For Cinque Terre crowds, I see the advice to avoid weekends and to avoid days cruise ships are in port at La Spezia. I will be going in mid-May and can choose a Saturday & Sunday (May 9 & 10) with no ships in port, or a Wednesday & Thursday (May 13 &14 ) with Allure of the Seas (6,000 pax) in port one of the days.
So I'm confused which option would more impactful for avoiding crowds?
I'd probably do the Saturday & Sunday if you're sure no cruise ships will be in port. What are your plans in the Cinque Terre?
My only plans are to walk around and eat, haha! Mostly take a load off during a busy 2 week trip.
Personally, then, I'd consider going further north to say Camogli or Santa Margherita Ligure, two really nice towns for relaxing, where crowds really won't be a big concern. You can take a ferry between Camagoli, Portofino, Santa Margherita Ligure, and Rapallo, kind of fun. I'm guessing the Cinque Terre towns (which are lovely) will just be a lot more crowded no matter which days you go. But if you want to hike, even though there are still some hiking opportunities up by Camogli or Santa Margherita Ligure, you might find better hikes down in the Cinque Terre (even if not the "usual" hikes).
Good hiking:
Based on the current ships in port schedule, if it were me, I'd go with Saturday and Sunday May 9 & 10, 2020 in CT. Even on a weekend, the crowds would likely be more dispersed than on one day when multiple buses arrive from a mega ship.
Here's something else to be aware of ... in case you wish to attend:
https://cinqueterreriviera.com/activity/monterosso-lemon-festival/
Every May, on the third Sunday of the month, the people of Monterosso celebrate Sagra del Limone, or the Festival of Lemons. During the festival, the townspeople decorate the village with lemons and bright yellow colours. The local restaurants and bars serve up everything lemon. You can try lemon-flavoured liquors and drinks, as well as lemon-infused dishes from desserts to entrees.
Thank you for the replies!
