At a glance, the best time for visiting Cinque Terre is: The best time for visiting Cinque Terre for weather and hiking opportunities is the spring. Focaccia, gelato, pesto, farinata Ligurian. On the lively promenade near a family-friendly beach, visitors can easily access the Cinque Terre villages by ferry. Complete your details below to sign up for our newsletter. From here, comfortable boats tale the journey to the four towns of Cinque Terre on the coast and then keep going to Porto Venere, also a pretty town worth seeing. Again, a super iconic photo-shot seen many times on the web. For assistance with planning your trip through our Italy Trip Planning Concierge, please contact us. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. The coastline, the five villages, and the surrounding hillsides are all part of the Cinque Terre National Park and it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This is an easy path that can be waked in about one hour and a good one for accessibility if open. Here you have several parking options including some convenient to the train station: come early for a chance to get a reasonable chance of getting a spot. The islands arenoteworthy not only for their natural beauty but also for the many remains of early monastic establishments that they contain. If you come here by car, you will be hard pressed to find a parking spot pretty much any time of the year and the risk of spending the whole day in the car looking for one is very high! Ciao! Cinque Terre towns are wonderful but very popular and, as we have seen, not always super child friendly. Just right: Vernazza to Monterosso Cinque Terre like the rest of Italy will provide plenty of gelato and pizza plus local specialties such as focaccia that are likely to make kids very happy! There is affordable off-street parking around the station just drive around until you find a place. Catch the train to explore each village: the distances are minimal, you hop from one to the other in a matter of minutes! Need to know: the conditions of the path change year after year and season after season so it is necessary to always check at the local info points (there is one in each train station) which ones are open at the time of your visit. The downside of this season is that the heat is intense and hiking not recommended. This however doesnt mean it is not possible to enjoy Vernazza with kids. My best tip is to come equipped with a good stroller (I recommend super light and foldable for this area) and opt for a baby carrier on most days. Hike from Monterosso to Vernazza If you visit off-season and have time to do some hiking and your kids are seasoned hikers, then I would definitely suggest to make the two hours hike starting from Monterosso al Mare to Vernazza. They are super fun for older kids but, if you have a stroller, you will have some mobility issues. All you need to know to visit Cinque Terre with kids in tow. Safe travel planning! in the center of Riomaggiore. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". Cinque Terre is a string of centuries-old seaside villages on the rugged North Italian Riviera coastline. Indeed, visiting Cinque Terre with kids can be tricky! Share it or pin it for later! Compared with other towns on the coast, you may find Monterosso less charming (if I was to biggest a romantic weekend I would probably go Vernazza or Manarola) but for young kids, this is my first choice. This is the fast and most sustainable way to get around and it will help you avoid one of the biggest headaches when traveling Cinque Terre: parking! These might have to be planned well in advanced especially if you do visit during Peak Season. Safe travels! With the hop-on hop-off ticket, the boat stops at all other Cinque Terre Villages except Corniglia as it has no port. Cinque Terre are 5 villages in the southernmost part of Liguria, close to the regional border with Tuscany. The agencys excellent English language website http://www.cinqueterreriviera.com/ gives you the option of searching for family properties from the search by theme drop down menu. http://www.navigazionegolfodeipoeti.it/htm/eng/index.php, Top 5 Mistakes to Avoid When Traveling to Venice with Kids, Italy Family Trip to Venice, Florence, Rome and Amalfi Coast, Letters to Juliet: Italy Family Trip Report. Gianni Franzi, Piazza Marconi, 5, Riomaggiore This option is available during the summer season only and can be very handy also for families who want to avoid the premium prices of accommodation in Cinque Terre and prefer a stay in nearby Levanto. I suggest in particular Villa Montale (Monterosso, where the Montale the poet used to spend his summers), San Lorenzos church (Manarola) and San Giovanni Battista church (Riomaggiore). Please note: this post contains affiliate links and, should you make a purchase though them, we might make a small commission at no extra cost to you. This is one of the best and newest in the area and is likely to stay as a highlight for children: this is the type of place that shows Cinque Terre are for kids after all! The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. Portovenere is the lesser known medieval fishing village and mostly overlooked. Italiakids.com recommendations for Liguria. The official tourism board actually urges