My husband and I are finally getting to go to le Cinque Terre--3 nights in Sept.. We won't be doing a lot of hiking, but want to enjoy the beauty and strolling around the villages. We will be staying in Riomaggiore and will probably arrive there in time to explore that village and have dinner. My problem is in what order to visit the remaining four villages in two days. We can do the Via dell Amore walk, but will probably be using train or ferry to see the other villages . Thanks for any help or suggestions!

Le Cinque Terre villages are really very small. If ever there was a place to just do whatever you feel like doing, this is it. You can hike between them, boat between them, take a train between them or just sit in the first one you get to and not move at all. The next village over isn't much different. This are historic fishing villages, lost to time. They traditionally houses very poor families. They don't have attractions other than their peace and quiet and vertiginous views.

Whichever way the crowd is walking, walk the other way.

It is not clear to me the essence of the "problem." You have two full days to explore four other small villages. So within this limitation, there are many options to cover these villages.

I enjoyed taking the ferry. But I knew beforehand that the ferry availability was unpredictable. I created several itineraries assuming ferry availabilities on different dates as well as if the ferries were not available at all.

From Riomaggiore, it might be beneficial to take a ferry, if running, to Monterosso. The ferry landing is at the old town while the train station is between the old and the new town. You get to see all the villages from the sea first.

Thanks for your comments, greg and zeppole. I had read that the ferries are sometimes not running and planned to make several "what-if" itineraries. Nevertheless, I'll start with "ferry to Monterosso..." and cross my fingers. Thanks!

There was a train strike while we were there. Didn't matter, we walked and caught ferries.

Having just returned a month ago,if I could offer one piece of advice, if you're not that into hiking...I was SO glad we walked Corniglia to Vernazza instead of the other way round, the last part was very rocky and steep and seemed to go on forever, but at least we walking downhill!

More good comments. Thanks! I've been thinking that we would do the walk from Riomaggiore to Manarola and then on to Corniglia. That will probably be the extent of our "hiking".

I'll be there next Sunday, I'm still in Barcelona and this place is a ZOO! I'm looking forward to gorgeous views.

pookymimi, be sure to send a trip report or at least report on your favorite experiences in CT. Thanks!

Bookmarking! Headed to CT next week and interested to hear your experiences.