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Italy in mid-April 2025: How's Cinque Terre that time of year?

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Hi all,
After acclimating in Florence after we arrive we are interested in planning a 5-day trip (by car or train) this April (April 14–18) and would love some advice on incorporating Cinque Terre into our itinerary. We will possibly fly out of Bologna on 4/20.

  • How many days should we plan to spend in Cinque Terre? (I would like to pad in one day of "rest" with beautiful water views and some wellness.)
  • What should we expect in terms of weather and trail conditions in mid-April? Are the trails typically open?
  • Beyond Cinque Terre, are there other coastal towns or scenic spots you’d recommend visiting for beautiful vistas or unique experiences?
  • We enjoy a mix of walking, exploring charming towns, and soaking up great views. Any tips on timing, logistics, or must-sees would be much appreciated!
  • Any particular wine or cooking experiences that you might suggest along the way or back in Florence?
  • Please speak up if it is not advisable to visit Cinque Terre in mid-April.

Thanks in advance!

Posted by
5320 posts

Just an educated guess that April will probably be fine in the weather department, unless it rains.
https://www.parconazionale5terre.it/Esentieri-outdoor.php is the best source for trail info.
The road trip is the problem, as parking is scarce in CT. Part of the reason it is so crowded is that there is transport (ferry, train, and hiking trails), so with a car, I'd consider somewhere else. Liguria and Tuscany are full of scenic places.

Posted by
1879 posts

We visited CT April 30-May 1 -May 2 this year. We stayed in Porto Venere since we had a car. May 1 was lovely - we took the ferry and visited Monterosso and Vernazza. May 2 we had planned to drive and visit Riomaggiore and Manarola. Unfortunately, we woke up to torrential rain - so heavy that the main road through La Spezia was closed for a few hours. So, weather is luck of the draw that time of year.

We never used the train option but did notice hordes of people pouring off the train in both of the villages we visited. However, the area between the ferry dock and the village was not terribly crowded.

Posted by
2 posts

Thank you for your replies.
I know that weather is unpredictable. Do you have other suggestions for mid-April?

I have seen a lot of the Tuscany region and Rome from a previous trip. We begin our trip in Florence to see our child who is studying abroad for the semester -- but we can go anywhere really starting 4/14 from Florence, and we need to fly home on 4/20 (haven't bought the tickets yet).

I would love to see Venice, but I have read that rain could be potentially worse in Venice with flooding as well.

Going south to the Amalfi coast is an option and we could fly home from Naples. But the weather will still be chilly and a lot of areas for example on Ischia are closed until after Easter.

Posted by
5320 posts

I have not been to Venice, but it is my understanding that April is not high season for flooding. You could perhaps stop over in Bologna or one of the other Emilia-Romana cities, and finish in Venice. All by train, an easy six days.
But you really have thousands of options given that you are willing to rent a car. What drew you to CT/Liguria in the first place--was it the hiking or just seaside? Another mentioned Portovenere, and Lerici/Tellaro are also nice and off the train line.

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