Cinque Terre comprises five villages (hence the name, which translates to "Five Lands") on the northwestern coast of Italy in the region of Liguria. A national park, it is characterized by terraced agricultural land and colorful houses tumbling down cliffsides into the Mediterranean Sea. The area is home to some 4,000 inhabitants, but attracts around three million tourists every year, many of whom are day-trippers.

But the villages, and hiking trails that unite them, deserve a longer visit. Stay for three nights to really absorb the area. The southernmost village, and the first you'll encounter if coming from La Spezia, Riomaggioreis breathtaking — its tiny harbor wedged between the houses is one of the area's most famous sites.