Cinque Terre
 

What is the best way to explore this area (in terms of where to start, where to stay and where to finish. I plan to hike between the towns, but don't know which one to start in, which one to stay in or where to end the adventure. I have heard to take luggage to the final destination, then take the bus back to the first and hike until you reach your stuff at the end. Please advise... Also, recommendations on where to stay (hotel/b&b etc.) in the area would be appreciated as well. I'm looking for something memorable, not necessarily expensive, nor am I looking for a budget accomodation. This is an area I don't want to forget, so am willing to spend accordingly.

There really is no "best" way. We stayed in Manarola which we loved. We arrived in the mid afternoon and did the short hike south to Rommigiore and back that first afternoon. It only takes about 20 minutes each way as I recall and is actually paved. The next day we did the entire rest of the hike going north through the other villages, having a very long and wonderful lunch in Vernazza and ending up in Monterossa. Monterossa was by far my least favorite of the towns, because it is so much more touristy and "big" than the others. We took a boat back from Monterossa to Manarola which was fun because we could pick out much of the trail spots we had enjoyed. You can get back and forth between any of the villages by the small train in a matter of minutes, so there is no big deal about arranging for where you luggage will be or how to start and end. We stayed at the Marina Piccolo Hotel, a wonderful small place in Manarola. As far as I've been able to determine, it is as nice a place to stay as anywhere, with the exception of some of the more deluxe hotels in Monterossa if you really want to stay there, but I think you'll lose the charm. There are several small places to stay in Vernazza. Rommiogiore and the other town (why can I never remember it?) mainly only have some private rooms to rent.

Rick Steves' Italy guidebook probably has the best description of the Cinque Terre of the guidebooks that I'm familiar with, I recommend it as a resource. As far as the hike, if you want to do the most difficult part first, start in Monterosso. If you want to start out easy, start in Riomaggiore.<BR>you may also want to check www.cinqueterre.it.<BR>best of luck.

We stayed in a wonderfull apartment in Corniglia (between Manarola and Vernazza) with kitchen,bathroom, incredible seaview. $ 65 per day was very good. there are footpath to reach Manarola-Riomaggiore on one side and Vernazza-Monterosso on the other.<BR>The owner had rooms and appartments<BR>E-mail [email protected] (Eugenio)<BR>

CWF---<BR>My favorite approach to the CT is not to have a favorite place. I like to stay just outside the CT, in a village such as Moneglia or Lavagna, where I can take a train to any or all of the CT villages in a few minutes and enjoy each one as long as I like, or stop and walk from any one to the other. My luggage stays back at the place where I am staying for the evening. I really enjoyed the Valentino Hotel in Lavagna, and the village itself is very interesting; so that's where I would stay.

I agree witht he earlier poster re:Monterossa; though it is the Cinque Terre, it is not at all like the other villages and seems crowded by comnparrison. Where you stay may depend on what facilities you want at the end of the day. If you want an apartment where you can cook and be alone Riomaggiore, Corniglia or Manorola may be best as they're quiet small. Personally I like Vernazza. It is livlier than those three while still seeming like a small village. There's a bar at night and it has a great restaurant with an incredible view, (Costellos [sp?]), that serves the best pesto lasagne. There will be lot's of Americans, thanks to Mr. Steves and some, other books, but I could care less. Its a charming village surrounded by the beautiful, blue/green Med.

I stayed in Monterossa last October 2001, and found the small local train a wonderful transportation option. I took the train from Monterossa to Corneligia (spl?), then hiked back to Monterossa, about 3 1/2 hours, and worth every step!

Are there easy train routes from Milan or Florence to the CT? Where does one arrive, in Vernazza or Monterossa? I will be traveling by train in Tuscany, Lombardy & Umbria but would love to visit this part of Liguria.

I honestly think Rick Steves ruined Cinque Terre. It is full of American's toting his book in plain view. Yes, the scenery is beautiful (if you get up on the trails) but there are way too many tourists there.<BR><BR>We did the roll into town and talk to the lady at the trattoria who talked to the guy at the tabacchi who talked to the lady at the gelato stand who looked us over and took us to a room that she was willing to rent. Later we talked to others who did the same thing and they got better rooms for the same price. So you pay your money and you take your chances. <BR><BR>The one thing I did really like was the trofie al pesto at Trattoria Gianni. It was the best I've ever tasted.

It's a fact of life that tourists (like myself) flock to wonder places with local charm that diminishes as more visitors arrive. I'll be there in early May, which I hope will be less crowded than the summer months. <BR><BR>The only real way to avoid tourists is to go places that either no one has heard about (hard in this day & age), that's difficult to get to (sure, American Samoa is beautiful & unspoilt but it cost a fortune to get there), or go somewhere where no one WANTS to go (gee, not too many tourists crowding Fresno, California).

GC, of course you are right. From Florence take the train to La Spezia (between Pisa and La Spezia you will pass the amazing mountains of Carrera marble where Michaelangelo picked his blocks out by hand). In La Spezia you will switch to the "locale" or "milk train" which stops at all five towns. We stayed in Vernazza (where the fabulous pesto was)

GGinSF:<BR><BR>For a train traveler, it's easier to get to the CT towns from Milan than Florence. There's a couple of Intercity trains out of Milan which you can take to Monterosso (2 hrs. 47 mins travel time). First one departs at 9:10 am, arriving into Monterosso @ 11:57 am. Coming out of Florence, there are no direct trains --- have to make at least one change in Pisa, then possibly another to finally get to Riomaggiore.

Perfect. Thanks for the help!

Hi everyone,<BR>Still planning to go to the CT in late March. Thanks for the tips. IT sounds like the train is the best way to go. Will post a report when I get back. Please keep the information sharing coming!

GC, I was in CT at the beginning of April last year. Thought it wouldn't be too crowded & touristed, so I was surprised to find rooms full & the area by the harbo really really crowded. Just thought you'd like to know.

mekamp, considering the amount of visitors, did you still enjoy your time there or in retrospect would you have skipped CT?

We were in CT mid-May of last year, we stayed in Manarola. It seemed like we were the only people in town, we would walk in the evenings and run into only 3 or 4 other people. Most of the people seemed to be in Vernazza and Monterosso, although I don't know how many were overnighting or just there for the day.<BR>If you want quiet, Manarola might be your best bet.

I was in ct last nov..The weather was awesome(70"S)we stayed in Monterosso and had the Ct by ourselves. No crowds but many places were closed. But we loved it as the trails were empty as were the towns and u got to see the locals more. CT should not be missed the hike from Monterooso to Vernaza is out of this world and difficult.If u don't like crowds go in off seson. We did it this way and were happay