The Cinque Terre National Park was established in 1999 and covers not just the five villages but the terraced hillsides, marine reserve, and coastline between La Spezia and Levanto. It is one of the smallest national parks in Italy but one of the most visited, and managing the crowds while maintaining the fragile terraced landscape is its central challenge.
The Cinque Terre Card (€7.50–€18 depending on duration) is required for trail access and covers unlimited train travel between the five villages and to La Spezia and Levanto. Cards are sold at train stations and park offices. The marine reserve protects an exceptionally clear stretch of sea; snorkelling and diving are popular along the rocky sections of coast. The park also maintains a network of higher trails — the Alta Via delle Cinque Terre — that runs above the villages through chestnut forest and gives a very different perspective on the coast.