Cinque Terre

[Sharon J]

After all of our years traveling in Italy, we have never visited Cinque Terre. We always stay in a lovely resort outside Montepulciano for a week twice a year. The one place we have never visited is Cinque Terre. Need lots of advice on where to stay and what we do with or rental car while staying there. We would like to stay in a scenic hotel for three nights, before driving over to Montepulciano.
First, we are assuming that we should fly in and out of Florence? Rent a car, and drive over to Cinque Terre, I haven't even begun to figure out were to stay in Cinque Terre, so looking forward to all of the thoughts from board members. A view of the lake is very important, but not looking for a super expensive hotel.

Looking forward to all the advice you can give me.

 

[Penn251]

We were based in Levanto when we visited Cinque Terre (pronounced LAY-von-TOE - place name pronunciations are not always intuitive). It is the town just North of Monterossa al Mare. The train from Levanto takes you to each of the Cinque Terre towns in just minutes. You can also hike from Levanto to Monterosso if you enjoy that. Levanto has a nice beach with several hotels along it and is more car friendly than the Cinque Terre towns. It really is a good base for visiting Cinque Terre. There is also an old railroad tunnel that now is a pedestrian/bike way that connects to the town of Bonasolla just to the North.

 

[joe]

We also used the option Penn251 mentioned : staying in Levanto, and taking the train in to the CT villages. Even though our rented car was hardly used during those three days of our stay (we did use it to take one trip to places other than the CT), we enjoyed the fact that we didn't have to stress over finding parking in the CT, and being restricted to getting back to the car at every village.
I call Levanto the place you'd like to live in, as opposed to the CT villages, which are quite affected by tourism - although no questioning the beauty and charm of the villages, and the allure in staying in one for a vacation.

 

[BEERMAN]

8 years ago we stayed in Monterosso Al Mare at the Baia Hotel. We stayed just 2 nights. We travelled by train and the station was very convenient. There is a large public parking lot close by, but I don't know much about it. We had a basic, clean and comfortable second floor room (2 bedrooms actually) with balcony overlooking the beach, ocean and promenade. Basic breakfast was included. There are convenient restaurants, gelato, coffee etc. This is what they call the "new section" and it's a comfortable walk to the "Old section" connected by the promenade. We did hike the trails between villages, but the train is really convenient. This April we stayed in Rapallo and rode a 1 hour train to Monterosso and hiked the trails again, subject of an upcoming trip report. It is a beautiful region.

 

[GailS]

Pisa may be a better airport to fly into. Years ago I stayed in Sestri Levante to visit the towns. Larger and potentially easier with a car but not quite as picturesque itself. We visited surrounding towns by train, ferry or on foot. Not sure if you'd consider taking the train and picking up a car after your visit to the Cinque Terre.

 

[Ian Sutton]

Pisa indeed a handy airport, and it's even linked to the train system (though the airport bus into Pisa weirdly often works out faster).

With a hire car, yes I'd also be leaning towards Levanto, or the flatter CT village Monterosso, or maybe even Portovenere. Still parked up for most of the time, but easier to get a place to park. The train from Levanto is reasonably frequent, and there might even be ferries.

Alternaitvely, have a look for places up in the hills above CT on/near the SP51. That might open
up the upper walks a bit, albeit if doing the coastal walks, the walk back will be a 'good workout'. Ideally getting the great views, but away from the crowds.

 

[Sharon J]

Thanks to everyone for all the suggestions. I guess this is the reason I have always backed away from CT. We are 76 and 77, and not the greatest knees. Soooo, maybe this isn't a good idea. As much as we want to try CT, looks like it is way too hard for us. We have been traveling in Italy for 25 years, and I lived in Gaeta, as it was the home for the Navy Flag Ship out of Naples, back in the mid 60's. A bit too old for this adventure.
Again, thanks for all the info. Should have visited CT earlier in or travels.

