Vernazza is widely considered the most beautiful of the five Cinque Terre villages, and for good reason. A small natural harbour curves into a headland, the main piazza (Piazza Marconi) faces the sea, coloured houses stack up the hillside in yellow and terracotta, and the 15th-century Doria Castle sits on the promontory above. The village has no real beach, but the flat rocks below the castle are popular for swimming.
The town centre is effectively a single main street, Via Roma, which opens onto Piazza Marconi at the harbour. From the piazza, stairs climb to the castle; more stairs wind up through gardens and vineyards to the start of the hiking trail toward Monterosso. Vernazza's restaurants cluster around the piazza and along the harbour wall, and a few good places serve local anchovies, pesto pasta, and the Cinque Terre white wine. The village gets very crowded at midday in summer; arrive by 9am or after 5pm for a more pleasant experience.