Cinque Terre - Tour Highlights and Travel Tips
Cinque Terre Tour Highlights
- Kayak along the Cinque Terre coastline past hidden coves, rocky cliffs and brightly-colored homes of the five villages.
- Hike the panoramic trail from Corniglia to Manarola that winds through marvelous vineyards set upon terraced fields.
- Enjoy wine tasting at one of the ancient wine cellars in Manarola.
- Walk the ancient pilgrimage path from scenic Vernazza up to the sanctuary of Madonna di Reggio, ending at the sanctuary of Madonna di Soviore.
- Visit Riomaggiore and feast on its famous selection of fried seafood.
- Explore the coast by boat. Spend the day snorkeling, sightseeing and swimming on the beaches of Cinque Terre.
- Learn the secrets behind traditional Italian cooking by experiencing a private cooking class that includes shopping at the local market to choose the ingredients.
- Go paragliding over Cinque Terre and soar through the air enjoying incredible views of the coast.
- Stop by a seaside trattoria and relish the rich bounty of seafood gathered from the nearby sea or sample dishes made from the region’s famous pesto.
- Hike Cinque Terre on the Sentiero Azzurro trail cut into the cliffside. It offers incredible sweeping sea vistas and connects all five villages.
Cinque Terre Travel Tips
- Don’t rush through Cinque Terre by visiting on a just a day trip. Stay a couple of nights in several villages. Opt for a Cinque Terre tour so you have more time in your hand to explore the hidden treasures and out of the way places that make this region so charming.
- Even the off-season can get crowded, so visit the popular spots like the UNESCO-listed villages early morning or later in the evening.
- Fly into Pisa and take the train non-stop to Monterosso. You can be in the heart of Cinque Terre in less than 2 hours.
- Crowds can ruin your Italy vacation so avoid the high season that runs from mid-June to mid-September. Also try to steer clear of Easter and Italian school holidays because crowds swell during national holidays.
- Pack light! Even though the steep village paths and endless narrow, winding stone steps are part of the charm, you will have to lug your baggage to and from your hotel.
- Pick up the train version of the Cinque Terre Card. It gets you unlimited train travel to all five Cinque Terre villages as well as to Levanto and La Spezia. It also includes buses connecting neighboring villages, access to all hiking trails, national park Wi-Fi hotspots and free use of public toilets.
- Check with the local tourist office before you hike Cinque Terre’s trails. Rockslides are common and information on the Internet is not always accurate; trails listed as open may not be.
