A Weekend in Cinque Terre, Cinque Terre, Italy (B)

The Cinque Terre is made up of five main fishing villages – Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore (from north to south). The villages are set against some of the most beautiful and dramatic coastal scenery in the world with its steeply terraced cliffs. The best way to travel between the villages is by train as the travel time between each village is mere minutes. If you prefer to take on the 12 km hike through all five villages, start at one end and then take the train back to your starting point! I prefer to stay/start the hike in Monterosso al Mare and take the train back from Riomaggiore. The nearby villages of Levanto and Portovenere aren’t technically part of the Cinque Terre but are breathtaking and worth checking out if you have the time.

The ideal time to visit the Cinque Terre is mid-May to mid-September. If you want to hike, the ideal season is mid-March to mid-October. Some of the hiking trails may not be accessible due to heavy rainfall in winter and fall. Cinque Terre is famous for the biggest Presepe in the world in the winter (located in the Manarola). Avoid traveling here at all costs in August which is peak season…you’ll end up paying three times as much! ...... (follow the instructions below for accessing the rest of this article).