General guest

FAQs

on the Cinque Terre

Do the trains get crowded?

The lifeblood of the Cinque Terre is tourism, so in the summer, expect delayed trains and lines.
(This is where hopping on our boat tours gets you away from the crowds and swimming at secluded waters!)

Starting your day early is always my biggest advice.

WHAT SHOULD I PACK FOR THE CINQUE TERRE?

Surprisingly, a lot of guests forget their swimsuits, so be sure to pack at least one pair.
If you’re a non-EU guest, don’t forget your international adaptor. Get a 2 pin Italian C plug. Remember, the standard voltage in Italy is 230V, so if you’re from a country that uses 100-120V and bring your hair dryer or straightner, they will literally overheat and blow up our circuits. So please leave those at home.
If you want to hike, you’ll need good shoes with grip (hiking boots are better, but not necessary) and comfortable clothing
Water Bottle for the eco-conscious.

ARE THERE RAIL GUARDS ALONG THE TRAILS?

Not consistently throughout the whole trail, but definitely not dangerous.
Just be sure to wear shoes with ankle support and grip to avoid slipping. Take hiking poles if need be.

HOW LATE ARE THE TRAILS OPEN?

The trails never close, but the trails aren’t lit, so definitely don’t hike in the dark.

HOW MANY DAYS DO I NEED IN THE CINQUE TERRE?

We like to recommend 3+ nights.
Can you do it in 1 day? Everything’s possible, but you’ll be rushing through and… well, it’s just not the same.

DOES EVERY VILLAGE HAVE A BEACH?

Riomaggiore‘s beach called La Fossola, is located behind the marina (past the ferry boats). It’s a stone beach, so although water shoes aren’t required, they do help. Beautiful turquoise waters where you may even seen some marine life.

Manarola doesn’t have a traditional beach, but from the marina, you can see people laying out their beach towels and swimming off the rocks.

Corniglia‘s most popular beach is Guvano, but it’s best accessed by boat, as its located between Corniglia and Vernazza (You’ll go there on our boat tours).
Their other beach is accessed from the historical center, in front of the oratory.

The main beach in Vernazza is what you see from their marina: a small, sandy beach, which easily fills up in the summer.
But there’s a second, rocky beach that’s been formed after the 2011 floods: Going down the main street (via Roma), you’ll see an alleyway on the left with a cave directly in front of you. Through the cave is the beach.

Monterosso boasts the largest beach of the Cinque Terre (but you probably know this) and is also the only town with the private beach clubs (sun beds, bar, etc). But don’t worry, if you don’t want to pay for sun beds, go to the historical center side of the village (though the tunnel) and you’ll see the free beach.

WHAT AIRPORT IS CLOSEST TO THE CINQUE TERRE?

Pisa Airport

WHICH IS YOUR FAVORITE VILLAGE?

Easy, Riomaggiore. I’m obviously biased, my loves are here. But, every guest has their favorite – so be sure to let me know yours before you leave.

WHERE’S THE BEST CLIFF JUMPING?

I don’t know how this became a thing, but it makes us locals cringe. We’ve seen so many people get hurt and even helicoptered out. They end up having to cut their vacation short, fly home, with months of rehabilitation ahead. And even if you don’t end up getting hurt, you still risk ruining your entire vacation. Be smart, guys. Skip out on this one. Trust me, you’re not missing out.

HOW DO I BOOK THE BEACH CLUB IN MONTEROSSO?

For the months of June, July and August, unless you’re booking for 3+ days, the beach clubs do not take reservations.

Get there by 9am and guests have never had problems getting beds.
Eden is where I like to recommend.

ANY IDEAS FOR WHEN IT RAINS?

Seems obvious, but if it rains, don’t hike. You can slip, you can fall and you can seriously hurt yourself.
You can still take the train or if you want to stay put, book a cooking class. Go visit the aquarium in Genova. The ideas are endless.

It doesn’t rain often in the Cinque Terre, but even if it does, you can still do everything (but hike and go out in sea.)

WHAT CAN I DO WITH YOUNGER CHILDREN?

Aside from going to the beach, Riomaggiore, Manarola and Monterosso have beautiful (sea view) playgrounds:

PLAYGROUNDS

Riomaggiore’s is located at the very end of via de Loca : Go up via Colombo and make a right after the public bathrooms. Take that road all the way to the very end. Even if you’re not a mom, go for the stunning sea views.

Manarola’s playground is located next to Nessun Dorma Bar (up on a cliff). It’s well maintained and just the views are worth the walk up.

Monterosso has two playgrounds. One in the historical center and the other in the new town. My kids never wanted to leave.

EASY STROLL

If the blue and red trails are too hard for your kids, consider taking them on the flat, paved stroll from Levanto to Bonassola. It’s super easy and stroller accessible.
There’s also a playground in the main square in Levanto.