Cinque Terre with Kids: A Realistic 3 Day Itinerary
We spent three days in May exploring the Cinque Terre, Italy, as a family (kids aged 6, 3, and 9 months).
There were some truly dreamy parts about it (I’m looking at you, pesto-making class 😍); however, a trip to the Cinque Terre with kids could easily turn stressful without proper planning and preparation.
I’ve created this guide to let you in on our tried-and-true Cinque Terre family itinerary, including the things we absolutely loved about our trip, but also the things we didn’t.
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✨🇮🇹 IN A RUSH? HERE ARE OUR CINQUE TERRE FAMILY FAVORITES
MUST-BOOK EXPERIENCES:
🌱 PESTO MAKING CLASS WITH GORGEOUS VIEWS AT NESSUN DORMA IN MANAROLA:This pesto making class was BY FAR the highlight of our trip. It's located high on the hill in Manarola with gorgeous village views. Our kids still talk about it months later.
🚤 PRIVATE CINQUE TERRE BOAT TOUR WITH SNORKELING & PESTO PASTA: Our friend's took this boat trip and LOVED it. It's a 2-hour private boat ride with gorgeous village views, snorkeling and even local pesto and foccacia! Our friends visited Cinque Terre in peak summer and they said getting out on the water was a lifesaver.
🌱 SMALL-GROUP PESTO MAKING CLASS IN RIOMAGGIORE: We haven't taken this class, but it is a much smaller group than the class we took (which may be preferred for some families) and the location looks incredible.
WHERE WE STAYED:
✨ Airbnb in Levanto: Where we stayed! 5-minute walk to the train station and just a 5-minute ride to the Cinque Terre.
MORE PLACES TO STAY:
💰 2-Bedroom Apartment with Beach Views in Monterosso: We almost booked this one but it wasn't available for our dates. Located right above the train station in Montersosso (but it's not noisy) and across the street from the beach! Hardly can get a better location.
💰💰 Apartment in Monterosso:Simple apartment in Monterosso the flattest and easiest to navigate towns.
💰💰💰 Manarola Apartment with Balconyy with Gorgeous Views: The views from this place are stunning, but be aware, views like this generally require a lot of stairs (might be worth it though!)
📸 Tours/Excursions: Viator & Get Your Guide
🚕 Airport Transfers with Car Seats: Welcome Pickups
👉 Travel Strollers: Zoe Traveler & Zoe Double
🍼 Baby Carriers: Tula Carriers, Wildride Hip Carriers
📱 International Data Phone eSIM: Airalo
🚗 Cheap Rental Cars: Economy Bookings
🏠 Accomodations: Booking, Expedia, VRBO, Airbnb
🌎 Travel Insurance: World Nomads
We receive a fee when you get a quote from World Nomads using the above link. We do not represent World Nomads. This is not a recommendation to buy travel insurance.
Should You Visit Cinque Terre with Kids?
Taking a family trip to the Cinque Terre CAN be a great idea; however, I don’t think it’s for everyone.
Before taking our family to Cinque Terre, I’d spent years thinking about it.
I was quite hesitant because I’d read so many things saying that the Cinque Terre is a destination for adults, that it’d be too difficult to take children, and that kids wouldn’t have a good time in the Cinque Terre.
However, I spent hours on hours researching as much as I could about the Cinque Terre and decided that not only could we make it work for our family, but that our kids could have a memorable experience as well.
I recommend visiting the Cinque Terre as a family if:
- You have experience traveling as a family
- You take your itinerary slow (no visiting all 5 towns in one day)
- You can make it work without a stroller
If this is your first big trip as a family, you have a very limited time or your kids aren’t quite at the age where they can either be worn or walk on their own, then I suggest giving it some time before you visit the Cinque Terre as a family.
The Cinque Terre isn’t going anywhere, and the better prepared you are, the better experience you’ll have.
When to Visit the Cinque Terre with Children
The best months to visit the Cinque Terre as a family are from May to June and September to October.
