Think you want to visit Cinque Terre? Check out our experience.
What and where is Cinque Terre?
In case you’ve never been, it is a chain of five fishing villages in the northwest coastal region of Italy. These tiny towns have taken on a life of their own and become MAJOR tourist destinations.
How can you visit the area?
Well, that depends on what fits your schedule. If you are in the general area, you can make a day trip. That’s what we did. We were in Florence and it was about an hour and a half bus ride away (we did a tour).
If you want to actually stay in one of the Cinque Terre villages, I would suggest looking into a vacation rental by owner type service.
Fun Fact
This little tidbit made my Disney/Pixar heart very happy. If you’ve ever seen the animated film Luca, the scenery in Cinque Terre may look familiar to you. That’s because it was loosely based on the area. The moment we set foot in Vernazza, walked down to the boat ramp and looked back over the town, it was blatantly obvious. The brightly colored buildings perched on the cliffs, the boats, the ocean, it was all there. I even think I heard someone shout, “Silencio, Bruno!”
Major Tourist Destination
If you are traveling during the summer you should be aware that all of the villages in the area will be very crowded, especially Monterosso. Even though the other towns are busy, Monterosso is the one with the largest beach area and it attracts the most visitors. So, if you’re looking for a quiet coastal Italian getaway, you might consider visiting in the off season.
We went in January and all of the villages were basically deserted, aside from a few locals. That being said, it was also a rainy Sunday. There were multiple strikes against us having the full Cinque Terre experience. But, we knew that would be the case. That is what happens when you travel in the off season.
Did our decision to visit when things were mostly shut down affect our opinion of the area? No, absolutely not. We got to experience things in a different way – authentically, with only the locals around.
What’s the big deal?
So, why do people flock to Cinque Terre? The views! Incredible, majestic, stunning…these are just a few of the words that come to mind when you see these amazing villages that have been around for centuries.
The powerful waves crashing. The colorful homes perched high atop the cliffs. The small fishing boats stacked up after a long day of word for local fishermen. All of these things come together to create one of the quaintest, most picturesque views you will ever see.
Don’t believe me? Check out our latest episode here.
The food is almost as good as the views.
It’s Italy after all. How can you possibly go wrong with the food. Whether you want fresh seafood (it doesn’t get any fresher), or other traditional Italian fare, you can find delicious food around every corner in every village.
Even though a lot of places were closed we still managed to find some great food at a spot in Monterosso called Il Piccolo Diavolo (The Little Devil). The even had gluten free pasta!
Bonus sightseeing content
There were cats…everywhere. We love cats. We have two fur babies in our family. It’s fun to run into feline friends when we travel. The Italian cats were so much fun to encounter. They were very friendly and right at home among the tourists. And let me tell you, some of them were harshly judging the visitors!
Something we were not expecting
We are admittedly a bit spoiled. We’re from Florida and are accustomed to white sand beaches and clear emerald green waters. Well, that isn’t exactly how we would describe the beaches of Cinque Terre…at all. Where there are actual beaches, the sand is dark and mostly covered in rocks. In fact, a fellow traveler told us that people bring yoga mats to sit on beach.
If you are planning to get some sun during your visit to Cinque Terre, you might consider bringing a mat along.
We really enjoyed our time in Cinque Terre. We only saw four of the five villages during our tour due to weather, but they were stunning.
The towns are very small and easy to navigate. All of them are steeped in centuries of history. Even if you don’t plan to stay in the area, we highly recommend taking a day trip to check out the villages.
Want to know more about our Italian adventure? Check out our post We Got Lost in Italy.
And remember, break the monotony, not the bank.
–Marnie and Jeff
