Planning a Cinque Terre trip means visiting some of the most special places in Italy. However, due to their unique location, planning this trip involves a little more preparation than other places in Italy. If this is your first time visiting the Cinque Terre, this guide will help you understand how to reach the area, getting around while there, what to pack and more.
We love this beautiful area and after many return visits (with more planned), we’ve been able to bring together all our essential planning tips and planning information to help you have a fantastic trip:
An Introduction to Cinque Terre Italy
The Cinque Terre is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the northern region of Liguria, perched on the side of the tall cliffs overlooking the sparkling sea and known for its dramatic coastal scenery. Made up of five villages; Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, and Riomaggiore, the area is famous for hiking trails, stunning views and picturesque architecture.
Because the villages are built into cliffs, connected only by paths that wind through the hills, and historically were difficult to reach except by boat, they have retained their special character. When you visit, you’ll find charming villages where you can enjoy local wine, try the local dishes and relax surrounded by the most beautiful scenery.
Today the Cinque Terre is connected by trains, but there is still a sense of escaping when you arrive. Many people visit on a day trip but for us, this idyllic part of the Italian Riviera deserves at least a few nights. Staying overnight means you can see the best sides of the Cinque Terre villages and really get to know it better.
For more details on the five villages, the history of the Cinque Terre, the best time of year to visit, what to do and more, be sure to read our full introduction to the area here.
Getting to Cinque Terre
Despite the Cinque Terre feeling remote when you are there, the connections to other places in Italy are well-established.
The closest airports to Cinque Terre are those at Pisa and Genoa, but both of these are not huge airports and tend to have more short-haul European flights than long-haul US flights. The nearest major international airport is Milan Malpensa, which is further away but may offer better flight option.
With all flight bookings, make sure to consider your onward journey when choosing your route. Late arrival times will make it more difficult to reach the Cinque Terre, as journey times from all the closest airports are not particularly short.
Wherever you arrive in Italy, you should look at the travel time and journey options to the city of La Spezia. This is the closest major destination to Cinque Terre and is where you can catch the Cinque Terre Express; the train that connects the villages.
From Pisa airport, you can take a taxi which is around an hour’s drive to La Spezia, or catch a train from Pisa Centrale to La Spezia which is a similar journey time. Genoa airport is around 1 hour and 30 minutes drive from La Spezia, or a slightly longer train ride.
However you get to La Spezia, the train connection is definitely the best way to reach your final Cinque Terre destination. Cars are restricted in the villages, parking is very difficult and the roads are challenging, so taxis or private hire cars are not a reliable option.
Accommodation Options for a Trip to the Cinque Terre
One of the lovely things about the Cinque Terre is that there is a distinct lack of over-development in the villages. You won’t find large chain hotels or huge high-rise blocks, so instead your main options are self-catered apartments or villas and smaller B&B’s or hotels.
These are available with varying levels of facilities and service so make sure to check the details before booking for anything that is essential for you. One important thing to look out for is air-conditioning; this is not default in Italy and if you are planning your trip for the summer you will definitely want it in your room.
If you choose to stay in La Spezia there are more accommodation options to suit all budgets, but you will be further away from the Cinque Terre villages and will have to take the train in and out everyday.
Whatever accommodation you choose, we suggest staying in the area for three nights at a minimum to ensure you can make the most of your trip. 2 to 3 days is a good introduction to the five villages and the local culture, but if you can stay for at least three to four, you will have more time to fully appreciate the area.
Planning a trip to Cinque Terre, Italy?
Organizing your stay in Cinque Terre? Check out live availability and get the best rates on hotels and apartments in this iconic Italian location here. If you’d like some help shaping your adventures, just reach out:
What to Expect from the Weather During your Cinque Terre Trip
The Cinque Terre area is milder year-round than you might expect when looking at its northern Italian location.
While the summers are hot and sunny, the warm weather starts as early as April, with spring generally being full of bright days and very little rain. The sun also lingers into fall, with September and early October plenty warm enough to hike and swim in the Ligurian sea. Even in the winter months it rarely gets particularly cold or wet, although storms are fairly common in November.
The important thing to consider about visiting the Cinque Terre is what activities you plan to do while there. If all you want to do is relax on the water and leisurely explore the five villages, the summer is perfect. If however you want to make the most of the hiking trails, we’d recommend coming in the spring or fall – the cooler temperatures but dry days make for the ideal walking conditions.
What to Pack for the Cinque Terre
You can check out Sarah’s packing suggestions and recommendations in our blog and on her YouTube channel for lots of ideas on what to wear and what to bring. Packing suitable clothes, shoes and accessories for any Italian trip is a great starting point, but here are our Cinque Terre must-haves:
1. Suitable Footwear
We cannot stress enough how crucial the right footwear will be to a Cinque Terre trip.
