overnight stay.

While you don’t need to see all the towns, to get a sense for the place and get onto the water you need a full day, which would mean one or even two nights in the area. I only recommend a one day whirlwind tour here if there is no other option.

Cinque Terre or Amalfi Coast: best experiences nearby

Another way to decide between these two destinations is what they allow easy access to.

Amalfi Coast allows easy access to Capri, Ischia, Procida, Pompeii, Herculaneum and Naples.

Cinque Terre is a destination rather than a base but does allow trips to nearby Portofino, Lucca and even Pisa as well as many lovely local towns on the coast.

What about crowds?

Both these areas are very crowded in summer and good weather weekends in spring / fall so I would not base a decision on this.

Cinque Terre is a popular day trip type of place so it tends to be quieter in the evening and outside of the weekends.

Amalfi Coast sees most day trippers in hot spots like Positano, Amalfi and Capri. The best way to avoid crowds is to stay in a quieter town (Minori or Praiano for instance) or stay overnight in Capri, blissful once the day tours have gone!

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