Cinque Terre

[PeggyandKurt]

Ciao!

We're planning a day trip to Cinque Terre during our 5-day stay in Tuscany in mid-October. I'm looking for pointers from those who are familiar with this little piece of heaven on earth as to the best way to experience.

I understand there are several ways to tour this area - - train, boat, by foot. Could I please know the pros and cons of each option? Not sure how far apart each village is, but I'm thinking by foot may be too ambitious. Cost of train vs boat?

Thanks in advance,
Peggy

[Host Bonjour]

Hi Peggy,

Most visitors do indeed hike Cinque Terre on foot...it's not the easiest hike but it is do-able for most and the best way to see the villages. The path is known as "Sentiero Azzuro" which I would loosely translate as "feel the blue/experience the blue" as the views of this gorgeous coast from above are simply spectacular. Corniglia is the central village so you could start there and head either north or south on any given day or simply start North at Monterosso down to Riomaggiore, or reverse and go south to north. Riomaggiore and Manarola are linked by the only road near the villages known as Via del Amore or "Lover's Lane" and is about a 15 minute walk, one of the "easier" ones. The most accessible by road are Monterosso and Riomaggiore and so they cater more to visitors than Corniglia, Vernazza or Manarola.

Monterosso has its own beach down below and there, and all along this charming little fishing port are pretty little colored boats and so having a boat tour or renting one is not to be missed.

Accommodations are atypical there, just small "pensiones" in which you'll know and become friends with your hosts. Very, very charming and indeed, the existence of a Lover's Lane lends a hint that indeed, this can be a very romantic location as well as unique.....too many visitors overlook Cinque Terre but then, not everyone has the time to include it in their itinerary except maybe on return visits to Italy after one has seen some of the major cities and towns.

The only train you'll see or be on would be the one that brings you into La Spezia, from which you then proceed by road to Cinque Terre, but that's a good thing....you'll not want the sound of trains interrupting this spectacular gem on the Ligurian Sea.

Buon Viaggio!

[Host Ciao]

Hello,
It's been several years since I last visited Cinque Terre. I will be going there in December on a day trip from Florence. I do know that when I was there last in 2006 on a week's stay/cooking tour I took the train from Genoa to La Spezia and stayed in Levanto. When we visited the towns after a boat ride some of us did only the short walk mentioned above while others did more. And while they walked we took the train that connects the five towns and was the best transportation between them outside of feet and/or boat.
Unless something has changed greatly in six years a train is there to travel town to town. I also know from looking at pictures from the devastating flood of last year people were digging out train tunnels and tracks after the flood. This repair not being done could be a problem, but I am not aware of this. I suggest that you try a Google search for Visiting the Cinque Terre. That should get some up-to-date information for you.
I hope this helps.
Sincerely,
Host Ciao
Italy Board Moderator

[Campbel37]

We were once in Tuscany from England (last year), we wanted to walk and have the Tuscan landscape experience. We opted for an entire day walks at the Chianti area and around Pienza. And actually, the three days we were there it was delightful and of course it was not without a tour guide. The tour guide did share with us his familiarity of local culture, history and yes, that sort of staff! He was also flexible and never seem to mind on how far we were willing to go!

In the three day walk, we learnt diverse aspects of Siena area. We enjoyed lunch in local restaurants in lovely settings, and the tour guide took it from there and arranged us locally sourced food and wine.

[Host Bonjour]

Ciao Peggy,

So sorry about the mistake on the train info; I'd not been to Italy since before '06 either and relying on two guides that made no mention of a train. I have a dedicated guide to only Cinque Terre purchased in Italy with no mention of it and my Eyewitness Guide (usually reliable) for Italy did not mention it either. I should have confirmed the way I usually do and I regret not checking further before hitting "post" on my reply.

I do still recommend hiking wherever you choose, so long as it is manageable for you. If you do walk, never push yourself to see everything if you get tired. Many travelers understandably tend to try and see everything (myself included, but I *usually* come to my senses = my body tells me!) but in trying to do it all, sometimes it's possible to truly take in whatever you do see, which in this location, I guarantee it will be beautiful no matter where you go.

[PeggyandKurt]

Thanks very much for the info; I think we'll definitely consider walking this and seeing as much as we're able.

[blujeans]

Totally recommend walking it!! My daughter & I took the train from La Spezia to Monterosso & wandered & walked it all. It was decidely a top hi-lite of our month long/5 country backpacking experience in 2010!!