During these months, the temperatures are generally in the 70°s F to low 80°s F, making it warm enough to enjoy the water but not too hot to enjoy walking through the villages.
The months of July and August bring oppressively hot temperatures in the high 80°s F to 90°S F and the crowds are incredible. For these reasons, I highly recommend avoiding July and August if you are visiting with kids.
Family-Friendly Places to Stay in Cinque Terre, Italy
We chose to stay in this Airbnb in Levanto, which is just a 5-minute train ride from the Cinque Terre (it’s literally just the next stop after Monterosso).
Besides being so close to the train, our place was also spacious, clean, and close to good restaurants and a grocery store.
Although Levanto is not ‘in’ the Cinque Terre, it is SO CLOSE that it’s not a hassle at all.
I found accommodations to be MUCH more affordable in Levanto than the villages of the Cinque Terre, plus the town is quieter with a more local feel.
No matter where you stay, I recommend finding a place as close to the train as possible. Our Airbnb in Levanto only had a 5-minute walk to the train station, which was perfect.
Also, be aware that in the Cinque Terre, many accommodations have 50+ stairs to the entrance, so read the descriptions and reviews carefully so that you’re not surprised.
I felt that we were asking our kids to do a lot of walking, so I didn’t want to tire them out before our day even started by having a long walk to the train each morning.
If you want to stay within the Cinque Terre, here are some additional places I’d consider:
💰 2-Bedroom Apartment with Beach Views in Monterosso: We almost booked this one but it wasn’t available for our dates. Located right above the train station in Montersosso (but it’s not noisy) and across the street from the beach! Hardly can get a better location.
💰💰 Apartment in Monterosso: Simple apartment in Monterosso (the flattest village in Cinque Terre).
💰💰💰 Manarola Apartment with Balcony & Gorgeous Views: The views from this place are stunning, but be aware, views like this generally require a lot of stairs (might be worth it though!)
Tips for Making Your Trip to Cinque Terre with Kids Easier
- Avoid visiting in July and August to save yourselves from the oppressive summer heat and crowds.
- For the love of all that is holy, don’t bring a stroller. We wore our baby, our 6-year-old walked everywhere, and our 3-year-old walked ALMOST everywhere with a little help towards the end of each day. We saw people trying to carry their strollers up stairs and navigate crowds, and it looked miserable.
- Give your kids a purse with spending money so that they’re excited to walk through the towns and shop at the cute shops.
- Download and bring my FREE Cinque Terre scavenger hunt to help keep them excited and engaged. Our kids loved this! They kept it folded up in their purses along with their spending money.
🔎✨ CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD YOUR FREE CINQUE TERRE SCAVENGER HUNT ✨🔍
- Be sure to visit the beaches. Our favorite beach experience was in Monterosso al Mare, but you can read more about all of the beaches we visited in this guide: Our 4 Favorite Beaches in Cinque Terre, Italy
- BRING WATER SHOES! The beaches are ROCKY. Our kids actually didn’t mind, but it would have been SO much easier to navigate as parents had we had water shoes. It’s almost comical watching people try and walk in and out of the water without hurting themselves.
- Consider booking this private Cinque Terre boat trip for gorgeous village views and snorkeling! Our friends with kids booked this trip and said it was a lifesaver to get on the water and away from the peak summer heat (and it’s one of their favorite things they’ve done in Europe!).
Overview: Family Friendly 3-Day Cinque Terre Itinerary
We visited 4/5 of the villages in Cinque Terre. We skipped the hilltop village of Corniglia because our kids seemed to prefer staying closer to the water, and we didn’t want to overdo it.
We wanted to really experience the Cinque Terre (more than a day trip) and wanted to make sure that our kids had an enjoyable time without getting burnt out.
If you only have time for one day in the Cinque Terre, I’d copy the last day of this itinerary when we visited Manarola. It was by far our favorite day in the Cinque Terre, and we still talk about it.
During each of these days, our kids carried their Cinque Terre scavenger hunt in their purses along with their spending money to help them stay excited about exploring each village.
