Cinque Terre by train: five villages and stunning views in under 20 minutes

Italy's Cinque Terre — five colourful cliff-side villages on the Ligurian coast — can be explored by train, with each village just a few minutes apart on the scenic coastal line. The railway offers stunning views of the sea and pastel-painted houses without the crowds of the hiking trails. The train is a practical and visually rewarding way to experience all five villages in a single day.