I wish you could hear the sigh I make whenever someone mentions they are traveling to Cinque Terre (translation, Five Lands). This place is truly a traveler's delight and is one of the few places that truly recharges and inspires me on so many levels. If you're lucky enough to be traveling here, know that there is no "right" way to visit the five towns. You will enjoy it no matter what!
My tips and suggestions for the "Blue Trail" are:
Must Eat:
Amazing and Heavenly Cinque Terre
Where is it: Tucked away in the northwest part of Italy, the five towns in order from north to south, are: Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, Riomaggiore.
Getting there: The best way to get to Cinque Terre is by train. You can travel by car; however, parking and driving on the narrow roads deters even the most confident drivers. If you are flying into Milan, you can easily catch a train that will take approximately 3 hours to get to Monterosso, one of the five towns. Alternatively, you can catch a train from Florence (3 hours), Pisa (1.5 hours), or Rome (4.5 hours). The trains are so easy and routine that you can even arrive from France. To start planning, visit goeuro.com.
Things to do:
Travel from town to town: This may seem like an odd suggestion of what to do in the area. Certainly the highlight of most vacations is not the shuffling from one place to the other. That is fair and true for most places; however, Cinque Terre is different. If you are hiking from Monterosso to Vernazza, you are wandering through basil fields and breathing in the wonderful aroma. When you are sitting on the ferry sailing to Riomaggiore, you can imagine what it was like for fishermen back in the day bringing in their haul.
There are three main options to get to the towns: hike, boat, and train. Each have their own pros, and I would suggest doing a cocktail of all three!
- Hike: The five towns are connected by trails and you can walk all the way from Monterosso to Riomaggiore. We stayed in Monterosso and really wanted to hike the main coastal trail (Blue trail or SVA2). We grabbed a breakfast at our favorite bakery and hit the trail before 8. We were told if you were on the trail early enough, you did not have to pay the entrance fee. We were able to pass the ticket booth and get started on our hike with the cool morning breeze. This was also nice as the path between Monterosso and Vernazza is the longest and most hilly part of the hike. Each path has its own character and it is fun to explore and discover each one. We were never bored on any part of the hike.
- Pack swimming gear: The hike can get hot, and you pass different areas where you can get in the water. You might want to save the swimming stop for Manarola, as it has amazing deep water swimming.
- Be a smart hiker: Pack a hat, enough water, and other items you may need. It is a day hike so you don't need much, but make sure you have the necessary items to keep you hydrated and safe.
- Enjoy where the path takes you: As I mentioned each path has it is own character. Take it slow and allow yourself to experience each one. The whole trail can be done "quickly," in 4 hours. However the point isn't to race through it. We reserved the whole day for the hike, which allowed us time to take unexpected breaks and get the full experience.
- Take the train or boat back: There are round trip hike options; however, we decided to take the scenic trail one way, and then the train or boat home. We kept our way back up in the air, as we were going with the flow. It was nice knowing we either had a fast way back, the train, or could cool off in the sea breeze on the boat. Ultimately, we took the train as we were hungry and ready for a shower, saving the boat for the next day.
- Ferry: In a perfect world, I would save the boat ride for the day after the hike. It was fun catching it from Monterosso and seeing the path I walked the day before from a different perspective. The boat leaves from Monterosso (weather permitting) hourly, generally starting at 10:30 am until 6:00pm. The rates vary depending on which town you want to visit. There is also an option to go to Portovenere, which is beautiful, just not considered one of the "five lands."
- Train: Save the train for when you are wanting to get somewhere, and somewhere fast. The towns are approximately 5 minutes apart when traveling by train. There are options to buy a Cinque Terre Treno Multi-Service Card. We had crunched the numbers, and decided that we weren't going to take enough train rides and hike on the same day for it to pay off. At the time we traveled, we would've had to hike and take three different train rides i n one day to break even. However, visit the site and see if there is an option that works best with your itinerary.
Visit the Towns: Like the paths in between, each town has its own character and is worth a visit. It’s great to wander in each town with no expectations and see if you get the "vibe" the town is known for. Here’s a summary of each town's reputation:
- Monterosso al Mare: I’ve heard this described as a resort town; however, I would argue that it’s not as commercial as other resort areas. It has a large beach, which is fantastic after a day of hiking, and a great place to finish the day with its nightlife. The town is the perfect mixture of old and new, as it has tried to keep its charm while rebuilding after pirate raids, floods, and bombing during WWII. If you are wanting more than a relaxing day on the beach, Monterosso has several sights to see such as historic churches, WWII bunkers, and a castle!
- Vernazza: My favorite part of this town was sitting on the rocks close to the harbor watching the port activity. I could spend hours soaking in the sun and watching the boats rock in the wake. The town is small, but has all the necessities (ice cream and cafes).There is also a castle, Castello Doria, in Vernazza, and the hike up provides breathtaking views of the town. This is probably the most popular town of the five, as it has the reputation of being the most authentic. Due to this, hotels and rooms can be difficult to find, so book early if you want to stay in this particular town.
- Corniglia: I feel like Corniglia is commonly the forgotten town of the five. Maybe it is because it isn't located on the water and is high up on the cliffs. However, due to this, it is calmer and less tread upon. I like that Corniglia is quieter and find it easier to talk to locals who are working there. If you are up for a bit of a hike down (and back up), the beach is more remote and can be a great place to relax after a busy day.
- Manarola: The most popular part of Manarola has to be the Punta Bonfiglio. Here you can get a breathtaking view of the town, water, and truly capture the "Cinque Terre Spirit." If you are doing the Blue Trail hike you will run upon it and not be disappointed. However, don't get your picture and head on to the next town; Manarola has a lot to offer! There are amazing and flourishing vineyards that hug that town which provide a great place to rest.
- Riomaggiore: There is no denying that this is the fisherman's town. We arrived by boat which puts you out at the bottom of a steep hill, and you can see where the fishermen pull up their boats and unload their haul. Just a few steps off the boat, you will start to see amazing hole in the wall places selling the freshest fish. We grabbed some and did the hike up the hill to the San Giovanni Church. This provides amazing views and has a fun garden you can walk through.
Must Eat:
- Il Pescato Cucinato, Riomaggiore: Great fresh fish where the husband and wife work as a team. She cooks the fish that he brings in!
- Wonderland Bakery, Monterosso: · This is truly a Wonderland, as I commonly dream of this place! We stopped every morning and made friends with the owner. He would explain each treat to us while we sipped coffee and made sure we grabbed seconds before heading out for the day.
- Ristorante Belevdere, Monterosso: This is the place that introduced my husband and I to "squid ink pasta." It was the most amazing meal, and we still talk about it to this day. The prices are affordable, portions are large, and the view is amazing. This is my number one suggestion for all the restaurants in Cinque Terre.
Where to Stay: Albergo al Carugio We really enjoyed our stay at Albergo al Carugio and the owner was very hospitable and provided some great insights on the area. The rooms are fairly basic, but have everything you need, and this is what we wanted since we knew we be spending time outdoors.