Firstly, if you are planning to walk any of the hiking path options (even the easier routes), it is mandatory to wear closed-toe shoes with grip. This applies to everyone year round, and you can be fined significantly or denied entry to the trails. Therefore hiking sandals, fashion sneakers or flip flops (yes we’ve seen people attempt the trails in flip flops) are not allowed.
Even if you aren’t planning on exploring the national park via these hiking trails, the villages are still built into cliffs and come with lots of steps and uneven surfaces to navigate. You’ll want sensible shoes to be able to get around without issues – heels are not your friend here.
2. Beachwear and Accessories
Summer visits usually mean lots of time in or on the water – boat trips are one of the best ways to see all the colorful houses and the imposing cliffs.
As most of the beaches are pebbly, we suggest bringing a pair of water shoes with you. Light and easy to pack, they are much more practical than sandals. You can also wear them to get on and off boats without worrying about them slipping off.
Of course you’ll need some swimwear (read this blog for Sarah’s suggestions on what to wear on a European beach) but remember to bring something to cover up too. Walking around in just swimwear is not okay away from the beach itself, so a pair of shorts and top or light dress is ideal to throw on.
Beach towels are not always provided by accommodation so we find a lightweight microfiber towel is a useful addition to our Cinque Terre packing, along with a bag to carry everything in.
3. Hiking Accessories
A lot of people visit the Cinque Terre to go hiking, but the trails can be tough so it’s important to be prepared.
As well as the proper footwear we talked about earlier, you’ll want a small backpack with you to carry these hiking essentials:
- A reusable water bottle. Even in the spring and fall it can get very warm, and outside of the villages there aren’t really many places to get water. Start off with full bottles and refill whenever you have the opportunity.
- Sunscreen is another essential item. The trails are pretty exposed and even with some cloud cover, the high UV can quickly cause sunburn if you’re not protecting yourself.
- Some cash (notes and/or coins). Many of the smaller businesses in the Cinque Terre still do not accept credit cards, so you’ll definitely want some cash with you.
- A power bank. You’ll likely need to use your cellphone a lot, for checking trails (even if you’ve downloaded them for use offline) and taking pictures. Make sure you have enough power to keep your phone working all day is essential therefore.
4. No Large Luggage
One final top tip is to leave the bulky suitcases at home. Given the nature of the Cinque Terre, you will encounter a lot of steps. Steps to get to and from the train station, steps to get to the sandy beach, steps on hiking trails, steps to get to dinner – this is not to put you off, but it is important to be aware of!
Dragging or carrying large luggage is no fun for anyone, so if you can manage a backpack, this will definitely make your trip that bit easier.
How to Get Around on your Cinque Terre Trip
Once you arrive in Cinque Terre, you will need to know how to get around.
Wherever you choose to base yourself, your main options are on foot or by train. There are some buses, and ferries that run between the Cinque Terre villages from March to November (these are weather-dependent), but these are generally less useful options.
If you plan to do some day trips to other places along the Italian Riviera, you can also look at the different ferry options during the warmer months.
Hiking in Cinque Terre
All the villages are connected by hiking trails that criss-cross the national park. Some of these are more accessible for visitors and some are only suitable for experienced hikers, but depending on where you are staying it is entirely possible to walk between villages.
These trails offer spectacular views of the Mediterranean Sea and the surrounding landscape, so if you are able to do even a section of one of the hikes (the Blue Trail is particularly spectacular), it is a fantastic thing to do.
However, these hikes are generally the main activity, not a quick route to then go on and do something else. So, unless your main focus is hiking, we suggest you get familiar with the Cinque Terre trains:
Train Travel in the Cinque Terre
There is a dedicated Trenitalia line which run between La Spezia and Levanto, stopping at all the other villages in-between. The train, known as the Cinque Terre Express runs approximately every 20 minutes from mid-March to mid-November, and in the winter months and in the evenings run around once an hour.
The trains are efficient and reliable so for us, they are definitely the best way to get around. You can get between villages in a short time and as each village has their own train station, you aren’t dependent on infrequent buses.
While you can buy individual train tickets, if you plan on doing a lot of hopping on and hopping off, it makes more sense to purchase the Cinque Terre card, available in 1, 2 and 3 day formats.
The prices for this vary according to the season, but the card gives you unlimited train travel for the duration of your ticket. It also includes access to some of the paid hiking trails, use of the buses within the national park, and free access to the bathrooms of the train stations at Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza and Monterosso al Mare.
Plan Your Cinque Terre Trip With Us
We love the Cinque Terre and ever since introducing our Italian Riviera tour a few years ago, this has been one of our most popular adventures. Get in touch with us today to learn how we can help you create your ideal Cinque Terre trip, whether that’s joining us this year or creating something custom for your group.
All images in this blog are courtesy of Ruth Manfredi who will be your local guide in Liguria.
