Corniglia is the only one of the five Cinque Terre towns that isn't a fishing town and you need to walk up around 365 steps to get there. That puts most people off and means that Corniglia is the Cinque Terre town with the fewest tourists.

Corniglia is consistently ranked as the "least popular" or least visited of the five Cinque Terre towns, primarily due to its unique geography and lack of direct sea access. Unlike its four coastal siblings—Monterosso, Vernazza, Manarola, and Riomaggiore—Corniglia is perched high on a cliff about 100 meters above the Ligurian Sea. To reach the village from the train station, visitors must climb the Lardarina, a brick staircase with 377 steps, which acts as a natural deterrent for many day-trippers and those with limited mobility. Furthermore, because it has no harbor, the popular ferry boats that shuttle hundreds of tourists between the villages cannot dock there. However, in 2026, many seasoned travelers consider this "unpopularity" to be Corniglia's greatest asset; it remains the quietest and most authentic of the towns, offering a slower pace, world-class panoramic views from its terraces, and a distinct agricultural character centered on the surrounding terraced vineyards.