Day 1: Riomaggiore: Walk & shop through Riomaggiore, visit the hilltop playground, play at Riomaggiore beach, and try seafood cones. We would have done the Lovers’ Lane walk (Via Dell’Amore) had we had the energy.
Day 2: Monterosso & Vernazza: Play at Monterosso al Mare beach, take the ferry to Vernazza, and walk and shop through Vernazza. There is also a small beach here that seemed muddy the day we visited; however, I know others who have had a great time playing there.
Day 3: Manarola (BY FAR OUR FAVORITE DAY): Arrive early to Manarola while it’s still quiet and cool, play at the hilltop playground with stunning views, take the Nessun Dorma pesto making class, and finish off the day with swimming in Manarola harbor.
Our 3 Day Cinque Terre Itinerary for Kids Mapped Out
*Use this interactive map to follow our 3-day, family-friendly Cinque Terre itinerary. Click on the full-screen icon in the top right corner to have this map open in your own Google Maps app or click on the arrow in the top left corner to see a pullout list of all points on the map*
3-Day Family-Friendly Cinque Terre Itinerary
Day 1: RIomaggiore
1. Walk and SHop on Via Colombo St.
The main walking and shopping street in Riomaggiore is Via Colombo. It’s lined with souvenir shops and eateries, with alleyways full of steep stairs leading off in all directions.
Via Colombo itself has only a few stairs with just a slight uphill incline.
The kids excitedly looked in shops, wondering how to spend their money, and the kids tried cannolis for the first time.
If you’re looking for some healthy takeaway food, I recommend swinging by Britta takeaway. We picked up some smoothies to enjoy on the steps outside for a little pick-me-up for the kids. They also have smoothie bowls, focaccia, sandwiches and salads.
2. Play at the Hilltop Playground with Riomaggiore Views
Near the top of the shopping street (Via Colombo) is a hill called Via di Loca that turns back towards the water. The walk up the hill offers pretty views of the village, and towards the end, you’ll find a playground (here on Google Maps).
Although the playground is small, it’s a good incentive for the kids to walk up the hill to get some of those village views and even the playground itself offers great views.
3. Visit the Popular Riomaggiore harbor Viewpoint while eating Gelato
One of the most popular views of Riomaggiore is from this viewpoint of the harbor.
We actually would have missed this area had we not specifically been looking for the harbor because it’s in the opposite direction from the walking street through a little tunnel. However, it’s definitely the most picturesque view in Riomaggiore.
There’s a little gelateria called Gelateria Sottozero, conveniently located a few steps from the famous view, which was another perfect pick-me-up for the kids.
4. Play at Riomaggiore Beach
The highlight of the day for the kids was definitely playing at Riomaggiore Beach. We actually hadn’t planned to play at this beach because of how rocky it was (hence the no swimsuits). However, I’m so glad we did.
The kids LOVED all of the rocks and were climbing, clambering, and adventuring all over. Plus, it had gotten pretty warm by the afternoon, and we were all ready for a little cool down.
The Riomaggiore ferry docks just around the corner from the beach, which makes it very convenient if you want to hop on the ferry after you’re done playing.
5. Try a seafood cone
I’m a sucker for food served in a fun way, and one popular thing to try in Riomaggiore are the seafood cones.
There are quite a few places that serve them up, but they are what they sound like, paper cones full of various fried fish and/or fries.
We got two cones, one with fried octopus and fries and one with chicken nuggets and fries (so thankful it was an option for the kids).
Although most of us weren’t fans of the fried octopus, it was fun to try!
6. Take the Lovers’ Lane walk (Via Dell’Amore) from Riomaggiore to Manarola
You probably know it’s common to hike from one Cinque Terre village to the next. Most of the hikes were far too strenuous for our crew with three young kids; ho
However, there is one path that we would have loved to walk had we had the time/energy: Via Dell’Amore (Lover’s Lane).
