Hello!
Trying to decide if we should do Cinque Terre or the Amalfi Coast for 3-4 nights mid-May. It's just me and my husband for our 30th birthday. We mostly like to eat/drink and explore on foot. Not sure how warm it will be in May but would like to enjoy a beach for a day or two.
We'll be travelling from Paris so Cinque Terre may be easier to get to? Would be willing to waste a travel day to get to Amalfi Coast if it would be worth it though.
Can't wait to hear your opinions! Thanks!
Beaches are small especially on Amalfi Coast. Monterosso in the CT does have a beach. We stayed at Hotel Porto Roca which had a private section of the beach for it's. Nice hotel up a hill from town and beach. Sweeping water views from hotel.
Flying from Paris to Naples, to get to the AC or flying to Genoa/Pisa/Florence to get to CT are probably a toss up from a logistical standpoint.
I would definitely explore changing to a multi-city ( open jaw) ticket vs your r/t to Paris from the US(?)
Would be willing to waste a travel day to get to Amalfi Coast
If you have to get back to Paris to get home its TWO days 'wasted'
How are you getting from Paris to Italy?
If you are flying into Rome, then Amalfi C is easier to reach.
We went to the Amalfi Coast in March 2018 and it was wonderful. We walked some of the trails and climbed up and down across Amalfi and Positano without breaking a sweat. We are headed to Cinque Terre in late May this year because we wanted to hike some beautiful trails but, looking at the past data, the Amalfi Coast is much warmer that time of year. We try to visit Italy October-March but when we do go in the summer we try to stick to the northern most areas. I would recommend Cinque Terre for your trip.
Good luck!
Amalfi coast would be just as easy to reach from Paris, actually, because you can fly to Naples and get a transfer from the airport if you can afford it. Won't take more than 1/2 a day. Whereas 5 Terre are quite far from the nearest airport you can reach from Paris (Pisa everyday, and Genoa only on some days).
It would be helpful to know if your objective is, say, "beach relaxation" or "hiking", or "living like a local in a forgotten little village", not that there aren't other things to do at those destinations. I'd also like to know where you live, because many non-coastal Americans have an inflated idea of the beauty of the beach and bathing options in Italy. I think both locations are hard to "go home" from, since you cannot sleep in them and fly out after waking up there in the morning.
I personally don't swim in the Mediterranean, as some of my doctors won't! But the water is pretty cold in May, anyway. That is an opinion, not a fact or a rule.
Edit: They are not comparable at all, but as a travel practicality, you might want to search here (top left or top center Search box)for comments on visiting Mont St. Michel (MSM) or the Atlantic Coast of France, including St. Malo and more glamorous places. I haven't been to the Channel Islands, but that might be of interest by plane. Grey weather possibilities, though.
Flight to Pisa [PSA], People Mover Shuttle to Pisa Centrale and train trip of about 1.5 hours with one change.
AC with a driver will take about the same amount of time.
Read this excellent CT report:
