Cinque Terre is a picture-postcard-perfect part of Italy, and Cinque Terre with kids is not only feasible – it’s recommended! Here are answers to some of your top questions about Cinque Terre – sure to come in handy whether you visit with kids, or on your own.
Where is Cinque Terre?
Cinque Terre is a collection of five small seaside towns (“Five Lands”) in Liguria, the northwestern part of Italy.
Why is Cinque Terre so popular?
Cinque Terre is an incredibly scenic region. Its charming small towns are full of colourful, crumbling buildings that tumble down cliffsides directly into the Mediterranean Sea. Above the towns, farmers have terraced the land in order to make it productive, and vineyards, citrus trees and olive groves abound. The five towns are linked by a very efficient rail system, which makes hopping between villages quick and easy. For the more adventurous, the towns are also linked by hiking trails that hug the coastline and afford spectacular views. There are plenty of opportunities to swim and sunbathe, and the cuisine is divine – pesto and seafood are particularly popular here. Need we say more?
The best Cinque Terre beaches for kids (and adults!)
Is Cinque Terre on the Amalfi Coast?
No. The Amalfi Coast is south of Naples. Both Cinque Terre and the Amalfi Coast are Mediterranean seaside towns. But Cinque Terre borders the Ligurian Sea, and the Amalfi Coast is on the Tyrrhenian Sea.
Is Cinque Terre a national park?
Yes. Parco Nazionale Cinque Terre is a national park, and as such, certain rules apply:
- There is an admission fee to enter certain parts of the park
- Park staff reserve the right to close portions of the park when necessary, for example, due to poor weather
- Vehicles are only permitted in certain areas unless required for official purposes
- Drones are not allowed without official permission
- Dogs may not roam off-leash
- You may not pick flowers/plants/fruits
One small point of clarification is that there is no admission fee if you intend to stay within the town limits of Cinque Terre’s villages. You will only need a pass to access the trails between the towns.
Can you stay in Cinque Terre?
Yes. The five towns of Cinque Terre all contain a range of accommodation options. Staying in Cinque Terre itself, rather than outside the park, maximizes the efficiency of your trip. It gives you more time in the park and allows you to experience a quieter version of Cinque Terre after the day-trippers leave. It also exposes you to less transportation hassle, which is a consideration when visiting Cinque Terre with kids. The downside, of course, is that accommodations here cost more than they do in neighbouring towns like La Spezia.
During our recent visit, we stayed at La Malà in Vernazza. This property is an antique Ligurian house that has been converted to contain 4 guest rooms, and it has dramatic views over the Mediterranean Sea. It calls itself “child-friendly” and it does provide cots for children who accompany their parents. However, it’s located at the top of the cliff, accessible only by a vigorous climb up some steep steps. It is not accessible by stroller.
Which Cinque Terre town is best?
Well, this is certainly a subjective question! The fact is that each of the 5 towns in Cinque Terre has a different flavour and could be described as “best” by different visitors. Here is an attempt at characterizing each town (in order from north to south):
Monterosso
Monterosso is the largest town with arguably the prettiest (and largest) beach, where you can rent umbrellas and chairs for the day. The water is a brilliant shade of turquoise on a sunny day. The town is split into an old and a new part, and each has a different vibe. The castle overshadows the old town, and it features more old-fashioned, labyrinthian streets, similar to the other villages. The new town is closer to the beach and has more hotels and restaurants.
Vernazza
Vernazza is the most picturesque village. It’s centered around a quaint harbour and pier, and its clusters of colourful buildings draw photographers from around the world. Because it’s one of the central villages, it has access to hiking in both directions. And the trails connecting Vernazza to its neighbouring villages are currently the only Blue Trail hiking trails that are open (see more below).
Corniglia
Corniglia is the only town that is not at sea level. Perhaps because of this, it is the quietest of the five towns. If you arrive in Corniglia by train, you should know that there is a steep climb up a series of switchbacks to get into town. Alternatively, you can take a shuttle bus from the train station to the town square. The cost is €2.50 for adults and the fare is covered by the Cinque Terre Card (more on that below).
Manarola
Manarola is a great place to swim and sunbathe. But, you need to wrap your head around the fact that you won’t find a traditional beach here. Instead, sun worshippers can be found strewn across the rocks and around the harbour. Manarola is a favourite for families visiting Cinque Terre with kids because there are some great cliff-jumping opportunities in the harbour area.
Riomaggiore
Riomaggiore has a small natural harbour and is best viewed from the water to appreciate its beauty. Because Riomaggiore is the closest town to La Spezia, the area’s most significant railway hub outside the park, Riomaggiore can become clogged with day-tripping visitors who only come in to sample a bit of what Cinque Terre has to offer.
How to get around Cinque Terre?