travelers and visitors not to visit the Italian Riviera Coastline during peak summer times, as they cannot cope anymore. Hope you can go there one day it is amazingly beautiful. What it is also possible to do but I do not recommend, especially with children in tow, is to go to Cinque Terre as a day trip from Florence or other faraway locations. There is a lovely gelato shop right at the harbor! By far the best way to reach and discover Cinque Terre with kids is traveling by train. The hike from Monterosso to Vernazza sounds really interesting, not heard of this one before. This card allows you to get on all the trains connecting the 5 towns during one day (or three, depending on the card you get) and also allows access to the National Park Hiking paths. If you happen to be there at noon, listen out for the sound of harbour church bells rolling across the centre and out over the shimmering waters of Vernazzas harbour. La Posada, Via Alla Stazione 11, Vernazza While I highly recommend you explore in our own time and peek into each church, some attractions are especially worth seeking out. Find here >> our family guide to Manarola and all our tips for visiting! The Cinque Terre is made up mainly by five picture perfect Italian Villages named, Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, and Riomaggiore. Find here my travel guide to Liguria with kids. You main enemy here is geography: the town truly are hanging off cliffs and this means many of the roads and steep and with uneven terrain or steps. Where to stay Use our Italy Trip Planning Tool to create an account for your own personal Italy family travel inspiration. We look forward to your mail! As an Amazon associate I earn from qualifying purchases. While more tiring, you can entice older kids to tackle it with the promise of swimming in the sea on arrival! Fortified by the good local fare, we hiked along a trail that delighted us with little bridges over streams, olive groves interspersed with low stone walls, and views of the cliffs with the sea beyond. Brows through some of these colourful Hotels and maybe you are lucky and find your dream place to stay in the Cinque Terre. another family friendly hike, this path brings you from Manarola to Corniglia in about 45 minutes. No problem, take some photos and head on. Another kid-friendly town in Cinque Terre is lovely Manarola. You have now spent a good hour on the boat and hopefully enjoyed the beautiful cruise along the Italian Riviera coastline. As this is your Cinque Terre one day trip, and probably you travel Italy with kids, then make the compromise of skipping the other two Cinque Terre villages, enjoy the Italian Riviera coastline on the boat ride and get off again in Porto Venere. This will give you a taste of how beautiful the Cinque Terre is and a first experience of what could be done on a second visit. Seeing the villages from a boat gives you a superb perspective of how tiny and cramped these villages actually are and with the colourful houses, the azure sea and the forestation behind, this is a view long to be remembered. Trattoria la Lanterna, V. S. Giacomo 46, off V.C. I love that you managed an itinerary that went against the grain of the crowds so things got less crowded as your day went on. Hiking between the villages is still the best way to discover the terraced vineyards, the lemon trees and olive groves, the scents of rosemary and lavender, and the tiny clusters of multicolored houses in this unique region. The town is narrow and full of steps so I recommend it with older children only: if you have small ones, you can still enjoy its pretty harbor and Main Street however, I feel other towns will leave you more scope to play and rest. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Our favorite things to do in Cinque Terre with kids is: Pro tip! Our suggestion is to cruise all the way to La Spezia which costs about 35 Euro. Loved this post? Hi Elizabeth, thank you for your comments. http://www.navigazionegolfodeipoeti.it/htm/eng/index.php, From mid June to mid September, the Golfo Paradiso runs from Genoa and Camogli to Monterossa al mare and Vernazza. Dont forget to bookmark this guide and simply Pin it for future use. Genoa with Kids, Liguria with Kids 1 Comment Tags: Cinque Terre, Liguria, Fairy tales inspire when hiking in the Cinque Terre with kids, While traveling in Italy this spring, our familys destination for an active, outdoor vacation was a dramatic stretch of Italys Ligurian coast known as the Cinque Terre. In some towns like Vernazza, where there is no playground, watching the beats can be fun and a good way to slow down while mum and dad sip coffee on the seafront! The 22min train journey will pass through tunnels to each of the Cinque Terre villages. I add this option for completeness but to be honest, visiting Cinque Terre by kids, may it be with kids or without, is not a good idea. For these reasons, Monterosso is the best place to stay in Cinque Terre with kids overnight. The downsides about visiting at this time are the crowds, especially if coming during Easter holidays, and the fact that it is too cold to swim (kids may be disappointed if this is what they expect). 