15 Things To Know Before Visiting Cinque Terre Italy | Cinque Terre Tips

Cinque Terre is on SO many people’s bucket list, and for good reason! It doesn’t get much better than colorful, picturesque villages, nestled into the cliffside by the sea.

The problem is, Cinque Terre doesn’t seem to be just on SOME people’s bucket list but EVERYBODY’S bucket list. And that’s a bit of a problem.

This guide is to let you in on all of the important things you need to know while planning your trip to Cinque Terre to help you have the smoothest, most enjoyable time possible.

We visited Cinque Terre with kids, and I’m SO grateful for my hours on hours of research because without proper prep, a trip to Cinque Terre could go south fast (with or without kids).

*There are affiliate links in this post.  Read my privacy/disclosure policy to learn more.

✨🇮🇹 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.

15 Helpful Things To Know Before Planning a Trip to Cinque Terre Italy | Tips for Cinque Terre

1. There are Five villages in Cinque Terre

Let’s get this out of the way right off the bat. In Italian, Cinque Terre means ‘five lands’. These five lands refer to the five villages that make up Cinque Terre.

These villages are all beautiful and picturesque in their own way and are all worth a visit (although there are a couple that people often call the prettiest).

The five Cinque Terre villages are:

• Monterosso al Mare
• Vernazza
• Corniglia (the only hilltop village in Cinque Terre without direct access to the sea)
• Manarola
• Riomaggiore

The time it takes to travel from village to village by train is literally under 5 minutes each. From the first village to the last village in Cinque Terre, the total train ride is only 15 minutes long.

2.  It’s Just Way Too Hot & Crowded in July and August

We visited Cinque Terre in May, and I’m so glad that’s when we were there. It was warm enough to swim, and we could explore the villages without the oppressive sun beating down on us.

When we visited in May, the weather was sunny in the high 60°sF, reaching 70°F on one day. Even with the temps barely reaching 70°F, it felt quite hot in the afternoons. We were looking for shade, cooling down in the water, and eating gelato.

In July and August (the busiest months in Cinque Terre), the temperatures reach the high 80°sF to the high 90°F, sometimes even topping out at 100°F!

I can’t even fathom how exhaustingly hot that must feel.

I say this about July and August because they are the most popular months to visit, but the middle to the end of June can be very hot as well.

I’ve had multiple friends visit Cinque Terre in July and August and one of the first things they say about their trip is just HOW HOT it was and that walking through the villages (not to mention trying to hike) was almost unbearable.

To save themselves from the heat, some of our friends booked this private Cinque Terre boat trip with snorkeling that ended up being one of their all-time favorite family travel memories.

✨🚤 CLICK HERE TO SEE THE PRIVATE CINQUE TERRE BOAT TRIP WITH SNORKELING AND PESTO! ✨🚤

They felt their boat trip was a total lifesaver because they said that anytime when they were away from the water, it was just too hot to enjoy themselves.

You can find a lot of highly-rated boat trips in Cinque Terre by searching here on Viator (my favorite site to search for guided tours/excursions).

If you’re curious about visiting in May as we did, check out this guide: What It’s Like Visiting Cinque Terre in May.

3. Set Proper Expectations Before Your Trip

Cinque Terre is one of the few places we’ve visited that left me a little disillusioned.

You can definitely feel the effects of overtourism, and the once quiet, charming seaside villages now feel more like a walk down Disneyland Main Street (which, no shade to Disneyland… we visit Disney our fair share). I’m just not looking for Disneyland when visiting the Italian coast.

I was so glad we chose to visit in May because I can only imagine how little charm is left once you’re walking in the shoulder-to-shoulder crowds of July or August (some charm left, surely… but once the heat kicks in, I’m not sure any charm would be left 😅).

One thing we did on our trip to Cinque Terre that met/surpassed my expectations and became one of our all-time favorite family travel memories was the pesto-making class at Nessun Dorma.

Nessun Dorma is an open-air restaurant nestled in the cliffs opposite Manarola with stunning village views. The experience is 2.5 hours long, with half of it learning to make pesto and the other half sitting and enjoying lunch overlooking the village.

It was BY FAR the most memorable thing we did in the Cinque Terre, and I don’t think we would have enjoyed our trip nearly as much had we not done it.

🌱🍝 CLICK HERE TO SEARCH FOR COOKING CLASSES IN THE CINQUE TERRE 🌱🍝

We also really enjoyed the various beaches/swimming spots we visited. We had a more classic (pebbly) beach day at Monterosso Beach, and we even jumped into the Manarola Harbor (which was pretty dreamy).

Check out my post: Our 4 Favorite Beaches in Cinque Terre Italy to learn more.

As I mentioned in the point above, some of our friends had their expectations met/surpassed in Cinque Terre on an amazing boat trip with snorkeling and pesto pasta.