 

[dsevig]

After all of our years traveling in Italy, we have never visited Cinque Terre. We always stay in a lovely resort outside Montepulciano for a week twice a year. The one place we have never visited is Cinque Terre. Need lots of advice on where to stay and what we do with or rental car while staying there. We would like to stay in a scenic hotel for three nights, before driving over to Montepulciano.
First, we are assuming that we should fly in and out of Florence? Rent a car, and drive over to Cinque Terre, I haven't even begun to figure out were to stay in Cinque Terre, so looking forward to all of the thoughts from board members. A view of the lake is very important, but not looking for a super expensive hotel.

Looking forward to all the advice you can give me.

CT was the most disappointing site we tried to see in 18 trips to europe, thousands trying to get on the train to see faded buildings and tourist traps beautiful views is all

 

[Ian Sutton]

Thanks to everyone for all the suggestions. I guess this is the reason I have always backed away from CT. We are 76 and 77, and not the greatest knees. Soooo, maybe this isn't a good idea. As much as we want to try CT, looks like it is way too hard for us. We have been traveling in Italy for 25 years, and I lived in Gaeta, as it was the home for the Navy Flag Ship out of Naples, back in the mid 60's. A bit too poor to do much of anything.
Again, thanks for all the info. Should have visited CT earlier in or travels.

In that case, you could adapt and make use of trains and boats, skipping most, even all of the walking trails, but instead having a more relaxing investigation of a different village each day, with plenty of time for relaxing back at the base location.

Monterosso is flat, which makes it especially easy to walk around. Vernazza the most visually appealing whether arriving on foot, or by boat.
Corniglia meanwhile is the odd one out, based up on the slopes, reached by foot or a shuttle bus, so I'd suggest skipping it, nice as it is. Manarola and Riomaggiore have some similarities, the latter slightly bigger and with the slopes kicking in faster IIRC

Portovenere also a super option, whether staying there, or using it as a day trip by boat. Indeed I suspect that might be the best option of all, as it's pretty flat, nice to explore without being sprawling, makes a lovely setting for lunch or a drink, and should be more accessible than CT for the car. Day trips via boat to whichever villages most appeal.

 

[Tina]

We stayed in La Spezia to visit the area. This was January 2020 just before COVID started.

La Spezia in January Trip report

A blog about travel, vacations and holidays in Italy and Spain with advice, tips and trip reports

slowtravelitalyspain.blogspot.com

Cinque Terre are unique which is why so many people want to see them.
There will always be tourists there, there were even in January, but they arrive in waves and stick to the centre of the villages.
Our favourite place in the area is definitely Portovenere, as beautiful as any of the Cinque Terre but with a fraction of the tourists. There's a nice waterfront to stroll along on the flat. So I'd agree with Ian, base there, and plan to visit Cinque Terre by boat avoiding Friday and weekends

La Spezia in January - Portovenere

A blog about travel, vacations and holidays in Italy and Spain with advice, tips and trip reports

slowtravelitalyspain.blogspot.com

 

[Sharon J]

In that case, you could adapt and make use of trains and boats, skipping most, even all of the walking trails, but instead having a more relaxing investigation of a different village each day, with plenty of time for relaxing back at the base location.

Monterosso is flat, which makes it especially easy to walk around. Vernazza the most visually appealing whether arriving on foot, or by boat.
Corniglia meanwhile is the odd one out, based up on the slopes, reached by foot or a shuttle bus, so I'd suggest skipping it, nice as it is. Manarola and Riomaggiore have some similarities, the latter slightly bigger and with the slopes kicking in faster IIRC

Portovenere also a super option, whether staying there, or using it as a day trip by boat. Indeed I suspect that might be the best option of all, as it's pretty flat, nice to explore without being sprawling, makes a lovely setting for lunch or a drink, and should be more accessible than CT for the car. Day trips via boat to whichever villages most appeal.

Wow, thanks for the great information. Needless to say, I love this travel board.