Flip-flop fines in the CT

It's an attention grabbing headline, but for me this is a more interesting portion of the article:

La Genova Republicca also reports that visitors this year between April and October are expected to be up to 750,000 from last year's 450,000.

A lot of these visitors are day-trippers coming from cruise liners.

It seems like every other post here about traveling to Italy asks about visiting CT. Those contemplating going between April and October this year might want to think about if they want to be one of the additional 300,000 visitors this year.

Sounds like a very good reason not to do a 'day trip', but to plan ahead and make hotel reservations so one has some quality time in the mornings and evenings when the hordes are not there

Sounds like a very good reason not to do a 'day trip', but to plan ahead and make hotel reservations so one has some quality time in the mornings and evenings when the hordes are not there

Personally, I prefer to spend my precious time in Italy where I can have quality time morning, noon and evening.

A previous thread on the same subject:

https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/italy/two-thongs-will-not-be-a-right

When I saw the thread "two thongs" flip flops did not come to mind. LOL! sorry to post the same information

No, no, Donna! That's OK! Just sharing as I thought you might find the other chat amusing. :O)

That's a stunning increase in visitors, if true. I guess it's based at last partly on cruise itineraries. Given the reports of recent conditions in the Cinque Terre (I haven't been there for a very long time), it's hard to imagine what an extra 300,000 people will do to the situation during peak hours.

The numbers are incredible and the cruise landings are predicted to increase. The Cinque Terre receive far more visitors per resident than Venice.
When there are photos of the crowded stations, one can't help but think about safety. Last week a lady from the Philippines was clipped by an express train passing through Manarola station. She had a broken leg and facial injuries and was airlifted to Genoa. The news report said she was over the yellow line, but didn't mention if crowded platforms were a factor.
http://www.cittadellaspezia.com/Cinque-Terre-Val-di-Vara/Cronaca/Turista-agganciata-dal-treno-e-grave-al-San-Martino-280448.aspx

We'll be in Florence in May, and my (adult) daughter REALLY wants to do a day trip to visit CT. I've read some of the earlier threads about spending one day in the CT, but given that the crowds are only getting worse, I'd be interested in hearing any recommendations for how to visit this May. For instance, would taking a boat between the towns be a good idea? Are there preferable sections of trail that should be open? Thanks!

The "crowds" are mostly day trippers. It is wonderful early am and after 5 or so. If you can possibly spend a night, it would be worth it

billkoff, here are some crowd-avoidance tips from probably the best blog about the region:

https://www.apathtolunch.com/2016/03/cinque-terre-16-tips-for-avoiding-crowds.html

Unfortunately, the #1 tip on pratically all websites for CT these days recommends against day trips during high season, and for staying in one of the villages instead. That's sort of what this one is hinting at by getting up early and staying out late. Having spent 3 nights in the CT - and we were there not long after a major flooding event that kept the mobs down a bit - I can vouch for that wisdom: the golden hours were before the day-trippers arrived and after they left.

There is an extensive trail system in the park so less-traveled trails are very possible but they may also be longer and more strenuous that some the easier, more popular routes. I will say that just climbing to points in the upper parts of the villages, especially the cemeteries, provided some nice breathing room and some lovely views. We puffed up to the Church of San Francesco/Capuchin Monastery in Monterosso one afternoon and found ourselves all alone in a quiet, 17th-century church with a (rumored) Van Dyke Crucifixion. :O)

DougMac - I was reading the article last night to my husband and that was what jumped out at me. We were counting our lucky stars that we saw it back in 2008 - when we returned in 2012, there was already such a difference in crowds (we were there almost the exact same days in Sept, big diff - 2nd trip was over a weekend)...I can't even imagine trying to visit now. And if anyone asked, I'd discourage them.

My worst train experience ever was between towns in the CT. Hundreds on the platform, elbowing their way to catch the train that was already packed. The crowds in CT are the worst in Italy now, comparatively speaking. We stayed once and see no reason to return.

We were in the CT this past May and stayed for 2 days. It was incredibly crowded during the day, but in the early morning and evenings, the crowds die down and you can get a glimpse of what the CT was like before the cruise ships dropped so many visitors.

If you are going to take a day trip, billkoff, then I would recommend that you leave very early in the morning from Florence and get to the CT before 10:00 a.m. Our strategy last year to beat the crowds was to start in Monterosso (where we were staying) and get to Vernazza before 10:00 a.m., then travel to the rest of the towns. We had an early lunch in Corgnlia and beat the crowds and then did a small hike in Manarola before we headed back for a sunset boat ride. If you are only there one day, this may be a good itinerary for you, minus the boat ride. If you are going to do any hiking, you will need a CT pass.

Thanks all!

We hiked the CT over 30 years ago and we were the only Americans in the area that day -- there were maybe a dozen German hikers who arrived just as we finished the train. It was utterly enchanting. It is now a tourist trappy nightmare. Publicizing a small and fragile place as off the beaten track is a great way to destroy it. Mission accomplished here. I found it by seeing a picture of Vernazza on a calendar of Italy and thinking 'wow, let's go there'. When it becomes a ticket for everyone to punch it ends up being tourist tat, bad food and crowds. San Gimignano was already there 20 years ago.

Marc - we had the same experience with the trains on our second visit. It was overwhelming.

Oh no! I am planning to go to CT for 3 nights in early May. Have not yet made reservations - plan to look into an Airbnb but maybe I need to reconsider...

Texas girl - early May might not be so bad, but the big thing is if you are actually STAYING in one of the villages - that way you can enjoy it in the morning and evening after the daytrippers have left. And if you are in Monterosso - the biggest of the villages - during the busy parts of the day, it probably wouldn't be quite as noticeable as it can absorb the crowds a bit better - you probably don't want to spend both days there, but maybe plan to spend one afternoon poking around there.

And you may be better if you are there on weekdays vs weekend - that was one difference in our 4 yrs apart visit - they were almost the exact same days, but the 2nd time was a weekend, so it was overrun even more.