We Used to be Normal Whenever you travel to a new place there can be a certain amount of culture shock but in Cinque Terre there are a few tips, tricks and things you’ll want to know before you go. So here is a list of 11 tips for the Cinque Terre.
It is a place with obvious appeal, fantastic food and views to die for.
We spent two weeks in the Cinque Terre this year and thought, we wish we had known that before we went. So, in an effort to keep you from feeling that way we decided to put this short list together to help give you the best possible Cinque Terre experience.
The Cinque Terre is a coastal region in Northern Italy and is one of the most visited places in all of Europe.
For your benefit here is a list of 11 tips for the Cinque Terre.
1. Easy to Get to the Cinque Terre from Florence and Milan
We weren’t completely sure how to get to the Cinque Terre when we first planned our excursion through Italy.
Considering many of us are travelling from very far it makes sense to maximize your trip by visiting more than one place.
We went to Florence first and then took the train from there.
It worked out perfectly.
Another good option is to visit Cinque Terre from Milan.
Milan is the opposite direction of Florence; it is the most far north metropolitan area in Italy. We went to Milan after Cinque Terre and it was a longer train ride then Florence but still not too bad.
We wouldn’t recommend a day trip from either one of these though because you will end up spending 5-7 hours on the train alone for a roundtrip.
From Florence
Train Length: 2.5 hours
Train Cost: ~20 Euros (22 USD)
From Milan
Train Length: 3.5 hours
Train Cost: ~25 Euros (28 USD)
2. There are 5 Towns That Make Up the Cinque Terre
1) Riomaggiore
Starting from the most southern of the cities and moving north we start with Riomaggiore. Known for its small but bustling marina, which sports some great views and iconic red corner building.
If you are looking for some grub or drinks your best bet may be in the town’s centro area.
This one is a let’s call it short and sweet option.
2) Manarola
Next up the road is Manarola. We have had discussions back and forth about which town is our favorite and Manarola keeps coming up.
In large part because it has a lookout that gives you the best view of any of the 5 cities.
We had some wine, cheese, meats, and focaccia from Nessun Dorma, the small restaurant at the top of the lookout. It was amazing.
3) Corniglia
The third one is the only one on the list that lacks a port or marina but don’t let this discourage you.
It is a town that sits on a cliff and has some of the best ocean views of the five cities. From two lookouts you can roughly get a 180-degree view of the ocean.
You can also enjoy the view of the city and the amazing hillside vineyards.
This one gets a bad rap. They say it’s the least popular. We would tell you to fight that and go because we had an amazing time.
One caveat is it is a pretty good trek up a staircase just to get from train station to the city. However, there is a bus for anyone in need.
4) Vernazza
Has a nice little beach and port area where most of the action happens. There are bars and restaurants right on the water that are nice. (Pricey though)
Great views and street food style eateries everywhere. Fried, focaccia or gelato.
We enjoyed walking out on the dock, which also gives the best view of the city. (Other than from the hiking path but we get to those later)
5) Monterosso al Mare
This is what some say is the hub of the Terre 5. People use this as a base for many of their Cinque Terre excursions.
In our opinion there is a better option.
With a couple beaches and a nice a centro area this is a fantastic city to discover. The train station is right at the water and this is a great city.
3. Budget Travel by Staying in Levanto or La Spezia
When we talked about a better option when it comes to lodging and hotels, we picked Levanto or La Spezia. In all honesty if you can afford to stay in Monterosso or one of the other Cinque Terre towns it could be great, but we enjoy the budget travel path.
While Levanto is a fine city we think La Spezia is the best choice. We stayed here for the duration of our Cinque Terre trip and had a wonderful time.
La Spezia is significantly cheaper and only about 5 minutes from Riomaggiore. It also has some beautiful features on its own.
4. Cinque Terre Train Travel from La Spezia & Cinque Terre Card
Since we recommend staying in La Spezia, we think it is important we explain to you how the train system works.
Each ticket in the Cinque Terre is 4 Euros. So, if you are only going to one city it is very effective and cheap.
If you are on a short timetable, then there is another option. The Cinque Terre Card.
The Cinque Terre card during the low season is worth it as long as you are going to at least three of the Cinque Terre cities. While in the high season you have to go to all five to make the card financially worth it. The price varies by season.
5. It is Actually a National Park and has Hiking Paths
The entire Cinque Terre 5 is part of a National park and with it comes one more great feature, the hiking paths.
You can actually hike between the cities rather than take the train. However as of September 2019 only two of the paths were open for hiking.
Monterosso al Mare Vernazza
Vernazza Corniglia
In our opinion this is the only way to really justify the Cinque Terre Card is to hike these paths because the hiking paths are included with the card.
6. 10 AM to 4 PM is the Busy Time
When we travel, we are always looking for the best times to visit certain things. Like early mornings or late nights.
If you want to visit the Cinque Terre when it’s least busy, then you have to go early or after 4 PM.
We did not follow this advice at first and it was stressful. The trains are packed, the narrow city roads are full and there are a million randos in all your photos.
Once we got in the flow, we did an early morning and it was great right until 10 AM when everyone started filling in. That’s how we settled on that number.