🚤 ✨ CLICK HERE TO CHECK OUT THE CINQUE TERRE BOAT TRIP WITH SNORKELING 🚤✨

And we have other friends who loved their time in Cinque Terre in winter, being able to hike in cooler temps without the crowds.

4. The Early Mornings and Evenings provide a quieter, more authentic Cinque Terre

One of our favorite memories in Cinque Terre was when we arrived in Manarola around 9:00 am. The village was quiet, cool, and absolutely beautiful.

We felt like we had a little slice of heaven all to ourselves (which was a very different feeling from what we felt in other villages during midday).

We played in the shade at the Manarola playground, taking in gorgeous village views while we waited for the Nessun Dorma pesto experience. It was perfect.

If you want to have a relaxing experience like we had that day, I recommend getting to the villages before 10 am or after 5 pm once daytrippers have left for the day. The villages really feel like a different world without the crowds.

5. Cinque Terre is 1.5 hours from the Closest Airport

The closest airport to Cinque Terre is Pisa. From Pisa, you can reach Cinque Terre by train with connections in La Spezia in about 1.5 hours.

By car from the Pisa airport, the drive is about 1 hour and 15 minutes.

Keep in mind that parking is extremely limited in the Cinque Terre, so you’ll need to inquire with your accommodations if they have a private space you can use or if there are any public parking lots on the edge of town where you can leave your car.

We had a car with us and chose to stay in Levanto, which is just 5 minutes by train from Cinque Terre, and parking was no problem.

The Florence and Milan airports are both about 3 to 3.5 hours away by train from Cinque Terre or 2.5 to 3 hours away by car.

6. You can Easily Book A Day Trip From Florence to Cinque Terre

If you’re really pressed for time but are dying to visit Cinque Terre, you may consider booking a day trip.

Day trips from Florence to Cinque Terre are quite popular and come highly rated. However, because of the distance from Florence, the day trips are long (think 12-13 hours), but you don’t have to worry about any planning or transportation, plus you get insider knowledge along the way.

If I were booking one of these day trips, I’d consider one like this day trip from Florence that visits multiple villages with optional hikes to village viewpoints.

My favorite platform for searching for tours/excursions is Viator. There are so many excursions to choose from, plus you can see traveler photos and read reviews (which is essential!).

✨ CLICK HERE TO SEARCH FOR DAY TRIPS TO CINQUE TERRE ON VIATOR! ✨

7. The Train Rides Between Villages are SO Short

One thing I didn’t realize before visiting Cinque Terre was HOW CLOSE the villages are to each other.

The train line connecting Cinque Terre and the cities beyond is so direct that the rides between each village take less than 5 minutes!

From the first to the last village, the ride only takes about 15 minutes. It’s wild.

You can either purchase individual train tickets at the train station or you can purchase a Cinque Terre Train Card that will save you money if you plan to ride the train multiple times in one day.

Read up about Cinque Terre card options here.

If you want to hike between villages, the hikes will most likely take 1 to 2.5 hours, depending on your pace. Many people choose to hike one to two sections each day and take the train back to their starting point.

While technically it’s possible to drive between villages, it’d be pretty insane. The drives take much longer than the train, plus there’s VERY little parking available. If you have a car with you, plan to leave it parked and take the trains or hike for the day.

8. You can Also take A Ferry Between Each Village

Not only can you train or hike between each village, but you can also take a ferry!

If you’re hoping to see the villages from the water but aren’t up for a multi-hour boat trip, then a trip on the Cinque Terre ferry is perfect.

The only village that the ferry doesn’t stop in is the hilltop village of Corniglia. Ferry tickets can be purchased at a kiosk near the ferry dock and are around €10-€15 between villages.

The ferries run frequently throughout the day; you can see the schedule here.

9. Parking in Cinque Terre is Extremely Limited

If you plan to arrive in Cinque Terre by car (which we did) keep in mind that parking is extremely limited.

We stayed in Levanto, which is a town just 5 minutes by train from Cinque Terre, but it has a much more local vibe, and parking is no problem.

You may also consider staying in La Spezia, which is a larger city with easy access to Cinque Terre by train.

If you plan to stay in Cinque Terre with your car, you will most likely either have to leave your car in a public parking lot on the edge of town and walk to your accommodations or your host may have an option for a rentable parking garage space.

Either way, parking is something you’ll need to consider as you are booking your accommodations.

10. The Cinque Terre Trekking Card Is Required for Some Sections of the Blue Trail

The Sentiero Azzurro (Blue Trail) is 7.5 miles long and connects all five Cinque Terre villages, offering stunning village and sea views along the way.

I wish we could have done some hiking while visiting; however, with such young kids, it just wasn’t our priority for this trip. But, the views that these hiking trails afford really can’t be beat.

Two sections of the blue trail require a Cinque Terre Trekking Card: Monterosso to Vernazza and Vernazza to Corniglia. And the Via dell’Amore (Lovers’ Lane) requires a timeslot booked in advance.

However, from November to March, the Blue Trail is free; however, a ticket for Via dell’Amore is still required.

