Here are our travel tips for visiting the villages of Cinque Terre.
Upon arrival all our guests receive updated information about the Cinque Terre footpaths, maps showing the Cinque Terre hiking trails, train and boat timetables and tips about good restaurants.
When to visit
Liguria is well-known for it’s mild and sunny climate. Best time to visit this part of Italy is from mid March to late October, but even in winter you will find tourists. For hiking we recommend you to visit the Cinque Terre in March, April, May, June, September or October. During the summer the weather is hot with little rainfall.
Hiking
We recommend you to try to head out as early as possible to avoid the crowds and the sweltering midday heat. We recommend hiking shoes, no flip flops! Always pack a swimsuit, a swim in the Ligurian sea is the perfect post-hike reward and it's possible to go for a swim in all of the five villages.
Hiking fee
Only the coastal trail (Sentiero Azzurro) requires payment. It means that you'll need a ticket (€ 7,50/day) or a Cinque Terre Card for the trails Monterosso - Vernazza and Vernazza - Corniglia. Other trails like for example Levanto - Monterosso, Manarola - Volastra - Corniglia and Riomaggiore - Portovenere are free of charge. No hiking fee during low season: November 4 until March 14.
By train
The regional trains run frequently (every half hour) all year round and stop in and all of the five Cinque Terre villages. The Cinque Terre Train Card includes the following services:
- unlimited train travel on the Levanto - Cinque Terre - La Spezia line (on regional trains in 2° class).
- use of the buses within the National Park
- access to all hiking paths
- reduced entrance fee to the museums in La Spezia
By boat
Enjoy the beautiful coastline of the Cinque Terre with the boats that are running between the small villages from the end of March until November 1.
By bike
Stunning sea views along the biking trail which connects the three villages of Levanto, Bonassola and Framura (5 km). Bicycle rental in Levanto.
Valley of Levanto
A myriad of footpaths and old mule trails are linking the tiny ancient villages in the Levanto valley. Our apartments LEMON GARDEN & TERRACE are the perfect starting point to explore these walking trails. You will not meet many tourists on these paths through olive groves and wine yards. The paths are clearly marked.
Local food
We can recommend the shops selling Pasta Fresca; all sorts of freshly prepared pasta (ravioli, pansotti, gnocchi, trofie etc) and different sorts of vegetable- rice- and zucchinipies and lasagne.
Aperitivo: Aperitivo is a pre-meal drink to stimulate the appetite served in the bars from 6 pm to 9 pm. The wine and drinks are served with olives, nuts and small pizzas.
In the restaurant: A fine way to start the meal is to order an antipasti ai frutti di mare, you'll get a delicious plate of mixed seafood enough for 2 persons.
Italian ice cream (gelato): Almost in every corner you will find a gelateria selling homemade ice cream. The Gelateria "Il Porticciolo", near the beach in Levanto, is one of our favorites.
Genoa: The Ligurian town Genoa is well worth a visit. It's the oldest historical centre in Europe with magnificent palaces, museums, restaurants, ice cream shops and the aquarium. Genoa can be reached easily from Levanto and the Cinque Terre by the Intercity train (1 hour).