26 Amazing Photos through Otrantos Old Town, Lecce 11 Amazing family friendly activities not to be missed, FLORENCE :: Best way to visit Florence in a day with kids, PISA :: Visit Pisa Piazza dei Miracoli in half a day with kids, Italy travel tips for first time visitors, How to choose the Best Maldivian Resort Island For YOU, Why Reethi Faru Resort was our Perfect Island in the Maldives, Visit Iceland in October Weather, Tips and Q&A. Its interesting that its good for kids, too, since the beaches are not sosandy and there are all these steep hills. This is a longer hike but it is lovely as it mixes some sea views with more rural landscapes. When you exit the station, the blue sea lies straight in front of you. Excellent guide! Corniglia is the only town out of the five not to be on the sea. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". If you ever go and like to hike the Monterosso to Vernazza path, check the conditions first. We hope to do this with our boys some day so well definitely come back to this guide! Hi, Thank you for your comment and reading our post. The Grand Hotel Portovenere is an Italiakids.com favorite as a base for visiting the Cinque Terre area. 2 is a walk of less than an hour between the villages of Riomaggiore and Manarola. The main issue you have in Liguria in general and in Cinque Terre in particular is parking. Did you got inspired? If you are in this area, consider stretching beyond Cinque terra and discoer more of Liguria, there is so much to do here for families! In terms of practicalities, it is the easiest town in Cinque Terre for strollers and it has plenty of kids running around which gives it a nice and family friendly feel. Read our full guide about traveling Italy by train here. There are not many places on earth that are so unique, beautiful and so often listed in a travelers bucket list the the Cinque Terre. If you do decide to come by car anyway or you have no option due to rental constraints, a good option is to leave the car in Levanto. For additional hotel and vacation rental options in the area, see the Italiakids.com recommendations for Liguria. Marta Correale is the creator, writer and creative mind behind Learning Escapes. It is hard to play favorites when it comes to Cinque Terre towns but Vernazza is one of the most scenic of all an unmissable stop when visiting the area. Wed love to explore Italy more than we previously have and Cinque Terre is top of my wish list. The towns are all connected by the local train service that connects each of them in a matter of minute. Hike from Vernazza to Corniglia this part has slightly a shorter walking time at only 90 minutes and has some very impressive sections. The two getaway towns to Cinque Terre are Levanto on one side and La Spezia and the whole area is very well served by frequent regional trains. Just for info if you visit during off season the beach has no umbrellas nor sunbeds, perfect to enjoy the nature without any colourful obstacles in the way. ", "Biking on the city walls in Lucca, Tuscany was the best. In summer, this can be a wonderful activity to do with teens in the area: you can check prices and details here. A good carrier -if planning on hiking with baby, opt for a good structures hiking one, Sun hat and sun screen for baby in spring / summer, Beach gear including water shoes for toddlers. This position means that the town offers stunning views over the Ligurian Coast and also that is see a tiny less tourism than its seaside counterparts. Just check the train time to Monterosso and ensure not to miss the connections with the boat later on. You can visit Cinque Terre any time of the year but there is no doubt that some seasons are better than other. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. However, all you need is some tips and you can be sure you will love Cinque Terre no matter what age your kids are. To visit by train and boat is super easy and fun. Author Alexandra Regan is a librarian and travel writer who currently lives in France. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This is also a very busy time for tourism and prices are at a premium. Proper hiking shoes (for you) essential in this area! Find here >> our guide to Monterosso with kids. While many visit Cinque Terre as a day trip from Florence, I highly recommend you avoid doing this with kids and stay at least one night: the trip from Florence is very long and that, plus the nature of the terrain, I believe makes fora very tiring day that is possibly ok for adults but too long and not fun enough for kids. Families do need to plan carefully to experience kid friendly Cinque Terre as the terrain is varied. