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How to explore Cinque Terre, where is a good home base.

We are confused on how to explore Cinque Terre. How many days does it take to see it all? What airport should we fly into and have as a home base? We have 14 days in total vacation time to explore Italy. (September and early October). Could anyone recommend an Italy itinerary that includes Cinque Terre?
Thanks,
Kevin

Posted by
5188 posts

We are confused on how to explore Cinque Terre. How many days does it
take to see it all?

This depends on what you want to do there. While in CT, you can hike the trails, take a ferry or the train from one town to the other.
Monterosso Al Mare is a good home base while in CT & you can easily get to the other towns via train. You don't need a car in CT.

Check here for more info on Cinque Terre and here for hiking trails info.

  • Is this your first time in Italy?
  • How many nights will you be on the ground, not counting travel days?
  • What other cities do you want to visit?
  • Where is your home airport?
  • Will you be traveling via public transportation or car?

I would suggest reading some travel books such as RS, Frommer's or Lonely Planet & get ideas as to where you want to go & what you'd like to do & see.

If this is your first time in Italy, you may want to do the big 3, Venice>Florence>Rome.

Fly into Venice & out of Rome (actually this would depend on where you're coming from)

If you want to include the Cinque Terre, then you could do Venice (2-3 nights)>Florence (3 nights)> CT(3 nights)>Rome(3-4 nights).

Happy planning!

Posted by
15043 posts

Salve Kevin!
Don't be confused, it's rather simple.
The Cinque Terre consists of 5 villages (Cinque=5 in Italian) on a spectacular rocky coast of the Ligurian Riviera di Levante or Eastern Riviera (Eastern because it's East of Genoa, on the west of Genoa, between Genoa and the border with France, it's called Riviera di Ponente, or Western Riviera).
The villages are (from west to east): Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, Riomaggiore.
The best way to visit the CT is by train. The 5 villages are connected through the rail that runs along the coast. The villages are difficult to negotiate by car, as roads are very narrow, parking is limited, and to get there you have to cross the mountains to their back.
Any village works for visiting the others, as the trains running back and forth are very frequent and it takes less than 5 min to ride from one village to the next. Monterosso is bigger, therefore offers the most accommodations and restaurants. It is also the only one with a decent sand beach. However any village works. The only problem with Corniglia is that the train station is down the hill and there are lots of steps to reach it. Also there is no boat service at Corniglia (in case you'd like to take boats from one village to another).
To visit each village takes a very little time, as they are very small. But if you like to hike the trails from one to the other (a very popular activity), then it takes some time. To hike the trails through the vineyards from the first village to the last, it will take practically a full day. If you hike only from one village to the next, it will be 2 to 3 hours, allowing for photos etc.
There isn't much to do at night, and in late September/early October it won't be as crowded as in July/August.
How long you should allocate to the Cinque Terre depends on your personal preferences, but in a 2 week vacation in Italy, I wouldn't devote more than 3 nights at the Cinque Terre (especially in October, when the weather may not be ideal for a beach holiday). That would make at least 2 full days. If you are not into hiking or into hanging at the beach (there isn't much more to do), then 2 nights (one full day) might even be enough. There is so much to do and see in Italy, that you don't want to overdo it in one place.
The closest airport is Pisa. However since in your 2 week vacation you are likely to visit many other places besides the Cinque Terre, the airports you would choose will depend on your overall itinerary. Generally however it's a good idea to buy a multi-city open jaw ticket, where for example you land in the north (e.g., Milan or Venice) and return home from the south (e.g. Rome or Naples). The Cinque Terre are somewhat in between, therefore which airport is close to them may not matter much in an Italian trip from North to South.

Posted by
32171 posts

Kevin,

"Could anyone recommend an Italy itinerary that includes Cinque Terre?"

In order to offer any suggestions, more information is needed, as mentioned by Macy in the first reply. Roberto provided excellent information on the Cinque Terre, but it would help to have some idea on where else in Italy you're most interested to visit.

Posted by
5188 posts

Great answer Roberto!

I always learn something new about Italy when I read your posts, thanks!

Posted by
311 posts

We went to Italy this past September. Our first visit. Venice, Bologna, Cinque Terre, Pisa, Florence and Rome. We stayed at the Albergo Marina in Monterosso Al Mare. A great hotel with fantastic staff and an awesome breakfast. We stayed 2 nights. My husband decided not to do any hiking so one full day seeing the other villages was enough. We spent the day we arrived walking and eating all over Monterosso. The next day we went by ferry to Portovenere, then Riomaggiore and so on. The ferry does not go to Corniglia. It was 25 euros per person for the ferry. It is less if you want just a one way one stop ticket. We bought the all day ticket. Hope this helps

Posted by
1912 posts

Each village is very unique and different and all are very close, maybe a 5 minute train ride between. I'd look at photos and find what area appeals to you. We loved Vernazza and decided after visiting all of the villages that we chose the best one for us. I don't remember exactly, but I think there were two villages that were quite steep to access.

Posted by
243 posts

Kevin,

We returned to the CT this summer and stayed for 3 nights. We had 2 full days of hiking and another half day when we arrived. The tiny villages in a beautiful setting with great seafood and the best pesto that you'll ever have is reason enough to go to the 5T. But for me, hiking the trails is a huge draw. We saw the vineyards terraced into the cliffs, tiny olive groves between towns, a farmer making fresh lemonade in his lemon grove, and talked a farmer of a tiny vineyard. Every turn presents a different photo op. The trails are somewhat challenging (unless they complete the repairs on the two easiest trails), but I saw all ages and physical levels on the trails. Some people took plenty of rest breaks and some directions (between towns) are easier. If you are fit and into hiking, the trail from Riomaggiore to Portovenere was the toughest and longest, but it was also one of the most rewarding. Ferries or train rides will get you back to your home base. This is truly a beautiful area and I would recommend at least 2 nights and preferably 3 nights. This is an area to explore (both on the trails and the shops in the towns) and not a region to just stay one night and check off a list.

Posted by
16893 posts

As mentioned, any of the 5 towns of the Cinque Terre makes a fine home base for that area, except that hill-top Corniglia is further from the train and not served by boat.

You need not fly in and out from the same airport. Instead, search for a "multi-city" flight itinerary, perhaps flying into the most northern city on your itinerary and out from the most southern, such as into Venice or Milan and home from Rome. Genoa and Pisa airports are the closest to Cinque Terre.

For a 14-day itinerary plan, consider the route of Rick's My Way Italy Tour. You can substitute different stops en-route, but you cannot add any more or move any faster than that plan.