The good news is that the five towns of Cinque Terre are not very far apart from one another. The bad news is that they are almost inaccessible by automobile. There isn’t a single road that connects all of the villages. Vehicles are not permitted in the towns themselves, and parking is scarce.
There are two major modes of transportation used to move between the towns: the Blue Trail hiking trail, and the local train system.
The Cinque Terre Blue Trail
The Blue Trail in Cinque Terre connects all five villages for a total length of 12km/7.5 miles. The trail runs along the coast between towns and affords some spectacular ocean views. It’s got some fairly technical sections with significant climbs and descents, so be prepared with proper footwear and plenty to drink. There are also some sections with precipitous drop-offs, so the trail is not suitable for small children. But if your knees can handle the hike, this is *the* way to get around Cinque Terre.
To access the trail, watch for signage in the main commercial area of each village that will point the way out of town to the next village over. You’ll likely have to climb steps leading up out of the town, which will bring you to the proper start of that trail segment: a checkpoint station which may or may not be staffed.
The Cinque Terre Trekking Card
If a checkpoint is staffed, you must produce proof that you have bought a Cinque Terre Trekking Card. This pass allows unlimited trail access for €7.50 per day for adults, with discounts available for seniors and students (free for children under 5). Cards may be purchased at train stations or at trail access points. Passes are not required during the off season from November to March.
Don’t be fooled into thinking you can skirt the rules if the checkpoint isn’t staffed. There’s a possibility that the exit checkpoint at the next village you come to will be staffed, and you’ll still be required to produce proof of payment.
The Cinque Terre train system
Luckily, there’s an alternative to the Cinque Terre Blue Trail. If your knees can’t handle the Blue Trail, or if the weather is too hot or too wet, or if you are visiting Cinque Terre with kids – or if you just want to focus on the towns themselves, and not the countryside in between – regional trains run through Cinque Terre. These trains run back and forth from Levanto in the north to La Spezia in the south and stop at each of the five villages in between. During the summer months, trains run approximately every 20 minutes. During the off-season, from November to March, they run about every half hour. Accurate schedules can be found on TrenItalia’s website, where tickets may also be purchased in advance. Alternatively, you may purchase passes in person at the train station.
As with other rail tickets in Italy, the tickets you purchase to ride the Cinque Terre train system must be validated before use.
A single adult fare on the local train system costs €5 in the summer and €2.40 in winter. Discounts are available for seniors and children, and kids under 5 are free.
Train travel in Italy: what you need to know
The Cinque Terre Train Card
If you will be riding multiple rail legs in addition to hiking, it might make sense to purchase the discounted Cinque Terre Train Card. This card allows unlimited use of the rail system, shuttle buses and hiking trails. One-day and two-day versions are available. An adult pass for one day costs €18.20, with discounts available for seniors and students (free for children under 5).
If you stay at an accommodation within Cinque Terre, you will be eligible for a discount of €2 per pass. Your host will be able to arrange the purchase for you. Alternatively, you can pre-purchase passes online, or buy them at the local train station.
If you visit Cinque Terre during the winter, when the hiking trails are free to access and one-way train fares are discounted, it will probably be cheaper for you to purchase pay-as-you-go railway tickets.
Are Cinque Terre trails open?
The rugged cliffs along Cinque Terre’s coast are beautiful, but there’s a major disadvantage that comes with the topography: landslides are common. The result is that sections of the trail can be closed from time to time for trail maintenance.
Currently, the only Blue Trail sections that are open are the ones from Vernazza to Corniglia and Vernazza to Monterosso. The other sections, from Corniglia to Manarola and from Manarola to Riomaggiore, are closed, with re-opening expected in Summer 2024.
There are plenty of hiking trails in the Cinque Terre area aside from the Blue Trail. Most of these trails run higher up along the cliffs, and many of them are open even when their lower counterparts are not. They are not as popular or well-traveled as the Blue Trail. You do not need a Cinque Terre Trekking Card to access these trails. You can check the current status of those trails here.
Be aware that park staff also reserve the right to close trails temporarily during poor weather, when hiking conditions can be dangerous.
Can Cinque Terre be done in a day?
As with most things in life – we think it’s better to have a short experience than no experience at all. But Cinque Terre is truly worth lingering in, especially if you want to hike. While you could conceivably take the train in and hop off at each village for an hour or two, you won’t truly get the chance to explore this way. And if you’re visiting Cinque Terre with kids, you’ll need more time still. We spent 3 nights in Cinque Terre and were lucky that we did. We lost half a day of our trip to poor weather that made hiking impossible and were glad to still be in the area when the sun came out.
What do you think – have you visited Cinque Terre with kids? What was your favourite part? If you have any additional questions, feel free to ask them in the comments below.
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