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. It is outdoors where we feel the most connected and happy with each other. Thanks to excellent train connections it is possible to start at one end in the morning, see all the towns and even get back to your local home base by evening, all without exhausting yourself or your children excessively. Whether you are planning your 1sttrip to Italy with kids or whether you have already visited Italy many times, I believe the romantic, colourful and breathtaking Cinque Terre on the Italian Riviera coastline has to be seen at least once. Start your trip in La Spezia, which by the way is also a nice place to discover before or after your magical stress-free excursion. Unlike Monterosso however, it doesnt have a large sandy beach so it is less suited for days at the beach than for a day sightseeing. Their names means literally 5 earths (cinque= 5; terre is the plural of terra, earth) and these five villages are: The getaway towns to Cinque Terre is La Spezia and Levanto, respectively at the two ends of this stretch of land, but usually international tourism gets here from cities as far away as Milan and Florence, which are well connected to this area by train and served by many day tours. The train to Monterossodeparts from La Spezia Centrale Station. Second, the area has beautiful sea and if you have kids who love to splash about and even better love a boat ride, the place will be the perfect destination for them. Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. You have two main solutions, if your kids are sea lovers: Our favorite way to visit Cinque Terre by boat with kids is by taking the ferry in Levanto. Cinque Terre is famous for the hiking path connecting one town to the other and if you have outdoorsy kids and some of these paths are kid friendly. Kids under 6 go free, which is a definite plus! The uphill sections, the series of stairs to climb, and the lack of shade on much of the trail make this trek difficult. Your best day in Italy might soon be at an end but never the less you still have the bonus visit of this itinerary Cinque Terre one day visit with kids before you. More sporty families may want to tackle the path between Vernazza and Monterosso. Inspired by Goldilocks, we came to name these separate hikes too easy, too hard, and just right. The most popular trail in the Cinque Terre, called Footpath No. As you carry on walking the path splits. Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. We began our walk in Vernazza, a village with a pretty harbor, after first eating a delicious and satisfying lunch of seafood with gelato for dessert. Cinque Terre are a scenic and charming part of Italy so unique UNESCO included the area in their list of World Heritage Sites. Trust me. View disclosure. Italys west coast is just so beautiful. Please note that even when easy, these are hikes so you should only approach them with suitable shoes and with a baby carrier rather than a stroller. Articles on this website may contain affiliate links and, should you make a purchase through them, we might make a small commission at no extra cost to you. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Overall, and taking into account accessibility and services, I believe the best places to be in Cinque Terre with kids is Monterosso. The best part has to be when you approach Vernazza and the 1stview down to the harbour. This is a safety measure and rules are getting strict: make sure you are well equipped to avoid fines, Insect repellent and after-bite (for mosquitoes) in summer. I like visiting Corniglia and older kids will enjoy the idea of the 400 steps down the hill (there is also a bus, dont worry!). Each ticket is valid for 75 minutes so if you are planning on taking several trains in one day you may want to consider the Cinque Terre card instead. You can get the Cinque Terre Pass, which gives you access to trains and hikes: find all the info here. If you have a stroller and you cannot leave it home for the day, you can still enjoy a lovely morning at the small port, watch the boats and have gelato. Where is Cinque Terre? The hike offers breathtaking views along the Italian Riviera coastline whilst the vegetation mixes olive trees with vineyards. Find in these articles: my tips for using a stroller in Italy and my favorite baby carriers for Italy. These are the Cinque Terre Hiking paths at a glance: The most family friendly path in Cinque Terre is the one between Riomaggiore and Manarola. In terms of food, make sure your kids taste real pesto and have a munch over the local cheese focaccia (warning: they will never want to eat any other focaccia ever again!) Because of the short distances between the towns and the good train connections, you can easily see all of the Cinque Terre towns in one day. Contact | Privacy Policy | Disclosure |Terms of Use. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. We always try to make sure that the whole family is happy. Listed from left to right when looking at the National Park from the sea. It is kind of sad that due to mass tourism the region is suffering. Enjoy the sunset and have dinner Now this is possible but you would have to skip Portovenere and schedule it in for the next day. There are 3 main ways to reach Cinque Terre, some more suitable for families with kids than others. However, Corniglia is not the most baby friendly town in the area and I recommend it more as a destination for a day hike more than a base to visit Cinque Terre. Marta Correale is an Italian mama of two. We look forward to your mail! The 5 villages of Cinque Terre may all seem similar when you look at photos in the area but they all have distinctive traits that make them worth an individual stop. Cinque Terre is a stretch of five towns (Cinque=5) on the coast of Liguria, in the North West of Italy. Price is 20 euros (22 euros holidays and in August) roundtrip for adults, 12 euros for children ages six to eleven.
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