Via Dell’Amore is a 1 km, flat, paved walking path going in the direction of Riomaggiore to Manarola. It offers great cliff views during the entire walk with handrails and benches along the way.
The walk would be best done in the morning before it heats up, and it just didn’t quite fit into our itinerary.
You MUST pay and reserve a timeslot to make this walk, but you can do that easily on the Via dell’Amore website.
Be aware that this is a very popular walk and tickets can sell out. As I mentioned, I highly recommend making this walk first thing in the morning (9 am) with kids, because once it heats up, it’d probably be a bit of a slog for them.
Day 2: Monterosso & Vernazza
1. Play at Monterosso’s FEGINA Beach
Monterosso is home to the largest, nicest beach in all of Cinque Terre. There are multiple beach clubs where you can get an umbrella and bed, or you can find an open area for your own towels.
We visited in early May, and not quite all of the umbrellas were up for the season (I was a little bummed because the striped umbrellas are such a vibe). However, I hear that by the end of May, they should all be up and available to rent.
We found a spot right next to Scoglio di Monterosso (the rock of Monterosso) and it was lovely. The water was gorgeous and clear, and our kids loved climbing on the rock while searching for tiny sea snails.
I HIGHLY recommend bringing watershoes because Monterosso beach is made up of little tiny pebbles that are sooo painful to walk on if your feet aren’t protected.
It was almost comical watching people try and walk in and out of the water, and the pebbles made it much more difficult for us as parents to navigate the beach without watershoes.
Our kids said they didn’t mind, although I do think it would have been nicer for them to have shoes as well. Just bring the watershoes, you’ll thank me later.
2. Ride the Ferry to Vernazza
Another easy way to get from village to village, besides the train, is by ferry. The ferry visits all of the Cinque Terre villages besides the hilltop village of Corniglia. Plus, the ferry has limited stops in La Spezia, Levanto, and Lerici.
You can see the full timetable and prices here. No need to reserve tickets in advance, you just swing by the ticket booth near the ferry station in each village.
If you don’t have the time or the budget for a boat trip in Cinque Terre with village views and snorkeling, a much more affordable ride on the ferry may be a good option (although our friends took this private boat trip in Cinque Terre, and it’s one of their favorite things they’ve done in Europe).
3. Walk and shop on Via Visconti/Via Roma
Once we arrived via ferry in Vernazza, we took a walk up the main shopping street Via Visconti/Via Roma, where our kids, again, enjoyed shopping with their souvenir money.
There is a very small beach at the harbor in Vernazza, with some people sunbathing and swimming. However, the day we were there, it looked a bit muddy and not very inviting.
I would have loved to have seen the picture-perfect postcard view of Vernazza from above; however, the viewpoint is a challenging, 10-minute uphill climb on part of the paid hiking paths, and we just didn’t have that in us.
However, if you feel up for it, the viewpoint of Vernazza is on the Blue Trail leading from Vernazza to Monterosso, and you must have the Cinque Terre Trekking card to access it. You can learn more about it here.
4. Try a local Caprese Sandwich at Lunchbox
A perfect, easy place to stop and get food with kids in Vernazza is Lunchbox. Lunchbox serves focaccia, caprese sandwiches, and smoothies along with make-your-own sandwiches and more. It’s not much to look at, but we were very pleasantly surprised.
The best part is that it’s tucked away off the main street on a shaded terrace. So not only did they serve delicious food that our kids loved, but it was also quieter and cooler while we ate. Win-win in my opinion.
Day 3: Manarola
BY FAR OUR FAVORITE DAY IN THE CINQUE TERRE.
1. Take in the views of Manarola from the Manarola Playground
We arrived in Manarola around 9 am, giving us some time before our pesto class, and it was one of the best decisions we made.
The village was quiet and cool, and we felt like we had it all to ourselves. We made our way past the harbor and up a gently sloping path to reach the Manarola playground, which was absolutely amazing.
The playground offers stunning views of the village of Manarola on one side and the cliffs and sea on the other.
