Hi everyone! Planning on being on the Ligurian Coast, 2 nights in the Cinque Terre based in Vernazza, and then 2 nights based in Santa Margarita Ligure in mid/late May 2019. Has anyone else explored this area during May or late Spring? Will swimming be a no-go? The last time I was there it was early September and the weather was hot and swimming lovely.
Thanks in advance!
Late May is always iffy, caveat being that comfortable sea temps are a subjective thing (you can look up stats online, but FWIW, I am from southern US and like to swim in warm water). If you have warm day time temps, as is quite likely, you will have plenty of opportunity to take refreshing dips, just not as much as in September when the sea has had all summer to warm up.
I do not recall anywhere particularly appealing to swim in CT (I know there is a beach at Monterosso), but Camogli and SML have pleasant enough beaches, as do parts of the shore between them within Portofino park.
We were in the Cinque Terre at the end of May, first day of June this year. The girls went swimming in Monterosso and the water was fine, but we live near San Francisco, so just about anything would be warmer. We tried to take a boat tour and the weather was a bit choppy and most of the boats were cancelled. We talked our skipper to take us out for a few hours (no stops for swimming or eating). It was bouncy, but again nothing like sailing on SF bay (which is much more choppy).
Have a great trip,
Sandy
Hi all,
Thank you so much for sharing your insights! I have been wondering if we should be heading to the South of Italy for warmer temps this time of year. Hearing this is helpful. I am assuming it was still comfortable/warm to walk around and explore?
Thanks,
Kapri
Late May is really a perfect time outside of water (and really just a tad bit chilly IN the water), and I find the sea temps further south just as cold. A lot of it might have to do with the seabed, because some of the best swimming temps we've experienced in the sea (comparing Liguria, Campania, and Puglia) has been in southern Tuscany--go figure. The one time I had said "don't bother packing suits" we had to buy them. Because the weather had a great chance of being glorious and the sea temp may suit you just fine, I would not recommend a change.