As for after 4 PM we went to have dinner and watch the sunset in Manarola. It was a very pleasant experience and the train was empty on the way back to La Spezia.
7. Get Cash – Credit/Debit Card Not Accepted Everywhere
In La Spezia we didn’t really have any problems using our card.
When we went to Manarola and were in line to get some take away calamari we noticed a small sign that said cash only. Then we went to another stand and the same thing happened.
After looking for a cash machine we finally found the only one in town near the train station tunnel.
Long story short, bring some cash with you so you don’t have to work as hard as we did to get some food.
8. Food and Drink They are Known For
The Cinque Terre is known for a few things and we recommend you try them all.
- 1) Pesto – They are very well known for their pesto dishes and you have try it on pasta, bread and whatever else they put it on.
- 2) Focaccia – There are Focaccheria’s everywhere. Plain, pizza or sandwiches.
- 3) Anchovies – We were hesitant to even give these a try. We ended up getting them fried when they were out of calamari and we were happy we did.
- 4) Olive Oil – We love olive oil and they are very well known for their olive oils.
- 5) Limoncino – Like other lemon liquors that are found along the Italian coast, this is just another regional delicacy that you should try.
You will find much much more once you are physically in the Cinque Terre but as far as the “must try’s go” this is a great list to start.
9. Go in the Beginning of October
Now this may just be us being biased because our trip to Cinque Terre was at the end of September and into the beginning of October.
We were trying to be strategic because places like this are known for their tourism, which gets incredibly busy June-September.
It was pretty crazy the first day we went to one of the Cinque Terre 5, it was packed.
The second time we went was October 2 and it had rained on October 1. It was like night and day compared to the first day, there was no one and we were able to do a beach day with very little competition.
While I mentioned that it did rain, it was just one day and the rest of the time it was between 70-75 degrees Fahrenheit.
However, it can be wet in October so it may be a risk but, in our opinion, it is well worth the risk. We had a great time, perfect weather and minimal crowds. (Relative to other times of the year)
10. Monterosso al Mare for a Beach Day
When we referenced our beach day in the last one this is where we went. So, first off, these five cities can feel like travel.
We firmly believe there is a difference between travel and vacation.
Travel you are seeing the sights, hiking hills and steps, visiting landmarks, and becoming closer to the culture for wherever you are visiting.
Vacation is when you are lounging with a drink in hand and just enjoying life. This is an important step in any trip otherwise you will get burnt out.
After trekking around to all the Cinque Terre cities it will be important to plan a day with a little R&R. If you go to Monterosso al Mare you can accomplish this easily.
Not only can you take some wonderful photos of its iconic rock formation, but you can also take a dip. The water was warm, and the chairs were only five Euros for the whole day. Well worth it and peanuts compared to a place like Positano or any other popular beach town.
As stated in the last one we went at the beginning of October and we were the first people to get chairs and there were plenty available all day. Just another October reason.
11. Day Trips to Pisa & Portofino
Another great reason to make a place like La Spezia or any of the Cinque Terre cities a base camp for you is the potential day trips.
Sure, you can reach these places from other locations but in our opinion, the best collection of experiences comes from here.
In addition to the five Cinque Terre Cities, La Spezia and Levanto there are two-day trips that we highly recommend from here.
Pisa – The leaning tower of Pisa is legendary and for good reason. What you may not know is there is an entire plaza there that will take your breath away. In addition to that the city of Pisa is quite pleasant.
It can easily take a whole day but well worth it.
How to get to Pisa from La Spezia
By train. Super easy right?
Literally trains every hour and they take about that, 1-1.5 hours to get there.
It costs about 6-8 Euros depending on when you are going.
Portofino – If you want to feel like you are a celebrity this is the place to go. Portofino is synonymous with luxury. By staying in La Spezia, you can enjoy that luxury without breaking the bank by staying in Portofino.
It has an amazing feel from the hill across the harbor, with a castle and a lookout to the ocean. It is tucked away in a cove/port and doesn’t feel like any other city you are going to visit.
How to get to Portofino from La Spezia
By Train. Sensing a theme?
So, it is super easy again, you just take a train to San Margherita Ligure-Portofino, it costs about 7 Euros. Again, only about an hour train ride.
Once you get off at the train station Portofino is actually on the point so you can take the ferry and get a great view but if you want to take the cheap option go by bus.
Just pop into the first coffee shop and ask for Portofino round trip tickets. It will only run you 5 Euros. You validate one end of the ticket for one-way and the other side of the ticket for the return so don’t lose it. Also, recognize which side you are validating each time.
11 Tips for the Cinque Terre Conclusion
With that we will leave you. Personally, we think we are leaving you in a rather good position for having the best possible experience in the Cinque Terre. Just quickly we will go over what we think is the most important things to remember.
Stay in La Spezia – Saves coin and is centrally located
Go to all 5 Cities – Some believe you can skip Cornigia, DON’T!
Beach Day – You must relax
Get Cash – Not everywhere accepts card
Avoid Busy Times – Time of year (Go in October) Daily 10 AM-4PM
With that we wish you the best possible trip in the Cinque Terre. As always cheers and safe travels!
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