The area was shady and calm and it felt like we had a little piece of heaven all to ourselves. We could even hear the water in the harbour.
As time wore on, visitors without kids were even taking a rest at the playground because it was such a peaceful spot.
If you plan to take the Nessun Dorma pesto class (which I highly recommend you do), the playground is located about 5 steps above the Nessun Dorma restaurant and is ridiculously easy to reach.
We played at the playground for about 1-1.5 hours before the pesto class to help our kids get their wiggles out and to get excited for the class. It was amazing.
2. LEarn to Make PEsto at the Nessun Dorma Pesto Class
By far, by far, by far our favorite thing we did during all of our time in the Cinque Terre as a family was taking the Nessun Dorma pesto-making class.
The Nessun Dorma pesto class is a 2.5-hour experience with the most stunning view of the Cinque Terre ever.
The tables are all set with mortars and pestles, you get outfitted with an apron, you can order drinks, and you’re ready to go.
About 1.5 hours of the experience is very hands-on with breaks along the way, while the owner/host of the class shares great stories about how the restaurant came to be and about the history of pesto in the region.
After you make the pesto, they bring out charcuterie boards full of food to enjoy with your freshly made pesto for the next hour while you take in the views.
We asked for one of the typical boards but also for a vegetarian board, which I’m glad we did because the vegetarian board came with a lot of different cheeses and fruits that the typical board didn’t (and our kids enjoyed).
I was so impressed with how kind and welcoming the staff were to our family with such young kids.
They provided a high chair for our youngest, and although the meal was not until the end of the class, they immediately brought out amazing focaccia and drinks for our kids to snack on during the class (only they got it!) Such a classy, welcoming move.
We had two mortars for our family, which was perfect since the kids needed help with theirs anyway.
The staff members were also so kind and would come over and help out the kids at various times. We really couldn’t have felt more welcome. The 2.5 hours flew by!
🌱✨ CLICK HERE TO BOOK THE NESSUN DORMA PESTO CLASS IN MANAROLA ✨🌱
One thing to note is that the class is quite large- tables and tables of guests all participating together. We didn’t mind; if anything, it added to a fun atmosphere with music and sometimes dancing.
However, if you’re looking for a more intimate pesto experience, I’d recommend this small-group pesto-making class with gorgeous views of Riomaggiore. There are only 10 guests per class and although you don’t have views of Manarola village, the class location does have stunning sea and cliff views in Riomaggiore.
🌱✨ CLICK HERE TO BOOK THE SMALL-GROUP PESTO CLASS IN RIOMAGGIORE ✨🌱
3. Swim in the Manarola Harbour
After our pesto class, we made the short (but beautiful) walk back down to the Manarola Harbour to sunbathe on the rocks and take a jump into the water.
It honestly felt like out of a movie, swimming in the harbour at the base of such colorful, beautiful buildings built into the cliffside.
There is a boat ramp to easily walk into the water, or you can take a short jump from the path on the side, or if you’re feeling very adventurous, you can take a big leap off the rocks in the middle of the harbour.
You can take the boat ramp to get out, but there are also some swim ladders on the path next to the harbor.
We set up our towels on the big rocks next to the boat ramp finding some good spots with nooks to sit and relax.
Keep in mind, this obviously isn’t as easy as having a sunbed on the beach, but it was such a fun and unique experience.
After swimming, we grabbed some gelato and headed back to our Airbnb.
And that’s our family-friendly Cinque Terre itinerary! We visited all of the villages except for Corniglia, had plenty of beach time, and had the most memorable experience at the Nessun Dorma pesto class.
Let me know in the comments below if you have any questions about visiting the Cinque Terre with a toddler, baby or young kids. I’ll be sure to get back to you!
☀️LOOKING FOR MORE ABOUT CINQUE TERRE ITALY?☀️
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🌱 Is the Nessun Dorma Pesto Experience in Cinque Terre Worth It?
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🍝 15 Things To Know Before Visiting Cinque Terre Italy
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