Cinque Terre

There is lodging in the CT that is not expensive. I've stayed at the Mueble Agavi in Monterosso several times. The RS books have listings. The CT is a beautiful coastline and beautiful small towns. I would compare the coastline with Big Sur in California, The towns are like nothing else. Pisa is worth a half day with an overnight, in my opinion.

Hi Barb. In my opinion the oceans views are a big part of it. It would help if you could tell us what you are looking for. I like the CT, but some aspects of CT (trains that don't run on time and can be grungy; hiking dirt trails, crowds during the day) that some people enjoy, might turn you off. CT is popular for a reason. But I'm leery that it may not suit you. If so, i agree, you shouldn't go. What things / qualities are you looking for for your trip?

Bard, I'm here in CT as we speak, first time and will be my last. Not all that! Disappointed! If you've seen beautiful coastline before, this is basically a beach (I've seen prettier), shops (after awhile they all look the same), and restaurants. It's not easy to get here either. Regional train, lots of stops, and on and off several of them. Was the most stressful 3 1/2 hr. journey of our 3 wk vacation here in Italy.
Just saying!

Thanks for the feedback! As much as I would love to hike along a beautiful shoreline - I am seriously questioning the value. I live in Florida and can see nice sandy beaches on the weekends if I choose. If my husband, daughter, and I start our trip in Venice - it's 6 hour train ride to CT. I wonder if we would do better to hike in the Tuscan countryside around Siena or Cortona instead. I love beautiful scenery. I just don't like crowded trails and cramped-up areas. It would be lovely to hike and enjoy a nice italian leisurely lunch. I am getting conflicting reviews of CT.

I have said before, on this forum, that the CT are vastly overrated and should no way be a first-timer's destination. At one time, maybe 20 years ago, those villages were relatively undiscovered. Then Rick Steves and others began touting them. In season they are immensely crowded. They're also not very interesting; and for Americans who live on one of our coasts, the beaches are likely to disappoint. The idea of substituting time in the Tuscan countryside is a good one. Have you considered staying in an agriturismo? If you stay in one near Pisa, you could see the sights (the cathedral is next to the tower and very beautiful) and have a quintessential Italian experience, as well.

What is agriturismo? My husband and I are thinking of 2 nights in Siena and skipping CT and Pisa.

How about 2 nights in Assisi. Beautiful hill town in Umbria!

Barb, you didn't say where else you're going in Italy but if it's not close to anywhere else that you're traveling, then I'd skip it particularly if this is your first trip. It sounds like that's the case. I disagree that the CT is just another beautiful ocean view as I love the CT & I live in southern Calif & have seen my share of beautiful ocean views. It's not just about the ocean view so I wouldn't completely write off the CT but if you only have 2 days to spend & it's out of the way in the context of your itinerary, then I would agree to skip it & perhaps visit the CT on a future trip.

Hi Everyone. Thanks for your input. We are planning on visiting Venice, Florence, Siena, Assisi and Rome. Italy seems to offer a lot. We are trying to do a "best of Italy" tour while still keeping our itinerary relaxed. It's a vacation after all. We like to do things at a leisurely pace. After checking out Assisi - Assisi is very attractive to us for a place to chill-out. Thanks for your responses. Ciao! ---Barb

For those towns that you're planning to go to, do be sure to get lodging in the historic center. They're all very charming to wander around in in the evening after the hordes of tourists have gone. Everytime we've stayed outside the historic center of a place in Italy, we've regretted it. (We've been three times, and have stayed in 15 or so cities/villages.) We're going back in May. Woo-hoo! Here are some of the photos I took when we were in Assisi in May 2008, in case you're interested. And here are a few from our trips to Venice in 2008 and 2011.

WOW Thanks for your beautiful photos. I looked at a few of them. I am always a bit reluctant to look at a lot of photos before traveling because I like the "discovery" aspect of seeing a place for the first time. Assisi looks just like the kind of place where we want to hang-out and relax for a few days. Many Thanks! -Barb

I was in the CT region recently, staying in Levanto Sept. 21 & 22. I had stayed in two or the villages of the CT 4 (5?) before but much preferred Levanto. Easy access to the villages by train which run frequently during daylight hours. I saw numerous signs for rooms for rent in Vernassa. I certainly enjoy visiting there and I live in Hawaii most of the year.

First of all, when are you going to 5 Terre? It's not a place I'd go in winter or even late Fall. Said this, I think they are worth a visit because those quaint fishing villages are nothing close to anything that exists in the US (and I also live on the California coast). I've been to 5 Terre many times when I lived in Italy (Florence), however I never spent an overnight there . I used to take day trips from my house in Florence (2 hours by car) or from the summer home in Versilia, which is even closer, less than one hour. If you happen to be staying anywhere in Tuscany, especially on the Western side (near the coast, for example Pisa), you should take a day trip there for sure. From Pisa it's about one hour by car or train. Pisa only needs one hour to visit. There is only the Piazza dei Miracoli to see, where they have Duomo, Baptistry and Leaning Tower.