One Week in Cinque Terre

What You Should Know Before Going On A Cinque Terre Tour

Where is Cinque Terre?

Cinque Terre is the area surrounding five villages in the Liguria region of Northern Italy. Hugging the rugged coastline, Cinque Terre sits between the two historic cities of Genoa and Pisa.

For Cinque Terre-only tours, visitors will generally start their journey in Pisa before making their way to Cinque Terre. If you are on a Northern Italian tour, your starting city may be Pisa or Rome.

Many may overestimate the size of Cinque Terre. While it is one of the most famous regions in Italy, it is actually very small. The entire region takes up less than 20 sq miles and it takes only 6 hours to walk the length of the Cinque Terre Trail from Riomaggiore in the south to Monterosso in the north.

Who Will Like Traveling to Cinque Terre?

Cinque Terre is the perfect destination for hikers and active travelers. With multiple trails traversing along the rugged terrain of the Parco Nazionale delle Cinque Terre, hikers will enjoy an activity-filled holiday.

Photographers of all skill levels will fall in love with the picturesque views of Cinque Terre. There are countless locations on the trails and in the cities of Cinque Terre to capture the delicately-colored buildings and cliffs.

As with many other Italian regions, Cinque Terre is very popular for food and wine lovers. The national park around the five villages is dotted with olive trees and countless acres of vineyards. Additionally, seafood lovers will enjoy one of the most famous dishes of Cinque Terre, anchovies.

What Should You Wear for Touring Cinque Terre

The most important item to include in your packing list for Cinque Terre are good hiking shoes. These can be either traditional hiking boots or comfortable tennis shoes, but they should be reliable. There is a great deal of walking in Cinque Terre and some of the walks can be strenuous and very steep.

It is also important to pack comfortable clothes to wear while hiking or touring. However, for dinners out in the villages, it is recommended to include dressier clothes in your packing list.

Cinque Terre has a traditional Mediterranean climate with very warm weather from May to October. Packing multiple layers for weather changes and lightweight clothes is highly suggested. Additionally, sunglasses and hats for the hikes are a must.

A note about what type of luggage to bring. Cinque Terre’s landscape is very rugged and many of the streets are steep or include stairs. Taking a large backpack or a lightweight suitcase is recommended to make traversing around Cinque Terre easier.

What Kind of Italy Tours include Cinque Terre?

Cinque Terre guided tours are typically included in three types of Italy tours:

First, Cinque Terre is a destination in many Northern Italy tours that also feature stops in Pisa, Genoa, Tuscany, and Venice. Second, tours of the top attractions of Italy also include a day or two in Cinque Terre. These tours include stops at the top destinations of Rome, Milan, and Assisi.

Finally, there are also Cinque Terre-only tours. These tours are usually only 8 days in length and are focused around hiking the trails and the cuisine of Cinque Terre.

Cinque Terre Trails and Trail Cards

The villages of Cinque Terre are included in the Parco Nazionale delle Cinque Terre. The park is 9,500 acres of olive trees, vineyards, and cliffs, in addition to the 74 miles of trails. The trails were once the original paths that connected the villages and are now used today as a way to see the Cinque Terre landscape.

The park has designated paths between each of the villages and additional tracks throughout the park. You can hire a guide to take you on each trail, or you can walk the paths yourself.

To help maintain the trails and parks, tourists do have to pay to walk the paths. It is recommended to buy a Cinque Terre Trail card. This card covers admittance for all of the trails, including Via dell’ Amore (“Lovers’ Lane).

There are two cards you can buy: the Trekking Card and the Treno MS Card. The Trekking Card not only includes admittance to the trails, but also the bus system for the region.

The Treno MS Card includes the paths and other park admittance, but also includes the trains that connect the villages. This would be especially helpful when visiting Corniglia because to reach the village you have to take the train.

Both cards can be purchased through the park’s website or upon arrival. Some of the tours may include in their price access to the trails, but it is recommended to check before booking.