Any opinions on these 2 town? Have a couple of extra days to spare during my trip to Italy and will be traveling by train from either Milan or Siena....(no car). Thanks..

I was in both places this month and would recommend Cinque Terre (one or more of the five fishing vilages). Portofino is attractive and larger - but it's not as wonderful as walking between Monterosso and Vernazza (took us 2 hours hiking up steep paths) - they have amazing charm.

I agree with Gaffa, Portofino is very charming, rich, expensive village, but I rather stay in CT any time. I spent a week in Manarola this summer with my family, and we truly enjoyed the five villages.

Gail, Cinque Terra is five towns. As both CT and Portofino are major tourist destinations, the major difference I noticed was in the type of tourist the towns attract. Portofino is for the jet set - huge yachts in the harbor, expensive shops (think Cartier and Dior), and mostly luxury accomodation. Be aware the Portofino-Santa Margherita train stop is actually in SML, not Portofino - you would have to probably bus or cab it from the train station.

Cinque Terra attracts bargain travellers and hikers. As a result, the shops are mostly tchotchke souveneir places and gelaterias, accomodation is more towards one and two star hotels or rooms in peoples' houses.

I too was in both in September, and found Portofino to be much less crowded - the CT towns were virtually bursting at the seams with tourists. Particularly in Vernazza and Monterosso, the streets could barely handle the number of tourists swarming.

If you're interested in swimming, be advised there is no beach in Portofino, some of the CT towns have beaches and in others, people were swimming in the small harbor areas.

Also, if you're interested in hiking, the trails btw the CT towns were crowded and hot when I was there - I was dripping with sweat by the time I finished each trail. There is great hiking on the Portofino peninsula, much of it through shady and cool chestnut forests, and with practically no other hikers on the trail. But it lacks the almost constant spectacular sea views that CT trails have, but lead to San Fruttuoso, a very isolated stone beach.

I also visited nearby Camogli and Santa Margherita, and both seemed to me a happy medium btw the exclusiveness of Portofino and the overwhelmed CT.

Portovenere, just south of Cinque Terre, is also a wonderful town. It's about a 30-minute boat ride from CT (we left from Manarola). It's a little less crowded with a nice ancient hilltop church (on a cliff overlooking the ocean) and castle to tour.
We really enjoyed our day in Portovenere. It's still touristy with lots of touristy shops, but we thought it was a charming and lovely town

Glad to see we're back on the CT. I still haven't booked a hotel there for mid-Oct. The Villa Steno is available but no room with a view. Any more ideas on where to stay in the CT. And I know this isn't the Italy book section, but I still think E.M. Forester's "A Room with a View" whould be at the top of the list. Even though a lot of the novel is set in Britain it is after all in Florence where the young lady's hidden passion is unleashed!!!

Hmmm - shame to see people saying Cinque Terre is bursting with tourists and overcrowded. I guess this is subjective - depending on what you call crowded.

My partner and I were there in September for a day and yes it was busy...but certainly not unbearable. Walking the trail - we met people coming the other way - every 10 minutes or so. Plenty of space. In Vernazza there wasn't a table completely free - so we shared it with a guy from Arizona and had a great chat with him.

Out of 3 weeks or so it was our best day I would heartily recommend visiting one or more of the villages.

I am interested in any opinions or experiences anyone has had visiting Cinque terre in the late fall. I am looking for a thanksgiving destination.