▲▲▲ Vernazza The region's gem — the most touristy and dramatic — crowned with a ruined castle above and a lively waterfront cradling a natural harbor below.

▲▲ Monterosso al Mare Resorty, flat, and spread out, with a charming old town, a modern new town, and the Cinque Terre's best beaches, swimming, and nightlife. It has the most restaurants, and the most comfortable hotels.

▲▲ Manarola Mellow, hiking-focused waterfront village wrapped in vineyards and dotted with a picturesque mix of shops and cliff-climbing houses.

▲ Riomaggiore The most workaday of the five villages, with nightlife, too.

▲ Corniglia Quiet hilltop village known for its cooler temperatures (it's the only one without a harbor), fewer tourists, and tradition of fine wines.