Is the water along the Cinque Terre coast warm enough for swimming in mid- to late-May? Or do you need to go farther south in Italy to swim that time of year?
I realize warm and cold are relative, so as a point of reference: my family lives in North Carolina and we are (generally) weenies about swimming in water that's cooler than about 70 degrees Fahrenheit.
Thanks!
I'd suspect the water temperture will be more in the 65 F range in May. If you're lucky and spring start is early it may be a bit more. But certainly not above 70 F.
"my family lives in North Carolina and we are (generally) weenies about swimming in water that's cooler than about 70 degrees Fahrenheit."
I don't think anyone here tracks CT water temps, but with you being used to the warm water of the Gulf Current, let me predict you're not going to like the CT water temp in May.
try a google search and you might be able to find the info ...
You don't swim in water below 70? We usually vacation in Michigan every summer. I was not aware that water got ABOVE 70!
We were in CT May 8-12 this year, staying in Monterosso. There were many people in the water that weekend - mostly Italians. We waded in and I would say that the water was colder than I would have liked to swim in, so we just got our toes wet. There actually wasn't a whole lot of swimming going on, mostly people getting wet at waters edge. Probably briefly cooling off after sunbathing.
I know it probably sounds ludicrous to those of you from cooler climates, but we're so used to swimming in warm ocean temps, thanks to the nearness of the Gulf Current off our shore, that we no longer enjoy water temps below 70 degrees. It feels like ice water to us!!
We've vacationed in Maine and Oregon on recent trips - two places with gorgeous coasts, great seafood and wonderful small towns (but really, really frigid water), so even tho we love hiking along rocky coasts, I think we will drop Cinque Terre from our Italian itinerary next May and head farther south. Thanks for the input!
Tim,
the appeal of the CT is not just the beaches to go swimming. It's the landscape, the cute towns, the hiking. For all that May is the BEST time to go! Considering the heat we've encountered when we hiked at the end of June I wish we had been able to do this in May without fearing of dying of heat stroke. You can go swimming in thousands of places in the world but the CT landscape is rather unique.
We get more than 5000 posts a year on trips to Italy, on this forum. Very, very few of them mention swimming in Italy, in the Cinque Terre or swimming elsewhere in Italy, as being something that was a priority, given limited time and all the things Italy offers that aren't easily available in the US (the Canadian experience may be somewhat different because of northern location of Canada's beaches).
Italy offers many, many things the US does not have. But it seems that very few North American travelers use their limited time in Italy for swimming. We have had a few posters here who somehow got an expectation in their brain that Italy has coastline, therefore it must have ocean swimming and I'm going to do it, and a few of these travelers were persistent enough to force ocean swimming into their already crowded itineraries.
It's a matter of personal preference. But it may help to know that, according to the evidence on this forum, very few American travelers to Italy make that choice.
Oregon beaches were mentioned in another post. People who do not know Oregon beaches might, erroneously, reason: Oregon has beaches, therefore it would be reasonable to expect to swim, and enjoy it, while at Oregon beaches. Flat out wrong.
Water temp is influenced by water currents and not just by miles of latitude south. For example, going from northern to southern Oregon, several hundred miles, does not get you to comfortably swimmable water. That's probably also the case in that part of Italy: if a person thinks the CT water is not comfortable, then moving south from the CT probably does not get you to water you'll like.
We were in the CT July 20-23, and it was very warm for our hike, and I'm sure in May the temps are much more comfortable for hiking. But yes, the water in July is very refreshing. I found it a bit on the cool side, so I'd suppose that in May, water temps would be even cooler. I still would have prefered visiting in May versus the heat of July.
Let me explain so people don't think we're flying halfway around the world just to swim:
All but four days of our 17-day family vacation in Italy next May will be spent in Venice, Florence or Rome. Our son studies European history in college, and this is the trip he's always dreamed of making. To break up the time spent in the cities, however, we agreed that we'd like to set aside three or four days to explore some slower-paced small town or rural area that has a quaint, workaday charm and is relatively easy to reach without a car. We all love seafood and rocky shores; my son and I love to hike; and my wife loves to swim. Ergo, our initial interest in Cinque Terre. However, since our last two big family trips have been to Maine and Oregon - where my wife loved the scenery, but couldn't swim due to the frigid water temps - I promised her that this time, we would try to find a place where the water was warmer.
If we can't find a rocky coastline with warm water, workaday charm and good public transit, we'll live. But it would be the icing on the cake.
"I promised her [my wife] that this time, we would try to find a place where the water was warmer."
Given the warmer Gulf Current that you're used to closer to home, I have a feeling she's going to be disappointed with the CT water temps in May.(the good news: it will probably be warmer than Oregon ocean water, we get the Japanese Current which comes down from Alaska, that's why you were surprised with Oregon ocean swimming)
But, hey, I've been wrong lots of times. Here's hoping I'm wrong this time.
We tried in early June a couple of years ago - even further south - and it was FRIGID! (I swear I almost had a heart attack when I dove in). I would say no to swimming that time of year -
We were in CT in mid-May several years ago. Along the hike between Vernazza and Corniglia we waded in the sea and it was icy--no way would we have been up for a swim. There were, however, swimmers in the water at Montorosso--mostly Scandanavians. I agree with others that CT is not necessarily about the beaches unless they are locals.
You could always trying diving in off a boat in Venice. ha I'm sure the waters warmer there, but for a different reason.
Hello,
I guess mid-late may the water temperature should be at least 70°F but probably more, so I would'nt worry about the cold..
On the following link you can find useful information about the Cinque Terre.
Bye