You can learn more about the Cinque Terre Trekking Card or Trekking + Train Card here.

11. It’s Much Less Expensive to Stay just outside of Cinque Terre

I know, I know, it sounds dreamy to wake up to Cinque Terre views; however, those views do come with a bit of a pricetag (and most likely a fair amount of stairs😆).

If you’re traveling on a budget, I recommend staying just outside of Cinque Terre in either Levanto or La Spezia, where you’re still SUPER close and can reach the Cinque Terre in only five to ten minutes by train.

Accommodations are much less expensive in those two towns and any other towns along the coast. Just be sure to check the public transportation options to ensure the connection to Cinque Terre is easy.

We stayed in this Airbnb in Levanto that was only a 5-minute walk to the train station and 5 minutes from Monterosso. Plus, next door was an amazing restaurant with pizza and pasta that was out of this world.

12. Booking a Boat Trip or Cooking Class Might be the Best Part of Your Trip to Cinque Terre

The most memorable part of our trip to Cinque Terre BY FAR was participating in the Nessun Dorma Pesto Experience with absolutely stunning views of Manarola.

We loved this class because not only did we get to learn how to make pesto in a fun, beautiful environment, but we also got to enjoy a relaxed lunch with one of the most beautiful views I’ve ever seen.

You can read all about our experience at Nessun Dorma in this guide: Is The Nessun Dorma Pesto Experience in Cinque Terre Worth It?

If you’re looking for a pesto class with a smaller group (but still gorgeous views), I recommend checking out this class: Small Group Pesto Making Class in Riomaggiore with Gorgeous Views

The most memorable part of our friend’s trip to Cinque Terre was a private boat trip between all 5 villages with beautiful views, snorkeling, and pesto pasta (Sounds amazing right? I wish we could have done it as well!).

🌟🛥️ CLICK HERE TO SEARCH ON VIATOR FOR EXPERIENCES IN CINQUE TERRE 🛥️🌟

13. You’ll Want To Bring Water Shoes For the Pebbly Beaches in Cinque Terre

I’ll say this once, and I’ll say it again, if you plan to visit any beaches in Cinque Terre BRING WATER SHOES. The beaches are SO pebbly, which makes it quite painful when trying to get into the water.

It’s actually pretty funny watching people try to get in and out with as little pain as possible (ourselves included😅).

Just trust me that your beach experience will be so much nicer if you have a pair of water shoes of some kind. We were kicking ourselves for forgetting ours.

14. Visiting Cinque Terre with Kids is Possible… if You Plan Well

We visited Cinque Terre with 3 young kids (ages 6, 3, and 9 months) and, overall, had a lovely time. However, I don’t recommend visiting Cinque Terre with kids for everyone.

It would be very difficult to navigate Cinque Terre with a stroller, and I strongly recommend not bringing one.

Our 6-year-old walked, we wore our 9-month-old, and our 3-year-old walked almost everywhere with a little help towards the end of each day.

We saw some families with a stroller, and it honestly just looked miserable. So, if you’re not at the time of life where you can swing it without a stroller, just wait a year or two, and you’ll probably be there!

As far as activities in the Cinque Terre, our kids loved playing at the beach, shopping with their own spending money for souvenirs, completing this (free) Cinque Terre scavenger hunt, and they LOVED the Nessun Dorma Pesto Experience.

If you plan well, you too can have a great time in Cinque Terre as a family.

Be sure to check out this guide: Cinque Terre with Kids: A Realistic 3 Day Itinerary + Good Things to Know

15. Cinque Terre is known for Pesto and Focaccia

If you try nothing else while in Cinque Terre, at least try some of the local pesto pasta and focaccia. What we had was out of this world. Even the most basic caprese sandwich was just divine.

Also, realizing that the area is known for its pesto made our experience at the Nessun Dorma pesto class so amazing!

I’ve heard that the pesto and focaccia in the towns just outside of the Cinque Terre may be better than within Cinque Terre itself, since they are less touristy.

All I can say to that is that the focacceria we went to in Levanto (which isn’t in Cinque Terre) was seriously SO GOOD, and the hole-in-the-wall restaurant next to our Airbnb in Levanto had the most delicious pizza and pasta that I’ve ever tasted (and I’m not exaggerating).

However, we did get some really delicious caprese sandwiches from Lunch Box in Vernazza.

Either way, just make sure you try some.

And those are all of my Cinque Terre tips! I hope this helps you as you plan your trip. Please let me know in the comments below if you have any questions. I’ll be sure to get back to you.

☀️LOOKING FOR MORE ABOUT CINQUE TERRE ITALY?☀️

🇮🇹 Cinque Terre with Kids: A Realistic 3 Day Itinerary

⛱️ Our 4 Favorite Beaches in Cinque Terre Italy

✨ What It’s Like Visiting Cinque Terre in May

🌱 Is The Nessun Dorma Pesto Experience in Cinque Terre Worth It?

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